Clingy, whiney, bitey!

[Boobycino]

Hey, I'm Miss - totally objective unless it comes to my own son then I forget everything I know about children - Jasper's been clingey, whiney and bitey!!! Today particularly, but for weeks its been getting worse.I'm not sure what exactly to do about the biting. Generally I indulge the clingy to a point and ignore the whiney, like if I need to wee and I dont feel like being watched I leave him to bang on the door in the hall away screaming while I steal away two seconds to pee with privacy. Or I let him scream at me over the safety gate to the kitchen while I make lunch. Or right now I'm a bit fed up I'm ignoring him climbing on me and whining and head butting me and I'm typing quickly (so dont mind the typos!) He's biten me a several times in the last couple of weeks (and twice today) then screams and throws himself at me (or at my feet). I dont let him cuddle me after he's bitten me, but he screams so hard that I do end up picking him up and comforting him, which doesn't always settle him.Keep in mind I co-sleep, feed all night, play with him heaps, we went to the park this morning, and the pool this afternoon. We've played with the hose together. He's slept. He's fed. He's breast feed freely. He's well. He's not teething to my knowledge. He just seems like he's overwhelmingly frustrated with me and like I'm just not getting the clue! Even when I'm giving him all the comfort he could need, but its not enough!This is unlike him! He's also been shy since this clingyness began a couple of weeks ago. Could this be the 'seperation anxiety' phase?Or is this a see a gp kinda situation?Oh, and fun times, I'm leaving him at the creche at the gym for the first time ever... why when i finally decide to get some mummy time out he goes crazy clingy! (though he should be fine, he loves other kiddies, he'll just be happy to play and be involved)Any perspective?Should I punish him for biting? (tell him no, pop him in a mini time-out.. something light and age appropriate) Or should I give him the benefit of the doubt and work out whats wrong?

[tracynben]

it may be a reaction to leavin him at the gym, maybe its his way of telling you hes not happy and was upset you left him, they dont understand, but if you are going on a regualr basis, he should get use to it. You spend lots of time with him, so it will be hard for him to understand why all of a sudden your not there.

I dont really know what to suggest about the biting, its never happened with my 2, but doing time out, its too young for him to understand and probably wont have an effect, maybe speak to your child health nurse about the biting.

tracy xxxx

[Boobycino]

Sorry, I wasn't explaining clearly before - what with the head butting and crying - but he's not been left before... ever... tomorrow is the first I'm really going to leave him with someone he doesnt know.

He's only been baby sat maybe 4 times in his life.

So, I'm a bit shaken by the fact that the eve of the first time I'm leaving him with a carer (for like, an hour, and I'll be in the building) he's been in super crazy clingy mode.

I might pop up to the CHN after and see what they can suggest for biting.

And hair pulling and slapping for that matter, he's been slapping me and DP on the face a lot and I've noticed he's doing it to other children occasionally. At first it seemed like he was just getting over excited and flapping his arms, but he does aim for the face.

And I dont want him to be THAT child.

Yeah, might see the CHN.

[tracynben]

oh ok, i musnt have read the post properly, i really dont know what to suggest.
I would say thats a bit unusual to behave like that, hes not in pain with anything is he, just a guess, he might be telling you hes unhappy in some way, just a thought, other than that, i really dont know, i never had that problem so cant really help you much, def go see the MCN and maybe go to the doctors as well, just for piece of mind, hope you find an answer, hugs to you, must be really hard on you both .
tracy xxxx