One year old

[SassyCrab]

I’m finding this stage very difficult, I have a 1 year old (19 months old) he was such a good baby (under 12 months), rarely cried & good sleeper. Now he’s a toddler he won’t stop screaming and having tantrums, when I take him out and he doesn’t get his own way I.e if he wants to walk instead of his pram then he starts throwing himself everywhere and has a piercing scream which I find so embarrassing, it makes me not want to go out. If he’s tired then the same thing… he can walk but not confidently as he only been walking for a month, so he’s not able to walk in busy places etc yet but he hates his pram. I feel like I’m constantly telling him no where’s he’s really testing boundaries. Is this normal at this age and does it get better?! He’s my first child so it’s all new to me. I actually found new born stage a lot easier!!!!

Yes I found it got easier when they can communicate better. I never let the tantrums stop us going out though. We went to places like park, woods, toddler groups where they are free to explore and there wasn’t lots of expectation on them. Always carry snacks to help you leave!

I hope it gets easier, I’ve booked two holidays just for me and him and I feel like I’m not gonna manage okay 😭 whereas when he was a baby it was easy! Yeah I think he gets frustrated a lot he just wants to be able to walk by himself, maybe I need to stop taking him out I.e shopping and just take him more to things for him so it don’t matter and we can go home if he’s not happy 🥲

Manage your outings accordingly. Give him less opportunities to kick off. For example, go where he can walk , only go to the park when you have lots of time for him to play. Try to avoid the word NO as much as possible. I'd avoid shopping if possible. Rotate toys at home so he can't make too much mess. You really have to adapt with toddlers!

You could get one of those scooters that has a seat (that you remove as they grow) with a handle for you to push instead of the pushchair maybe? It’s a tricky age. I used to go to the park or softplay and just get him crawl around, places I would be able to get him out. The weather is getting better so it will get easier.