My usually well-mannered, delightful girl has turned into a fussy nightmare! This is especially true in the mornings! She is refusing to eat her solids (breakfast mostly) and generally cries often. We know she has been teething, so is this just a phase that will pass? She sleeps really well (usually 11 hours), but she tends to yawn often in the morning. We are HOPING it is just a phase, and that with all of the changes occurring (almost walking, teething), she is just trying to adjust. If any of you have gone through this phase and have suggestions, particularly with fussiness and eating, I would love to hear them! Thanks!
My 3rd daughter is 13 months old today and is going through the same thing! She used to be such a smiler! I think she's teeting and learning to walk too, and just screams a lot. What I've learned through all my kids is everything when they're little is a PHASE! So my suggestion is not to worry - just have to get through it. I'm hoping the unhappiness ends soon too :) Good luck.
J.
My 16 month old son periodically goes through the same thing. It happens when he is getting a new tooth - he gets very fussy and won't eat or take a bottle or sippy cup. I think the gums swell up and cause him to not want to eat due to the pain. Try infant Motrin for your daughter, it helps with the swelling and pain far better than Tylenol. Also, cold wet washcloths to chew on, frozen teething rings, a wet toothbrush, even just a finger to chew on will help with the discomfort. My son will even walk around with just an icecube and suck on it. There is some teething ointment that is more of a paste than a gel that also works wonders. I think it is called Little Teethers. It helps so much for my son when I massage it into the swollen area of his gums.
Anyway, if this is what is causing your daughters fussiness it should pass after a few days. Good luck!
Most of it sounds like typical 13-month-old behavior. She's starting to experiment with a bit of independence (the terrible 2s don't always wait till 2!) So you may just have to be extra patient and look for the good things in it all - like how much thought she was putting into her activity, even if it was spilling salt all over the kitchen floor (my kids did that. Bit older, but they were watching the way it flowed and piled up, not just purposely making a mess).
However, the yawning could be an indication that she is congested, especially in the eustacian (sp?) tubes - the ones that go from the ear to the throat. It wouldn't hurt to have her checked. If she has an ear infection, or even mild seasonal allergies, it could explain some of the fussiness.
Yes, it is just the beginning of things we as mothers have to worry about in our kid's lives! It seems as though my DD, who is 16 months now, goes through these fussy periods, also. And it affects how she eats. I think it is probably teething and perhaps the other changes in her life. It will get worse before it gets better, but yes, it is just a phase and will pass. And then it will be something else! Keep her on an a.m. and p.m nap if you can, which I noticed really helped when we could keep her on that schedule. The only thing you can do is offer food to her, but try for a bit to make it food that she really really likes so you have a higher probability of her eating it. My DD goes through periods of eating tons to periods of eating so little that I worry about her. But she is happy and healthy and I guess it all evens out. Good luck and stay sane!
of course this too will pass... and then will come the next challenge. my guess would be teething and/or growth spurt, but the fussiness shouldn't last more than a week or so. you might also try blowing in her ear (or getting her checked for an ear infection)... they can come with teething and will turn an ordinarily sweet child in to a crabby little monster.
good luck!
She may be tired. Have you tried putting her back down after breakfast. It seems all my kids went through a stage where they were hungry so they woke up to eat but still tired. Maybe it's a growth spurt. See if she'll nap if not it may be the teeth or early terrible two's--which really is just kids testing the waters. Stay disciplined and consistent and she'll learn that that behavior isn't really fun anymore. Kid's go through phases like that all the time.
It definitely sounds like the new things going on in her life are affecting her sleep and attitude. I suggest giving her something at night, like warm milk, or having a consistent bedtime routine to help encourage her body to relax and allow for better sleep.
Good luck!
Have a GREAT day!
S.
Perhaps she has a food allergy? That happened with my first son. Talk to your ped.
Did she just go through a spurt where she ate a lot? If so, it could just be a growth spurt. If she's tired, let her sleep, or at least have some quiet time, and see if she eats better being more rested. I hope you find an answer soon!
Try teething tablets during the day if she is fussy, worked wonders for my son when he was cutting teeth. They don't last long, are all natural and work well with some kids. Calming effect.
I always heard and read if they wake up cranky they are not done sleeping so maybe encourage her to sleep longer or adjust her bedtimes maybe earlier.
Try motrin at night if she is fussy at naptimes or night.
Maybe adjust her naps too at this age to accomodate her new skills as they can be exhausting to them. Teething can disrupt their appetite/sleep as growth spurts cause a lot of eating they do the reverse in the sleeping.
Just make sure she is getting lot's of fluids, give her what she will eat and it is probably teeth coming in. Though messy teething biscuits were life savers! :)
Make sure she is napping well during the day and getting good sleep at night.
Both of my kids went through periods of fussiness during teething for my daughter tylenol/motrin worked and chewing on a frozen wash cloth. For my son teething tablets and frozen wash cloth worked well. Good luck, phases pass...hugs and hang in there!
Your daughter has a lot going on right now. My daughter also refused to eat solids of any kind while teething. Making fruit/veggie smoothies is a great way to ensure she is still getting the vitamins she needs. You can add peanut butter for protein and grind fresh flax seeds for a small amount of essential fats.
I'm sure that what you are experiencing is just a phase. But, things change. Your little girl is not an infant anymore, she is verging on toddlerhood and learning to assert her independence and inform you of her likes and dislikes. Keep in mind that emotionally she still needs you, more than ever. Her crying could be her way of trying to tell you that she needs some mommy daughter snuggle time. Naps for my daughter changed dramatically at about the exact same age. She had been sleeping 12 hrs at night (8-8) and was taking two naps a day (11 and 4ish) still equalling about 16 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. At about 13 or 14 months we had to adjust her naptimes and by 15 months we went down to just 1 long nap at noon until about 3 or 3:30 daily.
Try not to get upset or too worried about her current eating habits. She will not starve herself. Toddler eating habits have a tendency to ebb and flow significantly. There will be days the eats more than you do and other days where she seems to play more with her food than eat it. Just be sure to give her plenty of healthy options at each meal and she will get plenty of what she needs.
Craziness in our household (emanating from our little girl) usually didn't last longer than 2 weeks. If her behavior persists or just seems alarming to you in any way it would be a good idea to take her in to see her doctor to be examined for possible ear infection or something else. Good luck!
Have you changed anything in your home - like added a wireless router for your internet? This could be the cause.
L.
