Difficult 16 mo

[HappyBiscuit]

So my little boy is 16 months old and was a dream baby, up until about a month or so ago he became very difficult.
im home with him 6 days of the week as his dad works and I try to fill our days as much as possible however I don’t drive so we tend to just go to the park or go on walks, recently he’s been tantruming CONSTANTLY, and I mean constantly, 4/7 days he seems absolutely miserable with me but he’s not like that around his dad, he is easier and seems happy. I’m at my whits end now and don’t know what to do.
he still is more comforted by me than his dad, so I’m not sure if it’s that he prefers him, he just seems happier.
at the moment he only wants to do things he’s not allowed to, he won’t sit and play, or read books- either TV or causing chaos. I limit screen time but sometimes after a long day of looking after my miserable child I cave and put the tv on for him (and it makes me feel awful)
can anyone please just tell me this is a phase he will grow out of or give me advice please, I’m really struggling :( he’s just such hard work

Bump

It's a phase!

He's frustrated.

Have you taught him baby signs?

This is the worst age I think. Too small to really do anything but very mobile and good god do 1 year olds know what they want. Just ride it out (and don't feel guilty about putting the telly on!)

Yes, it happened to us around the same age.
It's the communication problem, I think. They understand you, but they can't express themselves. As soon as they are able to talk a little bit, it will get easier (yes, a few months away...)
The only thing you can do is explain everything well and give him choices. Like always offer more than one toy to play with, or never turn off the tv quickly (tell him you got 5 more minutes and after he will move on to play with x, and keep telling him : you have 4 minutes left..etc.
Create some signs that he can learn if he hasn't got any- food, drink, favorite toy and so on.