Evening all,
I have a 14mo DD who I love to bits and was long awaited. She had a bit of a tough start to life with CMPA that took a while to diagnose and subsequent issues with her jabs. During her first year of life, I developed severe PND and PNA however I feel I'm almost back to my old self now. The reason I mention this is because I'm not sure if I have the wrong mindset/it's my anxiety talking, or if my DD is genuinely harder work than most other kids. DD is breastfed and as much as I have enjoyed it, she relies on BF heavily for comfort. Very small things can set her off and most of the time I don't even know what these things are. At mealtimes, I need to scan the surroundings before I sit her in her highchair and hide any potential items that she will want but cannot have, because her meltdown will mean she will not eat and skip the meal altogether. Same goes for during the day generally with phones and remote controls (we don't give her much screen time but she knows what these things are and obviously wants them as soon as she sees them). Outings are hit and miss, but most of the time I either end up leaving early or having her whine or scream the entire time we are out unless I BF her. For anyone that suggests just letting her cry instead of BF...believe me, I have tried and discovered my DD has no off switch and will not relent. The last time I tried she literally cried herself to sleep and I regretted it deeply.
I don't mean to complain and I don't want to do anything that will go against meeting her needs, but I just wonder if I'm missing something or if there is anything I can do to just allow her to...chill out a little? She just seems hypersensitive and day to day I feel I'm constantly walking on eggshells trying to avoid meltdowns over every little thing- meals, nappy changes, outings, the other million things I haven't identified yet. I really try and connect and play with her day to day and the things that she doesn't like but we have to do, e.g. nappy changes, getting dressed, bedtime etc I try and make a song and dance of it, but it really does get exhausting! She used to be quite social but recently makes her liked and disliked people very clear haha. I'm not quite sure what I'm asking. And I honestly don't mean to complain. I just wonder if I'm doing something wrong or if this is normal behaviour for a 14mo.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
P.s. she has met all her milestones and can be very funny and smiley just as she can be sensitive and strong willed :)