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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Where has my peaceful baby gone?!

19 replies

JazzieJeff · 31/07/2011 17:59

DS is 9.5 months old, and these past few days has transformed from a contented, smiley chappie into a whingey, angry chappie!

Usually he happily rummages round in his toy basket for ages, or goes in his jumperoo, listens to stories... All the usual stuff. Recently though, he's not happy unless he's being helped to stand up (he can't do it on how own yet), and when we put him on his front to attempt to crawl, he really gets cross. Also, earlier when I left the room quickly, he got seriously upset. He is never phased by that, EVER.

He is also sleeping much more than usual; yesterday we clocked up just under 19 hours.

I suppose I'm looking for reassurance really that a) I'm doing it right and b) he's going to be alright and that this is just a phase.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Chummybud1 · 31/07/2011 18:37

All perfectly normal, he is maybe feeling a little poorly or maybe he is teething.

yellowsubmarine41 · 31/07/2011 19:57

Sleeping is often connected to a growth spurt.

The general grumpiness sounds like frustration that he can't do what he wants to do.

Separation anxiety starts about now for many babies.

All perfectly normal and you're doing nothing wrong.

I look at my human destruction machine of a 2 year old and WEEP when I remember when people used to say what a calm aura he had.

FlubbaBubba · 31/07/2011 19:59

Yep, yep. Sadly all quite normal.

This Phase, Too, Shall Pass :)

ajaybaines · 31/07/2011 20:01

Before I opened this I guessed that your baby would be 9 months old!!!

Mine have both been terrible at that age. Frustration at not moving with the first (took another two months to crawl!) and hideous separation anxiety with the second.

It passes, I promise! By one you should be home free, I know that sounds ages ago but it does fly.

ledkr · 31/07/2011 20:03

All normal,he is frustrated cos wants to be mobile and the separation anxiety is just the right age,respond to him sympathetically and it will make you feel less frustrated.

Unlurked · 31/07/2011 20:06

I looked at your title and thought I bet the peaceful baby has turned into a nine month old!

My 13 month old has just come out of the other side of this although I realise 13 months may seem a looong way off from where you're sitting .

Original poster

JazzieJeff · 31/07/2011 20:42

Oh thanks all!

ledkr never fear, I am giving him lots of sympathy and smuggles, it was just alarming! I thought he'd fallen out of his bouncer from the bloodcurdling screams when I nipped out of the room!

One isnt that far away really, not when I think back this past year!

Are there any toys/strategies I can use to help keep him amused a bit more? We do try and get out and about a lot, but when we're home or at other people's houses is when trouble strikes!

OP posts:

FlubbaBubba · 31/07/2011 20:46

Two things you can do is give him a 'trundler' (something like a brick trolley with a handle, or a wee trike) so he can have a go at trundling around.

When you leave the room, keep talking to him and pop back every now and then so he sees that when you leave, you're not gone out of his life forever.

Original poster

JazzieJeff · 31/07/2011 20:51

flubba will definitely give the walker thingo a bash. He loves to stand. Trouble is, he forgets rather quickly that he needs to hold on; hence why he can't cruise, I think. I didn't think he'd fuss whilst I left the room as DH was still in there chatting to him. DH just said he watched me get up to make another brew and his little face just dropped

OP posts:

ledkr · 31/07/2011 20:52

Ah sorry didnt mean that you werent sympathetic its just that im on baby no 5 and have struggled with her having reflux and eventually i looked at it in a sympathetic manner and it has helped me cope rather than the desparate fuming,resentfull mess i had become it makes me feel usefull iyswim.

Original poster

JazzieJeff · 31/07/2011 20:53

He doesn't teeth badly either, he's lucky in that they just pop in one day and we just notice whilst we're cleaning his teeth in the bath or something.

OP posts:

Original poster

JazzieJeff · 31/07/2011 20:54

Oh no ledkr not at all! I'm sure I could do with stepping back sometimes and remembering he's only little and it's not his fault he's making such a bloody meal out of crawling

OP posts:

matana · 31/07/2011 21:26

Exactly the same here with my DS, could have written your post, OP! He's been like it for a couple of weeks now and his sleep has gone completely wrong too. He's changed from the easiest, most contented baby on earth to quite an, um.... challenge. Separation anxiety also kicks in at this age so they're more fussy and clingy, even if they haven't previously been like it.

ledkr · 31/07/2011 21:53

jazzie,i just found it helped me keep my temper cool. She's been a whiney little thing today too.

Momo36 · 02/08/2011 11:34

I have a 9 month old as well and recently I am not able to leave the room without her screaming... She is crawling and follows me everywhere which I think is good in terms of not getting frustrated. I'm sure that once your little one starts getting about, things will change. But I can see some changes too in her where she is just a little more demanding :). When I get frustrated I try to remind myself that this baby stage goes so quickly and really try and enjoy the good and the bad..

madmomma · 21/08/2011 07:44

Yes! You have just described exactly what I've been going through this past fortnight with my son (same age). Even took him to docs! I can only put it down to a developmental leap, cos he just wants to be on his feet all the time now, even though the little bugger won't cruise, so I have to constantly hold both his hands and walk him round

MrsVidic · 21/08/2011 07:48

I found with my dd that before any major mile stone ie walking/ crawling/ talking she would go through a phase like this. It feels like it will never end but I'm sure when he has mastered the next stage your little boy will return!

OnlyWantsOne · 21/08/2011 07:53

My 8 1/2 month old started crawling last week at just over 8 months and was like this just before. Plus iv just gone back to work and she's quite clingy at times too.

It will pass. You can do this

Catabelle · 11/09/2011 10:08

I'm glad I found this post! I was just about to add a new message to see if this kind of behaviour was normal at 9 months. My DS has always been so happy and content but over the last couple of weeks he has turned into a whiney nightmare! Everytime I try to sit him down to play he whines and grizzles until he's up on his feet again. Meal times are also going downhill as he whines as soon as he's finished eating until I give him something else. I know (and hope!) this is a stage but it gets really hard to deal with on a day to day basis! He's army crawling and loves to walk while holding on so I'm just hoping that he'll be happier once he can crawl faster and walk on his own!!

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