High Energy Baby

[CuriousOtter]

My LO has been so alert since they were born, constantly observing what’s going on around them. As they have got older they have become increasingly wriggly during wake windows - the arms and legs are always moving if they’re happy during play, or when they are frustrated getting changed etc. They are 5 months old now and I feel I am constantly comparing them to other babies around the same age at baby groups. They all seem to be able to sit/lie still and look so chilled. It’s making me so worried about my little one. Has anyone experienced similar?

They’re all different. My DS was the same at that age. When he was at school he wanted to do every activity going so some nights would have a “car picnic” on the way to various activities.

He’s at Uni now and still seems quite busy from what I can gather

I have two who were perpetual motion machines in utero, and only got wigglier once they were born. Sleepy newborn phase lasted two days, and then they were alert (and didn't sleep nearly as much as the books/websites/apps said!). They needed interaction, stimulation, variety, or they most definitely got bored, even when tiny (on the plus side, they were easy to take out and about, as there was so much to see/hear/smell, and lots of people are happy to engage with a smiley baby).

By toddler age, they were actually fairly average in physical energy levels, but still very 'busy' – just by then they could be busy with blocks, a toy kitchen, etc. Now aged four and six, they actually have a pretty good attention span (even the just-turned four year old can sit a long time with a jigsaw or drawing) and are increasingly able to play together for a couple of hours without much adult support – but they're still 'busy'.

I feel exactly the same at baby groups! We are also coming up to five months and the other babies just seem so chill while my baby is flipping and flipping and stretching and spinning 360 non-stop! I’m glad it’s not just her because it really feels like it is when all the other babies just sit there in their mothers’ arms.

Dont Worry at all, I always remember the baby sensory lead saying she’d observed that babies are generally either still and communication comes on first, or wrigglers and motor skills come first. Some do both.. but I think it’s so true. Sounds like she’s desperate to get crawling and trying to work it out!

Well my first has always been busy and was talking in sentences at 12 months so I’m not sure that’s true if all babies

My son was like this. Other babies sitting in their prams or contemplating the world from their mum's laps whilst he was happiest being held standing on the table trying to eat the menus and bash the cutlery around.

He is always the first of his little pals to reach a physical milestone and he still needs a lot of energetic movement. His language took a while to develop relatively, because he was always more focused on doing than sitting around chatting. But he is also the cheeriest little soul.