What do these symptoms sound like in our toddler.?

Question

Our daughter is 19 months old. She has always been a VERY active baby and toddler...much more so than the "average" child. She's very destructive, climbs on everything, can't sit for more than 5 minutes. She started walking at 9 months, running at 10 months and has been going since. Yet she is, and always has been, excessively clingy. She's always fussing, hanging on my leg. I can't go to the bathroom or make dinner without her at my feet wining "mommy." She also wakes up, about 75% of the time, from a nap screaming inconsolibly. We try putting her back down, but she won't sleep. We try rocking her and nothing works. She's not getting too much sleep as she goes and goes till she passes out. She sleeps 9-10 hours at night and get 2-4 hours worth of naps.
She totally freaks out at the little things and throws major tantrums.
I want to know ..how to deal with it as we have a 10 week old to care for and ..does it sound like these symptoms could be anything you've heard of?

Dad is right there with me. I'm a stay at home mom, so I get the brunt of it. Tantrums are ignored or I put her in her room and tell her that we don't put up with tantrums and that she may came out when she is acting nice. She destroys things, but on accident. She is very daring and has lots of energy. We pick our battles. Parents who don't have a hyperactive child do not understand this and think that parents don't do anything about it. We do a lot, but we pick our battles.
As far as getting out...that's when she's at her best. She LOVES just going and going. So I take her out a lot. Grocery shopping, playgroups, etc.
I go to the gym 3-4 days a week and she is in chidcare there for 1-2 hours.
She doesn't take one 4 hour nap. She takes 2 naps at about 2 hours a piece.

Answer 1

I know this sounds different than the other answers but I have experienced a lot of what you are describing.

My son was bored. We were home together while Daddy was at work and Sister was in school and working part time after school. My son and I were together all the time.

I made a list of the problems we were having and went to the doctor and he said that my little guy was bored and not getting a break from me. He clung to me like crazy but that was because he was becoming too dependent on me even though he was an independent kid.

I put him in preschool 2-3 mornings a week (1 wk 2 the next 3) and within 2 weeks I had a different child. The socialization and time away from me and the structure he has at school has done wonders for our family.

With a new baby you could really use the time alone with the new one so maybe you should discuss it with your doctor and see what they suggest.

Good luck!

Answer 2

r u sure u r not talking about my son..?! lol i know what u r going throw evevrything u have said my son is the same way but i have found was to get throw maybe u can use the too... first the clingyness she is prolly around u to much go see family more get ur usent of b--ing around alot of ppl not not all at once do it slowly or have friends with children come over more often, Ooh and i still cant go to the bathroom by myself just cuz thats his favorit room so he gets mad when i do go by myself. the wakeing up her naps r way to long try giveing her only an hour nap wake her butt up after an hour and naps b-4 1:00. also i have heard that putting children to sleep arounf 8 and wakeing up at 7 works for some reason which i am trying that right now. tantrums make fun of them so that she knows its no big deal like when she falls and u know it didnt hurt luah kiss what she hit even if its the butt and walk away or shareing when ur girl is fighting with another child grub the toy act like it talks and have it jump from child to child. if u have anymore question i would b glade to help since no one has understand what i have been throw with my child and they always say Ooh he cant b that bad whatever they dont know but my yahoo s/n is xxxwickedxkittyxxx and ill put u on my contact.

Answer 3

This sounds like what I've just been through with my 3 year old! He's finally calming down more....yay. I would say everything is pretty normal for an active child. The screaming is probably night terrors. You might want to try to get down to one longer nap a day. Two of my kids out of four have had night terrors and it's like they don't even recognize you when the screaming starts. You just have to try to console her any way you can. It sounds like she's trying to get more attention and is a little jealous of the new baby. It will calm down. Ignore the negative behavior, reward positive behavior. Try to encourage play with a doll that is "her" baby so she can mimic you and let her have an outlet for her jealousy. You might learn a lot from watching her. Make sure you are making time that is just "hers" while the baby is napping. It's a phase and I promise it wont go on forever. Good luck :)

Answer 4

okay this was a lot, it is completely normal for a child to act this way when you have a 10 week old. it is so great that she is that active and physically advanced. My question is how does she do in daycare. How is she in that setting? Most toddlers have a short attention span and cant sit for more than five minutes at a time. i know this cause im a toddler teacher. Give her responsibilities through out the day and "special projets to do. if you are changing a diaper have her change a doll or have her grab the diapers and bring them to you. if you are feeding have her eat a small "healthy" snack. keep her distracted. most of all crying doesn't hurt it helps the lungs so let her cry it out. if she throws a tantrum put her in a safe place. we use a mat and allow her to thow it once she sees that tantrums are ignored she will try to get your attention another way. help her use words. and let me tell you this.... we have toddlers who only take one 45 minute nap through out the hole day and sleep 10 hours your daughter gets a good amount of sleep you are lucky
good luck i hope things get better for you.

Answer 5

I would have to agree with two of the previous answers, separation anxiety and/or jealousy. Jealousy toward the new sibling that takes your attention away from her will cause her to seek ways to regain some attention, even if it is negative attention(discipline). All I can say is to try and do a few extra activities with her and let her know that she is still loved just as much as before the new baby came along. Maybe even enlist her aid in caring for the baby so that she feels involved. And if she's sleeping too much at a time, and going until she's ready to pass out, you need to regulate her sleep schedule. Wake her up around a certain time each morning, as well as going to bed at a certain time. you might try cutting down on her naps. Maybe try letting her nap for an hour, so that she will tire earlier in the evening. Whatever you do, don't let her walk all over you. Just a few nights ago I seen a woman tell her 4 yr old that it was time for bed. She tried talking him into it every way possible, including bribes, and he informed her that he wasn't going to bed. She made him go to his room and shut the door with the lights out, but two minutes later he was walking into the living room again and turning on the tv. She told him to go to bed and got a stern "no" for an answer. She gave up. Big mistake. Just out of human nature, a child will test you to see how far they can push their limits to see what they can and cant get away with. If you tell them that something is wrong, it needs to be wrong every time. Whatever boundaries you set, enforce them, or you will pay for it in the long run. Anyways, i wish you the best of luck, you've got your hands full.

Answer 6

Yeah, it's called being a Toddler. This too shall pass, right after the Terrible Twos and the Tornado Threes. Most children are this way. Try to keep her days' activities constructed: coloring for an hour, blocks for an hour, outside play time for an hour, regular meal times, regular nap times. It will help. Most toddlers don't like flexible schedules or unpredictable situations. My son goes to daycare while I'm at school. I've learned to follow their schedule or he has tantrums. If you want to know ours, just let me know.
As far as the bathroom situation goes, I bought a potty for my son and he "goes" (Oh, I wish he really would go in the potty) when I go. It keeps him occupied and he is actully learning about the potty this way. I don't turn my son loose with a room of toys, otherwise, he doesn't know which one to play with or what to do. We get out a few and play and then put them up and play. She is old enough to start helping you put away toys and other things, you really just have to remember to look at the situation and figure out something for her to contribute. My son helps with the laundry by bringing my the towels from the bathroom. When we come home from shopping, he carries in a bag. As I go through the mail, he throws out the junk. While I'm cooking, I put him in his highchair where he can see what I'm doing with a coloring book and crayons or markers. If he is hungry, I give him a box of raisins or some other thing to nibble on.
I heard a great tip the other day and I can't wait until he is old enough to try it. You get one of those jar-type choppers and let them push it down and chop your veggies for your meal.
BTW, she is old enough to start learning what time-out is. My son learned at daycare when he was 18 months old. I didn't even know he understood what it was. Of course, if she's pitching a fit because she's hungry or tired or he day is all off, you kind of can't blame her or punish her.
Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 7

Sounds like a normal toddler to me except for the waking and screaming - she may have nightmares or night terrors - perhaps discuss it with her pediatrician.
My son has awakened at times screaming inconsolably and it is nightmares I am fairly certain. Sometimes when he was in a growth spurt it would be a little worse too so perhaps growing pains too? He is 2 (3 in November.)
As for the activity level and tantrums it is par for the course in a toddler.

Answer 8

Sounds like the virus going around here. It has been attacking the children in this area and causing all those symptoms except the fever can reach up to 104 requiring meds to bring it down. The dr's just say it is a virus, they can't find any other cause. It is nasty though, kinda like the flu.

Answer 9

Separation Anxiety, quite possibly. Alot of parents are reluctant to leave their kids at home with a sitter or family member after the birth. Some parents just don't feel ready to leave the child. If you do this for too long, the child will fear your departure. If this sounds like something that may have occured in your parenting style, then maybe you should bring it up at your next visit to the pediatrician. He might be able to refer you to someone, or give you an answer and solution himself.

Answer 10

It sounds to me as though these are all symptoms of toddlerhood. Your child is too young to diagnose any psychological disorders, so you can rule any of that out at this time.
To cope better though, I would suggest the following techniques:
1. Make an actual set schedule. For example:
7am- Wake up
7:30am- Breakfast
8am to 9:30am- activity (such as finger painting, in summer time going out into the yard, planting a flower in a pot, etc.)
9:30am- mid-morning healthy snack (banana bites, etc.)
10am to noon- activity (key word is active)
noon- lunch
12:30pm to 1pm- Seseme Street/Blues Clues, or other "quiet time" television show, and playing with toys
1:15pm to 2:30pm- nap time (begin your cleaning/cooking etc. at this time, while you have an opportunity)
2:45- Healthy snack (to get child through until dinner time)
3pm- activity

Well, you get the idea.

The point is, keeping your child's day filled with activities, allowing for some down time ("quiet time" and then nap time).

Also, correct your daughter when needed. Do not be afraid to tell your daughter that clinging to your leg while you are around the stove is not acceptable behavior. Do not be afraid to kneel down to your daughter's level, gently take her by the hands and say " 'Sally', right now is quiet time. That means that we do not run and yell. If you continue to run and yell during quiet time, you will get a time out".
This will teach your daughter that there is a time and place to run and yell, and during "quiet time" is not that time. You have rules and schedules for a reason, and your daughter has to learn when it is and is not alright to behave in certain ways.

The key is consistency, and keeping the child active. Two naps per day is not best for most children, because they are getting so much rest that they are not tired when they need to be (at night time, and right before nap time). You want them to get tired, so they will be easier to get to sleep.

Good luck to you, and I hope with a set schedule with every minute accounted for, you will have the opportunity to enjoy activities with your children and yet have the time and energy needed to do the bazillion other things that you must take care of.