someone help me!

[tryingtobemarypoppins]

I am feeling really low at the moment. My DS 14 months is a funny, loving toddler, appears advanced in his physical development, he can walk, run, jump, climb, ride a push along etc. He is VERY busy and never really still, although will sit and read with me for 5 or 10 minutes, loves exploring everything.

His peers are crawlers, love to sit and read, cuddle up, watch TV etc etc. So he somewhat sticks out! He is refered to as the cheecky monkey! He greets them with huge excitement which has started to lead to cuddles which bundle to the floor, pats which turn into hits etc etc. I can see my friends moving their toddlers. I am firm with him and he does stop but it is exhusting.

I feel that he doesn't get anough sleep or food, the day always seems rushed and I know this doesn't help him or me!

Can anyone with a toddler this age, firstly tell me how they organise their day, food sleep etc and secondly tell me if this behaviour is worrying.

I am really feeling blue

sounds perfectly normal his an excitable baby cant exactly say toddler as such yet my ds and his friends were no different at this age

i made sure we had structured meal times and set a routine for that for his age one tablespoon per portion is enough so 3 tablespoons for all meals is more than enough food and just put finger foods out to snack such as carrot sticks or apple

try and find other activities such as painting or rice in cups to make musical instruments or a bowl of water with old towel under or old shower curtain and do water games with cups squirty animals etc

my ds loved playdoh at this age also but just because your ds has alot of energy doesnt mean his different i would of expected the others to be a bit similar in actions they'll catch up and run there mums ragged soon

just try and have some time in the day where its structured quiet play and then take out for a walk or a run around to burn off excess energy and then back for some more quiet play

at this age they want to explore everything and that is great

my ds dropped naps at 12 mths so wasn't napping but was going down early for bed make sure you do at least an hour wind down time before bed to make sure fully settled to be able to sleep

dont feel down your doing a great job

i meant 3 tablespoons pre meal not altogether in the day

really just 2 tablespoons? Maybe I am expecting too much. I just hate it when he throws everything on the floor, it feels really depressing.

He goes to nursery once a week and my mums twice. There is a big difference in him the day after nursery, much louder, into much more etc. I was thinking of moving him?? We is very easy at my mums the day before nursery, much harder the day after. Then I have four days at home with him, the first being trying to get back into a routine, the second waiting for some help from my husband at the weekend, then the weekend feeling guilty I haven't had a lovely few days with DS!!!!!!!! ARH!!!!!!!!

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Hello from someone who has been there! Ds was the same at this stage, not so much advanced re the jumping but just as active. There is no stopping that I'm afraid! As DS got older he calmed down much more. At this age, he ran EVERYWHERE. He literally went from cruising round the furniture, to running, missing out the walking stage!

things that helped me:

Play-baths. Ds sometimes had a bath 3 times a day just to have a play and so I could actually sit down!

NAP: two hours from 12 till 2, I could not have survived without this. I put ds down after an earlyish lunch at 11.30 and he slept ok with a full tummy.

I think routine was really, really key as I noticed DS became more hyper if the day was not structured; we had breakfast, got dressed, played, then some TV and a snack; then out of the house most days to park or walk (run!) then early lunch, nap, up for a play, mid-afternoon snack, more play, a light dinner, then start the bedtime routine.

i did envy friends who had more sitty-aroundy children but I told myself he was learning all the time as he was into everthing.

Oh, DS loved climbing sofa-cushion-mountains, and finger painting on the glass of the patio. These things at least keep them in one place for a few mins. Ditto playing with pots and pans on kitchen floor

HTH?

Can you move in Leo 9??!! I'll pay you!!!! I am hanging on to your line "As DS got older he calmed down much more" - how much longer to go??

Its so hard when all his friends are sooooooo calm.

Totally need to get his sleep sorted. He used to sleep 7pm to 6am, back to bed by 9am. Now he is pushing much more towards 11 ish. Trouble is, as he sleeps in the pushchair at nursery and my mums, I don't have a hope in hell getting him into his cot. I also feel bad as I work part-tme (husband in the building trade and that's all doom and gloom at the moment too )and it takes a day to get back into our routine as nursery and my mums are a bit different. I love him to bits and am more pissed off at me!

my 17 month old is just the same. always cliing, running, patting smacking, thankfully doesn't hit other children, he saves that for adults . i have to say he doesn't stand out too much at toddler group as i think as they get older thay are all a bit hyper but certainly he did when he was younger as even at 11 months he was running and trying to climb on all the chairs. he's still the first one to get up from the snack table now to go off to play and the only one that can't possibly sit for 2 minutes at the end while we all sit and do singing time, he is just not interested in that, he wants to explore everything. he's more likely to run off and try to figure out how the fire doors open or run around messing up all the toys again. he is just active but you can tell by comparing him with the others of his age that he is above average so far as motor skills. his understanding of what things are is amazing really and i think it is because he is just so inquisitive and active. it is a nightmare sometimes, nothing is safe!

just think of all the things he is learning though and i'm sure they will learn to sit still.... right??????? [hopeful]

my heory with my ds is that he's just clever and wants to know everything all at once (i maybe am dillluding myself but it's easier to that than just accept that he's a trouble causing, danger freak!)

i tend to let him eat mainly finger foods as he gets less frustrated with this, he also can use a fork pretty well so that gets him fed and entertains him for a few minutes too. i am hoping he will calm down a bit but not sure when. good luck!