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Behaviour/development

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Looking for advice/reassurance - 18mo acting out after new baby

1 reply

SamT210 · 12/07/2021 12:36

Hi,

Our son is 18 months old and up until recently he's been fairly well behaved - with the odd occasion where he pretends he can't hear and continues to do as he pleases.

Our DD is 2 weeks old and ever since we brought her home he's been like a different child, he's extremely good with her though, very very gentle and understands not to be rough around her.

We're really struggling with meal times - especially lunch, he's refusing 90% of foods now whereas he's always been a very good eater and instead of leaving it on his plate he just launches it all over the room (He is teething so could this be down to that?). He seems to understand when he's doing something we don't want him to do (I.e climb up onto the dining chairs to pull things off the dining table) because he looks at us to make sure we're watching him be naughty. We repeatedly tell him no and move him away but this isn't working. My DH is adamant he understands that he's being naughty and he's doing it on purpose so therefore should be punished, but from reading similar experiences on here I don't know whether it's a phase or whether we should be punishing him. How do I combat the naughty behaviour? DH goes back to work next week and I'm dreading being left alone with 2 children. Is he acting out because there's a new baby or is this normal for him to be testing us at this age? I'm so stuck and feel very alone because DH sees it so differently.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance from a very tired mum.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
everdaymumma · 12/07/2021 13:54

So were expecting our second and I've been reading the second baby book by Sarah Ockwell. It basically says to expect regressions in feeding/sleeping/behaviour as an adjustment to new baby arriving. So could all be related to that, its lovely they are gentle with actual baby though. Her suggestions all involve carving out some one on one time and attention with firstborn be that whilst baby sleeps or by doing there bedtime routine in evening. Not sure if that helps but just wanted to reassure it seems to be a normal expected regression in a firstborn! X

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