Is nearly 15 month old son supposed to be quite so hyper?

[bohemianbint]

Ok, it is my first child and I don't know many so my point of reference isn't huge, but honestly, recently my lad is practically climbing the walls and sometimes it's a bit of a struggle.

Dunno if it's just been a bit of a bad day but am starting to wonder if all babies (boys?) are like this or if there might be something else going on (ADHD? Or similar?)

We went shopping, not the most fun for anyone, especially not a child, but he squirmed and whinged the whole way to the shops and all the way round for an hour. We ended up leaving early because even when we got him out of his pushchair he just wants to be on the floor and off (which is not what you need on a busy Saturday afternoon in Trafford Centre Hell.) Then on Sunday, we had some friends over and we went out for the day. Again, more wriggling and incessant whining, and when we tried to get some food he wouldn't sit in the highchair. I took him out to see if he just wanted a cuddle and a calm down and ended up getting a fat lip after he struggled really violently and nutted me in the face. We ended up leaving the restaurant in the end as it wouldn't have been fun for anyone and you could tell everyone there hated us.

I dunno, he was tired, perhaps it's normal, perhaps he's frustrated because he's not quite walking yet but I don't see other people struggling to control their kids like I seem to. The limited other people we know with kids say their daughter would sit and focus on stuff and other friends seem to have quite a chilled out son, so that's really not helping! I have to say he's not always like this but at the moment I seem to be having to leave a lot of places early, or not going in the first place just because it's more trouble than it's worth. My mum seems to think that he needs boundaries and I need to discipline him, but I think he?s a bit too young and she can?t explain how she thinks I should ?discipline? a 15 month old who just wants to be off adventuring all the time.

Am I just being oversensitive today? Are my friends? kids not a good representation? HelP!

my DS is like this - constantly on the go
he will consent to being strapped into his buggy, but prefers to be carried/walk along

He has only just started walking (at 16.5 months) and i think your DS sounds frustrated - he is nearly doing so much (hence the head butting etc as he cannot communicate his needs and wants)

My DS had a horrible phase of hitting/pinching and biting me - now he is speaking a little more that seems to have calmed down

FWIW i couldn't give a hoot how other peoples' children behave - they all play up at one time or another

your DS sounds like a regular toddler to me

Cheers Ruby. I hoped it was just frustration; some days he's fine, and apparently he's just angelic for the childminder. I was wondering if things would get better when he starts walking, or if I'm just kidding myself! Would be so much easier if he could just run round the park for an hour and get all his energy out that way...

How did you deal with the pinching/biting?

my DS is an angel at nursery too

I don't think you are kidding yourself with the walking - things honestly have got better since DS has started to walk - he is so much happier - he sees a toy, walks to it, picks it up and walks around with it - the look of joy on his face is fab!

WRT to the pinching/biting - i tell him no, in a firm voice (with serious face) and if necessary, removal from the situtation

Sounds like a perfectly normal 15 month old boy to me. He is probably frustrated at being so close to walking, but not quite there. Things will get easier, I'm sure, once he can walk (although then you get a whole new set of problems ).

FWIW, I could never take my ds (18 months) to a restaurant. He will not stay in a hgh chair or pushchair, and can't understand why he can't roam free.

cheers both of you. It's such a relief, I was getting a bit neurotic!

If I tell DS "no", he often finds it really funny. I've been trying to ignore/distract but it doesn't always work and I'm really getting sick of the sound of my own voice!

Sounds just like my DS (15 months) only he is walking...

he has quite a few new tricks...

i) Biting his big sister when she takes things away

ii) Climbing up onto the sofa, over the top and sitting on the windowsill

iii) Whinging constantly, pointing and shouting "out" or "down" when he's being carried anywhere.

iv) Houdini type tricks at getting out of his buggy straps, squirming under the bumper bar and out onto the floor!

He's a lovely lad, but oh so wearing - it's when he smiles a big gummy smiles and says "Duck: quack quack" it seems all worth while.

Oh - and then there's emptying by kitchen cupboards, switching the TV on and off, pulling the fireguard down, finding and eating scraps out of the indoor composter.... and worst of all, attempting to eat the loo brush....grrrrrrrrrr.....

BTW - DD was nothing like this!

Its typical baby behaviour, your little boy is like lots of other little boys. I suggest you baby proof the house and wait about a year or two.

It does get better once they develop speech. My little boy is now completely angelic at he age of 5.

Agree with other posters - all sounds 'normal' for a 15 month old.

Busy, Busy, Mum - do we have the same DS?!

My DS (17months) is a real handful too - climbs everything - using any toy to climb onto to reach things on counters, climbs onto and stands on the dining room table, climbs onto windowsill. Pokes everything out the cat flap - toys, dummies, pegs, balls , clean washing.

Empties out all the DVD's and videos. Body slams the cats. Pokes things in video and DVD - actually found DD's toothbrush in video player recently.

Mine also says Duck, Duck repeatedly (only word he knows) and my heart melt when he smiles and me or throws himself at my legs for a hug.

Enjoy him and trust that he will get more controllable as he gets older and develops speech.

busybusymummy and bojangles - snap. DS is exactly the same...

In desperation I tried sitting him on the bottom step to try and do time out but he so didn't get it! I just try and say a firm no and guide him out of trouble. His thing this week is hitting and grabbing my glasses - I just say no and put him down. He still does it though! DD (3 1/2 was not like this at all).

Good to hear my 17 month old ds isn't the only one- he runs everywhere, climbs everything he possibly can and is so active that around 14-15 months i asked dp do you think there's something wrong with him? i had a dd first and she was so much calmer! I love having fun with him now though- he is so sweet and affectionate along with it and love the calories i am burning off chasing him!

Ah so good to hear everyone else is as exhausted as me trying to keep their wee one safe. My 17 month old ds2 climbs everything in site, he sees it as a personal challenge.

Re keeping them still in pushchair, many many small toys, drink and snacks. I do not shop in a supermarket even though I am sahm, I order it all on-line and have it delivered.

I stand firm and do not let them out of anything where they will go running off (did this with ds1 too) so no getting out of the pram, we have walks so that he knows that the pram is like a prison and he is not getting out. Also the same with the highchair when out and about.

They have to learn to sit through a meal (I do have lots of toys in a big canvas bag and colouring stuff and blank paper, those mini thomas aqua draw mats are good too) because I think it is important for them to understand a restaurant situation. I know everyone feels that they are being judged when their child kicks off, my mate's little girl is autistic and she obviously finds it difficult to take her out and get judged. As she is 5yrs old people seem to think she should behave better.