Generally my son is fairly happy. However lately it seems he is very restless, grumpy, upset and just gets mad.
If he is playing and he needs a diaper change, I state "diaper time" so he get aware that he will be taken away from what he is doing. Each and EVERYTIME he gets mad. Arches his back, screams and just kicks. Each time I have to try and change his behavior so I can get the job done without struggling with him. He even gets mad when I dress him each day.
If I tell him leave it (i dont say no) for an object he isn't suppose to touch, he grunts at me, looks at me and trys to touch it again!
He also has become very restless during naps (they dropped from an hour to half hour) and during bed time. He thrashes around back and forth. He gets up on his hands and knees, screams, rocks back and forth and sometimes crawls out of bed to come get me. He is even waking up every two hours and having a very difficult time staying asleep throughout the night.
Is this normal?
My 10 month old acts the same way, and I've heard that other kids this age are the same. So I wouldn't worry, hopefully it will pass.
Not that I'm any expert, but it sounds like he needs sleep: better quality and higher quantity. Sleep begets more sleep. Try establishing an early bedtime, around 6-7pm. Put him down for two naps starting around 9-10am and again starting around 1-2pm. Close the door and let him learn to soothe himself to sleep. That means letting him cry but believe me, it will diminish within days. I used this method. I never thought I'd be able to let my baby "cry it out" but can't argue with results. I used "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" as a guide. He sleeps like a dream now and is so mellow and happy. You and he will both be so much happier. I also found that my family sleeps better in separate rooms. I was sad when we quit co-sleeping, but it was obviously the better arrangement. On the occasion that we sleep together (traveling, etc.) he is too distracted by us to get good rest. So try putting him in his own room where he cannot crawl out and join you. I know it sounds harsh, but you will be guiding your child in ways he will not like at first, but you know as a parent it is the best way, just like eating veggies, wearing a helmet, etc. Think of it that way!
My son is 10 months old as well...and he is doing a lot of what you are experiencing with your 10 month old son. I’ve noticed that my son fights sleep at night when he doesn’t get in a good evening nap. So the suggestions from the other moms regarding the lack of sleep sounds right on. As for the changing…I use one of those small skinny flashlights. It stays right by my changing area and he only gets it when I am changing him. This way he never gets bored with it and his attention is on the flashlight instead of being mad having to be changed. When you’re finished changing him…pick him up and put away the flashlight. Good luck, and Have a wonderful day!
Everytime my 7 month old daughter goes through these sorts of changes it happens at a time when she is going through a major developmental stage. Perhaps his brain is contemplating walking. I can't speak to the tantrums but the restless sleep I solved in our daughter last week by going back to swaddling her. Worked treat. Before I did this she was waking up every hour or so (having been a baby that slept very well) and thrashing about in bed. No she wiggles a bit and goes back to sleep right away. She hated being swaddled as a little baby so it never crossed my mind until I watched her thrashing away and having what looked like an out of body experience. I realize at 10 months he may be too big to swaddle but it might worth trying.
He seems normal. My son did this also. It got so bad that I finally mastered the fine art of changing a baby as they are running away. I can change a diaper on the run, upside down, and while he is twirling/spinning/turning! It is a PAIN, but on the other hand it show he is asserting his independence and picking things he favors! My oldest has autism and never really went through this phase, so take heart. As for the naps, place a bunch of pillows or blankets around his crib in case he tries to make an escape. Read him a story, sing a song and put him to bed. It took months for me to get a routine with my youngest (he'll be 2 in a couple weeks!) He is now the easiest toddler in the world to put to bed. We do the same things in the same order, at the same time, every single day. Yes, it is a pain to not be able to go anywhere from noon until 3pm, but I have a happier kid. Everyone knows that a happy kid is a happy mom! Also, try giving a light snack and something to drink before brushing his teeth and putting him down for a nap. They grow like weeds at this age and he may be waking up because he's hungry. Also, try putting a picture of the family in his crib. My son loves taking something to bed with him every time. He's slept on cars, soft animals, books, spoons, a bowl, and just about anything else. Just make sure he can't choke, strangle, or otherwise hurt himself with it. Good luck!
Yes, this is totally expectable behavior for this age, but is it acceptable to you? Temper tantrums and fighting with you over necessities like diaper changes/getting dressed and direct disobedience are not acceptable behavior. He is testing you to see who really is in charge here and right now it sounds like he is. Your 'leave it' needs to actually mean something. What is the consequence for not obeying you? If he's looking right at you and grunting his disaproval, he obviously is aware of what you said, so there is no chance that he just doesn't understand. Basically he's saying 'oh yea, make me' in is non-verbal way. Like I asked before, is this acceptable to you? What does that disrespectful behavior look like from 5 year old? A 15 year old? Children don't just magically begin to behave properly as they get older. Unchecked tempers, direspect and disobedience just get worse and make for a very unhappy life.
I know it is hard to discipline your 'baby', but if he's old enough to test you, he's old enough to have some consequences for it. Hang in there and keep your eyes on the long term. What do you want for him later? If he is allowed to fight you over day-to-day requirements, he's going to have a hard time obeying teachers, coaches, etc. Is that really what is best for him in the long run? You can do this! Stick to your guns and you will have a much happier child.
No, it's not typical 10 month old behavior...it's typical 10 month old BOY behavior! Congratulations! You have a son!
i think he could be teething due to the rough sleeping patterns. The rest is the terrible 1's. He is a boy so he has a 1 track mind and doesn't want to be interrupted when he is doing anything he likes. Kinda like men when sports is on TV and you ask them a question and they just grunt a little....sound familiar?
Find a toy he LOVES that he can only play with during diaper time so he has something to look forward to. Some call it a bribe - I call it motivation.
Learn to say NO - at this age they don't understand explanations - pick him up and move him away from the forbidden object. It takes about 15,000 times but he'll get it. My son loved to reach in the baseboard heaters and pull the wires at that age. We had the heaters tured off at the circuit breakers - yikes, huh?
hang in there - it gets easier when they are about 3.
;)
Hi D.,
Totally normal behavior. He is testing his boundaries and figuring out whats next for him. Try to be patient :)
Molly
My 11 month is very difficult to change diapers and his clothes. Sounds like he is doing the same thing your baby is doing during changes. I think your little guy is going through a growth spurt or something. This can be make them very irritable and frustrated. My little guy is just starting to give me a little trouble at night and wants me to hold him. Even when I hold him when he's sleeping, he's very restless and cranky. I think it's just a phase they work through. In the meantime, I know it's hard on us mom's and we can either let them work it out or cry it out (which I don't have the courage to do) or we just love them and do what we can. It should get better in a month or so.
sounds like it could be teething and/or a big developmental push. i found that when before my son would have a big developmental push, he'd sleep terribly. i remember a couple nights where he'd go to sleep until the wee hours of the morning and then just wake up miserable. there's an extra bed in his room that is pushed up against the wall, so i'd just lie down in that bed and attempt to sleep while the poor little guy sort of thrashed around. he'd want to sleep, but couldn't so then he'd sit up, then he'd cry because he wanted to be lying down and sleeping. this happened about 3 nights in a row just before he started crawling and then again before he started walking. and the teething, too, also makes them miserable and at 10 months the 1 year molars are starting to grow. they push for a long time deep down before you can even feel them under the gums. teething really is a difficult part of having/being a baby.
good luck!
So normal. My 10 1/2 month old is going through this. I actually have to chase my daughter around the house to change her diaper. When I put her on the changing table she twists and turns and I can barely get a diaper on her. Doesn't help her 3 year old brother is egging her on. My daughter, now, has to be near me when she falls asleep. I'm indulging her now, I know it is a phase. As she gets closer to 1 years old I will break the habit. I'm just enjoying it now. Have fun
Welcome to motherhood. You are the proud parent of a perfectly normal 10 month old boy. Congratulations! My advice? Pray over him every day and pray for yourself to have the wisdom to deal with all that motherhood brings.
I agree with some of the other Moms that your son's behavior sounds like a perfect storm of teething (can you feel his molars coming in?), too little sleep, and a behavioral/developmental shift.
My daughter would also sleep poorly and become really irritable right before a big change, like learning to walk, cutting a big new tooth. It's especially hard when they're working on cognitive development. When they're just growing they sleep great!
I'm sure it will change again.
I would suggest giving lots of warning. For example, "diaper change is coming up!" say this a few times in the minute before you change him. He may not get it entirely, but eventually he'll learn that a transition is coming and the warning will help him adjust.
Good luck! It gets better again!
First a question -- is his bedtime early enough? Overtired children actually sleep worse both during the day and at night. The book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" provides excellent information about how much sleep a child needs at different ages. This whole issue could be about his being overtired. It's really important to get your son down at the first sign of fatigue (a yawn, rubbing eyes, even just a glazed look) before his adrenaline kicks in and makes it hard for him to sleep.
Second, your son is too young to respond simply to verbal prompts, such as "Leave it." At this age, distraction worked much better. For example, if he is going after something you do not want him to touch, redirect his attention to something else he really likes. Ignore the initial object; just get really excited about the one you're introducing. Babies' attention spans are so short that distraction is an extremely valuable tool at this age. As for changing time, lots of babies don't like to be changed. If you are really concerned, call the pediatrician. Again, though, I would really look into the amount of sleep he is getting and when he is getting it. I hope this helps.
