Just wanted to check this is normal as I have no way of knowing - never had brothers or sisters and this is my first child - never been around children till now.
My son is 17 months old and over the last couple of weeks I have really seen a change in him.
1/ The volume of him - he charges around the house yelling and shouting so so loudly that Im worried our neighbours will leave. I do whatever I can to try and quieten him down but he won't listen to me. As I understand that he doesn't understand why he should be quiet. But it's loud enough to be heard a street away. Screaming, yelling, shouting. Is this normal or am I a terrible parent (as I am sure my neighbours think). As soon as he wakes up he stands in his cot just shouting BLAAAAA BLAAAAA BLAAAAA.
2/ His activity - he doesn't sit still for a second ALL day (unless he is sleeping). To the point that i seriously worry about him because he is sweating and gets himself so hot he is dripping with sweat. He won't sit on my lap to hear a story. He won't sit on the sofa with me to watch In the Night Garden. He just wants to do what looks like an aggressive boot camp session around the house. He can climb on and off the sofa literally 45 times in the course of say 10 minutes. And yesterday - after doing this - he seemed to be getting angrier and angrier rather than excited - and started throwing his teddies off the sofa with sort of Exorcist anger.
I just wanted to know if this is your experience? Or not?
He doesn't eat any sugar really - except maybe a pink wafer occasionally.
And I take him out for a run about as often as I can.
Please be nice because i'm utterly worn out.
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Is this normal? 17 month old behaviour.
igglepigglesbitch · 22/07/2014 08:33
OP it sounds like absolutely normal 'par for the course' toddler behaviour for some toddlers.
I am (technically) a veteran of the 'mum to small toddler boys' school 
My DS3 is 18m. So I've done this twice before, I thought I knew what I was doing, but lord alive DS3 is a handful! In a way neither of his two older brothers were. My older two were a laid-back doddle in comparison. I only have to blink and DS3 is upending plant pots/climbing on top of the piano/tipping potatoes into the toilet etc etc etc. I adore the bones of him but bloody hell he exhausts me.
My only advice is to get out. Literally. Get the two of you out of the house, to the park, swimming, softplay, anything to give you a change of scene and him a chance to burn off some energy.
It makes me smile to think that at the same age, DS1 would sit serenely in front of a 30 minute Baby Einstein video. I tried DS3 with one yesterday and I don't think he even managed 30 seconds...
You are not alone!
Not for a boy, mine and friends with boys just don't stop.
Yes, totally normal for a boy. Not all boys mind, but can be totally normal.
Wind back 7 years and I was posting this on MN (under a different name).
My ds1 NEVER stopped moving.
Never forget the well known adage "boys are like dogs" .... I notice you already know this as you say "I take him out for a run"
As for the noise...totally normal too. I kind of lol at the "handful" comments. My dsis said this to me about my son (and she was well used to boys actually). Don't worry whatever you do. It's bloody exhausting but you know what? My 7 year old is a very chilled, bright and loving boy (has been for years now). Actually much less active than many of his peers.
My 3 year old DD used to be like this. I used to wonder how on earth some people's kids would just sit on their parent's laps at rhyme time or whatever. Even at gym class someone commented 'my god she's a real live wire isn't she. It's like she's on speed all the time' 
yes thanks for that.
She never sat still, climbed and was into everything. It was exhausting!
I often wondered if I was doing something wrong. Anyway she has calmed down and I LOVE her 'moreness'. She will actually sit still to do activities and is excelling at preschool. Try not to worry - it's just a phase. Spend time with like minded mums if you can.
For us the turning point was around 2 years old - I think the terrible twos just started and ended earlier.
My DS was the same - always on the go, couldn't sit still for minute. I used to walk MILES running around after him at every park in our area trying to wear him out but he was always ready to stay another hour and would scream when we had to leave!
All the toddler activities were useless at that age because they were all aimed at kids who just say placidly in their mothers' laps to listen to songs etc. Eventualky I found a group of friends with similarly crazy toddlers and we would meet up to go to the parks and stuff. We called ourselves exiles from Music class because ours were always the hyper ones at music class.
Hang in there and just get him out as much as you can! Mine is 2.9 now and finally calming down a little after a year of total insanity.
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