Weβve had one of THOSE weeks. A pooey, pukey, two baths a day and soaking of clothes in the kitchen sink sort of a week. Little B still isnβt quite over his non-specific virus (why oh whyΒ do they call it that? Being sick is quite specific to me!) plus heβs teething which doesnβt help matters at all.
I think itβs fair to say my patience has been tested more in the last week than it has in the last year, and itβs got me thinking that there are an awful lot of things they fail to tell you about toddlers.
1. Somewhere between 12 and 18 months old baby sick stops smelling like baby sick and starts smelling like grown-up sick, making you literally retch when clearing it up. It will also stain wherever it has the misfortune to fall, and those things will never be quite the same again. Iβve never seen that little nugget of information in a baby book.
2. Explosive nappies requiring full strip down, a bath, and new clothes always happen just when youβre on the way out of the door or really need to be doing something else. Just count to ten andβ¦breathe.
3. If youβre unlucky, at around the same time as the sick, your little bundle of joy will learn to grind their teeth. And if youβre really unlucky theyβll like doing it and do it over and over again. Like nails down a blackboard.
4. Then at the same time as the teeth grinding theyβll develop a Screech of Frustration. Little Bβs Screech of Frustration comes when he either wants something or wants to communicate something, but canβt. So he simply screeches while pointing at nothing in particular. Goodness only knows what the neighbours think.
5. On some days all of the above will happen on the same day, either consecutively or all at the same time. But then, whenΒ he’s clean and dry and calm and sweet smelling again, heβll spontaneously come over and climb into myΒ lap for a cuddle, and maybe even proffer upΒ hisΒ snotty faceΒ for a kiss. And, weirdly,Β I donβt really mind doing it all over again.
Is there anything you wish you’d known about toddlers before you found yourself in charge of one?
Linking up with…
oh no it is terrible when the sick starts smelling like adult vomit! If only it could always smell so sweet as a baby’s. I am out of the toddler phase now, but I will treasure the memories always! #TheList
I’m not quite sure I’ll be treasuring these memories!!
Sorry to hear you have’ve a poorly week! We had one a few weeks ago and I was nodding along to all your points. The grinding of teeth, is the worse for me!! x #TheList
I’ve never come across baby teeth grinding before – it’s the worst!!
Eeeeks. Sounds like you have had a tough week. The sick is the worst but then again so are the explosive nappies, I think nothing ever prepares you for an explosive nappy, and why does it always happen when you are out and you have forgotten to bring spare clothes! #thelist
The last week has made me better on the spare clothes front & our nappy bag is now well stocked!
A toddlerhood… It’s a whole new world, isn’t it? I’m about to enter the Pre teen world here with my daughter being 9 going on 15, I’m not sure it’s much different from being a toddler parent most days, they’re just bigger and have more vocabulary!!
#effitfriday
Oh no that doesn’t sound like fun! I’m not looking forward to when mine can answer back!
oh no the sick & the poop! Archie was allergic to cows milk so used to projectile vomit as a newborn but I’d take that milky sick any day over toddler sick! #thelist
Milky sick is doable, whereas as for adult puke…
Ohh no, sounds like it’s been a horrible week. I hope little man feels better soon. Ugh, it is gross when their sick starts smelling like grown up sick and it really does stain everything. So gross..xx #TheList
I know, the joys of parenthood!
Ahhh sure that’s what mom’s are for – doing the whole thing all over again, every day. Ya the sick is an awful smell & if there’s even a tiny bit somewhere it stinks so bad – there’s no choice but to wash them again. Teeth grinding is the worst, luckily our daughter isn’t doing that but the boys did! #FridayFrolics x
Maybe teeth grinding is a boy thing then…
Oh no not a faun week for you!!! Ahh the joys! #picknmix xx
No not fun AT ALL!!
I had no idea babies grind their teeth, that would drive me mad, it really makes me cringe! #effitfriday
Debbie
I didn’t know babies could grind their teeth either – BB never did this!
I’ve just come out of the other side of both boys being poorly. It’s exhausting isn’t it. The little one does that teeth grinding thing. He has also just discovered he can scream. He likes to practice this. A lot! Thanks for linking up to #FridayFrolics (hope the non-specific virus goes away soon)
Thank you! I HATE the teeth grinding – it sends shivers down my spine!!
Oh toddlers, don’t you just love them. This brought back memories for me! Exploding nappies all over family members was always embarassing! #FridayFrolics
Goodness I don’t think we’ve had one explode over a family member yet – poor you!
Oh what a week, that transition to real puke. It’s just well, pukey! Barf. #2 though – make sure you breathe through your mouth because it also goes from ok(it) baby poo, to vile, disgusting, grown up poop…..
Yes that’s very true about baby poo turning to adult poo – because Little B is still breast fed that hasn’t happened yet!
My baby has only just turned into a toddler and oh my goodness she is letting us know. Time to read up on the Toddler books I thought but having read your comments above it sounds like they don’t cover everything. #TheList
BB was never like this! Little B is a nightmare in comparison!!
I hope you come out the other side of this non-specific virus soon! We’ve had periods of teeth grinding and screeching, sometimes concurrently, but fortunately not at the same time as pooping & puking. You’re doing fab to deal with all of that at once!!!
I’m afraid it’s meant I’ve been reaching for the wine rather a lot this week though!
Oh you poor thing ha ha! You’re so right about the sick change though – and it’s gross and without fail makes me sick too. BLURRRGH!! Mim x x #TheList
Little B is so much more sicky than BB was too – worst luck!!
The stubborn phase. My gosh that is tough. They know what they want and how to get it…by throwing a tantrum usually. No one told me how clever they really are #picknmix
I’m still wondering whether Little B is actually old enough to be so cunning but I think he is!!
Urghh One of THOSE weeks. Oh the joys!!! Always good to be reminded that you are not the only one being tested although its my husband thats suffering from a non-specific virus today, symptoms include being unable to leave the sofa, and dramatically stating how ill he feels every 5 or 6 seconds (To be fair he is feeling quite rough) #FridayFrolics
Men are always such drama queens! Or mine is anyway!!
This made me laugh because I totally feel your pain! My little man does the teeth grinding thing too especially in his sleep! I wish someone gave me a heads up on the screaming and tantrums, I thought I still had a couple of months till this stage reared its ugly head, what was it terrible 2’s – Yeh OK more like terrible 21 months! x #thelist
I’m SO hoping the teeth grinding is just a phase…
I think it is, my little man stops doing it when he’s not teething. I never realised how much it can affect them, we’ve had some serious nappy rash when his back teeth were coming through :o(
Nurofen and Teetha Granules have become my best friends!
Teething is so awful!
Is it weird that o find this lovely? Obviously not the sick not smelling milky but everything else π
My boy is 13 months and I’m experiencing many of these things now but like you said, that kiss or cuddle at the end makes it all worth it #thelist
Even if that kiss is all salty & snotty!!
It’s horrible when they’re poorly isn’t it? Hope it’s nearly over for you.
I didn’t know that changing a toddlers nappy would require the skills of a pro wrestler! #KCACOLS
Thank you! BB was so good about having her nappy changed but Little B is a NIGHTMARE!
Oh god the sick!! First time I realised it smelled like adult sick was when she threw up down my t-shirt, into my plate and the jacket of the lady behind us in a Harry Ramsden’s restaurant. Cringe city! Great post and so, so true! #KCACOLS
Oh no poor you! I hope the lady was understanding!!
You really know how to pull out all the best bits! I’d forgotten some of these transitions #KALCOS
Best to forget them in my opinion!!
Oh man, the Screech of Frustration really is the worst! My son is only one and he does it about 50 times a day. So awful. But they really have a knack for knowing when you’re at your screech limit and will come to your for a cuddle and slobbery kiss, like you said. I’m sorry for little is sick, but it’s nice knowing I’m not alone π
#KCACOLS
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Nope you’re not alone! I can’t wait until this phase is over!
Ah reading this has made me cringe…teeth grinding! We didn’t have many of these weeks with my daughter but when we did it was pretty explosive. I have learnt that children are pretty disgusting. They don’t tell you that! Love her all the same though! Happy Mothers Day #KCACOLS
No they don’t tell you about the disgusting bit do they!!
I feel your pain – I’ve had an awful bug this week and it’s been vomit central! Thankfully we’ve managed to avoid Josh getting it so far! Hope Little B is feeling a bit better xx #KCACOLS
Thank you – hope you’re getting over it toox
Ah! Those weeks of sick little ones can be so trying! I can relate to many of those. Although I don’t have a toddler, I have a 5 year old with autism who is VERY MUCH like a toddler. She is not yet potty trained which makes changing diapers delightful because well, it’s not baby poop any more, right? She has a habit of grinding her teeth A LOT. (She’s doing it now!) and screeching in very much a part of our daily life. All this to say, this mommy feels your pain! Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy week ahead!
I feel your pain too! My nephew has autism so I can relate to your situation a little bit – sounds like you’re doing a great jobx
I forgot to mention #KCACOLS
Thanks for popping over!x
Oh we have a teeth grinder here too! It goes right through me! We also have a screecher! Infact I can relate to all of this!!! Thanks for sharing! #KCACOLS
The trouble is when it happens all at the same time!
I have the Screech of Frustration and Whine of All Time! It’s awful and really grates on my mummy. We feel your pain! #KCACOLS xx
Mummm – what on earth did we sign up for??!!
Explosive nappies – I remember those days!
This made me think of my real Mummy Life post baby to toddler days.
Great post #KCACOLS
Oh god, I hope you have managed to have a good Mother’s Day on top of all this?! We also had a vomiting baby this evening, including vomit on me which smelt like adult sick mixed with fish (lovely). Claire x#KCACOLS
Poor you! I had a FABULOUS Mother’s Day but lots of people didn’t as my post tomorrow will explain! Hope your baby is better soon x
Oh that does sound like a tough week. I feel for you and your little one. Glad he is on the mend now though #KCACOLS xx
Thank you – we’re almost back to normal x
Ugh! The teeth grinding. It’s a wonder that they grow up with any at all. I wish I had know how unreasonable toddlers could be. I’ve spent the whole of my life learning to how to influence people with sound reasoning, but it has all been for nothing apparently! Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS. I hope you can make it back next Sunday x
There’s no such thing as ‘sound reasoning’ when under threes are involved – more’s the pity!!x
A tough week and generally nothing prepares you for when it comes – however many times it visits! I think if we had received a preparation manual in advance, we may have just run for the hills! Hope this week is an improvement. #KCACOLS
This week has got off to a better start already – perhaps because I got to have a lie in on Sunday which makes everything seem so much better!
Oh no! SO true. I have had a similar week. Chicken pox followed by vomiting bug, followed by flu bug, which I have too. I swear you wouldn’t believe it if it was fiction. And more time off work which went down like a lead balloon. Just keep swimming! π #KCACOLS
I have only JUST caught up on all my work (I’m self employed) after all the illness. Hope you get better soon!
This is so true. The part I hated was the grinding teeth! Really goes through me.
Haha these are all true! &, it’s not specific to just toddlers, but before having kids who even knew non-specific viruses were a thing?? Let alone non-specific viruses with non-specific rashes! But, no, kids have one once a fortnight! #KCACOLS
Oh I think we missed the grinding teeth phase! π Totally agree about the sick, bleurgh! The thing that gets me most is the irrationality of toddlers, drives me potty! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
And there’s absolutely no reasoning with them either – that’s the MOST frustrating bit of all!
Yep we had a week like this last month! Toddlers suck lol #effitfriday
Bring on the threenage years – I think!!
Ah the screeching! I try reminding her that she can actually say some words now, but it just makes her screech even more…
x Alice
#kcacols
Little B’s screech get higher pitched the more incensed he becomes – it’s driving me crazy!
Ha my two are 10 and 11 but I can still remember the fun of some of this π My toddler niece once threw up all over my car as well…. after drinking milk, it was never the same ewww!
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x
Cars are never the same once they’ve been milked – or the car seats no matter how many times you wash them!!
Oh, the teeth grinding, GAH! I hated that phase. Thankfully it didn’t last too long.
The thing I don’t understand about toddlers is where they get all their energy from? They literally never stop, and I find it exhausting! π
#KCACOLS
It IS exhausting…and drives me to the wine!!
This is all so true! Dot has that screech down perfectly! It’s at that horrible pitch where it feels like your eardrums could burst at any moment!
Laura xx
#KCACOLS
We escaped it with BB but Little B is more than making up for it – he gets even higher pitched if I don’t react too…
Oh, the screech of frustration, I know it well. At times, I’m tempted to let out my own screech of frustration, especially after 10 minutes of trying to get a nappy/ trousers/ shoes on a toddler intent on escaping! At least I’ve managed to avoid toddler sick so far, Emma’s been really healthy. Hope I’m not speaking too soon. #KCACOLS
Yes don’t speak too soon – she may make up for it!
Oh gosh, I didn’t even think her sick would start smelling like adult sick that soon, we’re at 15 months so I guess not long to go! I think the refusing to have her nappy cleaned is the one that gets to me the most. Ok, that’s quite well known, but I didn’t appreciate the scale of it!! #kcacols
Me neither on the nappy front! BB was always so good about it but Little B is a nightmare!