Okay - my 13 month old son never sits still for one minute. I try to hold him in my lap so we can read a book and he starts screaming he wants down. I hold him down when changing his diaper he squirms and starts crying. He has fits in his car seat if hes in it for more than 5 minutes. Its getting frustrating and Im not sure if this is a behavioral issue or not - most people I ask are friends or family and they just say hes a very active child and theres nothing wrong - I dont know if theyre just being nice or what. Maybe someone can give me some advise?
What does your pediatrician say? Maybe try massage to help him adjust to his surroundings and balance his sensorimotor skills. Some children develop differently (especially sensory-wise).
Pam
i know what you are exactly going through. whenmy (now 5 year old) was that age, all the way up till he was about 3 and a half i thought he had adhd or something. the fits never ended. my 4 year old now is still like that. i found out that you just have to be stern with them. they know that you will get frustrated with them and give in. hope this helpes. i know how frustrating this is. but it takes patiance and time. they will grow out of it eventually.
J., I actually don't have much advice, but I'm writing to tell you that you're not alone. My son is the same way. He just turned 2 and hates to ride in a car seat or a buggy for more than 10-15 minutes, we can't take him to restaurants, he's a bear in church, etc. My husband and I are very low-key and calm and he's the opposite. He will, however, sit still for some videos like Baby Einstein and the Doodlebops. We try to harness that activity by running with him, letting him climb on things, and taking him to the park. We also noticed that he's very bright and curious, so maybe that's the upside to all of this activity. Hang in there.
this is going to sound strange:
but I talk a lot to my babies (ok I only have 2, lol)
what I do is to tell him what is happening next- I even make up little songs- like the car song- so as you're getting ready to go in the car you sing about it and then as you get in the car, and then when you're in the car. this is not a quick fix, but it helps with transitions and he will know what is coming. the cool thing is: soon (ok maybe it won't be until he is 2,lol, but it WILL happen) he will be singing right along with you! my 3 year old certainly knows the car song and sings it to his brother with me (5months)...
I have a diaper song too...and again, my 3yr old can now sing it to the baby (I made these songs up when my 3yr old was an infant)
another beautiful thing about this is that your kids don't realize that you have an awful voice ;-)
(well I do anyway!)
as for books: again make it part of a routine? nap and bedtime are good. choose just one or 2 books for those times. then you talk about it. ok it's nap time. we're going to read these books now, then I'm going to_______ (give you a drink, rock you, whatever it is and put you in your crib for a nice long nap). 'Activity' books are good so he can participate - like "Where is baby's bellybutton?" or "where's spot?" He might not be interested at first, but again, after days & days of you doing this he will catch on and come to realize that this is part of the routine and soon he will participate :-)
I hope this helps!
~L.
I have a son also who is now 19 months old born 5/05 and he is a squirmer and crys too. Not a car seat lover either-in fact always hated it and still does unless I get a dvd in or headphones in the stereo--- he needs a distraction. He actually wants and uses a bottle in the carseat even now....Strange --- my older two girls did not have this issue at all........... Ryan does have ecezma and allergies but other than that same mom dad etc........ just a different baby than my others.........L.
Sounds like my 13 month old!!!
He cries the entire time he is in his car seat unless he has a pacifier or cup. He squirms and fusses thru diaper changes. Reading a book - I don't even try... and I own a bookstore!
T.
