Can I join in? DS is 14 months and was the most grumpy, high needs baby. Hardly ever smiled, cried on and off all bloody day, thankfully always slept well at night but wouldn't sleep in the day. If he hadn't been so good at night I swear I would have advertised him in the 'free to a good home' ads.
He is 14 months and is still very hard to please. He does smile more since he got walking just before his birthday but he is deffinitely strong willed and has little patience when he can't do something. He has an explosive temper and regularly kicks up a complete fuss over nothing. He whinges all the time, hates being in the car for more than a few mins, not keen on buggy either although willtolerate it as long as I give him plenty of snacks. He seems to constantly need something to explore in his hand, can never sit in a highchair, always wants to be off exploring. As a consequence me and dh have not had a meal out in 14 months. Not even a trip to McDonalds because ds would scream. I have spent the last 14 months in total turmoil thinking there must be something developmentally wrong with him .
HV say he's just fussy, GP said nothing wrong physically, too early to tell if it's a developmental thing and he's reaching all his mile stones early. He pointed at 9 months, babbles, plays peekaboo, concentrates on what he wants for 15 mins at a time. He just has a major issue with being told what to do and where he can explore. He just wants to be free and can't stand being restricted or moved away from things, even when outdoors.
Maybe he's just curious, who knows but in many ways he's a hell of a lot easier than he was (he doesn't cry 12 hours a day anymore!) but is still very challenging. It has nearly destroyed me and dh and anyone who dies this to 'fix' a relationship is clearly dillusional. Me and dh are happy now but most of the first year I was in such a mess and so worried about ds, I snapped all the time.
As soon as I look at a newborn I do get that twinge and feel maybe we should have another, but in reality I know that my experience of babyhood and motherhood was not the sleeping, smiling cherub dream. It was a writhing, screaming, pacing around jiggling nightmare.
Although ds is easier in some ways, I feel he will alway have that strong temper and will need a hell of a lot of guidance and strong parenting to be coaxed round. I don't think I would dare have another as it may mean that ds is seen as the 'difficult' or 'troublesome' child which is unfair. Also God forbid, lightening may strike twice and I'd get another screaming, can't put down, can't be still baby, I don't think my legs could take anymore pacing around my kitchen.
For this reason, me and dh are agreed ds will be an only child!