wow... kids really are so different aren't they

[FatherCoolOfHMCommonwealth]

ds is 2 & 4mths. he doesn't really say any other words other than no, dada, mama. he babbles alot though and the HV doesn't seem to be concerned. apparently he says some words that we can't recognise.

anyway, that's a long battle and naws away at us like nothing else.

then yesterday he was playing at an outdoor play equipment sales place with another kid who was having full conversations with his mum, doing much more advanced stuff and he was the same age!! exactly the same age!

i know everyone says that kids develop differently and not to worry and he's ok and that he'll catch up but... bloody hell! this kid was so much further ahead.

and... he hardly eats, his sleeping is crap etc etc where other don't seem to have a problem. we're struggling and we are trying to convince ourselves that all kids are just different (as adults are) but hell, i'm just struggling with the whole thing.

ah fab
opbviously meal timeas are a breeze here
no raised voices
no repeated "keepyour knees DOWN"

ro " dont likehtats"

absolutely. raised voices, tension, constact telling off etc... it just winds them up more and has a negative effect. we're getting there!

daddy cool, just wanted to add a voice of support.
Sounds like yr doignthe right thing at night and it will happen that he stops waking.
ots of fresh air and running about is good too.
Does ds still have a daytime nap as a rule as one of yr posts suggests? You might want to try dropping that, dd and ds2 both dropped theirs at 2 and slept much better after a bit of a blip.
Food, maybe the best approach is a middle way. I wouldn't give biscuits if they don't eat, but also not keen on sending to bed hungry. Bit of a tricky one - have you tried all the usual tricks, eating with him, making it fun (eg a picnic with teddies, putting little bits of food in ice-cube trays, eating with him, giving him what's one yr plate etc?)

Message withdrawn

hey cod, sorry for the delay. well...

The sleeping is quite good but not perfect. he's sleeping longer which is the main thing so he's sleeping from about 7:30 and wakes up between 6 and 7. I have to go into him once or twice still though but I'm using the no eye contact, no talking just a shush method.

I mentioned before that everytime I start some sort of process with his sleep he gets ill... well surprise surprise, I started all this and then he came down with a really high fever and cold and he's only just got over it so I've started the sleep process again.

The food is still a nightmare but I'm following your recommendations mixed with the wise words of Tanya Byron. Very small portions in small pieces, eating together, chatting amongst ourselves, no stress. DW isn't quite there yet. she sometimes pushes the food on him and starts to show her anxiety but I think it'll just take her a bit more time and I'm being patient as well.

He's still no talking very well at all and thats always at the back of my mind but other than helping him along in a positive way and I can't think of anything else to do on this front. HV doesn't seem to think there is anything wrong as such, he's just a little late and of course his eating (chewing) may have something to do with it.

Other than that you know, he's a really good kid. Hardly any tantrums and if does start moaning (for no reason that is) I don't give it any attention.

He's really well behaved in shops and going out and I can actually xmas shop with him no prob so at least there are no real bad behavioural issues.

thanks for your concern

Message withdrawn

2.8? thanks, you've settled my mind a bit today. everyone says its fine but i'm intensely impatient (with everything). my dw says "I run a bit hot"

yeah, I have a good feeling about the sleep.

The food - no, he won't starve himself but its a really stressful one that.

Message withdrawn

did someone mention food?? Now where shall I start?

Dd1 will sometimes eat really really well. So I then think 'ha, cracked it' and then for a month will eat sod all . It is the most tedious annoying thing in the world to prepare something that was wolfed down the day before, to then be faced with I DON'T LIIIIIIIIKE THATTTTTTTTTT.

But I try to do all the things people advise (ignore, take plate away, eat with them, small amounts etc etc) and hope for the best.

Try not to worry on the talking front, dd1 has fantastic vocab but is very slow on running/climbing etc - she cries when faced with a big kerb! - and refuses slides and climbing frames when everyone else is doing monkey impressions. So all children reach skills at different stages (or that is what I am telling myself).