Baby becoming mobile.. is it that bad? I thought it would help?

[goolish]

I have a very busy 8.5 month old. Wants everything, gets frustrated very easily as he seems to want to do more than he's physically able of doing. I have said to a few people it'll be so much easier when he's mobile, as at the moment he seems to be constantly grumbling because he wants something he can't get to, or gets bored of something and needs me to get him something else etc. People pull this face as if I'm insane and say how easy this stage is and how it's hell once they start moving. It's made me feel a bit crap as I've been telling myself that's when it will get easier.. am I totally wrong here?

Bump?

He sounds very active and determined. He will likely be less frustrated when he can move around more, as he'll be able to reach the toy he wants, have new adventures and explore. You already know by 8.5 months that each new stage presents new challenges along with new things to enjoy, so perhaps that's why people are saying the things they are. Obviously once they're on the move they have potential to get themselves into dangerous situations, so there's the baby proofing and needing eyes in the back of your head. I expect you know that though! Other people react from their own experience, doesn't mean that yours will be the same as theirs, just let it breeze past you and enjoy your baby's developments.

I found DS cheered up a lot when he could move as he was getting really frustrated that he couldn't move.

It does mean your on your feet chasing after them constantly but if you have a baby proofed area for them it'll be fine

Mine is 5.5 months. She is grumpy because she can't roll over and all she wants to do is stand up. I can't wait till she can move herself about a bit. And I say that as someone with a preschooler.

I had a kid like that.

It was orders of magnitude easier when he could walk!!

Yes and no - it's great not having to carry them everywhere, just being able to put them down, but remembering to watch where they are is more of a mental strain.

More than once I remember looking up from what I was doing and panicking I'd lost the baby (usually found under the coffee table, or making a break for the stairs!

I don’t think it will be easier (for you) when he’s mobile but you’re probably not wrong that he will be a lot less frustrated. It’s probably your use of the word easier that’s causing the raised eyebrows. If you’d just said he’ll be a lot happier when he can walk I don’t think anyone would have batted an eyelid!

Agree with PP it's not that it becomes easier, eyes in the back of your head comes to mind. It's that it sounds like they will become happier.

My DD was the same. Was a late crawler and would just cry at me because she was so frustrated. The whinging felt non stop. As soon as she began to crawl she was much happier, but would get into everything.

I'd say DD has become less frustrated since she got walking, but I have become more frustrated she gets into everything, messes up everything, climbs over everything. It's been quite relentless. But she's having a great time!

I definitely find it easier now DD is crawling. She also used to get really frustrated but now can entertain herself quite easily just crawling round the living room playing with different toys. I do have to stay close and watch her so she doesn’t injure herself but that’s easier than dealing with a grumpy baby.

Mine became much happier when he could crawl and then again when he could walk. He's ecstatic now that he can climb and move furniture around to climb really high and reach high things, empty cupboards, turn taps on.

He's happier, it's not easier.

A lot of people absolutely adore telling other people that things will only get worse.

No more delicious phrase than "just you wait" unless it's "if you think this is hard, you ain't seen nothing yet"

I don't know why but parenting brings this out in people.

If your baby doesn't sleep someone will try to tell you that potty training or toddler tantrums are harder. If your toddler is having a tantrum mid potty training someone will tell you teens are so much harder and they miss how easy potty training and toddler tantrums were.

People are gigantic arses who love to play the battle worn expert while terrifying anyone behind them on the time line.

I have two teens and an 8 year old. Mine were all easier once mobile, even the climber... DC1 walked at 9 months and a walking tot is way easier because they can play in the garden. Dc3 crawled at 7 months and learnt to climb almost immediately which was harder - he literally climbed door frames right to the top as well as curtains and his favourite was book shelves - I had to remove all the shelves from inside the living room book shelves for several months.

However it was still easier as they're finally happy not being carried once they're mobile and get less frustrated.

All mine were easier once walking especially. Just toddler proof a room so you can go to the toilet, and think creatively (worked for 2 of mine - a determined climber you'll have to take with you...)

enjoy. They get more fun from 5 or 6 months and it only gets better.

Nothings been as hard for me as sleep deprivation in the early years (I did have one exceptionally bad sleeper and one who was a bad sleeper until mobile die to reflux, and dc2 was my "control" baby who was a pretty average to good sleeper) .

My DD was like yours and although I had to be more cautious of what she was doing once she was moving it did make life easier as she was happier and not moaning all the time. Someone with a baby who wasn’t like mine said it was harder as she couldn’t leave the room once hers was moving but for me I couldn’t anyway as she’d cry after 2 minutes whereas once she could move she’d happily crawl and roll around and I just made the environment we were in safe so I could get stuff done

Everything got easier once DD was mobile. Once she could crawl it was hard in some ways as it meant she then HATED the pram or sling, just wanted to be crawling, but once she could walk it was brilliant!

DD was much happier when she crawled, and then walked. She was happier still when she walked.
Mobility gives them that bit of independence to reach what they want without help.
Of course it does mean you need eyes in the back of your head, but by and large you will find that you do grow these!!

I found it massively easier when DS could crawl, and then easier again when he could walk. Well, maybe not easier, but better. That's the thing, people go on about tiny babies being easy (which also made me feel shit and worried, because I didn't much like that stage) and I guess that is sort of true, but they are also so boring and unrewarding. DS is 21 months and I was just thinking yesterday how much better it is having this fun little person who can speak (a bit) and run and climb (a lot) rather than an immobile baby. He is also so much happier now - he has his moments (tantrums) but he's not yet been as grumpy again as in that stage where he wanted to move but couldn't.

My 8mo DD crawls at the speed of light and climbs up absolutely EVERYTHING.
It is great that she can get what she wants, however, that means you can't sit down for more an 30seconds without them having something, tiny crumbs that we can't even see, an item that was well out of reach, the dog that is 1000X bigger than her.
Even in the bathroom she climbs up the bath, she'll get all the toilet rolls off the stand, she stands and shakes the airer.
It is amazing when they can do things for them selves but it can be very very exhausting for us haha

Someone with a baby who wasn’t like mine said it was harder as she couldn’t leave the room once hers was moving but for me I couldn’t anyway as she’d cry after 2 minutes whereas once she could move she’d happily crawl and roll around and I just made the environment we were in safe so I could get stuff done

That was exactly what I found, too. I never know if people who go on about how much harder DS's age is than babies have easier babies or harder toddlers than me - probably both!

People also forget, when they talk about how easy little babies are. I listened open mouthed to my antenatal group all agree that it was easier when they were tiny - I remember people in tears with sleep deprivation, our meet ups were like counselling sessions! Everyone else seems to have forgotten that and just remembers that we could drink coffee without trying to chase after them, and has forgotten that it had to be cold coffee because we were always drinking it over their heads while we fed or held them...

Christ, a 16 month who can open doors, climb over stair gates and is a runner is a million times easier than a frustrated non mover. Mine didn’t crawl, so from sitting up at 5 months she was MISERABLE until 12 months when she walked.

No part of parenting is easy, but if you have a nosey non-mover, then toddlerhood is a breeze compared to infancy!

My son is much easier now he's mobile. Yes you can't put them down and leave them whilst you do something but my son was miserable not being able to move. I found an active happy baby much easier than a miserable immobile one!