My DS who is 17 months is driving me crazy. He demands constant attention and doesn't let me get anything done. Everything is a huge crisis and he is crying non-stop.
He wants to do all kinds of dangerous/inappropriate things, and when I stop him it's like World War 3 in the house. Anytime I turn my back on him to get some stuff done he freaks out in hysterics until I stop and pick him up. He wants to be held A LOT. I don't dare do my dishes - if the dishwasher is open he is pulling out plates and utensils and carrying them around and/or breaking them. He is climbing up on tables and chairs (and sometimes falling - you'd think he would learn), getting his fingers stuck in drawers and cabinets, he is learning to yank open baby gates and takes off up the stairs, he is hitting my dog and cats with any objects he can find (he has been bitten by the dog once now), he is getting stuff out of the garbage, getting his diaper changed is a nightmare with struggling and flip-flopping and running all over the place, he is eating dog food (the dog has to go with out food for 12 hours a day now to keep him away from it), he actually spontaneously learned to open my front door and took off on his own last week - right out into the street!
It just goes on. He never stops going, I have to watch him every second of the day. He doesn't care about toys at all, he won't watch any form of television. He wants to be held, and as soon as I pick him up, he's arching his back and struggling to get down. The next minute he's clinging to my leg. He cannot or will not entertain himself in anyway at all. I CANNOT make him happy or at peace. He is a danger to himself and sometimes I find myself holding my bladder for hours until I put him down for his nap and finally go pee. Letting him cry hasn't seemed to help - it seems to make him more clingy to me.
At night he sleeps for about 12 hours (7:30p to 7:30a) and he takes a 2.5 - 3 hour nap during the day. (The only peace and quiet I get is spent trying to catch up on all the chores I couldn't get done).
Can anyone give me any suggestions??? I am exhausted.