Feel I am being driven crackers - 15 month old - feel guilty

[ColumboTheFormerCookieMonster]

At the the end of my tether. DS is 15 months old and every day seems like a battle, usually ending up at some point with me in tears.

It starts with him refusing to have his nappy changed (it doesn't make any difference if I try to make a game of it, or be strict, or ignore his squirming, the end result is that he has a screaming tantrum and I end up covered in poo, have to plonk him in the bath to shower him off, while he is trying to climb out while I am reaching for the towel/soap/tap and today succeeded, luckily I caught him). Same deal with cleaning his teeth. Same deal with him trying to climb out of his highchair onto the table (despite reins), throwing food on the floor, shaking his cup so that the milk spurts out all over the playpen, picking his toys out of the toy basket and throwing them one after the other on the floor. Shaking box of raisins so they spray out all over place. Opening the stair gate. Running to the book case and throwing books down the stairs, throwing anything he can get his hands on down the stairs. Switching plugs on and off. And this is with me following him saying ah ah no, we don't touch the plugs, etc, I am hardly just letting him do these things.

I know that is all probably (possibly?) normal, but it used to be occasional, now it seems every time is like this and we go from one thing to another...it seems he is constantly pushing the boundaries of the limits of what he can do and I am worried he will hurt himself. Also, I'm getting stressed out because it feels like I'm unable to control him. There are many moments where I feel like a failure.

Jeez. Anyway, is this normal for a 15 month old? He seems very very strong willed and it feels exhausting. For example today I decided to get out of the house ASAP and spend the day out with him, go out where he can have a good run about - but we haven't even got through the morning routine and already he's had three tantrums and I've lost it and had to put him in cot with some music on while I chill out for 5 mins.

Yesterday he freaked me out by discovering that if he put his hand on his mouth he gagged, he did this a few times until he made himself sick.

This is my ds, 14 months. After 2 dd's it's a real shock to the system!!

Most of the time he ends up running around with no nappy on weeing everywhere because it's so stressful to get one on him.

He doesn't play really either just throws things around, doesn't sit still for long enough to even open a book let alone read one.

He screams very loudly when he wants something or if he doesn't get what he wants. Screams to come out of his cot in the mornings.

He's also quite violent (in a baby way!) - hits his sisters and pulls their hair, when he's in a bad mood he tries to claw my face off oh the list goes on.

The only thing I can suggest is use pull ups, move the bookcase from upstairs, put most of his toys away and pull a few out every day so they'll have more novelty value. Adn learn to tune him out a little or you'll end up living in your pyjamas for years to come

I am going through this now. Finding my
15 month old DD sooooo tough at the moment. She is very heavy for her age and is now throwing herself at me - hitting, pulling my hair, screaming. I’m struggling to get her in high chairs and she is still not walking properly so being out and about is a real challenge.

I see this post was back in 2008. Hoping someone can tell me that things get better…?!