13 month old behaviour - normal??

[lou031205]

I will admit in advance that I may well be a bit paranoid, because DD1 has quite significant SNs (starting Special school in September).

So....

DD3 is 13 months. She is smart. Really smart. Fine motor skills are quite normal amazing, I think. She loves copying her sisters, and yesterday was using threading cards, and managing to get the string through the hole and pull it through.

Gross motor, also ok. Just taking her first steps.

Speech fine, making sounds, very clear pointing, very good at communicating what she wants.

So what's the issue?

Well...

She CLIMBS. In the last few weeks I have caught her:
-Using an upturned box (about 8" tall) to climb on and trying to open the front door.
-Pushing a booster chair over to a dining room chair, then climbing on the dining room chair.
-Holding on to the sofa arm, and climbing up the computer table
-Holding on to a toy piano, then putting one foot onto a piano stool & hauling herself up on to it.
-Climbing on to a stereo stacking unit from the sofa
-Climbing on to an upturned, off-balance laundry basket and 'surfing'

She also has the most horrific tempers. If we don't do what she wants, or stop her doing stuff she wants to do, she yells & screams. She also raises her hand and deliberately hits, and if that doesn't work she turns her head to bite and headbutt .

Is this normal one-year old behaviour? Or should I be concerned? She seems bright as a button, but I do worry.

Her oldest sister (4.6) has a brain malformation, and she is globally affected, so wasn't doing all the physical stuff DD3 is doing, but she did climb before she could walk, and she also had temper tantrums which were quite horrific at this age.

WTF are you worrying about??!!!!! Your DD sounds absolutely fine and definitely a smart cookie. My DD is just 14mo and is doing all the same sorts of things (her 17mo cousin is not nearly as active or independent). She doesn't hit or bite (yet) but def screams if she doesn't get her way. Really, don't worry a bit, your DD sounds perfect and very bright- the more difficult they are, the more intelligent they are!

"WTF are you worrying about??!!!!! "

Thank you for your reply, debka. I thought I had made it quite clear what I was worried about. My DD1 has a brain malformation and is going to special school in September, so when I see things in DD3's behaviour that remind me of DD1 at this age, but not DD2, it worries me a little. Not that DD1 isn't wonderful, and not that I'd feel gutted if DD3 had similar problems - but I'd want earlier intervention than poor DD1 got.

i THINK ITS QUITE CLEAR WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT BUT SHE SOUNDS JUST FINE! (sorry didn't mean to shout)

I think its related to what they see going on aound them. DD2 was climbing huge things before she could walk (she could use the TP 5ft slide before she was 1 perfectly competently) because she was watching her sister.

She sounds super bright and that probably explains the temper too sadly, when her language catches up with her mind she'll probably even out IYSWIM

Well I can imagine she's making your days quite difficult

She sounds more advanced than my 13 month old, but I have just noticed her making 'attempts' to climb, in that she'll hold onto something high and try to get a foothold to step up. My DD can point at quite specific things, and also get across what she wants, like she'll gesticulate at my bag when she wants a snack, and shakes her head/pushes my hand away if I offer her something she doesn't want (like a vegetable for instance)

I'm also seeing little flashes of temper tantrum, not quite as strongly as your daughter but then mine is PFB so she doesn't have two older sisters to copy or perhaps learn from.

It sounds like your daughter is indeed smart but I can't see anything desperately unusual, although if it's reminding you of your DD1 at the same age, would it put your mind at rest to speak to your GP/HV, or does your DD1 have a specialist who could advise?

DD is now 22 months, but she climbed early - I kept finding her on the kitchen table. She and her brother are like geckos, they really are. They seem to have a need to climb. They are both just fine developmentally.

Given your history, I would want some reassurance at this stage, though. I know that feeling because DS2 has SN and it does make you antsy with subsequent children. It's worth it just for your peace of mind, whether there's anything to worry about or not.

all the climbing sounds great- obviously not from a danger point of view but she clearly is developing nicely physically.

i've heard alot of people discussing their children headbutting and/or biting. mine bit more than butted but both are ways of getting attention/getting a point across or sometimes displaying excitement.

sorry to hear about the challenges you've faced with your eldest daughter- you're bound to be more concerned about your other children.

i have similar things happening with dd who is dc3 and is 14mths.

incredibly determined in everything she does, very good at communicating what she wants, climbing everywhere and absolutely fearless.

i think her development is 'normal'....i'm assuming dd is doing fine, i'm just thinking she is going to have lots of personality when she's older........

the biting has started, along with hair pulling...not nice at all.....a sharp tone (not shouting) gives a clear indication i'm not happy!

My DD1 was a climber too....she learned quite early that she could pull a chair/stool over to whatever she wanted and climb up.....makes putting things out of reach pretty difficult She has always been ahead of her friends physically (sat/crawled/walked early etc)

As for the temper it also sounds pretty normal. DD1 went through the same thing, although was probably a good few months older than your DD when it started. The good news is that it is just a phase and will pass!

If you are at all worried though, I would have a chat with your HV or GP to put your mind at rest X

Thank you all DD had her 10-12mth check today & the HV agrees it is normal behaviour for some 13 month old babies.

Hi Lou, I didn't mean to sound so aggressive in my post, I was just surprised you were asking when your daughter sounds so normal and bright. Sorry if you were hurt

Glad the HC has put your mind at rest though.

That should read HV obviously!

No problem, debka, I was just anxious, but reassured now, thank you.