23 mnth old never stops crying :(((

[glammymammy]

I was just wondering if anyone else had the problem of their child crying for every little thing. My 23 mnth old DS is really starting to get to me he could literally spend the whole day whinging and crying given half the chance. This time last year he was the same and I ended up on ADs from the stress of it all, my mum reckons he just doesn't like the Winter!!!!! I really try hard not to loose patience with him as i understand a lot is to do with teething but my DD who is 31/2 is really taking the brunt of me being so worn down by listening to him. I am also 6 mnths pg and am starting to dread the arrival as I know I could be in for another couple of years of this and just feel like I'm sliding down a slippery slope, sometimes feel like all I do all day is look grumpy and snap. Do not want to be this kind of Mum, I work 2 mornings a week DD is in Motessori and DS with child minder and we do things every day but still no letting up with the crying, sometimes just feel like getting in the car and driving off without them but I start to cry just thinking like that. Any advice?

I have no advice/experience, as my baby is younger and hasn't reached this stage - yet! - but it sounds like you are going through a really hard time I know it is so hard to constantly be trying to keep them happy when they just aren't, especially when you've got lots more on your plate. Wanted to wish you luck and I hope your ds cheers up soon.

I try the following

• say I can't help you if you don't tell me properly what is wrong, then ignore (normally would go to another room)
• say if you don't stop that annoying noise I will put you in the corner, then follow through
• if it was really bad I would say you are obviously tired if you are so whingy, time for you to go to bed, and put them in their room for a while.

Interestingly my DS was whinging at Sure Start and the worker there went up to him and said something like 'we do not make that noise in here, please stop now' really sternly, and he did. They treat it as strictly as someone hurting someone else.

It might well be that he is feeling very frustrated at not being able to express himself fully, quite a common problem at that age. YOu mention the Winter. It is proving to be a long, hard one, isn't it? If you can't get him out doing physical outdoors stuff now (Not so easy when you're pg, I know) things should look up when the weather is better and he can run off some of that steam..

Does he do it at childminders?

ps should say that my DS can talk so telling him to talk clearly isn't being mean

Does he sleep well at night? Most unbearable times like this are sually short term but there's always help if it isn't.
Sarah

He has also recently started to wake in hte night wanting to come into our bed that is something new as he never ever wanted to be with us before. He doesn't do it in childminders and my mum had him last weekend and she said he wasn't like that at all but started as soon as we walked in!!! He has been better today. He can talk but not full sentences so it could be frustration. I looked after my 11mnth old nephew today and he cried the minute I was nt in view and then DS had nappy from hell and had to put him in the bath with nephwe following me around crying, talk about wanting to hit your head off a wall!!! Thanks for the advice will try talking strictly to him very hard to ignore the crying tho!

GM I have had the same problem with DS2 from when he was about 1. He cried for every little thing and couldn't cope with anything. I was thoroughly depressed about it for what seemed like forever. I recently read a book about Highly Sensitive Children, which really helped a lot. Perhaps your DS is highly sensitive too? There are some good tips on how to deal with him if he is. DS2 is now 2.8 and is gradually getting much better as I'm able to reason with him more. I realised that the crying was a bit of a habit with me (like your DS, he doesn't really do it at the childminder's or nursery), but what has really helped is spending more quality time just me and him together. Also, I realised he was craving attention from me without his older brother around, so now I make sure I spend two mornings a week just me and him together. It WILL get better as your ds gets older, but I sympathise as I know how terribly draining constant whinging and crying can be.

I have a 22 month old that sometimes tries this.Must admit if we are at home i walk away and leave him to it.When he realises he's not getting any attention he picks himself up and gets on with something else.