16 month old moaning/crying

Hey hope everyone is well. I'm really struggling atm and feeling really down because Rhys is officially happy for 2 hours a day and for the rest of the day he seems a very unhappy little boy.

He constantly throws a wobbler, cries or just generally looks miserable, I don't know what is wrong with him. He has been waking up an hour or so earlier than usual for the past 2 weeks but that is due to his nappies no longer holding his wee, can't find a nappy that does. He has also starting crying when we put him down for his nap and it takes him at least half an hour to an hour to stop crying. Is it possible he doesn't need a nap anymore? He gets up at 7 am, has breakfast, dinner at 12.30, nap 1pm til 3pm, tea at 5pm and bath and bottle at 8/8.30pm.

I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong, I honestly think this must be to do with pnd (swear its ongoing). Is it me or is this just normal behaviour? Thanks

Love Toni, Rhys and Lily bump (38+3wks) x x x

Hi there x

DOnt worry mate! this is TOTALLY normal! I have suddenly got a very stroppy, angry and tearful toddler since he reached about 16 months. He is SO stroppy and he has discovered head banging on the floor which is a joy to behold lol.
I genuinely dont think its anything that we do, its just a frustrating stage for them , they are learning to understand what they want but find it frustrating as they cant yet vocalise what they need to us!
and when we are telling them No or telling them what we want them to do, they hav developed enough independance to know that it moght not be quite what they want lol. IYKWIM?
I havent found any miracle to make him go back to being my happy boy just yet but I will pm you if i do lol.
I will say tho that Riley is definatyely gettin 4 of his back teeth through which is possibly makin him worse!
hugs hunny and good luck with that little lily bump x x x x

Hi Tony,

I had this with Emily (still have to be honest) since she was about 16 months old, is it possible that he is breaking thru his molars? I found that Emily has been trying to get away without having a nap in the afternoon, and if she does sleep, its only for half hour. on the rare occasion, i have to wake her up after and hour. Try dropping his nap time down to an hour, and make it slightly later, say from 2-3pm and try and knacker him out as much as possible (easier said than done at 38 weeks i know), do you have a door bouncer, and if so, does he still fit in it? I used to put Emily in hers for about and hour at a time and sit with her and get her to bounce away as much as possble.

As for nappies in the night, i had that problem as well, i found 2 solutions through trial and error, 1) limit the amount of drinks he has a day, and 2) i started using Pampers active fit in size five at night, and huggies lil walkers during the day, the pampers hold SO much pee lol

Hope i have been of some help sweet,

Karen, Emily(18 months) and marshmallow(18weeks and 3days)

Hey karen

I think he maybe getting his molars through as he is back to drooling everywhere lol. I might drop his nap, he is proper hard to tire out, not like me then lol. He is too big for his bouncer now, he is a little chunk, surprised when he isn't knackered getting up so early and crawling round all day like a loony,

I'm starting to give him his last drink (other than night bottle) at 6pm, he has about 40oz of juice a day and his 9oz bottle at night. I'm using pamper's active fit 5 in the day and pamper's baby dry at night 5 or 5+ don't see much difference between the two. I haven't had much luck with huggies because the sizing seems wrong for Rhys, swear by the newborn ones though.

Thanks hun
Love Toni, Rhys and Lily bump (38+4wks) x x x

Hiya toni

Poor Rhys and you! I've not really got any experience in this as my Sam is only 7 months old but I wanted to reply cos you sound sad. The only thing I can think is is that could it be something to do with the new baby and feeling a bit threatened? Maybe if you are tired and feeling a bit down, has he picked up on it? What is he doing when he's happy, and then what changes it? Can't 2 be a tricky age, we've not got there yet so I have it to come! Would your HV be any help?

Sorry, I'm not much help, hope you're ok and I'm sending you and little Rhys a big hug, Rach x x x

Hey rach

I do wonder if he feels threatened because he was jealous when I held my friends baby a few months ago. It's hard to explain what he is doing when he is happy because sometimes he is just playing with his toys, sometimes watching tv and sometimes when we are playing with him but then for no reason he starts stressing and getting upset.

Maybe its the terrible two's early...he used to be really clingy with me and thankfully that has calmed down a lot, but now he can be so off with us.

Thanks for replying hun
Love Toni, Rhys and Lily bump (38+3wks) x x x

Awwww

maybe he is then, just wants mummy all to himself. Children are complicated arent they? From you saying he can be off with you I wonder if he's unconsciously punishing you a bit? He'll be fine when his little sis arrives and he's a proud big bro. I'd just give him extra cuddles and reassurance and talk about how lovely it'll be to be a big brother which I'm sure you're doin anyway.
When my friend had her second baby earlier this year she bought her 2 and a half year old a special present from her new baby brother which helped and she said that they are mostly getting on fine altho she said it is hard at times but worth it. She just makes sure that she or hubby or both still have special times for the 2 and a half year old so she never feels left out. Must be hard, it happened to me when I was 4 but i don't actually remember it! He'll be fine.

Good luck sweetie, not long to go x x x