Our 16 month old son has always been active, even in the womb he was a mover. After he was born he has been go-go-go. He hit all of his milestones early and walked right at 9 months so that by 16 months he often gets mistaken for an older child (not that he's big, he's average height but on the low end for weight, always has been, he's just very coordinated). *I just wonder if I've done enough to foster his ability to sit quietly. *I mean, he will go outside and pick up sticks and rocks for a long time while we keep a watchful gaze, he'll play at the park, but inside the house he needs entertainment (bouncing, jumping, climbing, chase, books) it's rare for him to just sit and play by himself. Though if we're downstairs he'll play for awhile after meals so I can wash dishes and clean up, but still requires some direction and interaction, which I don't mind. When he wakes up from naps and bedtimes we leave him in his crib for a little while if he's happy there. Sometimes when we go to get him he doesn't want to come out!
I just wonder if we should we be doing something to help him calm down? I should explain that this debate is really with my Mom, of course! My husband and I have accepted we have a spirited little guy whose very active. We see our friends with little one's who can basically sit in a room for hours without a peep, or leave at daycare, and our son just isn't one of those kids; but we feel it's because those kids have easy personalities that you can do that with them, not that their parents worked so hard at "breaking" them into little easygoing kids, as I somehow imagine my Mom thinks we should do. I think he's too young for the real discipline, all we do is tell him we can't do something right now because we're busy, he'll cry like a maniac but we don't give in, and if he lays on the floor for a temper tantrum we ignore him (it doesn't happen often, just something he discovered he could do, once we walk away he recovers). I'm not sure whatelse we can do. He's a happy little guy, slow to warmup around people (read: clingy for awhile then will go off and play), bright, curious, but doesn't talk yet, but sleeps great through the night and takes one nap a day for anywhere from 1 1/2-3 hours without much fuss.
My Mom, whose only seen him once at 6 weeks, thinks he's too hyper because we/I picked him up too much when he was little. He was 6 weeks old then and I was going to pick him up and carry him around all day if I want! Of course it's been a while since he's let us carry him that much, not since he could walk.
I know I should just ignor my Mom. I just know this is going to be an issue for a long time as long as my son makes a peep in the background of one of our phone calls. But really, is there something I can / should be doing at this age to help him channel all his energy and help him be a little more Zen? *He is a handful, for sure, but an incredible joy with all this energy.
Any suggestions or moms with babies with high energy being told you spoiled your kid?
I just wonder if we should we be doing something to help him calm down? I should explain that this debate is really with my Mom, of course! My husband and I have accepted we have a spirited little guy whose very active. We see our friends with little one's who can basically sit in a room for hours without a peep, or leave at daycare, and our son just isn't one of those kids; but we feel it's because those kids have easy personalities that you can do that with them, not that their parents worked so hard at "breaking" them into little easygoing kids, as I somehow imagine my Mom thinks we should do. I think he's too young for the real discipline, all we do is tell him we can't do something right now because we're busy, he'll cry like a maniac but we don't give in, and if he lays on the floor for a temper tantrum we ignore him (it doesn't happen often, just something he discovered he could do, once we walk away he recovers). I'm not sure whatelse we can do. He's a happy little guy, slow to warmup around people (read: clingy for awhile then will go off and play), bright, curious, but doesn't talk yet, but sleeps great through the night and takes one nap a day for anywhere from 1 1/2-3 hours without much fuss.
My Mom, whose only seen him once at 6 weeks, thinks he's too hyper because we/I picked him up too much when he was little. He was 6 weeks old then and I was going to pick him up and carry him around all day if I want! Of course it's been a while since he's let us carry him that much, not since he could walk.
I know I should just ignor my Mom. I just know this is going to be an issue for a long time as long as my son makes a peep in the background of one of our phone calls. But really, is there something I can / should be doing at this age to help him channel all his energy and help him be a little more Zen? *He is a handful, for sure, but an incredible joy with all this energy.
Any suggestions or moms with babies with high energy being told you spoiled your kid?
I know this, I know this is just the way my son is, but you know how mother's can sometimes make you feel inadequate.
When I see other toddlers like, sitting on their mom's laps, or at the floor with some quiet toys.. I am AMAZED. If we are out in public, he WILL NOT play with toys. He wants to go go go explore, experiment, RUN! So unless he's literally locked in a room thats nothing but 4 walls, some CLOSED doors, and some toys... he won't touch them.
I hope she's right. But.. I do sorta wish he'd mellow out a little!
. Maybe your mom is the same?
