A One Year Old Having A Mid- Life Crisis?!

@megs85 (3142)
Australia
May 30, 2007 11:05pm CST
Okay, I didn't know how else to phrase it, but my one year old son- my little "angel" as I always refer to him to family and friends has become a mess in the last few weeks. Gone are the beautiful night s of 12 hour sleeps... gone are the drinking of bottles in five minutes flat (its a battle to get him to have one!)... gone is the loving sweet child that will happily play by himself for half an hour at least at a time... Now where did he go? I've had him checked by the doctor, and other than slight sniffles- typical in this cold Melbourne weather, he is 100% healthy. He hasnt tried any new foods, nothing is different... nothing that is , but him. Has anyone elses child done a complete personality change at the one year old mark? I thought it was supposed to be terrible twos... not terrible ones lol. Could he possibly be unsettled because he somehow senses Im pregnant?
5 people like this
7 responses
@meme0907 (3481)
• United States
1 Jun 07
Hey megs, Well, the first thing that came to my mind while I was reading your discussion is he's a year old I would take him off the bottle. I took my son's bottle away on his 1st birthday & then no more diapers on his 2nd birthday. Besides that little tid bit of advice I'd say he's learning how far he can push you & get away w/ it. He sounds like a perfectly normal child. Good luck when he hits puberty that's the real killer LOL +'s 2 U :D
2 people like this
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
1 Jun 07
LOL, thanks :) looking forward to the "I hate you, you've ruined my life" years aka puberty... I had my maternal and child health centre visit yesterday and the nurse reccommended I wean him off his bottle. He drinks his water from a sipper cup quite happily so I'm sure there wont be any dramas, but I'm gonna leave his night time milk a a bottle for the minute so he learns to differetiate the difference between night and day using that as a cue for awhile more...
2 people like this
@rsrait (567)
• India
31 May 07
Well friend its common that small children behave like this when my children where small they used to keep awake during all night and sleep through out the day dont bother all this will happen.
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
31 May 07
I'm just wondering if any other parents had noticed a dramatic change in their childs personality once they hit the one year old mark... I know a lot of children are difficult sleepers from birth, but my son has been relatively perfect at nights since his milk allergy was discovered and treated at three months old. Thats one of the other reasons I mentioned he hasnt had any new food s that he could possibly be allergic to, as with allergy babie syou need to limit what new foods you trial to monitor any type of reaction- as his behaviour at the moment might indicate he is having...
2 people like this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
31 May 07
I think kids just go through that stage where they 'act out' of their routine. I know my daughter who is about to be one has started spitting her food out when we give it to her. Not because she doesn't like it but because she thinks its play time. No matter how many times we say no she still does it. She takes tantrums and every now and again she won't go to sleep for us. So I think it's just a phase because she is becoming more independent. She knows she can make some choices so she chooses her way instead of the right way. It will pass (I hope)!
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
31 May 07
Thanks for sharing your experience. My son has done the foot spitting thing a couple of times but as he is a human garbage disposal he loves his food too much even to prove a point lol the greedy lil guts he is. I know what you're talking bout with the tantys though, boy can they throw some rippers. And he tells me off when I tell him "naughty" o "no" squeals at me in this indignant little voice- its so funny, I have to try sooo hard not to laugh. I think you made a valid point about the independence thing- they are almost at a "I wanna be independent age" if you look at it, and probably dont know how to convey this other than by acting out- thanks for sharing your ideas and experience- much appreciated.
2 people like this
@ozangel82 (753)
• Australia
31 May 07
Wow that is horrible for you! my little girl is 15 months and she hasnt really had anything like this, it is probably just a natural thing he is going through. stick in there!
2 people like this
@Bunny2 (2102)
• Australia
3 Jun 07
You've already had some wonderful advice. I agree that your darling *knows* what's in store. You've told him he will have two little brothers, sisters or one of each? And he knows he's going to have to fight for mum's attention. Of course he might just be giong through the terrible two's early - my son was 18 months old when it hit him. Regarding the bottle - he might be ready to give it up. Maybe buy him a special cup or sipper and make a big deal out how he's grown up and that's his special cup - and no one else can use it! Good luck. My son was 22 months when I had my twin sons. Lots of hard work but good fun :)
1 person likes this
• United States
31 May 07
When my nephews were little the same thing happend to them. They are moving on to the part of life where they can get picky, and you have to be there to watch that change. Nothing is wrong, all it is is change.
2 people like this
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
31 May 07
Any advice as to how to keep the transition as smooth as possible for both myself, and my son? I spose its just taken me by surprise at how huge his behaviour has altered... He's still a happy boy, and still "pretty" good... I guess LOL Funny thing is I dont remember my nephews doing it, I have 6 lol... but then the youngest 4 were all pretty ordinary sleepers and eaters to begin with... maybe I was just lucky for having such a good kid for so long.. the luck had to run out sooner or later I suppose...
2 people like this
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
1 Jun 07
Maybe he does. Or he is just being a kid. Give him a break, he's still growing up and I think things like that are to be expected sometimes.