What is considered 'normal behavior' for a 10 month old boy?

Question

I have a 10 month old boy who is quite hyper especially in the evenings, but he also sleeps a lot. He still takes 2 two-hour naps during the day and sleeps at least 10 hour at night. Because of our current living situation he has slept with his dad and me from day one. He will wake to breastfeed once or twice during the night. He always wakes up happy. He gets hyper towards the evening and also a little awnry (okay, a lot awnry). He will slap at us and pull hair and whine. He has never been exposed to any type of violence so I don't understand where this is coming from. He is a redhead and at times his temperment fits the redhead image, but I doubt that is the cause of his temper. He is a very good eater and not very particular. He is growing well. He had never been ill up until a 2 weeks ago when he got a cold. Any words of wisdom from moms and dads out there?

Answer 1

Honestly, he sounds completely normal. The whining and orneriness toward the evening is probably due to tiredness. Babies and toddlers don't want to go to sleep, they think they might miss some fun! So, he is fighting the sleepy feeling and this causes him to be hyper and whiny. When he just cannot fight the fatigue any longer, he can only give up and fall asleep.

As for the slapping and pulling hair, he is learning how to effectively use his limbs. He didn't "learn" this from anyone...he is experimenting with coordination and also with limitations. It's time for you to set up these limitations. If you do not want him to continue slapping and pulling hair, it is time for discipline. A stern "NO" or a light hand smack, what ever method you and his father feel is right for your family.

He just sounds like a healthy, happy baby (My husband and I raised 3 our own), and you are very fortunate. Give him a hug for me.

Answer 2

Well I have a couple of thoughts, but how good they are is another question lol.

I am thinking he may have a very very high rate of metabolism. Waking 2 x a night to breastfeed seems a bit extravagant at 10 months. And that might explain why he requires so much sleep, and why he crashes and burns in the evenings. Some kids just exhaust themselves and need more sleep.

I would try putting him to bed an hour earlier than you now do. Make sure he feels comfortably full just prior to bedtime and has the option of healthful snacks. Start the evening winding down with a soothing bath (him! - yours comes later!! lol) and quiet activities like reading.

If he starts to whine before you get that far, that is probably the time to get him ready for bed. Be sure to treat it positively and confidently , NOT as a punishment, but as if you think getting him to bed earlier will solve HIS problem and make him better/happier

Don't allow the hitting and hair-pulling to happen. Just be vigilant so you can physically avoid or stop it. Correction should proably just be a firm "no"; further scolding seems counter-productive at that point.

Truthfully, it sounds like he is pretty much a normal healthy 10 month old. But I would consult your pediatrician to see if his rate of metabolism is a factor. If the doctor blows you off, get a second opinion.

Best of luck and give him a kiss. And don't forget your own soothing bath!

Answer 3

LOL - I don't know if it is "Normal" but my son is the exact same way. He gets up in the morning at 6am with me and then takes a nap around 1 for 2-3 hours and sleeps at night from 10-6 with one interruption at 2am for a feeding. In the evenings right before dinner he gets REALLY hyper and acts ridiculously crazy/silly LOL and then after dinner he gets cranky and clingy. He has started slapping and pretending to bite (thankfully he hasn't put his teeth to work yet biting for real). We don't wrestle with him or anything, but he has started doing this. I am not sure if maybe he just realized it is something new he can do or what, but he hits hard. My son sounds exactly the same (minus the red hair). Speaking of hair, when my son gets upset or mad, he pulls his hair and scratches his face. I was worried about it, but then I realized if I don't run over to him and show hiim any type of attention, he stops doing it and goes about playing. So, your son isn't abnormal - (or maybe both of our kids are out of the norm LOL). Let me know if you find a reasonable explination for why these boys are so agressive all of the sudden :-)

Answer 4

i imagine that he only go with interest. only be particular you play video games with him and skim to him. also ever time he hits or does some thing undesirable deliver him to his room for 3 min (believe me thats a lengthy time period to a three 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous) or if that does no longer artwork a swat on the butt may (no longer some thing else regardless of the actuality that, somewhat spanking, yet this can make the proublem worse so end if it does no longer help) you could also try a good behaver chart and ever time he does some thing goo (like facilitates you water the vegetation, performs nicly jointly with his brother ect.) and once he receives so maney (like 10 or 15) take him out for ice cream or bye him a small low-priced toy. Did he try this befor his brother became born? If no longer that i'm practically particular he only go with interest. verify the he receives anofe sleep and healthy nutrition. Ask him to inform you concepts he feels even as he receives angy sing or do some thing else calming and relexing. even as he has a mood tanrum get everthing out of his became and only enable it run its coars (until eventually his is hurting people). Be agency with him and do not lower back down. He may say I hate you and he may scream yet evently it is going to artwork. If this does no longer help then bypass and through some books on a thanks to assist boost him. elevating little ones is very complicated, especliy is that that is you first new child. in the experience that they behaver does no longer end through the time he's 7 i ought to commence to get worrried. p.s. also verify that his isn't eating/drining alot of stuff with suger in it and verify that he's not gazing violent t.v. shows good luck!!

Answer 5

My son is 11 mnths old, sleeps 1.5 hours, twice a day and about 11 hours a night. He drinks two bottles during the night. Also always wakes up happy!!! He also gets fussy before bedtime. My pediatritian explained to me that kids get hyperactive when they get tired (my daughter of 8 sometimes still gets hyper!)
And, yes, my son also slaps, pull, kicks and grabs anything and everything. As long as he does not hurt us (or himself) too much, I let him be - he is exploring this strange, new world around him. Everything he pulls helps him to develop muscle tone, feel new textures, and experience something new.
And about breastfeeding twice a night - my son refused me at 6 mnths - I still miss that feeling of closeness - so enjoy - before you know he is a surly 16yr old with a closed door:-)).

Answer 6

My 10 month old sleeps 11 hours at night, and 2-3 hours during the day (2 naps, usually)

There is nothing wrong with co-sleeping, it is good for baby. I do it.

My son still eats every 1-3 hours night and day. What're you going to do he weighs 30 lbs the kid is hungry *lol* and doesn't eat much in a sitting. So that sounds normal.

The hair pulling, biting and scratching sounds normal. Mine does that. Ugh he will sneak up behind me and bite the back of my arm, holy cow that hurts. But remember they really have no idea that it is hurting you. It isn't really violence. And often it gets good reactions.

As for hyper... hmmm dunno?

Answer 7

usually when a child gets a huge boost of energy it because they are getting tired. When my 3 year old get tired, he will yell at me and tell me to go away and get away from him, he slaps at us sometimes, but that's when you grab his hand before he hits and let them know that that type of behavior is NOT OK. When my oldest guy was about 10 months he would hit at me and I got to the point where: if you want to hurt me, you can go in your crib. I am not going to hold you to teach you that is OK for you to hit. Not to say that you are re-enforcing it, but you have to draw the line. Boys will get strong, it's a fact of life, but you don't want him hitting you and yelling at you when he is a teenager. Sometimes you really can't be all sunshine and flowers, unless you want him to end up parenting you.

It probably doesn't have anything to do with sleeping with you guys though. My 5 year old just now is getting to the point where it's not cool to hug and kiss Mom anymore. He's in Kindergarten and I'm already and I'm not cool. Your little guy will hopefully grow out of it, just be sure to shower him with love but to stand your ground!! Good luck!! : )

Answer 8

At that age, they still have a "fussy time" and when he behaves that way he needs to go to bed. He's just tired. If he won't sleep, perhaps this is a good time to get him in the bath. That will usually settle them down. He also needs his own bed if it's at all possible. I understand that sometimes living situations don't allow for it, but you really need to get him out of your bed soon or he will have trouble adjusting to sleeping alone when he is older.

Answer 9

Don't worry everything is normal. My son is 14 months when he gets tiered right before bed time he gets this second wind and turns into goof. We had problems for a few months with hitting. I think they continue hitting because they learn there is a reaction when they do so. I stopped paying and attention when he did this. I would put him down or ignore him for a few seconds, he has almost stop hitting now.
Oh and get him out of your bed, from experience with my daughter-you will regret it.

Answer 10

he sounds like my son. he may sleep a lot but they still do at that age. when he gets that way that means he is ready for bed. my son is now 4 and he still goes through this. my 2 other boys are the exact same way and they are 10. i think boys are just boys and must keep going until they can't go anymore