ds age 5 is soooooo grumpy. Wonder why? medication side effect? sad syndrome?

[Tigi]

He is realy really moody, grumpy, argumentative, miserable and stubborn. Not at all like his 2 older brothers, and I don't know why. Wondered if it could be -
1.sad syndrome

1. grumpy cos he has itchy eczema legs, although aren't too bad now.
2. He has a brown inhaler for asthma twice a day, is moodiness a side effect?

I'd be grateful for your thoughts, thanks...

Is he in reception or yr 1? My DD is a lot more tired and bad tempered now she's in yr1.

I'd think SAD is the least likely explanation. Work through the possibilities, trying the most likely first.

Can't suggest any reasons myself without a bit more background - how's he doing at school, for instance? Is he getting enough sleep/exercise? Is this a recent thing?

FWIW I know several 5yo friends of my ds who seem to be going through a grumpy stage. Some of them are like ruddy teenagers in the mornings! So maybe a normal 5yo thing but you struck lucky with your older two?

year one.
He says school is ok.
The first thing he said when i picked him up yesterday was (in a grumpy voice) 'why did you give me those big bread sandwiches which take ages to eat'(crusty bread).
Bawled all the way home the other day because we hadn't gone on bikes to school. grumpy and fighting with brothers., He really is terrible, and expects to do everything he wants all the time.

Oh, re the inhaler, I doubt it but do check the patient information leaflet - there should be one in the box.

Maybe the eczema is keeping him awake at night? Enough to make anyone grumpy, let alone a 5yo.

He goes to bed at 7pm, sleeps til 7pm, so can't be that. eats well, so not that. I honestly did wonder about sad though. He has always been stubborn, but definatly worse in the last month.

Maybe he's carving his own little niche in the family - do the two eldest have their positions? You know, the clever one and the good looking one or the sporty one - if there's not much left for no. 3 he might start to create an image that really isnt helpful.

Been putting 'aveno' on it (mumsnet recomends!) and has really cleared it up - not scraping at it at all now!

Does he wake up on his own, or do you have to wake him up? Apparently if you have to, it's a sign they aren't getting enough. I know you said 7 to 7 but still...

Have you asked him? Sat down with him for a bit of quiet time, just the two of you, and brought it up in a no-pressure kind of way?

DS1 is grumpy too. He started year 1 in September and I think the work is wearing him out. I'm putting it down to tiredness and hoping things will improve with time. He's been extra grumpy since the clocks went back and messed up his body clock.

To be honest he sounds very similar to my DD and her friends- behave beautifully all day at school and then nothing is right when they get home. First thing with DD is immediate food when we get home -they have lunch at 12 o'clock so she is starving by 3.45 when we get in .Also I don't ask her about her day until she's eaten and had 10 mins sitting down in front of T.V. by which time she is usually more amenable. But nonetheless she is often whiny/teaful/arguementative at the moment but it seems not unusual when I spk to my friends - apparently it will get better spring term when they are more used to the more structured day in Yr1. Best of luck!

I went to DS1's parents' evening tonight and his teacher says he's really happy and sweet in class. but he's so miserable and whingey after school, which leads me to the tiredness conclusion.

My GP told me that the testosterone levels in boys start to increase around this time and that is why they have the need to do all the aggresive play that they do.

I used to get hung up about it until I spoke to my GP, now I'm happy to let my 5.5 yo get on with it (ie karate chopping everything that isn't nailed down), unless he is being obviously rude or in danger of harming himself or others.

when he kicks off at DH and I we just try to stay calm and not let him see we are bothered by it. And sticker charts to encourage appropriate behaviour are working very well for us.

Hi Tigi, my older son has the brown inhaler twice a day and he gets much more grumpy during the school term weeks due to tiredness, so for him there are no side effects from using the brown inhaler.

How much do you know about the teacher your little one has? Any chance of being a mother helper in the class to get a first hand view of what it's actually like being in the class?

Year 1 in our village school used to be a real culture shock after Reception. Both my sons were unhappy in yr 1.

Good luck in your search for the answers.

I have also noticed a change in my 5yr old ds's demeanor and mood.
Quite grumpy in the morning and reluctant to get going,very teenagery as another poster suggested.
He is also more clingy than he's ever been,has never really been clingy at all.
I am hoping it's a phase due to change/tiredness/school(he's in reception)/and possible testosterone surge.
My ds also has asthma and eczema and has steroid inhaler 3puffs twice daily.I don't think it's that as he's been having that dose for a long time now.

Hi, spoke to teacher this morning, she will keep an eye on him. Says he is really sucking on his thumb at the moment. I do go in and help read anyway, and I am happy with the teacher, so not worried about that.
He wakes himself in the morning, but i do know his asthma makes him tired, so it could be possibly that, but he is just so much more grumpy now, say than a month ago. The only time he is sweet and cuddly is when he wakes up, but thats only because he is still dopey!