Well I guess the title tells it all. Our second child and our first boy is 19 months old and I feel like every day is a constant battle with him. Our first was a calm baby calm toddler and has been what you would call a dream child. Our second is stressing me out to the point that I'm not enjoying be with him anymore and in turn making me snap at our dd because I'm so exhausted.
He wakes, he destroys everything, crys and throws things. His tantrums seem to last all day long. He gets so angry that he throws himself about, bangs his head on anything in sight to hurt himself. Hits his sister, pushes her, pulls her hair, has even bit on a few occasions.
We put him into family day care for 1 day a week and he is perfect there, I take him out for park trips, walks, we have a big yard for him to run around in. No matter what we're doing he always finds a way to make it a horrible outing where i wished I'd just stayed at home. He will moan and pull at my leg until I pick him up and needs constant attention, and it's effecting my relationship with our eldest because I'm finding it hard to give time to them evenly. She's at preschool 3 days a week so it's not as if our son and myself never have quality 1 on one time.
When he is good he's good, and the most beautiful little boy. But lately the bad days are out shining the good days and I'm starting to resent him (it brings me to tears to even say that because I absolutely love him)
He has a good diet, healthy cooked meals. Is developing normally.
He knows he's being naughty because I'll tell him off, put into timeout and explain why ask for cuddles, and he gets it and ia calm but then 20 mins later he's doing the same thing!!!
Ahh please help me, is it a faze? Am I doing something wrong? How can I enjoy his time again? Feeling like I'm failing him as a Mother :-(
2 Replies
He is 19 months old. It's quite possible he is doing some of the naughty stuff to get your attention. Time out for 19 month olds often requires lots of attention from mum and 19 month olds don't distinguish between good and bad attention.
The best method I found at this age was baby proofing. Baby gates, locks on cupboards, play pens around tvs etc. it's a phase and the more you can block the bad behaviour the sooner he will get out of it.
My daughter was a very active, adventurous little girl she kept me on my toes, she is now 5 and has thankful grown out of it. My youngest (boy) started off as my dream child you would forget he was there at times he was so quite and good. Now he is 17 months and god I know I'm alive now, you would think he was a only child. He is always hitting his sister, climbing on things, destroying everything in sight, bangs his head against everything. But when he is at daycare the tell me what a perfect angel he is hahaha
I think it is just the age, they think there big boys and can do everything but don't have the emotional response of a big boy, which starts the tanties and head banging when things don't go their way.
They do grow out of it, good luck, stay strong!