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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

If you had a 'spirited' baby, what were they like as a toddler??

38 replies

BotBotticelli · 21/05/2013 12:32

DS1 is a highly spirited baby....he is 5-and-a-half months old and is a bit of a handful: bored easily, shouting/singing at the top of his voice all the time, kicking like mad all the time, trying to sit up,pulling himself up on the bars of his baby gym, already trying to crawl (and failing so just lies on his tummy screaming till i roll him back over, repeat ad nauseum, a million times a day!).

He is delightful as well, laughs his little head off if you tickle him, loves his bath etc, but my god by the end of the day with him I am a sweaty, exhausted, frazzled mess. He never just chills out like I see other babies doing, just lying on their mats.

Anyone else had a DC like this?? What were they like as a toddler??? More of the same, or did they calm down a bit once they could crawl/walk/get around? I feel like he is v frustrated at the moment...

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Rockdoctor · 21/05/2013 13:22

"What were they like as a toddler?".... Spirited!

Communication is an issue so once they learn to talk they get a bit less frustrated, but they also learn to climb, run, ride a bike etc... If everyone you meet describes them as a "real character", then you will be exhausted until they hit 4 and go to school

Rockdoctor · 21/05/2013 13:25

Oh, and my spirited toddler is far too busy to sleep, so add tiredness to the mix just to keep it interesting...

Judyandherdreamofhorses · 21/05/2013 13:25

Same here, I'm afraid. She's coming up for four and hasn't changed. Lots of great things about her though.

However, baby brother seems to be similar...

Jinty64 · 21/05/2013 13:50

Hmmm yes, he's a spirited teenager now. Ds2 however was completely different!

CabbageHead · 21/05/2013 13:56

Yes spirited 13mth old DS... It's def better the older he has got, but spirited just the same, so new battles with mealtimes and dressing instead of nap times etc... But because he is better able to communicate its easier than before, but as he has high expectations for himself he gets more frustrated when he can't achieve what he wants. But all in all he is more delightful each day. (Trust me I may NOT have thought that 6mths ago!!!!)

soapnuts · 21/05/2013 14:04

mines the same (seriously trying to crawl at 5 months.... I'm not ready!!) - so was his brother - he was a spirited toddler too - very very busy - he's nearly 4 now and still busy but much more controlled and able to occupy himself - in fact he's a delight most of the time while his calm baby friends drive their parents mad with tantrums and tiaras! it's all swings and roundabouts - you have easy bits and hard bits... at least you're getting the hard bits out of the way!

Spongingbobsunderpants · 21/05/2013 14:07

Have a nearly 4 year old here who was a spirited baby. He is still totally exhausting, maddening and daily makes me wonder if I should revise my policy on anti-smacking (of course, I never have) BUT he has personality by the bucket load, his Pre-school teachers often comment on how kind/funny/quirky he can be and I wouldn't swap him for the world. I look at other kids his age who don't say or do much - they behave far more beautifully than him in public but I'd rather have a sparky monkey than a pudding. That's my mantra when it all gets a bit much, anyway!

Original poster

BotBotticelli · 21/05/2013 14:23

ha ha thanks ladies...so I have a few more years decades of this to come then, eh?? I am hoping that things might get a little easier once he can either get around or communicate and I am not counting the high pitched whiny scream of frustration he spends most of the day doing at the moment as communication!

That's a good mantra sponging...a sparky monkey not a pudding. The HV said something similar to me a few weeks ago when I went to her head in hands and nearly burst into tears cos I never get 2 seconds to myself, my house is an utter shit hole, and I just couldnt understand why he doesn;t just lie there placidly like all the other babies in my nct group, or sit quietly on my lap (whole other thread there....)

She said that some mums she works with are worried cos their DCs are nearly 6 months old and aren;t even reaching for toys yet, just lie there all day, and whilst part of me thought that sounds blissful (!) I guess she was trying to say we've all got our individual challenges...

OP posts:

PourquoiPas · 21/05/2013 14:39

DS was a right handful challenging baby, had his terrible twos when he was 18 months BUT was a lovely two year old and is a delightful, well behaved thoughtful bright three year old.

So it does get easier!

UrbanSpaceMum · 21/05/2013 14:53

as a baby... spirited
as a toddler... spirited
as a child... spirited

Are you ready for 3 hour sessions in the park, and 2 hour swims after a full day of school? :)

MrGeresHamster · 21/05/2013 14:59

Looks at 'spirited' 9mo DS

Hope he never changes really. He's a play hard, sleep hard kinda boy. Luckily he's such a character that no one ever notices his haggard mother in the background!

PurpleThing · 21/05/2013 15:12

Yes still spirited! But it get's so much easier when they can move and get to things they want to do and again when they can talk and tell you what they want. DS has very good concentration because he is so into things.

Ds is nearly 3 and the last two Springs it has been impossible to do any gardening with him as he has been so demanding. This year he has been racing around collecting flowers (dandelions etc, he understands not to touch certain ones), 'fishing' with long reeds in imaginary pond etc and I have got things done.

Baby proof your house so you can leave them to their own devices sometimes, without driving you all mad saying NO 4000 times a day. And build in some time out for yourself into your week. Terrible Twos refer to their second year of life so from 12mo on. You may need a flotation tank at the end of each day.

babySophieRose · 21/05/2013 16:04

More of the same plus walking and talking....;)

MatchsticksForMyEyes · 21/05/2013 16:10

I have a spirited 5 and almost 3yr old. They have got easier as they got older, but need lots of attentive, exercise and 1-1 time too. Easier now than when they were babies.

Mama1980 · 21/05/2013 16:13

I had a spirited ds1 now 5 and still very spirited, into everything, never stops.... But is a lot of fun!
Ds2 looking the same way very high needs, awake baby

meglet · 21/05/2013 16:17

Spirited.....and mobile.

Then spirited as a pre-schooler.
DS has settled down a little now he's 6.6 and in Y1 of school. He calmed down at the start of Y1 when he actually started learning something. I have always tried to mentally stimulate him but it was proper school days that calmed him down. His teacher said he is a pleasure to teach!

I'm crossing my fingers DD will improve when she starts school.

lynniep · 21/05/2013 16:17

My DS1 calmed right down at about age 2.5 (right about when he started sleeping through) Until then he was REALLY HARD WORK.

DS2 on the other hand, gave us the false impression he was a calm baby. Then he got mobile and ramped right up. He's 3.5 now and runs rings around us!

LubyLu2000 · 21/05/2013 16:30

Mine was a totally calm, chilled out little baby that would quite happily sit and watch the world go by. The he started walking and there was no stopping him. He's now a very emotional, quite highly strung 6 year old, not what I was expecting at all

Ds2 is already a more demanding baby than DS1 so I'm hoping its going to happen in reverse this time and he'll be a much more chilled toddler!

CPtart · 21/05/2013 16:37

Yes spirited into toddlerhood too. Is now 10, has chilled a little but is very bright.

Sunshine200 · 21/05/2013 20:13

Sorry, another spirited toddler here too. Was a handful from the minute she was born. Now at 20 months she is still very active, bored easily, demanding, at her happiest when running about outside.
However, it's not until I see her with her little toddler friends that I realise how sweet she is- doesn't snatch, waits her turn and is the first to offer her toy or treats to someone else - takes me by surprise sometimes. Wouldn't change her for the world (although I would like her to sleep better!).

FamiliesShareGerms · 21/05/2013 20:16

Yes, "spirited", that's a good word for it...

BellaVita · 21/05/2013 20:17

Spirited babies and toddlers turn into well how can I phrase it... Spirited teens.

Believe me..

iwantanafternoonnap · 21/05/2013 20:18

Mine was the same as a baby, very forward and noisy and he is a very noisy 3 year old, terrible 2's started at 18 months and are ongoing but slowly decreasing.
He can also play football for an hour, go on a long walk of about 2 hours and still have energy to play/scream/be in your face.
DS can not sit still for a cuddle and just spins on your lap and wiggles non stop and I am physically and mentally exhausted by bedtime.
Luckily he goes to bed well and sleeps until 630-730.
I wouldn't swap him but there are times when I think 'please just stop talking' lol

girliefriend · 21/05/2013 20:19

Not sure of my dd was 'spirited' or not, she was quite intense, bored eaisly but also overstimulated eaisly very sensitive but slept fairly well and thrived in a routine.

Anyway her personality has stayed fairly constant, she is now 7yo and I could describe her in exactly the same way!!

DiaryOfAWimpyMum · 21/05/2013 20:20

My spirited baby is now 9 yrs old and has never changed, he just never stops, I just keep myself well prepared, have clothes for him to change into upon return from school, bath ran ready for him, dog leash ready for me and dog to go looking for him, oh he sleeps all night though.

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