XP: Activity level/restlessness - how much is normal?

gymnst1013 · November 2011

I feel like Nikolai is the most restless, hyperactive baby on the planet! During diaper changes he will continuously lift his legs and slam them down (diaper changes are f.u.n.), he'll go all Incredible Hulk on some of his toys, he is constantly kicking his legs and waving his arms while nursing, he is NEVER still when MH and I are holding him - bouncing, kicking his legs, trying to launch himself out of our arms.

Do your babies do this stuff too? Is this level of activity normal? I'm sure it's probably too early for there to be any correlation (I hope anyway) but I'm so worried he's going to have some sort of ADHD or ADD or something when he gets older.

march2008 · November 2011

DD went through a period of time where she was constantly kicking her legs while I changed her diapers. Her new thing now is sucking on her toes while I change her, which she has to slow down to do in order to really focus, and she doesn't do the leg kicking as much now.

She'll sometimes just hang out and chew on her toys while I hold her, but other times, she'll reach out and twist her body around to try to grab at anything in sight and I'll feel like I have a wiggle worm on my hands. It seems like she's trying to get a little bit of freedom to explore nowadays and I also think at this time she's trying to gain strength....maybe better develop the muscles needed for crawling or walking.

Rachel5782 · November 2011

Nope, that sounds like my son... especially with the legs slamming. He slams his legs down as part of his going-to-sleep routine. We can hear it from our bedroom. LOL I joke that he's twitchy like his father... DH's legs are constantly moving. He loooves to kick his legs and wave his arms. I wouldn't worry. I really think it's normal. They are learning to control their body movements.. gross motor skills!

PurdueMama14 · November 2011

DS does the same thing. Always moving! I think he actually gets frustrated that he can't get up and go on his own...

I'm hoping it's normal too!

RingOfFire11 · November 2011

YES! We are right there with you! We had the whole picking up the legs and slamming them during the diaper changes. Then, it went to grabbing her feet and sucking on her toes...to now, all of the above plus LOTS of twisting to roll over. She arches her back during feedings (and not because of her reflux) trying to launch herself into sitting. She scratches my face and practically rips off my cheeks while she's eating all while rubbing her feet back and forth very hard against each other. She used to love tummy time or back time but now she won't stay on her back at all and immediately flips over. Once she's over, she's pulling up her knees and flapping her arms because she REALLY wants to crawl! She grabs at every.single.thing and puts them in her mouth and can't sit still for a second, lol. She had one tooth come up a couple weeks ago and I think we're working on a second now. That coupled with wanting to crawl is frustrating her. The only time she seems at peace is she's starting to sit by herself for good periods and it's like she's SO happy with her new perspective of the world and proud to be doing it on her own. I think they are just trying to get moving and they are antsy because it takes time. In my opinion, it's just the age and I am sure it's normal.

kimbo1216 · November 2011

Oh yah! Even with the straps on the changing pad on, she still tries to do back flips off. Plus she hates getting dressed now. She cries every time. In general, she is constantly moving!

gymnst1013 · November 2011

Thank the gods I'm not the only one with a nutso kiddo! But also sorry you ladies are having a tough time corralling yours too - I imagine it's only worse when they are toddlers!

Rachel5782 · November 2011

gymnst1013:
Thank the gods I'm not the only one with a nutso kiddo! But also sorry you ladies are having a tough time corralling yours too - I imagine it's only worse when they are toddlers!

Last night we were babysitting my nephew who is 3 months older than DS and you should have seen me trying to change him into his PJs. You would have think I was trying to torture him. Screaming, screeching, rolling, struggling, it was awful. It made DS's leg slamming and wiggling seem like nothing. Yeah, we're in for some fun in a few months!!!

Debbie0580 · November 2011

Rachel5782:
Nope, that sounds like my son... especially with the legs slamming. He slams his legs down as part of his going-to-sleep routine. We can hear it from our bedroom. LOL I joke that he's twitchy like his father... DH's legs are constantly moving. He loooves to kick his legs and wave his arms. I wouldn't worry. I really think it's normal. They are learning to control their body movements.. gross motor skills!

this is jyles when he's going to bed/sleep as well. we just sat in bed and laughed at how he kicks and slams down his legs all. the. time. when trying to fall asleep!

Hbowers16 · November 2011

I think that's normal for boys. DD is also pretty active. But all my nephews were like that and are fine now.

Turtle143 · November 2011

I know exactly how you feel about ADHD!

At 2 months our pediatrician made a comment about how squirmy Liv was. She was on the table and he was trying to listen to her and she was wiggling her arms all ways that she was actually beating the sides of her belly with her own little fists and legs kicking up and down. He says babies like her don't get fat "but the problem maybe is when it comes times to say teaching them to read, you'll never catch these active little ones, they'd be running away."
Way to scare first time parents, right!???

He suggested for us to start reading to her then to get her used to just enjoying time sitting and reading a book.

We went out on a baby run that day. Alphabet mat, about 5 baby books, and a soothing/calming noise machine. Tongue Tied

gymnst1013 · November 2011

Turtle143:
I know exactly how you feel about ADHD!
At 2 months our pediatrician made a comment about how squirmy Liv was. She was on the table and he was trying to listen to her and she was wiggling her arms all ways that she was actually beating the sides of her belly with her own little fists and legs kicking up and down. He says babies like her don't get fat "but the problem maybe is when it comes times to say teaching them to read, you'll never catch these active little ones, they'd be running away."
Way to scare first time parents, right!???
He suggested for us to start reading to her then to get her used to just enjoying time sitting and reading a book.
We went out on a baby run that day. Alphabet mat, about 5 baby books, and a soothing/calming noise machine.

Nikolai used to do the same thing beating his chest and stomach!! It was really pretty funny to watch He still does it sometimes but it's tapered off quite a bit. I try to read to him occasionally but he gets so distracted and fussy a lot of the time. I should put more effort into it.

tulipblossom · November 2011

Olivia is so squirmy and wiggly at dipaer changes that I started putting her prefolds on backwards because she refuses to be on her back for any amount of time. DH only uses our BGs or Gro Via AI1s and half the time he puts those on backwards as well.

RClaffee · November 2011

Don't worry. My girls are little maniacs too. I think that they are so excited about all of the stuff that they can do now, and want to try it out all of the time.

During the summers, I will see children who are in the process of being diagnosed. We (I am part of a team) always ask the parents a ton of questions about their child and one of the questions we always is "what was so and so like as a baby." Honestly, the question (with some exceptions, obviously,) is to get the parents relaxed and talking about something and feeling all nice and nostalgic. The kids really run the gambit of what they were like as babies.

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