Advice please - 8 month old playing up w mummy?

[bunnymother]

Have 8 month old DD, who for the most part has been v easy and delightful. Not any more, or at least not with me.

In the last 2 weeks she has refused to be spoon fed (OK, fine, doing "nonchalant mummy" act while feeding her finger food), and our babysitter said she eats fine with her and that she is likely to be acting up w me.

However, its the nap times that are really bothering me. She used to sleep at 9am, but now won't sleep until closer to 11am, after compulsively standing every single time I put her down to sleep, even when crying and rubbing her eyes. Icing on the cake this morning was her whacking me with frustration/anger. NOT ON. She doesn't seem to do this w DH or the babysitter.

I know she is v young and this is likely to be a phase (just like the easy and delightful times seem to have been a phase [v annoyed emoticon]), but wondering whether anyone else has been through this, has any tips or has noticed babies acting badly for their mothers.

she's not acting badly, she's just being a baby.

She feels secure with you and feels comfortable testing boundaries.

If she is refusing to sleep at 9am I would not even try to put her down. She will eventually learn how to get herself down from standing - and the novelty of standing will wear off. Perhaps just get out of the house in the mornings to entertain her and to tire her out for a big nap later on?

It may be that she is moving towards just having a lunchtime nap?

You will have more easy and delightful times as she gets older and also more frustrating times

Ha ha, yes, good things are a phase, and so are challenging things - it's so we can't be lulled into a false sense of security....

Please try no to see this as her being "naughty" or whatever. She is only tiny ! She's standing at nap time because it's a fun new skill that she wants to practice. I'd just leave her, and she'll work out how to sit herself down, or you could just go in regularly and just lay her down if she can't seem to work it out - don't talk to her or make a big fuss- be matter-of-fact.

She's different with you because she feels secure with you (lucky you ). Yes, it's not nice to be hit, but try not to take it personally. In this case, I think you need to be careful not to over-react or get upset, because she might be interested in that reaction and do it again.

Excellent advice - thank you! Basically, sounds like I need to chill and ride it out.

Will take her out in the morning in her chariot pram and take the focus off when she naps. Bummer if she won't have her morning nap any more (I did love it!!), but what can you do.

Agree that shouldn't over-react when getting hit, but will continue to say "no". And complain to DH .

Overall, she is an absolute delight, but this is a testing time for me! Thanks again for your help!

Meep and Jamie are bang on.

I have nothing constructive to add but looked at your photos and your dd is gorgeous

Well, from one Bunny to another Bunny, thank you BunnyLebowski for your advice and your compliment .

bunny - i used to get soo stressed about the nap thing - and later on when they are toddlers the "will-they-won't-they have a nap" conundrum.

I was forced to take both mine out in the buggy to get a nap, and as meep says, she's probably moving to a midday nap.

Wow, she is gorgeous, with your DHs eyes ...

Thanks, Jamie, glad I am not the only one stressed about the sleeping. DH thinks I should just get on w my day and if she sleeps, she sleeps, if she doesn't, she doesn't. Think he, and you all, are right. Thanks also for the compliment in DD - we obv think she is the most beautiful thing this side of creation.

Agree - she's tiny - don't think babysitter should use the phrase "acting up" of a baby. Your DH sounds like a wise chap. And your daughter a natural BLW-er - thank her when you get to eat all your meals hot.