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Parenting

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Original poster

Is it just me, or is 16 to 18 months-ish a really difficult age?

47 replies

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 10:54

My son is nearly 17 months, lovely, very cute, very funny and learning stuff all the time. But goodness I am finding it hard at the mo. His sleep is awful. He is having loads of bumps and tumbles as he insists on throwing himself around the place. He is into everything. He thinks hitting his sister and us in the face is a funny game. He is getting much more anxious about separating from me than he used to - even though its only his doting grandparents that he goes to two days a week (and has done for 8 months now, and loves them to bits).

I don't remember it being like this with DD, but maybe I have blanked it out, I can't remember much about it really!

Anyone else in the same boat? And is there anyone with say a 20/22 month old who can reassure me that in a few months it will be MUCH MUCH BETTER??!!

Thanks all
love Bumps x

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2monkeybums · 13/03/2013 11:11

Ds2 who is 17 months is exactly the same. Ds1 is 22 months and he continued to be hard work until very recently, it was the start of his terrible two's! I am hoping they wont be so terrible this time!

2monkeybums · 13/03/2013 11:12

Sorry Ds2 is not 22 months, he is nearly 3!

2monkeybums · 13/03/2013 11:13

Ds1 not Ds2, im going now

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Original poster

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 11:16

Don't apologise Monkey. I know you are too knackered to think straight if your DS2 is like my DS .

Had such an awful night last night. He was up at 11, 3 and then 6. To add to the mix, at 4am, just to shake things up a bit, his sister (3.9) vomited all over herself, pyjamas and bed - necessitating full shower etc.

DH is away all week too. Sob!

I'll stop offloading now.

OP posts:

HorribleMother · 13/03/2013 11:22

You must be shattered. Look after yourself. :)

Ellen7 · 13/03/2013 11:25

Hi bumps

My dd is 20 months and to be honest I find it a bit of a struggle sometimes in the same way. She's quite a good sleeper but throws tantrums every five minutes over anything throwing herself around and I've always got bruises with all the constant playful rough and tumble she does. For me it's a question of keeping her as occupied as i can and calm. She is quite clingy also. Attempting to settle her into a nursery which is interesting :-)

Doesn't help with your question but maybe others would have more experience on dealing with it

minicc · 13/03/2013 11:26

I thought it was just me! My daughter is 16 months and she is totally gorgeous and I enjoy her much more than I did when she was tiny (I had a really rough year!) BUT when she throws a wobbler, cuts teeth or throws herself of the sofa it is just horrid. This too shall pass.....

SolomanDaisy · 13/03/2013 11:28

I have a 20 month old, it is SO much easier than 12-18 months. He falls over much less, he understands so much more, he can tell me things, he is pretty much over the hitting/scratching/biting (for now). He has always been the cutest, loveliest thing but the falling over, touching everything phase was exhausting!

Original poster

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 11:31

Thanks everyone. I am encouraged!

OP posts:

forevergreek · 13/03/2013 11:31

I find 18-24 months the worst. They can't communicate properly and get frustrated, and also want to do ' grown up' stuff more ( walk instead of buggy, try and fail getting dressed etc)

We seem to have missed the terrible twos with eldest, and youngest is within the 18-24 group. Seems to be getting out of it the nearer to 2 he gets though

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 13/03/2013 11:34

It is a tough patch, definitely. And then they hit the terrible twos and you get all the tantrums!

Pamsie · 13/03/2013 11:37

I'm glad I'm not the only one. My DD is 17 months and not walking properly yet, but that does not stop her from finding the most awkward places to get stuck. She is a good sleeper though, so can't complain on that front. But the tantrums, hitting and just being clingy is knackering.
But I still miss her when she is having a nap or sleeping.

forevergreek · 13/03/2013 11:39

Ps we found allowing/ encouraging independence has helped avoid the terrible twos.

Also easy rules they understand. So for example we have you need to eat at least half dinner to get desert. ( yogurt) if they want to eat one spoon and leave we wouldn't fuss but they understand nothing else so don't seem to argue it.

enormouse · 13/03/2013 11:44

Oh thank you for posting this! Thought it was just my little DS(17 months) driving me crazy. He is wonderful, very sweet natured and calm usually but so far today he has

got angry because his daddy did not make beans on toast the right way (forgot to remove crusts, or cut into fingers - silly daddy)
got angry because I did not load his fork with the right ratio of beans to toast to cheese
wanted to dose himself with calpol instead of me do it so I'm now covered in the sticky crap (he's teething so he's much much worse than usual) I am counting down the hours to bed time. And he also gets terrible seperation anxiety. I go to uni part time and on the days I go he gets up extra early (5am) to try and persuade me to stay. It's the lack of being able to communicate that's so frustrating for everyone.

enormouse · 13/03/2013 11:56

pamsie my DS isn't walking independently either. So toddles, gets himself stuck, clings to legs, crawls at speed and wants carried. It seems to be a very full on, tiring sort of age.

Dirtymistress · 13/03/2013 12:01

My ds1 17 months can be really difficult. Having some sort of crazed sleep regression, tantrums over nappy changes, getting dressed, going in buggy. Have just been to toddlers with him and ds2 (born Sunday) where he pulled two kids hair. This has gone on for about a month. Sigh.

Jojobump1986 · 13/03/2013 12:05

Yup. DS is nearly 17 months. He's suddenly incapable of staying on his feet, despite having been a confident walker for at least 3 months. He's got so many bruises you'd think I'd put him in the washing machine. He's currently coated in dried on snot so that's looking like an increasingly attractive idea...! He's recently decided that tantrums are the appropriate response to the word 'no'. He's always been a v independent child but has started having days where I absolutely must be in the same room as him. These days usually coincide with the days when I need to be doing things. I don't get to have lie-ins anymore since he's given up his morning sleep so DH can't give him breakfast & put him back to bed before going to work if I've had a bad night with my pregnancy-induced insomnia. Shrieking is the best noise. Doing something while being repeatedly told to stop is hilarious. Biting is a great game...

On the other hand, a combination of about a dozen words & half a dozen signs means he can communicate a lot better so frustration is less of an issue. His new-found 'clinginess' means he comes back to me when we're out rather than wandering off never to be seen again. He's just figured out how to stack rings on a pole & do simple puzzles so his concentration span is increasing & he can be left doing something for longer. He can now walk a mile easily while holding a hand which means that I don't have to break my back trying to push him up a steep hill in the buggy this is a good thing, even if it does take nearly 4x as long to get anywhere AND he just spontaneously came over to me & kissed me! He's never done that before!

Original poster

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 12:06

A thing a collective sigh all round is needed. Aaargghh.

Just clearing up the sick now. I hadn't appreciate previously that it had infiltrated into all the random books that DD has "posted" down the side of her bed. And left a lovely stain all down the wall on its way there.

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 13/03/2013 12:14

I think the falling over and bumping into things and screaming is very difficult. Mine weren't too bad at this if I remember correctly. I think three/four is the hardest as they seem to get very determined. And some don't even grow out of that.

QTPie · 13/03/2013 13:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

enormouse · 13/03/2013 13:19

I think a stiff beverage is in order for everyone.

(After bedtime of course Xx)

Original poster

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 13:19

Thanks everyone for your stories and encouragement. I feel a new strength surging in me!

And congrats on your little DS2 DirtyMistress; how lovely. Hope you are surviving the onslaught and not too sore. Keep your expectations rock bottom then you can't be disappointed, ho ho!

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Original poster

Bumpsadaisie · 13/03/2013 13:21

Enormous - that's the thing I can't do- I've given up booze for Lent! Aargh. God knows I could do with a half pint glass of Harveys Bristol Cream at the mo.

Perhaps it was a good move. I would be drunk by midday if I hadn't, the way things have been this week

OP posts:

jammybean · 13/03/2013 13:31

Great post OP. 18 months going on 15 here. I thought I'd take DD out for lunch as we've been cooped up for over a week with a nasty virus. What does she do? Screams blue murder in the street for 30 mins whilst I hurry her home. Now sleeping like butter wouldn't melt.

Free to a good home. Anyone?

enormouse · 13/03/2013 13:37

Move to a different vice Bumps, maybe cigarettes or rollerblading.
jammy try ebay, 'charming, high spirited 18 month old, 1 previous owner'

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