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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

Surely not a toddler overnight already?

9 replies

AmIDoingThisRight · 05/04/2009 19:52

Am slightly losing the rag with DS at the moment. He's 13.5 months old, and practically overnight has gone from being a smiley, happy little chap who loves bathtime to a writhing, screaming monkey and I'm at a loss to know why.

From about Thursday he's been a bath refusenik and arches his back, screams and thrashes about if we try to give him a bath. Also he refuses to brush his teeth - I gave up tonight because it all descended into baby meltdown and he went to bed with unbrushed teeth.

He's a lot more grumpy in the day because he's getting tired more quickly and wakes up in the morning at about 5:45 but refuses to go back to sleep. So by about 11 in the morning he's pooped and in need of a nap, so I quickly give him lunch (at 11! Madness!) and he does sleep well for a couple of hours. Which is lucky.

He dropped his morning nap a couple of months ago, should I reintroduce it so that he has one in the morning and then another in the afternoon? Am wary of doing this because it's taken an hour to get him to go to sleep this evening despite him being really tired.

Just a phase or something I should be worrying about do you think? Really just a desperate cry across the ether to see if anybody else has gone through this sticky patch.

No temp or obvious signs of teething as far as I can tell.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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LadyOfScoffleTheEasterEggs · 05/04/2009 19:54

DS gets very grumpy if he is tired - I just generally let him (or used to) nap when he wants, but not for too long and not after 3pm. Just follow his lead, they change their needs all the time. At just 3, DS still has the odd daytime nap after not having them for a good few months.

smallorange · 05/04/2009 19:59

This sounds like tired behaviour - not surprising if he's waking at 5.45 (yu must be tired too.)

Both of mine went through an early waking phase around this time - is he walking yet? Learning to walk made mine a bit hyper.

Could you try and let him have a long nap in the morning before lunch? Then a shorter one a bit later if he'll take it?

Original poster

AmIDoingThisRight · 05/04/2009 20:07

He's not quite walking, but almost. He can walk holding onto things with one hand, but not yet on his own. Could that be something to do with it?

It does sound like he's tired, you're right. I just don't know how to make him not wake up so early!

OP posts:

smallorange · 05/04/2009 20:11

I think learning to walk can make them quite hyperactive - so when they wake they just want to get up and get on with trying to walk etc.

Things got better when my two were walking because I could then wear them out in the park.

You might have to grit your teeth and get through this phase.

Pheebe · 05/04/2009 20:20

Try ditching your routine and your expectations of him and try following his lead a little bit. If he wants his lunch at 11, let him have it (can't see the problem myself). Try bathing him in the mornings instead. Stop brushing his teeth for him and just let him do it - t this age its more about diet and minimising sugar exposure than plaque removal anyway.

He's probably increadibly frustrated with life at the moment - aware he can influence the world around him but not sure how to do it yet. Add into the mix constant gum ache and you can't really expect them to be happy bunnies.

Been through this with both dss, in the midst now with ds2. We cope by trying to see it all from his point of view as much as possible and reminding ourselves this is him venting his frustration not him trying to be naughty and annoy us. Lots of sympathy, open arms and going with the flow has been the way for us.

BEAUTlFUL · 05/04/2009 20:35

How light is it in his bedroom? My DS2 (14 months) was waking up at 4:40am on the dot every day. Even though we have blackout blinds and curtains up, it still wasn't that dark, so in desperation, I taped FOIL to the inside of the glass. Now he wakes up at 7! Plus he naps a lot better too in the dark room.

BEAUTlFUL · 05/04/2009 20:36

Did this all start a couple of weeks ago when the clocks went back? just wondering if it's daylight-related.

BEAUTlFUL · 05/04/2009 20:37

When the clocks went forward even...

Gangle · 09/04/2009 22:52

Sounds completely normal to me! DS is 12 months and is a complete monkey and if he doesn't want to do something it's virtually impossible to make him. Learnt to walk a few weeks ago and now that's all he wants to do and woe betide anyone who gets in his way. Almost impossible to brush his teeth and lots of back arching and screeching at nappy changing and dressing but generally very happy otherwise. And 5.45 is late, surely?? Would just go with it.

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