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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

Can an 8 month old be naughty?

45 replies

pamelat · 02/09/2008 21:16

My DD is 8 months old next week.

I jokingly call her feisty as she is pretty high maintenance. She loves attention but as soon as I stopped playing/singing etc she tends to scream.

She is much "naughtier" around me than anyone else.

Today my dad was round and she was ok with him in the lounge, I walked past and she saw me and started whining. She just wants me to constantly carry her around, but is happier with other people?

Also today (as in most days) if we are out in public she tends to want to get out of the buggy to be carried (screams and puts arms up), surely she is too young to be naughty?

I tend to give in to her, I dont want to create a monster???

I was told by HV that she won't understand "no" until about 11/12 months old.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

HeinzSight · 02/09/2008 21:48

no!

bluejellybean · 02/09/2008 21:49

If you want Baby Sign details let me know x

Original poster

pamelat · 02/09/2008 21:50

what is baby tv? have never heard of it?

That might be a good calming strategy.

At the moment I even take her to the toilet with me and sit her in her bumbo seat.

Sometimes I think that something to distract her from me, for a few minutes, would be good.

I could hear her laughing with my dad .... and then she saw me.

OP posts:

halogen · 02/09/2008 21:51

I think, if it is just a bit of whinging rather than full on tears and sorrow, maybe you should see her cries as talking rather than crying, IYSWIM. It really is the only way she can communicate and get a proper response from you. My aunt said this to me when my daughter was v small (and she's the original clingy baby) and it helped a lot.

beansprout · 02/09/2008 21:51

Please stop worrying about her preferences for people or activities. At this stage her preference is YOU and whatever you are doing, preferably with her, cuddling her when she needs you to (not "need" not "want") and generally just being with her.

Ds2 is 7mo and is mastering the art of shouting for me atm. I don't worry about "spoiling" him. I just go with what he needs and feel that if I show him that his world is a safe, secure place, where his needs are met, I will have a safe, secure little boy.

pinata · 02/09/2008 21:54

i agree with you, lucicle - but she's so big and heavy, i just can't carry her around all the time (22lb whopper here), so she does need to learn to enjoy toys and her own company for short stretches too, i think

in her case, i often also think i'm just a means of transport, for her to have a nosey about, rather than her looking for a cuddle.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/09/2008 21:55

I have noticed that if I am busy/preoccupied dd2 makes a kind of noise that sounds like whinging (and may turn into whinging if I don't respond fairly quickly) but is actually a form of baby talking, a bit like lucicle describes. If I look over and respond during that pre-whinge noise,she instantly smiles, in an appreciative way iykwim.

Original poster

pamelat · 02/09/2008 21:55

Please re baby sign. Trying to save money though really ....

What if she has been trying to say "mummy, I want to go to the park" and I've given her a drink of water in response ! How frustrating would that be.

To be honest, I am a fairly clingy/highly emotionally charged person - what should I have expected!

My DH came home tonight and she loves him, sometimes she prefers him but tonight she just pushed him away and whined at me.

Lets just call her very expressive. She does get very angry at pushing things away that she doesn't want! (Usually her bottle of milk).

If she ever sees our cat, she will push whatever is in her line of site of the cat roughly out of the way.

Talking on here now, after a couple of hours of peace, makes it just sound cute but today was definately a bad day. Better days ahead!

OP posts:

halogen · 02/09/2008 21:56

"At the moment I even take her to the toilet with me"

Er, that might go on for a while. It might get more annoying, too. My daughter (23 months) likes to come to the loo with me, peer between my legs and comment enthusiastically on what's going on ('MUMMY! Big wee! Big poo! More poo? Now? Want to see!'). Sorry if that is TMI.

beansprout · 02/09/2008 21:56

Wow, you really do attribute some cunning motives to an 8mo!! They are not manipulative or conniving, they just need to feel secure and looked after.

Perhaps try a sling if your arms are tired? I have an Ergo babycarrier and pop ds2 in that when I need to get on but when he needs me too. Sorted.

halogen · 02/09/2008 21:57

"22lb whopper here"

Wow. Well done. My daughter is nearly 20lbs at 23 months! You must be doing something right there!

onepieceoflollipop · 02/09/2008 21:58

lol at lucicle. Some days I mutter to dh "it is like being tormented".

halogen · 02/09/2008 21:58

Expressive is lovely, btw. Just wait until she starts talking. You have so much fun ahead.

bluejellybean · 02/09/2008 21:58

urrrrrrr baby sign is more "food" "milk" "sleep", lots of books at the library - free!
Hope you have a better day tomorrow!

Original poster

pamelat · 02/09/2008 21:58

I do have a sling but it only went up to 20lbs, which she now is.

I am quite slight really and find her too heavy. Was going to invest in one of those hippychick ones that sit on your side. I can carry her quite comfortably on my side.

OP posts:

EyeballsintheSky · 02/09/2008 21:59

LOL they're coming on a treat. Making tea is fun. Get cup. Rest dd on work surface. Get milk out. Rest dd on work surface. Fetch t bag. Rest dd on work surface... If I don't carry her round with me she either screams the house down or climbs up the stairs/behind the tv cabinet/sticks her fingers in dangerous places/pulls herself up on things that won't really support her this risking toppling over.

halogen · 02/09/2008 21:59

"it is like being tormented"

I hear you. It is like the most unprivate prison sentence ever! But they do have their compensations. And I wouldn't be without my daughter for the world, regardless of the big poo comments!

halogen · 02/09/2008 22:09

I'm quite slight, too, and I found a ring sling really good once DD was able to sit up. They can balance themselves and adjust their position and you can sort of shove them round your back if you have to do something involving hot water or sharp knives. Might be worth a try. There are websites where you can rent a sling for a couple of weeks to see if it works for you.

Also, re baby signing, I didn't go to a class but we watched Something Special on CBeebies together and my daughter picked up loads of signs like a tiny sponge. Well worth a look (it is on Freeview so not expensive to get).

pinata · 02/09/2008 22:10

baby tv is on sky - channel 623 i think. it's more slow paced than cbeebies. DD is mesmerised by it. it is a last calming resort

yes, 22lb - she is tall and inquisitive and actually i think her size contributes to her frustration, as she's so strong but can't do half of what she wants yet

also, not sure if this is the case with yours, pamelat, but mine is a strange combination of clingy but actually i'm not what she wants - as soon as she has me she looks for the next thing. that's why i try and get her interested in toys, tv etc

having said that, her current favourite entertainment is slowly shredding our new argos catalogue.

oh, one other thing i've found that keeps her entertained - put a few fun things in a box with a swing open lid that she can open herself. this sometimes buys me 5 minutes, especially if i put a spoon or other non toy thing in there

halogen · 02/09/2008 22:16

pinata, maybe she just wants to know she can get you if she needs you? It doesn't mean she doesn't really want you, I think. It just means she wants to know she can have you if she needs you, IYSWIM.

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