Sensitive toddler

Maybe I'm just overreacting and this is totally normal, but since I'm a first time mom to a 16 month old boy, I'm not sure!

My son is very sensitive and he whines and cries almost ALL day. I'm wondering if this is normal toddler behavior or not. It's only been a lot worse when we recently moved in with our in laws (it is only for a month). He is very spoiled by his grandpa but even he is getting exhausted from the constant whining and crying.

The only things that I would think it could be is either he is in pain but I don't think so because if he hurts something, he usually points or grabs at it. Another thing is that he is very smart. He picks up on things very quickly. He crawled and walked at an early age and maybe I'm not stimulating him enough? It's very hard to get him to just sit down and play. He is CONSTANTLY on the go. From the time he wakes up until he goes to sleep at night (and naps).

I have tried disciplining him and redirecting him and comforting him but nothing seems to work.

Any suggestions?

My dd is kind of like that. She is very smart and needs to be stimulated and/or doing things outside all day or she's very irritable

Yes, my son is a lot better when we are outside and he cries and screams when we come inside. It's been colder recently so we haven't been outside as much.

<blockquote><b>Quoting BrittysNifty:</b>" Yes, my son is a lot better when we are outside and he cries and screams when we come inside. It's been colder recently so we haven't been outside as much."</blockquote>



Yeah dd is 16 months too and when it's cold we go to the mall or somewhere I can let her roam around. She will not stay in our house all day even though I wish she was a homebody like me lol

My youngest son, who is now 4 has been quite particular on how he wants things to be and will scream and cry at the drop of a hat. He would get even worse if we were in a strange situation. This started around 7 months of age. It is very frustrating but not particularly abnormal. Some kids just express themselves in a more 'vocal' fashion about what they want. My youngest is finally starting to chill out, thus my stress level is going down. I found, once I could communicate with him better, it helped to try to teach him different methods of expressing himself, although most didn't work out until he was starting to talk more. He was a late talker. I didn't have as much trouble with my very sensitive older son (he would cry quietly at everything, he suffered some serious anxiety issues until he was around 5) as he started talking earlier and we were able to work on healthy emotional expression earlier. Having kids who suffer anxiety can be incredibly frustrating, and sometimes you just have to walk away and take a small breather to get your focus back. It does not last forever. The main roadblock to solving the screaming is communication between you and LO.

<blockquote><b>Quoting motherofboys:</b>" My youngest son, who is now 4 has been quite particular on how he wants things to be and will scream ... [snip!] ... get your focus back. It does not last forever. The main roadblock to solving the screaming is communication between you and LO."</blockquote>

Wow thank you for the information. I do find it hard to communicate with him and find what's bothering him. He does say a good amount of words but nothing that could really help me understand what he is thinking.

Quoting BrittysNifty:" <blockquote><b>Quoting motherofboys:</b>" My youngest son, who is now 4 has been quite ... [snip!] ... what's bothering him. He does say a good amount of words but nothing that could really help me understand what he is thinking."

It is so frustrating. I would not be surprised if he understands everything you are telling him, but is just unable to tell you what he wants. Look for his nonverbal cues as a clue to what may be bothering him, and always squat down to his level when talking with him, the increase in eye contact can be incredibly helpful in knowing if he is understanding you. Sometimes, what is needed is simply more sleep, or food, or just a change in environment. If he is being more cranky than usually, try laying down with him in a quiet dim room, or offering a snack, or a trip to the park. In fact, on cold rainy days, my boys always loved throwing on some rain gear to go splash in the puddles. Even if we could figure out what the cause of the emotional upheaval, going outside (no matter what the weather) was always the quickest and easiest form of distraction. It's okay to let our kids go out and get muddy, as long as we dress them in appropriate clothing, the weather doesn't matter that much. I've even taken my boys outside at night when they couldn't sleep, they loved exploring the farm in the darkness or simply admiring the stars.

Hey there! You've already gotten a lot of good advice, but I just wanted to encourage you as well. It can be so draining to have a an unhappy kiddo for so long, especially when you feel like you've tried everything. One thing I noticed is that you said it has increased with the move to your MILs. Little ones thrive on structure...I wonder if changes in environment and schedule are part of what is throwing him for a loop? Is there anything you can put into the routine that was similar to before? We were just at my sister's for a week and my little guy (13 months) was sooo clingy. You definitely want to rule out anything physical, so it could be worth a call to a nurse, just to make sure you've covered all your basis. Even teething can equal a lot of misery. Hopefully, you can get a little break from him now and then - could be good for you both.   You sound like a great mom. Hang in there!!!

<blockquote><b>Quoting LuvMyZBoy:</b>" Hey there! You've already gotten a lot of good advice, but I just wanted to encourage you as well. It ... [snip!] ... you can get a little break from him now and then - could be good for you both.   You sound like a great mom. Hang in there!!!"</blockquote>


Yeah I'm sure that has a lot to do with it but I'm not sure how to fix it. We have been pretty much following the same schedule except for how much time he has been spending with grandpa so ive been trying to have them spen less time together. BUT I have noticed since yesterday that when I make sure to take him outside for a while that he has been MUCH better. It had been pretty cold lately so I was paranoid about ear infections and stuff. But finally it has warmed up!!

So glad that it helping! Makes life easier for you both. Take care!

I lived with my in laws too and my son is that same age and I had the SAME problem. I just moved out and have had my own place for about three weeks and its been so much better. I do think it could be teething, he could be frustrated with something. I think with my son, there just wasnt enough consistency. Its hard to have a routine when you are living in some one elses house. Its hard to always make them healthy food, have regular naps, play time, sleep in the same spot every night. These were things that my son wasn't getting that he gets here. When we lived with my in laws I could never figure it out because it seamed like there was NOTHING. But now that we live on our own and he has him own room etc. hes a million times better. Maybe just try being super consistent and see if that helps?

DS is in a early intervention program for his speech. He doesn't talk much and he's acted the exact way you're son does since around 14 months...he's now 20 months and still gets like that. The therapist that works with Peyton says it is because of his frustration and he's unable to be verbal about what he wants so he whines and cries instead. He understands everything but he just doesn't know how to be verbal back.