sigh...is 9 months generally a difficult age?

[mrscogon34thstreet]

My lovely DS1 is 9 months and for the past week or two has gone from fairly easy baby to a complete grumpy pants. It feels like he's impossible to entertain and he spends the whole day crying/whinging. I do feel very sorry for him as I can see why he might be a bit sad as he's teething, he keeps getting the occasional bout of constipation and he can't crawl despite many attempts.

He suddenly has no or very little interest in his toys and I feel like I spend the whole day trying desperately to appease him but it's beginning to get me down.

Is anyone else suffering with a 9mo?

Oh yes. Mine can't crawl either and would like to be carried round to endlessly interesting new sights all day. If his bum touches the carpet even for a second there is a scream of outrage followed by heartbreaking wails. It seems to be that teething makes them extra clingy. My back is killing me!

Ah yes, I think my DS would like to be carried around all day too! It's just so disconcerting after a time of relative calm, and I have got a bit of pfb anxiety re the suddenly being bored/disinterested in his toys. Hopefully it won't last too long..

It'll pass I remember this with DS1 too.

Yes! And mine can crawl and cruise so wherever I put her, it's about two mins before she's hanging off my leg again. She just wants to be carried all day. My health advisor (who generally spouts a load of rubbish) says its because they begin to realise they're their own little person and not just an extension of mummy and that we can leave them.

Well we've had poo trauma this morning, and I was right he was a bit constipated, going to take him to the Drs in a bit as I think he is now a bit sore. :( Poor DS, I just want my happy baby back!

Ohhh yes - it's grim. It's kind of the final push before the end of the 'sixth trimester' (supposedly babies are about ready to face the world after 18m gestation - nine inside and nine outside). They want to move and can't, they want to communicate and can't, they want to eat properly and can't. They hate it. DS was grumpy for about eight weeks.

Another day of moaning over! I did get to escape to my work Christmas party for a few hours this afternoon though. Repeat - this too shall pass.....

Exactly the same here, except she doesn't want to be picked up but cries on the floor because she can't crawl forward!

Maddening.

Watching with interest. DS has been a cute nightmare for a couple of weeks now!

Must remember to chant "This too shall pass"

I'll check my "Wonder Weeks", as I think there's a developmental leap coming up soon...

Yep - leap number 6. According to the book we can expect a "fussy" period of a couple or a few weeks. Sigh

At about 37 (or between 36 and 40) weeks, you may notice your baby attempting to do new things. At this age, a baby's explorations can often seem very methodical. For example, you may notice your little tyke picking up specks from the floor and examining them studiously between his thumb and forefinger.
Or a budding little chef may rearrange the food on his plate by testing the way a banana squashes or spinach squishes through tiny fingers. He will assume the most serious, absorbed expression while carrying out these investigations. In fact, that is just what they are?investigations that will help the little researcher begin to categorize his world.

Your baby is now able to recognize that certain objects, sensations, animals, and people belong together in groups or categories. For example, a banana looks, feels, and tastes different than spinach, but they are both food. These are important distinctions and similarities to sort out. The leap into the world of categories will affect every sense?sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

If you ask me, the 9-12 month stretch was the WORST! Or from 9 months until they start walking basically. If you have an early walker you're lucky as they seem to be less fussy then. I found this such a tricky phase. DS got about 3 different bugs in as many months, teething, constipation, fits of the sulks, crazy napping / sleeping, you name it. It was honestly the worst stage so far.

Now he's 14 months and walking like a madman all over the place, happy as can be that he can finally do what he wants and he entertains himself pretty well now too. It's like he's a different baby.

So there's a light at the end of the tunnel. How you get there, I don't know. All I remember is days of being bored out of my mind and at my wits' end thinking up ways to entertain him when he couldn't walk but wanted to do things. Stay strong and keep going... it gets better.

YES!!! Echo what all the above say. My DS2 is now 11 months and is still a bit grumpy he cant walk and be understood but he has got a lot sunnier than he was a few weeks ago.

My DS1 was exactly the same at that stage too. It started at about 8 months and just got really awful til he could walk at 11 months when suddenly he cheered up. DS2 is getting better but still no where near walking so we have quite a lot of whinging but he's not as clingy and screamy as he was at 9 months.

I can definitely relate to the days of boredom and frustration at TRYING to entertain them all day. I have been through it with both of mine. It's hard work and so draining and upsetting but from experience with DS1 I know it does get better. DS1 is now 5 and is just the most happy, delicious, funny, enchanting little boy so it's all forgiven..... almost!

Omg i am so glad i read this post!!! My dd is nearly 9 months and wow she is.different.
She can't crawl either and i cannot even place her on the floor without a screaming fit!!

My DS is 8.5 months and definitely starting to get more fussy. He's been crawling for a while but spends most of his time attached to my ankle whilst I attempt to do stuff.

Although it's all relative. 9 months is an absolute breeze compared to 5YO (DD1) and 3YO (DD2 - who is going to turn my hair white within weeks if we continue this way...)

I'm glad I read this thread too!dd is 11mo and only started crawling a couple of weeks ago. Initially it made her very happy, but now I find it impossible to get her to nap unless she's in the buggy or literally her eyelids are drooping she's been awake that long (say, 5 hours after waking...) has anyone else got this napping problem? I can't seem to relax her for a nap anymore, she's so keen to crawl, even when she's tired...

Thank you! At least we now know we're not all alone! Does anyone fancy a support thread?

DS did 2 poos yesterday and one of his top teeth is breaking through. He also seems to have abandoned attempts at learning to crawl/walk in favour of a focus on talking, so maybe he'll be an early talker but late walker or something! He is pretty strong so can stand almost unaided, but hasn't learnt how to join everything together in to a type of movement or how to sit to stand!

Yes twinkling I've also noticed DS is beginning to be reluctant to nap - he was pretty good from 6 months at going for a nap after 2.5 hours awake, but suddenly that's wayyyy out the window!

Anyone still around?

DD still very frustrated - crawls backwards only (so away from what she wants), sits up and now desperate to pull herself up.

Bought a BabyDan but can't use it because she'll crawl backwards, get feet between the bars and because she can't go forwards, gets stuck and cries.

Any ideas on how to encourage the pulling up/standing up movement safely?

Hi Poppy - not sure, DS is still not crawling or able to pull himself up, he can sit and turn beautifully, get on to all fours and can nearly stand unsupported but can't do any of the 'joining' movements to link them together and move. He is very very cross!

Hi Mrscog!

Sorry just spotted your post - I just found a support thread you might be interested in here. No solutions for me there, but good to share the misery