Don't they grow up quick nowadays?

[domtyler]

A little parenting observation that is causing some concern. While I am used to my young (almost two) daughter changing on a daily basis, just little things but sometimes I think to myself "This is hardly the same person I dropped off at nursery this morning!".

Anyway, she had a weekend away without me a couple of weeks ago and since she has got back - her routine has gone out the window, she used to go to bed nicely at 7:30pm, have a story from either me or her mum and be asleep well before 8. She is now not wanting to go up before 9:30 at the earliest, any attempt to do so will see her crying uncontrollably, shaking, the lot. Bring her down and she is, not just fine, but running around, climbing up on things, playing with her toys, laughing and shouting, even as I am falling asleep on the sofa. Even once we have managed to get her down she is constantly waking all through the night.

At the same time, her overall energy levels have rocketed, we are taking her to the park in the evenings, after she has been at nursery all day, and she is running us ragged all round the fields, then we go to the playground and she is climbing up the big kids slide to the top and sliding down, and then again, and again and again... she doesn't want to go home by 7:30, her old bedtime but we drag her as we want our dinner!

And also, her speech has suddenly jumped to a whole new level, she is now coming out with almost complete sentences, whereas before you were lucky to get one solidly pronounced word. And all the puzzles and shape sorters that she was struggling with a week ago, she is now not just doing them but doing them easily and then working them into really imaginative new games.

Finally, she has suddenly developed a need for lots of cuddles and kisses all the time, whereas before she was not that interested. And if something happens to shock her (e.g. last night her teddy fell down the stairs) she is now getting almost hysterical, once more shaking with crying etc. needing to be cuddled for ages.

Now, while none of these things would be a concern on their own, is this normal for this amount of change and development to come in such a short period of time? I keep thinking about whether she may have been exposed to any nasty additives or something, but don't think that is the case? Anyone parents out there can give some reassurance?

 

[GaryA]

From what i hear about female children/babies i'm pleased i have a boy

The rate of change is phenomonal though...4 weeks ago he rolled around the floor to get anywhere now hes crawling everywhere at a fast lick, grabbing anything to hand and pulling himself up on furniture...you need eyes in the back of your head.......

Avoid feeding kids on brightly coloured sweets/drinks ...i have observed at first hand the manic changes that occur with my 4 yr old nephew

 

[bobg]

Consider yourself reassured Dom I saw it with my children and am seeing it with my grandchildren. Emotional and intellectual changes seem to come in fits and starts in the same way as physical growth. When mine were liitle I worked away from home for weeks at a time and they often seemed like different kids in so many ways after a couple of weeks away. What'll blow your mind when they hit puberty is the way their facial bone structure seems to change! You feel that if you sit and look at 'em for long enough you can actually see it happening. I'm sure you've heard it before but love every moment because pre 5's really is a magical time.

 

[cisamcgu]

Anyway, she had a weekend away without me a couple of weeks ago and since she has got back - her routine has gone out the window

I would guess that this is the clue - this would be seen, perhaps, as a large change to her, and she needs reassurance - hence the cuddles, hysteria etc.. All the rest is just normal growing up, the increse in vocabulary and other skills can come on in leaps and bounds at this age. The change in her sleepng pattern is also, maybe, due to the weekend away - just be patient and firm, put her to bed at the "normal" time, and then stay and read to her.

This bookToddler Taming we found to be indispensable for a few months around the "terrible" twos

 

[bobg]

Gary's spot on with the sugar rush, its a new thing for me but my grandson goes hyper after chocolate especially as he seems to eat really healthily for the rest on the time... carrots as treats... whaever next!

 

[magnatom]

Mmm. Did you send her up to Scotland Dom. This could be the Irn Brew effect......

 

[ChrisKH]

All kids are different dom. I have two boys who are chalk and cheese and the elder (8) is now becoming a cheeky little so and so. We have suspicions and worries about our younger son, but outside of the home environment and in school he is very good, very bright, although he struggles a little with socialisation. I learned very quickly talking to other parents at school that they are all different. Some have bigger problems than others and you just have to work on it. Girls though are generally brighter than boys and develop more quickly. And dare I say, more manipulative?

If you have suspicions that her development is abnormal or not quite right, why not keep a diary? You could tie this in with a food diary and monitor her behaviour after certain types of foods also. This would help if you ever had meetings with external parties (if the need should ever arise). I'll be honest and say it's really early days in her development and my own sons were little sods between 2 and 4 but settled down very quickly after that. They don't call it terrible twos for nothing you know!

Give it some time and just give her as much love and attention as you can. I would want to reintroduce and reinforce the bedtime routine if it was me. Even if it takes a few nights of exclusion and keeping her in the bedroom after a certain time. Kids need routine IMO and if they know what's going to happen, they know what to expect.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Have you checked that you actualll have the right child... you know, usual stuff - birthmarks, freckles, denture x-rays...

Our oldest is four and a quarter now (going on 15) and some minor things can seem like an absolute trauma to her on one occasion, and nothing to worry about on another... I think it's just a 'female' thing!

The speech thing is extraordinary, it does seem like they just jump from one stage to another but in reality they probably get loads of practise at Nursery and then use it all at once at home.

Regarding the change of routine... hmm, I'd be inclined to simply try and get her back on track asap.

Ours still goes to bed at 7.15 with 1 story if she's watched the CBeebies story, and 2 if she hasn't. She sometimes shares a bath with her little Sister, and sometimes not... but is always in bed at the same (approximate) time. Sometimes she can kick off a bit, but is just told that that's the way it is. She knows that if she complains too much then she loses a story and so is generally pretty good.

She can sing to herself in her room once in bed if she likes, but the light goes off and she's expected to get herself to sleep and sleep until morning (obviously there are occasions when this is not the case - nightmare / illness etc.).

I have to say she's no angel but when compared with others (getting up all night, coming out of their rooms and into their parents beds etc.) she's a little star - in the morning she waits for us to get her up and never leaves her room during the night. She tells us what she wants for breakfast and who she wants to get her up in the morning!!

Love her to bits!

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

He was born, I blinked and now he's shaving.

 

[Maz]

My daughter has just turned 2. I see startling similarities between you're noticing and what I am...daughter's boundless energy, kisses and cuddles, tantrums, stringing sentences, the lot.

Seems like you need to get her back into her routine, whether she likes it or not. Be firm about it, or she'll know you'll eventually give in. Kids can smell fear, y'know!

 

[rich p]

Mine changed so frequently that what seemed like a major problem one week was resolved and replaced by the next headache. My daughter, now 26, din't sleep through the night until she was almost 5. I was like a zombie most of the time. Treat everything as a phase and know that it will change soon enough.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

enjoy it...thats the main thing...even the sleepless nights will seem wonderful times when you get older and they grow up

 

[NickM]

...in school he is very good, very bright, although he struggles a little with socialisation...

He is probably developing the perfectly rational and healthy contempt for his peers that I have nursed since the age of six. Good for him!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

my daughter's just turned 10, is at an academic level in excess of 1 year above her age and has just (shudder) started "growing boobs".

how long 'til i wish for the days when she was a cute little two year old again?

 

[tdr1nka]

I was warned/advised by an old lady when Miss tdr1nka was around the same age that you must enjoy them while they're very young because once they go to nursery/school 'they're not yours any more'.

Once they start to socialise away from you with their peer group is when you start to see marked changes in their personalities and behaviours.
It can be very disturbing and feel like you're losing some control, but as has been said these are really just phases and you'll be onto the next before long. These times are often referred to in parenting books as the terrible twos!

Parenting IMO is about your behaviour remaining consistant for them and to imagine any child of your daughters age to be consistant would be folly.

+1 on the strict adherence to routine, food diary(read all food labels)and just enjoy the fact that this is about you both learning.
In composition, a child will be a third 'Mum' a third 'Dad' and a third 'whoever they're going to be'. Enjoy it as it goes by in a flash.

One other thing I was once told, by a different old lady, is that from new born to five years old they are so cute you could just eat them.

After five years old, you'll wish you had!!

It can be an unearthly struggle sometimes but don't worry M8 there are enough of us cycling Dads and Mums to see you thru the highs & lows!