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I am a little worried about my son. Am I neurotic or more to it?

8 replies

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 29/08/2012 22:53

My son is fifteen months old. He is, as people describe him, a happy little boy, generally always smiling. However, he is quite stubborn and strong willed. He throws temper tantrums, mostly when tired or when he cannot get his own way. For example, being taken back into the house when he's been out playing and he wants to stay outside, or having something taken from him for a reason or another.
I expect the odd temper; he's a baby and they're not massively known for good communication skills!
But... when he is in a real temper, he will do a few things. He will either go rigid, throw himself on the floor and scream/kick his legs. Or, he will throw himself back (or forwards) and whack his head on the floor. He's also hit his head on a wall in temper.
He had a review with the HV and I said I was concerned because of his temper. They said that it was nothing really to worry about because "children cannot communicate verbally and this is how they can react".
I am worried though. His older sister was nothing like this, she was always even tempered.
Even the CM has said she's never known a child to have a temper like he does.
Do I go back to the HV... discuss again as I don't think they took my comments seriously, or just accept he'll grow out of it, and try to limit the places he can hit his head on?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
exhausted123 · 29/08/2012 23:07

Your baby sounds exactly the same as mine. My little boy also scratches our faces when he can't get his own way. Throws himself like your son not worrying if he hits his head or not. It's like he goes from 0 to 100! He's always been a handful and is very dominant. He's started standing up in his high chair - refusing to sit back down, he is so strong too. He manages to twist his body and arms out of his car seat when I'm driving and stands up. It's very stressful. At bed times we have hysterics because he doesn't want to go to bed which is also stressful. It seems lots of parents on here have similar tempered children. I totally know how you feel.

NellyJob · 29/08/2012 23:11

my son was like that too.

MaMattoo · 29/08/2012 23:11

He will get over it. My son used to head bang out of frustration. Sing and sign classes might help till he starts chatting. Nothing to worry about IMO

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 29/08/2012 23:17

Its reassuring, thank you!
He's "manageable" in the sense that I currently know what really pushes his buttons, so I try not to let it happen. The CM is also following my route of letting him strop it out in an area where he cannot hurt himself, so away from walls and high surfaces etc.
I'm worried he's really going to hurt himself one day though, particularly the head banging. Especially on the walls!
He's not much of a talker at the moment. Again, very different to my daughter who was saying lots of words and stringing a few words together at this age. He's just more interested in running and playing than watching mouths form words and listening to me point and say "cat" for the millionth time.

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hellymelly · 29/08/2012 23:20

Completely normal. Really doesn't sound worrying at all.

VegemiteOnToast · 29/08/2012 23:27

Completely normal. Both my children went through a horrid tantrum phase, DD would bash her head against the cot rails or the floor too, until about age 2 once her language skills were more developed.

Lack of sleep was a big trigger for her tantrums, so you might want to enforce stricter nap an bedtimes if you are not already doing so, even of it means naps in the car or stroller, which is the only way Dd would sleep in the day.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 30/08/2012 21:12

He does have some long naps over the weekends, sometimes he'll have a good two hour nap. I know he naps at the child minders house, but I don't think he has really solid naps.
I am more reassured now, thank you.

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matana · 01/09/2012 16:28

My ds is gorgeous, such a happy boy and also really smiley. But his temper is also explosive on occasions. If the tantrum hasn't gone too far it is mostly possible to calm him, but when he has one that nothing can remedy, we have calmly left him in his cot for a few minutes to calm down without endangering himself. It works and when he is calm again we go in and give him a big cuddle. May be worth trying for those explosive tantrums that nothing can apparently calm. It's a safe place where they can get it out of their system.

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