https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:01:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1649930 Wed, 21 May 2014 15:53:29 +0000 Grace 1649930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rememeber too that toddlers are often way wilder in a big exciting group than they are day to day. I was shocked at how mellow my friend's kid was one day when I visited alone. I'd only ever seen him as the wild kid in the bigger gathering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1649907 Wed, 21 May 2014 15:45:03 +0000 Cherrybee 1649907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: @yellowbird: Yeah, you're probably right ! E usually lets me know pretty quickly when my expectations are way off!! Like I said in my post, Yellowbird, I'm really, really not judging my friend's parenting (how can I when we're not dealing with it yet!) - I was just shocked at how crazy toddlers can be and wanted some ideas to cope when we do get there!! </p> <p>@Elderberrygin: Great ideas, thank you! *filing away* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1649099 Wed, 21 May 2014 11:11:41 +0000 looch 1649099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: As my mother in law says "the qualities that they exhibit today that make you crazy will be the same ones that will allow you relax when they are older."</p> <p>I have also learned that my son will be the one that will embarass me at times, but he'll also be the one that won't leave my side at other times. You can never tell what you're going to get on any given day, so be willing to change your plans on a regular basis! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1649090 Wed, 21 May 2014 11:06:19 +0000 MamaMoose 1649090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: Don't worry, I was informed yesterday by my LO's day care teacher than whenever they walk from their classroom to the playground one of the teacher's has to hold my LO because "she's a runner"! I like to think that spirit will take her places in this world!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1648194 Tue, 20 May 2014 21:25:08 +0000 yellowbird 1648194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I agree!</p> <p>My 20 month old acts like this. Trust me though, I've been setting boundaries forever it feels like but she just won't listen. I call her spirited. She knows she isn't supposed to do certain things but she'll touch this or that and laugh because she knows she's being naughty. I've never had her jump on other people but I did take her to a baby gymnastics class and she was WILD. She was so excited at all the new things she would not pay attention to direction or follow the group. A huge tantrum ensues and she was running around so fast I could barely catch her. I took her out of the class and talked to her about behavior and listening but it didn't really help.</p> <p>I was so embarrassed but she's still a baby and she got too wound up. I hope other moms aren't judging mu parenting abilities because I am trying, but you can't always control your child's personality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1648190 Tue, 20 May 2014 21:21:50 +0000 Elderberrygin 1648190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 15 month old is very high energy and we have a few strategies that work well.</p> <p>- schedule active time - we get out of the house and go to the playground, or go swimming in the pool every day we're home with her. If its raining we try to go to a play center. She seems to need to get out and see new things or she gets bored quickly, so our weekends are jam packed. We give her a lot of positive attention during active time so she's less inclined to act out during quiet time to get our attention.</p> <p>- we have baby proofed the hell out of our apartment so we aren't constantly having to say "no" to her. she's pretty much free to explore as much as she wants.</p> <p>- simple directions that tell her the behavior we do want to see ("sit down in the bath" rather than "don't stand in the bath" for example) Because we've set things up so that we don't have to stop her from doing things constantly, the few rules we have at this stage - sitting down in the bath, not throwing food, not standing on the furniture, gentle hands with people and pets - really stand out. </p> <p>- we have a reprimand noise we use. it may or may not be the same reprimand noise we use for pets :silly: it gets her attention if she's about to do something dangerous and if she doesn't stop we redirect.</p> <p>Its pretty exhausting, but its surprising how much she understands about rules and boundaries already.</p> <p>ETA: Sorry for the novel. Hope the tips help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1648149 Tue, 20 May 2014 20:50:39 +0000 MamaMoose 1648149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think your expectations are a little unreasonable. At 18 months old, redirecting is often your only option. I think that once E is an active toddler you are just going to have to accept that sometimes you'll have to do things like stay inside "on a lovely day" because LO is trying to get into too many dangerous things outside and it's just easier to move them to a different safer environment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1648148 Tue, 20 May 2014 20:49:57 +0000 Kemma 1648148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's about finding a balance between age appropriate behaviour and setting boundaries and discipline. At the end of the day, toddlers aren't designed to sit still and "behave" but they are certainly smart enough to learn appropriate behaviour and start to regulate themselves. An example of this would be sitting or standing still while eating or drinking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1648124 Tue, 20 May 2014 20:30:01 +0000 loveisstrange 1648124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: The beginning of April. :( I know. I don't know how it happened either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646592 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:49:31 +0000 Cherrybee 1646592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah, he was knocking some of the smaller kids over and "humping" them in excitement!! The nursery staff said it was hard not to laugh..... :shocked: He hit all his milestones on time, eats everything you give him, has a few words now and is a sociable little lad, though. I think he's just a high energy kid.... (I hope so). </p> <p>@loveisstrange: HOW is C two???? When did that happen?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646494 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:30:02 +0000 loveisstrange 1646494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that to a certain point, an 18-month-old is an 18-month-old. You can only redirect and control their behavior so much. C is pretty high-energy. She can go and go and go so much it makes me exhausted to watch her. Yes, we do not allow her to go nuts in public as much as possible. Yes, we try our best to redirect her and correct behavior. Yes, sometimes she still ends up acting like that (running around like a madwoman).</p> <p>However... sometimes kids act that way and you can't stop it. Some kids are just super high energy. It's likely he was overexcited and overstimulated if it was a new situation for him. 18 months is old enough to talk to a kid about behavior, but Im not so sure 18 months is old enough for a kid to really control his own behavior yet. It takes a little time for them to catch on, IMO. The difference in how C controls herself and listens from 18 months to 2 is HUGE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646473 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:26:14 +0000 illumina 1646473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice. I'm scared because S is pretty high maintenance and active so we've already been having conversations about discipline to make sure we're on the same page! Though pretty much every other toddler/pre-schooler I see behaves like your friend's son, so I kinda think it's a little down to parenting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646468 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:25:17 +0000 looch 1646468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: that's interesting that you mention playing too rough, because that is absolutely a possible sign of a sensory issue! I just learned about this from my son's oral motor therapist last week, as a matter of fact. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646420 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:12:53 +0000 Cherrybee 1646420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Ahh, I thought you meant that letting him run around was how they eg the parents dealt with his pre-diagnosed sensory issues and i shouldn't judge!! I get it now!! Yeah, well only time will tell if he does have something going on. I don't think so, though,. </p> <p>@hilsy85: I think it was the new situation. He doesn't really spend a lot of time in situations like this - he is in daycare 5 days a week (where they moved him up to an older room because he played too rough with the little children) and then they tend to take him to the park at weekends, where he can run all his energy off. The quiet room suggestion is brilliant (filing away for future use!) </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I have no idea at the moment what E is going to be like!! Willful, definitely! DH was apparently a serial escape artist - oh joy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646373 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:01:44 +0000 Foodnerd81 1646373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm kind of just hoping c is a calmer kid and I don't have to deal with all that! </p> <p>But, knowing how to approach pets is nonnegotiable for me. As soon as she started showing an interest in our dog we started modeling gentle pets and telling her to leave him alone when he has had enough. I know she doesn't understand it now but I'm hoping it sinks in over time. It's just way too dangerous for a child to be acting crazy around pets, especially unfamiliar ones. I know how my dog will probably react (bark an run away if annoyed) but who knows with someone else's. </p> <p>But yeah the rest of it? I just hope she's calm like me. Not crazy like Dh. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646361 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:59:06 +0000 wonderstruck 1646361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I think that's a great suggestion with the quieter room/activities to help them calm down! Seems obvious, but I'm filing it away in my brain for when I am going through this stage... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646292 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:46:46 +0000 looch 1646292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: yes, exactly...you wrote what I wanted to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646285 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:44:57 +0000 hilsy85 1646285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others, at that age it's all about redirecting. That child does sound VERY high energy though--I would describe my LO as high energy and very active, but he would never run around a room jumping on people and screaming. So it might be a personality thing, or a sensory seeking type thing that they might have not figured out yet, or maybe he was just really excited about the new situation! Personally, if LO was that out of control, I would have removed him to a quieter room and done some quiet activities with him for a bit to give him a chance to unwind and calm down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646256 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:37:01 +0000 wonderstruck 1646256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Obviously every individual child/situation is different, but this is a pretty big problem with my nephew. But I think can be quite detrimental to the child to just say, "Oh, they're not old enough to understand" when it comes to inappropriate behavior. My SIL had that mindset until her child was around 2.5 - she would redirect, but there were no discussions, limits, or consequences for bad behavior, even if he purposely hurt someone (hitting, etc.) or it was a dangerous situation. Once they thought he was old enough (which was basically when he terrible twos started) everything they were doing was a totally foreign concept to him - there had never been limits or consequences, he'd never been told to be gentle and had them show him what that meant, etc. As you can probably imagine, it did not go over well...it's a year later now and his temper is pretty awful, it can be scary.</p> <p>I'm hoping we'll have more success because we've already been introducing these things with my 1 year old as much as possible - talking about gentle hands and showing him what that means, putting him down and bringing playtime to a stop if he bites, etc. He only crawls, so we haven't dealt with climbing or chasing yet...I guess we'll see how it goes, but I don't agree with the idea that they're too young to understand - understanding can be a gradual concept. But if you're telling them no, they continue doing what they want anyways, and you just let them...I think that sends a pretty bad message.</p> <p>I'll be honest, I have trouble not judging - I used to be better about it, but when they roll their eyes at me for doing the whole 'gentle hands' thing with my 1 year old and showing him how to softly touch something, and then tell me not to bother and that if my son doesn't have the same problems as theirs it's just because I got lucky....yeah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646189 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:16:50 +0000 Cherrybee 1646189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Aaaaw!! My dog did actually appear to be having the time of his life, being chased by the kid, but it just got me to thinking - I need to teach E the right way to approach pets and people. Hmm. I definitely need some books on this topic!! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646179 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:12:17 +0000 looch 1646179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Well, you can't set limits on a kid's excitement level (at least I have not been able to) so the best thing to do is to explain to them what is and isn't acceptable, and at 18 months, those discussions can for sure be had. Redirecting is huge, as is modeling the behaviour...especially if the experience is new, like with an animal. My son didn't know how to pet a dog the first time he saw one up close, so my husband modeled it for him and then explained what would happen if he didn't do what he was asked. I have a photo of my son from that day, where he's hugging the dog and lying together with him in his dog bed! So, anything is possible.</p> <p>edited to remove picture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646161 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:07:52 +0000 Cherrybee 1646161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Whaaaaaaat????! :shocked: Mind, saying that, the father of the child I've been talking about stole a JCB when he was 8 and drove it up the street!! He ended up working for a law firm! :happy: </p> <p>(Oh Lordy, I hope it's not genetic and his son doesn't do stuff like this!!!!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646154 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:05:57 +0000 Cherrybee 1646154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: If he does have any diagnosed issues, I would absolutely know about it. My friend and I were talking (while he rampaged) and she said that she feels that he isn't old enough to understand what she's asking him to do yet. I think he was just having a great time. He's so cute he gets away with it!!!! Cutest kid I've ever seen! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646150 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:04:59 +0000 Anagram 1646150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: once, on a trip to Disney Land, I got a stomach bug so the whole family had to just hang around the hotel all day. He was supposed to be at the pool being watched by my older sister, but again he escaped and ran out to the golf course, where he "borrowed" a golf cart, and drove it into the side of the resort hotel.</p> <p>True story. My dad had to pay for the damages. My brother was 8 (!) at the time.</p> <p>You'd think he grew up to be a convict or something but he grew out of all the craziness around 12-13 and was a model kid after that--then became a teacher for a while and then went into television and now produces segments of a TV show. So. You know, some kids are just hyper! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646142 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:01:07 +0000 looch 1646142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It could also be that he has a sensory seeking issues and that's how they deal with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646140 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:00:57 +0000 Anagram 1646140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: yes! right in the middle of the service! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646138 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:00:17 +0000 Cherrybee 1646138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Please tell me there was a service on at the time?? That's SO funny!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646133 Tue, 20 May 2014 08:57:35 +0000 Anagram 1646133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your E may not be like that at all---some kids are more active and hyper than others. I do think it's a mix of nature and nurture. Of course, parents can and should set limits and work on behavior, and on the other side toddlers are people who have various different personalities.</p> <p>My parents were pretty strict with us about behavior growing up. I was a fairly quiet child, but my brother was a terror. =) He would have been that kid running around and being crazy, even though we were parented similarly.</p> <p>Once, he escaped the church nursery at the age of 3 (climbed over the half door when the nursery teacher had her back turned) and ran into the church sanctuary screaming at the top of his lungs--then ran up the aisle and up to the preacher's pulpit and then started dancing around!</p> <p>My mom was SO embarassed. My parents did spank us, and my dad grabbed him and took him to the parking lot, then gave him a spanking and a good talking to.</p> <p>I mean--so imagine that scenario! Can't get much worse than that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-toddler-excitable-talk-to-me-about-limitsboundaries#post-1646116 Tue, 20 May 2014 08:52:44 +0000 Cherrybee 1646116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best friend came over on Saturday with her adorable, happy 18 month old. I've been thinking a lot about his behaviour because E will be entering this stage soon and, as I said to my friend, I'm just not ready to deal with this!!! </p> <p>My friend is an amazing mum; she has the patience of a saint. I have every reason to believe that she is approaching discipline in exactly the right way for her individual family and her son. I say this now because I'm about to diss his behavior - :meh: - I'm not saying his behavior was bad, simply that I want to take a different approach with E if possible..... </p> <p>Bees, he was WILD! Running up and down the garden, in and out of the house, throwing himself all over people (like, diving on top of people). I ended up covered in his drink from the sippy he was waving about while on top of me, scrambling up like I was a climb toy! He was chasing my tiny dog (it was quite cute but if my dog had snapped, what then?). He didn't listen to a word either of his parents said! The only time they got serious with saying no was when he was trying to get near the barbecue - cue a couple of hours, then, of desperate attempts to reach the barbeque and two parents plus my DH chasing him about, redirecting him - we ended up relocating indoors (on a lovely day) because he needed to be locked inside. :bummed: </p> <p>I have been thinking and thinking about it (because E will be there soon) and I've come to the conclusion that he was just excited. I mean, he was clearly excited - shrieking, bouncing on people - and I think this is why he wasn't listening. Of course, my friends didn't challenge his excitement because he was having fun (instead of a tantrum!)..... </p> <p>.......but maybe it's important to set limits on excitement to make sure that behaviour doesn't get out of hand? Do you set limits on excitement? How do you do it? </p> <p>Also - should there be boundaries around other people (no jumping on people who are not mummy and daddy?) and, especially, animals (treat animals with respect). </p> <p>What are your limits? How do you enforce them? Tell me stories about excitable toddlers, too! :happy: </p> <p>(I need to decide now, I think, what my plan is with E!) </p>