I need help with my 15-month old DS

Is this a stage that he wil, outgrow or something more serious?

My MIL watches my kids. My oldest is in pre-k, so she is gone for the morning and comes back right before lunch.

My son is into everything and I mean everything. And when he gets disciplined (we say "no" and/or take the item away), he throws major outbursts that can go on for hours. I mean that! He screamed bloody murder at my in-laws from the time DH and I left for work until my DH came home without a break. He refused to nap as well. This has been going on for some time now.

When he's good, he's very good. But when he's bad, it's so bad to the point that my MIL has stated she may not be able to continue on with his care. And he's been bad more times than he's been good of recent (last 2-3 weeks). My DH and I are seriously looking into the possibility that we may need to find a day care facility for him.

His naps for my MIL are either non existent (he doesn't take one), or if she does get him down, he may only sleep for an hour or hour and a half, but then wakes up cranky and unwilling to cooperate. Whereas for my DH and I, he will take a 3-3.5 hour nap for us on the weekend. He goes down for bed at night around 730-8pm, but lately he's been waking up btw 7-730am when he used to sleepinh until just after 8pm.

Here is what we think may be causing this, but we don't know-he received the MMR shot and for a few days he had a fever, but it went away, and he's been having an on-again-off-again adapter rash.

My MIL had to have hand surgery at the start of August due to his twisting and flailing on th changing table making her arthritis act up. He now won't cooperate for DH or I and it takes two of us to change his diaper. Our daughter was nothing like this and I am at a loss on what to do.

Any advice or recommendations? We are willing to try any thing but we know my MIL loves him and he loves them, but this is taking a toll. DS isn't speaking yet. He understand everything we tell him (pick up that toy, put that away, let's go upstairs, go get this/that, etc) and his own current word is mommy (clear as day).

TIA if you made it his far

Re: I need help with my 15-month old DS

I forgot to add. He will eat up so much food at breakfast and then takes his milk right before his naps and when he wakes up, he refuses lunch and then proceeds to refuse dinner when it is served

I need help with my 15-month old DS

My DS is 16 months and has some of the qualities you mentioned. My son is into everything. He hates the stroller, car seat, shopping cart, etc because he wants to explore everything.

My DS thinks "no" is a joke and will continue the behavior and laugh. I need to actually redirect him. He will frequently cry/whine/beg to be held for up to 10 minutes.

I don't think a 90 minute nap is too short. DS goes anywhere from 90 minutes-3.5 hours depending on the day. When his naps are not long, he's def a cranky boy so I try to get him outside and really engage him. I figure sometimes I'm a grump when I nap too. His early wake up could be due to his shorter naps. My DS still wakes up at 5.5:30 to nurse so I'm no help there.

My DS is difficult to change (diapers and clothes); he's all over the place. I usually have to use the strap on the changing table to contain him or I change him on the floor.

As for eating, DS can be the same way. Sometimes he eats well and other days, I'm pretty sure he's going to starve.

I think some kids are just more on the go than others. I also think since DS does not understand everything you say and doesn't have a lot of words, he's probably frustrated. My DS has a handful of words and definitely gets annoyed when I don't know what he wants.

Re: I need help with my 15-month old DS

Thank you for your response! That def helps! I thought I was alone on this since my MIL said her two boys were nothing like what my son is like and it got me a little scared that I may be missing something.

I need help with my 15-month old DS

Children all have different temperaments. My one niece is similar to my DS, but even needier. My other two nieces have calmer temperaments. My mom watches my nieces and is always complaining about the needy one - like an 11 month old has any idea they're being difficult. I guess if your MIL can't handle your DS you could look into daycare. My DS is apparently great at daycare and likes to play with the other kids.

ETA: he also easily goes to sleep there, while at home requires blackout shades and 1-5 minutes of whining in his crib (for naps and bedtime).

Message edited 9/3/2015 8:49:32 AM.

Re: I need help with my 15-month old DS

My son is like this. Super sweet but will turn on a dime. We just ignore it (unless he is at risk for hurting himself because he is a flailer) and try not to give his tantrums any attention. I'm sure it is a combination of it being a phase and his personality.

Re: I need help with my 15-month old DS

This sounds a bit like my DS who is now 22 months. He's a very curious kid, into everything, and a very skilled climber. He also is crazy during diaper/clothing changes. He's starting to get better now, but we had a rough period from about 15 months to about a month ago.

For diaper changes, the only thing that calmed him was singing to him. Sometimes giving him a rarely seen toy did the trick too.

For napping, is MIL putting him down too early? Too late? Is he possibly getting some teeth? Maybe the room is too hot? These are all things we went through.

The only thing that sounds unusual to me is tantrums lasting so long. We haven't had that.

Oh, and as far as eating, my DS does that a lot too. Huge breakfast and then just picks the rest of the day.

I need help with my 15-month old DS

I think it could be a mix of a few things.

Diaper changes IMO is normal at that age. Gone are the sitting on the table with little struggle. I stopped using the table and changed wherever we were. Floor bed etc.

You said he doesn't speak yet but understands. He may be getting very frustrated because he is probably trying to tell your ILs something and they just aren't getting it. It is a tough age because they can't fully express themselves.

Also if he is super active your IL's might not be stimulating him enough. We finally put DS in daycare full time because he wasn't gettign the stimulation he needed. They played with him and took care of him but as they get older they really need more and more.

Food - I take day by day. My DS loves breakfast. So as long as I get 2 meals out of him I am ok. Now that he is older I def use the eat or no snacks line which helps.