Whiny baby...driving Me Crazy!!!

If you haven't discussed this behavior with her pediatrician do so. She may have developmental issues. If you've been consistent using positive discipline I suggest that you need help finding out and providing for her needs.

Sounds like Mother's Day Out is something you can find out about. It's a wonderful option for those of us who love our kids but realize we do need a break from them. Our MDO program is at 2 different Methodist churches. One is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-3pm. The other one is Tuesday and Thursday from 9am-noon.

You enroll your child for what days you want. I did Monday's and Wednesday's one time and another time I choose only Friday's. We did the whole day program because we needed the down time.

I made all our doctor's appointments and other stuff on the days the kids would be there. It was also nice to go to the grocery store without kids. I got it done in less time and without the stress.

I suggest you try to ignore your daughter when she starts this behavior. The more attention you give her the more she's going to try and get your attention by doing this. She's getting a reward from this somehow.

How are you handling her behavior? Stop giving her attention when she whines or screams or throws a tantrum. Just walk away. I know it's hard to do but it works. Once she sees that negative behavior gets her no where she will stop. It can take a few days to about 2 weeks but it will stop.

15 months old, wakes in the night and doesn't nap? Every baby is different but my kids would be non functional with that little sleep. Actually, it sounds like yours might not be functional either. I'd talk to your pediatrician about it to make sure there aren't any other issues then get some serious sleep training underway. Sleep begets sleep and rested babies are happy ones. If the sleep schedule gets screwed up in our house, NOTHING else works either. It amazes me how much good sleep matters.

Has she been to the doctor? Interrupted sleep and no naps sucks for an adult, and is not good for a kid. Make sure there isn't some sort of medical issue or actual sleep issue going on.

Hit the library or bookstore for baby sign language - communication is often part of the tantrum problem. If she can tell you what she wants, that might help.

This isn't about you "going on medication to even yourself out." Good grief. Have you thought that maybe there's a medical issue or neurological issue with your daughter? Some of the symptoms you describe sound like they could be associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Or maybe she's not feeling well and has a food intolerance and the symptoms of it are mimicking Autism... like lactose intolerance or artificial food dyes or high fructose corn syrup.

You need to get your daughter to a pediatric neurologist AND a pediatric gastroenterologist that works in tandem with a pediatric nutritionist. The gastro dr ought to do a nitrogen breath test for lactose intolerance and also test for silent reflux aka GERD. Your baby could have something going on neurologically, which is why you need a neurologist involved in the gastro dr can't help. Your baby could be sick or in need of help, but you're approaching this as if you're the one who's suffering.

Some of her behavior is normal... screaming in frustration is normal if she can't communicate but she should have some speech development... however head banging is not normal. Refusing naps at all, especially if it's habitual, may or may not be normal. Severe tantrums are not normal if you're gentle but firm with her and are consistent with discipline. Frequent sleep disturbances can be normal, but waking and crying often at this age, especially if she can't be soothed, is not.

Tantrums seem to be rooted in two things... lack of sleep and inability to communicate. This is true even for adults.

Your daughter isn't getting enough sleep for her body. And she isn't able to communicate to you what she wants to. These two combined are a recipe for what you have going on at your house. There may be other factors as well, but those two things are all that would be required.

You need to figure out why she isn't sleeping more. If that means a visit with the pedi, then so be it. If it means more... so be it.
Sleep training works wonders if you stick with it. Unless you have a child with some underlying reason for the non-sleeping that is going unaddressed. A child who has no underlying reasons can learn to sleep fairly easily (within a week or so). But if there are underlying reasons, then no amount of training will fix it until you address those underlying reasons.

Babies that grow into kids with ADD/ADHD, I understand, slept much less than other babies. (I'm not saying the lack of sleep is causative, I am saying maybe it is an early indicator that ADD/ADHD may be an issue for the baby). Babies with reflux have a painful time trying to sleep if they are lying down flat. There are probably even more reasons that could be an underlying cause. IF you can rule all underlying reasons out, then sleep training should solve it.

And once she is sleeping more, you will likely see an increased ability in her tolerance for stressful situations. She will be better able to cope with things. And this will make it easier for her to learn to communicate. Whether it be signing or speech. My kids both were taught to sign and it was a huge help for our son, who would get frustrated easily. Once he could sign some basic needs/wants it was amazing how much "easier" he became. And it didn't slow down his speech development at all.
Daughter was easier to begin with... but she still learned to sign. She just learned to talk earlier and we didn't need to sign with her for as long.

Please seek out a professional regarding why she may not be sleeping, and then go from there.

Maybe that's just who she is and it's not going to change.

My grandson, now 24 months, does not have a pleasant personality. He has tantrums for everything from brushing his hair to waking up 3 or 4 times during the night. I share a house with my daughter and son in law, so I live with my grandson and know him well. We've tried everything. Nothing works more than once or twice. He's been to doctors-there's nothing medically wrong with him. That's just who he is.

We did teach him to sign before he could talk, hoping that would help him express himself, and it did to some extent, but then new situations arise that he tantrums about. He's not been spoiled. He doesn't get an audience. We've tried everything, really.

You do need a time apart from each other. Then neither one of you would have to be medicated!

Tell your H you have found a medication that will give you peace of mind and a better a attitude. It cost quite a bit, but you and your relationship with your daughter is worth it at this moment in time. Tell him the cost of mother's day out for a couple days a week! If he sees it in this light, it might make sense!

I had a very highly sensitive child when he was little. I called him intense.
He really was a very good kid but took continuous attention and thinking.
It was like being on call, 24-7, for your best problem solving skills.
Humans aren't built for that! Do try the pack n play and walking away. Put her in it outside on good days while you work in the yard. She might wear herself out crying but she just might take a nap.

Do try the signing thing. It can't hurt and it might help.
Learning to ignore her, will be your saving grace, lol!

Updated

You do need a time apart from each other. Then neither one of you would have to be medicated!

Tell your H you have found a medication that will give you peace of mind and a better a attitude. It cost quite a bit, but you and your relationship with your daughter is worth it at this moment in time. Tell him the cost of mother's day out for a couple days a week! If he sees it in this light, it might make sense!

I had a very highly sensitive child when he was little. I called him intense.
He really was a very good kid but took continuous attention and thinking.
It was like being on call, 24-7, for your best problem solving skills.
Humans aren't built for that! Do try the pack n play and walking away. Put her in it outside on good days while you work in the yard. She might wear herself out crying but she just might take a nap.

Do try the signing thing. It can't hurt and it might help.
Learning to ignore her, will be your saving grace, lol!

Part of the problem is that she doesn't have the words to express what she needs to express. Since she can't figure that out, she tantrums.

You need to plop her in a pack and play and walk away when she does this. That way she is more protected from hurting herself, and she doesn't have an audience. You NEVER want her to have an audience. If she's doing it strapped up in the carseat, get out of the car and wait it out. It's the best way to help her finally learn that she will never get what she wants by acting this way.

Keep working with her to learn to talk. When she starts getting upset, say to her "Use your words". Daycares do this to help kids learn to say what is upsetting them instead of acting out. And they say it to the kids even before they can say a whole lot of words - it gets them used to understanding that they are supposed to talk instead of scream or tantrum.

Your daughter sounds very high spirited, especially with the no-nap thing. You will need to be very scheduled with her. Always require a quiet time every day whether she sleeps or not. This gives you a break and makes her understand that she doesn't get to call all of the shots.

Make sure before you take her ANYWHERE that she has had plenty to eat. If you must run errands with her, do it early in the morning after breakfast when she has slept all night. Late afternoon is probably the worst time because she's tired and refuses to nap.

Hope this helps.

I have to agree that it might be a good time to see a pediatric neurologist to rule out Autism Spectrum Disorder. Underlying speech problems could also be causing some increased frustration. (She should be using at least 5 words and be able to follow simple commands, such as "Bring me your shoes," or "Put the book down." and should understand the meanings of phrases such as "No," "Come here," "Show me," and "Look.")

In the meantime, schedule some "mommy sanity time" outside of the house! You'll be able to think more clearly and respond to her most appropriately when you're relaxed and recharged yourself :)

I agree. You can't spend all day with her; you'll go nuts!
Gym nursery? M.'s Day Out?
Even preschool (though it'd be $$$ since probably only a daycare would offer it @ that age).

You need time away from her, not medicine.