Help with frustration at playtime

[LJCsmom]

I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light onto what is going on with 4.5 month DS. This has been going on for about a month now ever since ds has been able to grab and hold toys. He will get something and even before it is in his hands he is diving towards it to put it in his mouth. Ok so this is normal everything goes into the mouth. But the problem is how frustrated he gets once it's in his mouth. He will suck or chew for a few seconds then he's almost trying to rip apart the toy while it is still in his mouth at which point he starts to get upset and if I don't take the toy away in a few minutes he's crying. I really don't get it cause I thought it would get better by now as he has gained more control. I'm starting to wonder what kinds of activities to do with him cause he gets so wound up at what ever he's doing. Please tell me this is just a phase...

[legend_018]

I have to go to bed now, so i have to log off.
but are u sure he isn't teething?

[LJCsmom]

Could be teething...poor little guy gets so wound up so easily. I don't know what kinds of activities to do with him. The only thing that doesn't make him upset is his jolly jumper and I can't leave him in it for 2 hours.

[Erin M]

If it is teething, could you give him a somewhat frozen washcloth to chew on?  That always really helped my DD when we were going through rough teething times.  Maybe if he's got something in his mouth that helps him to feel better, he'd be more content playing with his other toys?  Does he like to be outside?  Go for walks in the stroller?  Those were big activities for us around that age.  There's a toy/activity sticky up at the top of this forum for babies from 3-6 months that has some ideas that could help you out as well. 

Whatever the cause, I'm sure it's just a phase.  Just keep saying -- "this too shall pass..."

[binxyboo]

Sounds like teething to me. My lo loved walks at that age too, just looking at the world around him

[mommyOFtwins]

My twin girls will be 5months next week and like your son, they put everything in their mouth including feet.  I've noticed that one of them when in the exercise-saucer, she's bites on the toys and has it in her mouth. She gets extremly frustrated also.

What we've done is given her a teether (although i can't tell whether she's teething already) or a soft teether rattle (cloth material but it's a teether)...she chews on this forever in replacement.

As for activities, they rotate from a bouncer (where they hit stuff and practice grabbing), exercise-saucer and then the floor for tummy time.