My 5 year old is acting out...suggestions?

[sostinkinhappy]

I am due with a baby in May & will be having a scheduled c/section on May 10 (if I make it that long!!!) Ever since I was put on modified & then complete bed rest, my 5 year old DS, aka "The Professor" has started acting out. He has turned into a whiny, clingy, uncooperative child who throws HUGE tantrums over things that have never phased him before.

He has never been a child who has handled change well. I know much of this regressive behavior is due to the fact that we have not been able to maintain our normal routines in addition to the normal hub-bub of preparing for a new baby. He is also on the verge of some huge cognitive advances educationally and I know that can sometimes set children back behaviorally bit as well. I am trying to spend some one-on-one time with him every day, reading him stories, coloring, whatever we can do from my bed.

He seems pretty excited and eager about having a new sibling and I haven't detected any resentment about her arrival, I just think the upheaval in our routines is making things hard. Any one have any suggestions to help us navigate through these next 19 days before my c/section and then the weeks after baby comes home?

(Cross posted over in my DDC forum too...)

[Kivgaen]

Sounds to me like he might be going a little stir crazy...

I know for my son, If I were confined to bed-rest he would go completely nuts too. He would do anything within his power to get my attention and get me up and out of bed so that I would play with him.

Do you think his reasons for acting out are related to less physical activity with you, rather than his fears about the changes that are to come (a new brother or sister in the mix?).

I suspect that since he is just 5, his reasons for behaving this way are a direct result of your bed rest and have nothing to do with the baby on the way. I believe children of that age are not mentally capable of fully comprehending what it means that a new brother or sister is coming.

IMO, your DS is reacting to the here and now.

ETA: Does he get enough outside play and physical activity? I would make a few calls to neighbours or friends to see if any of them could take him after school or in the evenings to get him out to the park with friends, etc. It might help him to get out and exert more of his physical energy.

[Learning_Mum]

Yeah, I'd say it's just because you're stuck in bed and can't be as involved with him as you'd normally be.

Don't know any ideas for magic cures. I guess just keep doing what you're doing. Play with him as much as you're able from bed. Maybe see if your DP or someone can go out and get some special things for the two of you to do together for the next couple of weeks - new books, puzzles, some craft stuff, drawing and colouring. Maybe see if he wants to be your special helper and get you snacks and drinks? Maybe even put a TV and DVD player in your room so you can snuggle up with some popcorn and watch movies. Maybe find some games that you two can play online together. Get a tray and play boardgames in bed too.

I know when I'm sick and want to spend lots of time lying on the couch my kids start acting up too. I think it's just because they don't have as much attention.

It's a hard place to be, because I know you must be desperate to get out of bed and act normally again but I think once the baby is here and things start becoming more normal again he'll get back to his oldself.