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Parenting

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Original poster

18 month old can’t sit still/take direction etc

30 replies

Thatsnotmycat · 13/04/2018 13:24

Help! I have an 18month old who is very active and now I’m wondering if it’s more than that. He can’t sit still at all and he hates sitting in his car seat and buggy. He doesn’t listen when you talk to him but I’m sure his hearing is ok as he does respond if it’s something he’s interested in.

It’s also an issue when we walk anywhere especially if we go to the shops. He just wants to pull everything off the shelves and run riot. Obviously I try to control him but he just screams and starts throwing a tantrum. I’m really starting to find it difficult to manage his personality.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to make him listen and follow directions better?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BasilThirty · 13/04/2018 13:32

No help I'm afraid but following out of interest as I have an 11 month old who is similar. Head is never ever still, constantly looking in all directions at any noise but only reacts to me if she knows it's something she wants. Can't sit still ever, I've never had a cuddle from her other than when she's going to bed and exhausted.
I'm drained and also think there might be more to it, some sort of sensory issues maybe.

arbrighton · 13/04/2018 16:01

Sounds normal, just have to wait til he gets older, sorry

MessyBun247 · 13/04/2018 16:03

YES all normal. It will pass.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Behaviour & development Families General parenting

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 13/04/2018 16:05

Completely normal. Expect it to improve in another 3.5 years

absolutelycrackers · 13/04/2018 16:05

This is normal .
It's your expectations that are not

CloudCaptain · 13/04/2018 16:07

Normal. Strap him in pushchair/ trolley in the shops. Or don't take him.
If he runs off in the park then find something interesting to show him. A stick or a leaf is good enough. Distraction is the key.
I have a 2yo and 4yo. The 4yo will listen but only when he wants to or is about to be told off. 2yo only follows instructions from his brother.

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 13/04/2018 16:11

Fucking hell, I hope it’s normal. If not, I am screwed!!
I have spent the last 30 minutes lifting 18mo dd down and telling her ‘no’ everytime she climbs and stands on the coffee table.
I can control a class of 34 year 1 children but my own child just laughs when I tell her off. The more firm I am, the funnier she finds it.

PinkCalluna · 13/04/2018 16:14

Totally normal I’m afraid.

At that age he’s just starting to test his boundaries.

Be firm, consistent and absolutely do not give into tantrums.

My DS was like the cartoon character Taz at that age. He’s a lovely polite very well behaved boy now but we did have to be very firm up until he was about 4.5 yo.

it’s a very testing time.

halfwitpicker · 13/04/2018 16:14

Normal.

neonyellowshoes · 13/04/2018 16:19

Normal.

Take him to soft play or somewhere else he can tire himself out.

SoftSheen · 13/04/2018 16:19

Totally normal. Nothing to do with his personality, everything to do with him being 18 months old. Provide lots of opportunities for running around outside and messy play, keep him strapped in buggy when in shops.

Grassyass · 13/04/2018 16:20

I had two like that. Perfectly normal.
They are both calm civilised adults now .

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 13/04/2018 16:20

Of course an 18 month old can't sit still or take direction. That's practically the definition of being 18 months old.

It's hard enough for a 4yo to sit still.

Guardsman18 · 13/04/2018 16:23

Run him like a dog! I had two boys like this (very tired me!) and it does stop honestly.

There's nothing wrong with him. No expert but he's still a baby!

BackforGood · 13/04/2018 16:23

No 18month old can sit still / take directions. That is perfectly normal. They are not developmentally at a stage to do that yet.

However, this

He just wants to pull everything off the shelves and run riot. Obviously I try to control him but he just screams and starts throwing a tantrum. is where your parenting comes in. He should be strapped in (pushchair or supermarket trolley) or on reins.

What do you do when he starts a tantrum ?
Most children go through a stage of having tantrums. What you as a parent need to do, is understand that, and to deal with them well - starting with not giving in to them, as obviously all that teaches is the way to get what he wants, is to have a tantrum.

megletthesecond · 13/04/2018 16:25

Normal. He should be in a buggy or trolley in shops really. Mine were much much older before they could walk in busy shops.

PinkCalluna · 13/04/2018 16:29

Mine were ok to walk in shops at 18 months but only on reins.

Original poster

Thatsnotmycat · 13/04/2018 18:47

Thanks for the responses I feel much better. When he throws a tantrum I pick him up and keep moving. I don’t give in to his demands but he then really does kick off. I once tried to leave him and walk off a few steps and he just got up and bolted in the other direction.

I tend to walk with him in the shops because we live really close and so it seems easier to carry him, but I might start putting him in it.

I tell him no when necessary but he thinks it’s funny or just plain ignores me. I don’t see myself as a soft touch but I guess I don’t know what to do to be consistent and the more he ignores me I lose a bit of confidence, and I think that in itself is making me feel less authoritative.

OP posts:

PinkCalluna · 13/04/2018 18:51

Stick with it Thats they get it in the end!

ODog · 13/04/2018 20:04

You have just described all 18mo kids.

Original poster

Thatsnotmycat · 13/04/2018 21:09

None of my friends children are like this and everyone always comments on how busy he is all the time. I think this was adding to my concern. But it’s nice to hear that other children are like this.

OP posts:

PinkCalluna · 13/04/2018 22:41

How they behave at 18 months is no indicator of how they behave later.

My DS was, as I said, like the Tasmanian Devil from Warner Brothers cartoons. Wouldn’t sit still, touched everything, wanted to climb on everything etc etc

We had to baby proof our house to the nth degree.

He was by far the wildest child in our NCT group. Even changing his nappy was a sweaty, struggle taking about 20 minutes.

He is now by far the best behaved of the NCT children. He’s kind, polite, tidies up toys at people’s houses after games are finished, joins in enthusiastically, never answers back etc.

Some of the kids who sat well at 18 months aren’t any of those things.

Put the effort in now and he’ll turn out fine.

Oh and get him lots and lots of exercise. He might (like my DS) just have lots of energy to burn off.

DS still plays lots of sport.

TittyGolightly · 13/04/2018 22:44

I have spent the last 30 minutes lifting 18mo dd down and telling her ‘no’ everytime she climbs and stands on the coffee table

When DD did this (14 months) I taught her how to get down safely and put grippy socks on her.

She’s exploring the world!

PinkCalluna · 13/04/2018 23:08

The only thing about that Titty is that it won’t be appropriate at everyone’s house. People might have glass tables or just not want a kid climbing on them.

Sometimes saying consistently no is better.

TittyGolightly · 14/04/2018 00:07

The only thing about that Titty is that it won’t be appropriate at everyone’s house. People might have glass tables or just not want a kid climbing on them.

Sometimes saying consistently no is better.

Oddly enough, one of our coffee tables is glass and she never attempted to climb on it. I don’t recall her climbing anything but stairs at anyone else’s house. Certainly never an issue anywhere away from home.

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