Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Am I too overprotective making my 1 year old unhappy at home

3 replies

CharlotteCedricsMum · 17/01/2023 12:07

Lately my son seems to be unhappy at home. He is constantly frustrated. He wants to be with me but when he's in my arms, he wants to do something else. He cannot play by himself even if we are in the room. If we put him in his play box he will cry hysterically until we get him out. How did we get here?

When he was born, I felt a very strong urge to protect him, cuddle him, be by his side 24/7. He only slept in our arms, he was breastfed and always close to me. We didn't really get out of the house just to make sure he got his sleep and to make sure he was comfortable. When he was sleeping everyone had to be very quiet. As he grew a bit older and started to interact and play, we constantly played with him. He was and is never a moment alone. He generally also always gets what he wants.

Now when he is in my arms and he points at things I go where he tells me. When we are at home with him we try to entertain him full time. We play with his toys, we play on the couch, on the bed,.. We sometimes do go for walks, but he doesnt last longer than about 30min. He also hates being in the car for any longer than 10min and also hates it when the car doesnt move.

Lately when he gets home from daycare, he immediately seems frustrated and doesnt know what to do with himself. He cries, he fusses, he wants to be held, doesnt want to be held, wants to sit in a chair, doesnt want to sit in a chair and so on..

I just really want him to be relaxed and happy at home, but i feel like i already ruined it and now i dont know how to fix this. Do I leave him in his play box for x amount of time and comfort him while he cries? Do i ignore him? How can I make him feel more at ease at home?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
moita · 19/01/2023 21:15

I think it's expecting way to much for him to play on his own at one. My 4 year still struggled with playing by herself!

He's probably missed you whilst he's been at daycare and wants affection but is tired.

Could you wear him in a carrier? He gets the closeness and you can get on with stuff

PritiPatelsMaker · 20/01/2023 08:24

Agree with Moita. He's a baby still and sounds like he's missed you after daycare and is overtired.

A cuddle on the settee with some books to look at should help him feel a little better.

PritiPatelsMaker · 20/01/2023 08:26

Oh and please don't leave him to cry. All that's going to achieve is him learning that you don't respond to his needs.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page