https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 08:56:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366341 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 18:35:27 +0000 lilteacherbee 2366341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yessss!! Mine has so much energy all.the.time! The toddler is so exhausting that it makes the 3.5 month old seem super easy! I just try to find things that keep him busy and entertained (he wants to empty the Tupperware drawer while I'm cleaning the kitchen, go for it!). Then, we'll take a walk to the park or drive to the mall before he destroys the rest of the house ;) </p> <p>I try to remind myself that things get easier as they get older and one day I'll miss this age. That sometimes helps me not lose my mind hahaha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366332 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 18:25:24 +0000 Applesandbananas 2366332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is quickly approaching 3 and exhausts me so badly each weekend. I feel a lot of that same guilt, weekends should be family time but I also find myself with the countdown to nap and bedtime. I've had a horrible cold that has lasted weeks and the past several weekends we haven't done much and the boredom has driven us all crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366316 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:55:52 +0000 HLK208 2366316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES! So much energy 😴 </p> <p>When I make dinner, she empties the entire toy bin, empties the Tupperware drawer (and hides all of it), moves her high chair across the room, and runs across the couch screaming and laughing several times!</p> <p>I remember this age being super exhausting with my older two so I'm trying to remind myself that it gets easier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366295 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:15:27 +0000 Mae 2366295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: ah. that sorta bugs DH more than me. We have child locks on things that I don't want her in (like kitchen cabinets) but whatever else she gets out... meh. Some days she gets out every. single. toy. and it drives DH nuts and he scurries behind her cleaning. I just let her destroy things then clean up after bed haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366290 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:09:00 +0000 BabyTsMom 2366290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most definitely. LO is so energetic and wants to get into everything and often he can't figure something out and then gets all frustrated, crying ensues....repeat..... I work part-time and there are many times when I find myself glad that I have to work the following day! I do love weekends though, because daddy's home and I can actually have some moments to myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366239 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 16:02:29 +0000 jill_a55 2366239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: duuuuuuuuude. I hear ya. C is high energy all day, every day. And he is STRONG. So like I can't pick him up if he's getting crazy because he'll push off or, better yet, bite my shoulder! Rude. My poor dogs get chased by him all day too. I hate to say it, but sometimes the only way I get some time is if he's on my iPad, which is a lot. 🙃 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366220 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 15:34:55 +0000 illumina 2366220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! My LO is 26 months and whilst she's never been the most energetic/active toddler I still get so overwhelmed by the tantrums and the fact that I'm a massive introvert and I just feel so talked out and touched out by the end of the day! I SAH with her and now that she doesn't really nap anymore, TV has become our best friend...we try and have an activity or go out somewhere every morning and usual run errands in the afternoon otherwise I'll go crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366208 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 15:24:10 +0000 MrsH 2366208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: yes, yes, yes!!! For the record the 21 month old is far more exhausting that the four month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366207 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 15:23:27 +0000 Modern Daisy 2366207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2 yo does all these things AND refuses his naps, but only on weekends when we are home watching him and desperately need a break. Never during the week at daycare. It's kind of maddening. I try to arrange play dates and we always have somewhere to take him, but it is completely exhausting chasing after him and dealing with constant tantrums all day long. We recently started letting him watch tv, but he will only look at the screen for about 2 mins at a time then screams that he's bored. And he will NEVER watch it if we aren't in the room. It's definitely a very tough age that I can't wait to be over! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366202 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 15:16:53 +0000 sleepybear 2366202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely!!!! My son is about to be 15 months and he's so crazy- running around, climbing on everything, throwing around whatever he can find. I'm solo parenting right now and feel like I live for nap and bedtime! </p> <p>I take him to the playground 1-2 times a day, which helps some. And if I'm super tired I'll play 'sloth-back ride' where I just lay on the ground and let him crawl on my back and then give him a really slow, lazy piggy back ride (which he loves). He also keeps himself entertained for a few minutes if I give him a soft ball and let him chase that around. Dance parties are also good to help burn off some energy (I normally just sit with him and bob my head some...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366193 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 15:02:30 +0000 LovelyPlum 2366193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: thanks, lady. I think it's the recent mommy preference and crappy sleep that teething molars have brought on. I'm exhausted. I don't know how you do it with two!! But you're right. We're doing our best, and that's enough. Thanks for always being so supportive. You're an amazing Mama, you know that? :heart:</p> <p>@Maysprout: your "unreasonable people" made me LOL. Yes, they are! I hope that as she gets a little closer to 2, maybe she'll start to listen better. Maybe ;)</p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: YES to run and dump and climb and jump, all at the very same time. She makes it a mission to do as much as possible, so my house looks like a tornado more often than it doesn't.</p> <p>@Cherrybee: relentless is right!!</p> <p>@Oxana: I think I need to get out of the house more. We live in a small apartment, and even if she doesn't get bored, I do!! Thanks for the suggestion.</p> <p>@Mae: so it's not so much that I mind what she's into, because let's be honest, there's very little she can get into in our house. It's just that since the space is small, her incessant desire to take out All The Things at the same time can get really old. (Although I say this, and yet last week we weren't watching her super closely, and she picked up DH's work phone and hung up on a client :shocked: ). I think the getting out is key. I need a change of scenery, and she does, too.</p> <p>@MoonMoon: thanks for chiming in. She's crazy high energy, and I need to get her moving more on the weekends. That's why school is so good for her during the week, she can be busy with them. I need to make more of an effort to keep her busy on the weekends, I think.</p> <p>@lemondrop: the learning is super fun, I agree. But yes, yes to the very tiring!! Thanks for the support :)</p> <p>@ShootingStar: toys that burn energy are a really good idea. I've been thinking about this with regards to Christmas. I think this needs to be my goal. Good suggestions!</p> <p>@gilmoregirl: thanks for the ideas. She loves coming with me when I go places. And the boxes is a good idea, too. She spent this morning climbing in and out of a box that her dinosaurs were in. More things like that might help!</p> <p>@Lilbear: oh my goodness!! The good news is, although our LO is a climber, she's pretty calculating of how she'll get up and down from somewhere before she goes up. Playgrounds are a good idea.</p> <p>@brownepiano: the constant climbing on me. That makes me a little crazy.</p> <p>@skipra: fair enough. I don't mind leaving her alone in a room for a few minutes, but SHE doesn't want to leave ME alone ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366186 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:53:19 +0000 skipra 2366186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think when you SAH it just becomes second nature! I know I can't turn my back for a second or else I will find my 18 month old standing on the table with some sort of sharp object in his hand. So instead he is permanently attached on my hip. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366177 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:41:39 +0000 brownepiano 2366177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. Every time I sit down he wants to be in my lap. And meal times are so loud. Actually all the time is so loud... It drives me crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366176 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:41:35 +0000 Mae 2366176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: also I remain jealous your kids will watch tv. I tried again a week or two ago with her and she did better than the last time I tried around a year, but she was still only interested for like, maybe 5 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366173 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:31:57 +0000 Lilbear 2366173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We often joked that our LO was "constantly trying to commit suicide" at that age, because she was VERY active and completely wreck less when it came to her own safety. I'm talking unannounced trust falls off of furniture that she has climbed up on. We started taking her to the park every morning after breakfast to get some of the ants out of her pants. We also baby proofed the bajeezus out of our apartment and restricted her access to certain rooms (just so we wouldn't have to follow her around to as many places). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366169 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:22:53 +0000 gilmoregirl 2366169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: totally on some days! He's wild and high energy and has no sense of what's dangerous. Even weeknights when there are only a few hours we have together, I still sometimes find myself counting the minutes until bed time. It's exhausting. </p> <p>I don't think there's anything wrong with be worn out by the grind. It's nonstop on weekends, and I always feel like I have SO much to get done and so little time to do it. </p> <p>Others have mentioned this, but we go out a lot. Even just to run up and down the street in front of our house. Or errands. It helps that he's generally pretty good in the store if we play little games (spot the apples in the grocery store, put stuff in the back of the cart for mom, how many dogs can you find on pics in target) so I take him with me for most of my errands. </p> <p>And we frequent playgrounds so he can get some jumping and climbing in. I'd also second pushing boxes and stuff around like @MoonMoon: mentioned. That kind of physical stuff does wonders for his need to get the energy out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366153 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:02:03 +0000 ShootingStar 2366153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS just turned 2 and my goal for gifts for him was stuff to keep him occupied, and stuff to burn energy this coming winter. I got him a scooter, a bouncy/hopper ball (the kind they bounce on with the handle) and a little ride plastic motorcycle.</p> <p>I think he's just a typical toddler with lots of energy. I try to do something with him in the morning to burn some of it. All else fails, we go to the indoor playground at the mall and I let him run around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366148 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:46:55 +0000 lemondrop 2366148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely! Our three year old is BY FAR easier than E! He is a holy terror, a tornado, his own natural disaster, then add the two together, and my husband and I are about to lose our freaking minds by bedtime. </p> <p>I am loving this age so much where he is discovering and learning and expressing so much more, but it is so completely exhausting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366140 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:36:05 +0000 MoonMoon 2366140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah. My son started walking before turning 1, and never stopped! He's still very very high energy, but I do think things leveled off around the 2 year mark. Now he can be reasoned with, or who am I kidding, bribed more easily. He cares about toys, treats, etc, and the concept of punishment as something to avoid. Plus, he was a late talker and I think now that he can talk, he's a bit more calm because he has another avenue of expression. Plus, we realized he has high energy needs, so we started running him around, got him a bike, got him big boxes to move around, signed him up for gymnastics classes etc to give him outlets!</p> <p>Hang in there! Your LO is normal and you're normal and this too shall pass! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366138 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:33:07 +0000 Mae 2366138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So this may just not be possible for you because I know you live in an apartment, but the ONLY reason I don't go stark raving mad chasing Fia is through some level 10 baby proofing. We have a lower level living room that we have blocked off from the rest of the house with a baby gate. We removed the coffee table, switched out the end tables for more toddler-friendly ones (which she still climbs on, but these are more stable). We removed all the DVDs from our media center open cubbies. We put baby proofing straps on the cabinets that open. We screwed wood planks to the back of the media center to cover the space between the furniture and the wall so she can't get back to the cords. We have the end tables set so she can't fit behind the couch. There are literally only two things in this room she isn't allowed to do 1) climb on the end tables and 2) climb over the back corner of the couch (it's a sectional). Of course she loooooves doing those things and it is annoying. But it's so nice that other than those two things I don't have to micromanage her because there is nothing left for her to get into. When we are in other areas of our house I am soooo exhausted because it is just impossible to baby proof other areas to that level and she is constantly into everything and I'm like omfg we need to go downstairs right now.</p> <p>(oh and also we do not spend all day at home ever. We go out basically every single morning and most afternoons too. Boredom is the worst thing ever for toddlers lol) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366134 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:28:59 +0000 Oxana 2366134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 22 months and I SAH. The clock and I have become best friends. <i>Half an hour until nap time!</i> or <i>Two hours until Daddy comes home!</i> is like a constantly running ticker tape to my life. Plus, we don't let her watch TV or play with an iPad, etc. It's like I have to be "on" all.day.long and some days, I just want to go into my bedroom, close the door, lay face down on the bed, and scream into my pillow.</p> <p>Taking her out helps A LOT. Even if it's just the grocery store or a walk around the block. I don't have a car during the week when DH is at work, so I've started taking the bus to the library and the grocery store. It's a pain, but she seems so much more content when we do stuff like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366118 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:03:09 +0000 Cherrybee 2366118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, definitely. It's the relentlessness of it, I think. By Sunday night Im ready to drop! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366112 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 12:53:34 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2366112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me! But I stay home so it can be so maddening. My son has a *lot* of energy and is a touch naughty :) </p> <p>He likes to be funny but it often is the most dangerous things he is doing! Loves to climb and jump and throw and open and close and spill and dump and and and. So exhausting. My friends say it gets better when they are a bit older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366107 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 12:45:55 +0000 Maysprout 2366107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find that age to be really difficult too. They're just very unreasonable little people with no regards for their own safety - or at least mine were. My lo just turned 2 and she's gotten a lot more reasonable over the past few months and listens a ton better. My oldest is 4 and a half and after both kids that 15-20 or so months has been the most difficult with both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366106 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 12:44:23 +0000 twodoghouse 2366106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some days, absolutely! That's why my kids watch more tv than they ought to. There are times when I just want to sit on the couch and snuggle and stare at Curious George, you know. This is our first weekend staying at home in a month or so and I know some things are really getting to DH. He's not used to spending 24-7 with them and I think that makes it more frustrating for him (whereas I can let things roll off my back because they scream at me every day, I just can't take it personally!). Yesterday I came home from grocery shopping (which was like a vacation because I left the kids at home!) and DH is like "I can't do this! I keep telling Blake he can't climb on the toy box and then jump off but he's too cute and then I laugh and then he laughs and then he does again and I can't make him stop." And I just laughed because that is my daily life. I just try not to let myself get bogged down and days where I'm at my wits end I seriously just sit on the couch with them and think "maybe today we will not use puzzles/markers/toy cars appropriately, or make it through the day without biting/scratching/pushing (uh, them, not me, obviously), but we will sit here and hug each other and love each other and we will try again tomorrow." </p> <p>So no, you're not alone and I don't think that makes us bad moms because this too will pass. I like to remind myself that the days/nights are long, but the years are short. You're doing a great job mama. Keep your chin up! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-easily-overwhelmed-by-your-toddler#post-2366083 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 12:02:11 +0000 LovelyPlum 2366083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm being bested by a 19 month old. She is so sweet, but she has so. much. energy all day long. She also loves to get into things she shouldn't. I'm exhausted all weekend long, and I find myself longing for Monday morning daycare about this time on Sunday afternoons. I hate that, though. Weekends are for spending with family and enjoying each other. </p> <p>Can anyone else relate? Any tips for helping me feel less overwhelmed? When did it get better for you?</p> <p>(Also, SAHMs, I bow down to you. I don't think I could do it.) </p>