DS learning to strop!

[snowleopard]

I can't complain, I'm a champion stropper when I want to be and DP is a stubborn git. These delightful qualities are now appearing in DS - he's only 7 months! He's started objecting to main course/savoury food, whingeing, spraying it out of his mouth, shouting etc. - but there's nothing wrong with him, he gobbles up the pudding. Likewise at bedtime, put him into bed and it's whinge, strop, shout, wriggle, grump, refuses to feed even though he's hungry, or sleep even though obviously tired. But when we get him out he's fine, doesn't seem ill or anything. Took over 2 hours to settle him this evening. I know that may be normal for some but up till now he's been very calm and a good eater and sleeper.

I'm good at being patient with him, but it is tiring; DP takes it more personally and gets upset, which winds DS up more. What to do? Is this a normal stage? Oddly I can't find much about it in the books and so on.

I would tend to think at this age that there is some underlying reason for his behaviour, rather than just temperament, especially as he is normally fairly settled?

I can remember going through a really tough phase with DS when he was about 7 months, and he would refuse food that he had wolfed down the day before, etc. I thought I was going mad. I seem to think it was teeth related and in any case it didn;t last long, he was soon back to his normal self.

I would try to ignore any behaviour that you are not keen on, don;t make a big issue out of anything, DEFINITELY try not to take it personally, and it will probably pass.

Thanks - yes it could be teeth; he's been teething for months but still doesn't have any - perhaps this is teeth finally about to break through? But what's odd is that whatever's wrong goes away when he "gets what he wants" eg pudding/being lifted out of bed. It appears as if he's being manipulative - though I know that's a very adult way of putting it and I don't mean I hold it against him - but could he be testing us to see if there are ways of getting his own way? Or is he too young for that?

I would think probably a bit young. As the owner of a nearly 2 year old I would say the will of a 7 month old doesn;t really compare to the will of a 22 month old .

I mean he might just be preferring the pudding because of its texture if teething. That kind of thing.

Will try cold, smooth first course tomorrow! Thanks