12 month old really sensitive lately...

[Dhunsberger]

My 12 month old son is sensitive to everything lately.

• he hates getting strapped into highchair
• he hates diaper changes and will cry and kick his legs as soon as I put him on the change table
• hates being dried off after a bath. Acts like the towel is hurting him him.
• wiping face and hands after a meal is a scream fest
• hates getting dressed and undressed.
• I have noticed him tugging at his hair a lot, especially when upset
• I can do all of these things with relative ease if I distract him with my cell phone or give him a bottle.

Anyways, is all of this common? The hair tugging is weird. I just feel frustrated with him, but don’t want to be if something is wrong?

One other thing - lot of milestone list mention holding 2 things at once, which I have seen him do maybe 4-5 times. Ever. Will he catch on eventually?

Thanks!

Sounds familiar! My DS went through a similar phase - I think they are trying to gain some control about their lives which really at this stage they don't have much control over. We tell them when and what to eat, when to get washed, when to play etc so I think this is their way of trying to say no or carrying on playing

I think all that sounds really normal. Unfortunately, they go through phases where transitions are difficult (getting out of the bath, ending a meal, getting changed/dressed). Both of mine have done the same and they are perfectly healthy and developmentally typical. The hair tugging thing is a self soothing behaviour. One of mine does it when he’s tired. Older one used to pinch herself/me.

All sounds fine. Have you had your development check with the HV? It’s usually around this time. They’ll flag up anything they have any concerns about.

I wouldn’t get in the habit of distracting with screens and food though. Just get on with it. They scream and fight you, but it’s important that they learn how to deal with these kinds of changes and feeling frustrated. It’s all part of learning about the world.