14 month old ... cries A LOT

[aothomas]

I'm not sure if this is a discipline thing or not. I hate to think that it is but I feel like I need to work on something to help this behavior. Or my reaction to it. My DS has always been a "higher maintenance" baby. He's so sweet and happy when he isn't a fuss-meister but an unusual amount of the time he is in the fuss-mesiter zone. And his cries aren't just whines. They are all out high pitched screams. Diaper changes, stopped at a red light, can get the phone from me (even when I'm not talking on it), falls (lightly, not a hurt fall) or even for no reason at all. One minute he'll be smiling and playing a little mimicking game with me and the next minute he's freaking out. I'm not sure if these are tantrums or something is really wrong.

The other behavior that is really testing me is he throw everything off the high chair when he's finished with it. This has been going on for months and it isn't a learning thing anymore. He looks at me for a reaction. When my DH says "no", DS laughs. So now I just give him a blank stare but that doesn't do anything. I just ordered a spill mat so I hope that will help calm my nerves (today I scrubbed the floor on my hands and knees while DS was taking his only 45 min nap today so I HATED seeing spinach and sweet potatoes being thrown on it!).

I know my perspective and attitude could use some adjusting but I feel like I'm getting more and more annoyed each day. I'm almost depressed from all this crying. And I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you ...
Angie

[jammomma]

How is his sleep? Does he have a regular bedtime and naps? At his age typically he will need at least 14 hours of sleep a day, and the things you describe sound like he might be over-tired.

[crunchy_mommy]

I don't have advice right now, I'm dealing with DS who's been crying nearly all day long, I know the feeling...

I hate the throwing food thing, DS is 21mos & STILL throws food (especially around DH since DH reacts more strongly & I kind of just ignore it)... only advice there is, try to take his food away just before he throws it (and just give him one bite at a time if he's still a little hungry).

[aothomas]

He goes to sleep at about 7-7:30 and usually sleeps about 11 hours... give or take an hour. Tonight I put him down at 6:30 b/c he was so tired, hardly napped and I couldn't take it any longer!!! I agree that he is overtired. His naps have always been a challenge but we had things going well for about a month or two and then last weekend we traveled and now he's a crazy man. He won't take a morning nap (he was doing 1 and I was waking him up at 30 min - yes, I know that is a "sin" but if I didn't he would take two really awful naps and I didn't think that was good) and his afternoon naps haven't been longer than an hour, usually less. So, he's totally overtired but I don't know how to get him to nap more! Although, it is better when he sleeps more, he still is an overly fussy baby in my opinion.

crunchy_mommy, thank you - it is nice to hear that I'm not alone here!