Everything, from your baby's routines to their mood, was normal during the first year of the developmental process. However, at the age of 1, tantrums and disruptions in routines begin. Don't worry; your baby is experiencing what is known as the '1 Year Syndrome' or '1 Year Old Tantrum.' This syndrome underlies all issues like '1-year-old baby sleep problems' and '1-year-old baby refusing to eat.' Let's examine the details together.
What is the 1 Year Syndrome?
The psychology of a 1-year-old baby is based on their efforts to become independent, and some factors hinder this independence and lead to irritability:
At the age of one, the baby wants to be more independent as they can now walk on their own.
They develop desires for independence, such as walking on their own, going outside when they want, climbing furniture, and more.
However, as caregivers, we want to take precautions for our babies, which leads us to limit these movements.
In this situation, the stage of anger and rebellion known as the 1 Year Syndrome begins in babies.
Since the baby is still at the beginning stages of language development and cannot express themselves well, they struggle to show their reactions.
They insist on gaining independence through actions like refusing to sleep, rejecting food, and having crying fits.
Even if the baby has not yet mastered walking, they may still exhibit signs of the 1 Year Syndrome.
Symptoms of the 1 Year Syndrome:
Stubbornness
Irritability
Sleep regression
Refusing to eat
Breast refusal
Breaking or throwing toys
Self-centered behavior
Crying fits
Unwillingness to socialize with peers
While these are general symptoms of the 1 Year Syndrome, they may vary based on the baby's daily habits. Additionally, during growth spurts, these symptoms may become stronger.
Sleep Problems during the 1 Year Syndrome:
A 1-year-old baby is expected to adapt to the following sleep stages:
Understanding the difference between day and night and taking the majority of daily sleep at night.
Gaining sleep consolidation, meaning they should sleep longer periods without interruptions.
A decrease in REM sleep is expected.
During the day, taking only 1-2 short naps should be sufficient for the baby.
However, due to the 1 Year Syndrome, there may be regressions in one or more of these aspects. While the reasons for a 1-year-old's sleep problems may not be understood by many families, it is often related to the 1 Year Syndrome, and it can be resolved by approaching the baby correctly.
Refusal to Eat during the 1 Year Syndrome:
Reasons for a 1-year-old's refusal to eat may include:
Anemia
Room temperature
Illnesses at 1 year of age
Growth spurts
Teething period
If your baby is not experiencing any of these conditions but still refuses to eat or breastfeed, the issue is likely the 1 Year Syndrome.
Babies experiencing the 1 Year Syndrome may refuse to eat as a way to express their anger or reactions. However, don't worry; this is a temporary situation, and by approaching your baby correctly, you can help them regain their old routines. However, you should regularly monitor your baby's growth curve, and if you see a decline in percentile values, you should consult your doctor for supplementation.
If you wish, you can also check out our article on 'How to Breastfeed a Baby Who Refuses to Nurse?'
How Long Does the 1 Year Syndrome Last?
First of all, we would like to mention that there is no fixed answer to questions like 'When does the 1 Year Syndrome end?' or 'How long does the 2 Year Syndrome last?':
The duration of the 1 Year Syndrome depends entirely on your approach to your baby.
If you do not offer choices and continue to provoke their reactions, your baby may continue to show excessive reactions until they learn to speak.
Even after learning to speak, the reactions may change, but unfortunately, the 1 Year Syndrome continues.
Therefore, you should be experienced in understanding the psychology of a 1-year-old baby and help them. If understood, the 1 Year Syndrome lasts for about a year.
On average, the 1 Year Syndrome lasts until the age of 3.
The communication you establish with your baby will determine whether this process is shortened or prolonged.
How to Behave during the 1 Year Syndrome?
To help your baby cope with the 1 Year Syndrome more easily and avoid disrupting their routines, you can try the following tips:
Offer choices to your baby. Giving your baby two options to choose from will help them feel independent and reduce their reactions.
Maintain their routines. Yes, your baby may not want to eat or sleep at the scheduled times. In that case, let them wait for the next mealtime and understand that life does not revolve around their desires outside of routines. Don't worry; your baby will grasp this and learn to maintain routines.
Be patient with your baby. Yelling at or punishing your baby will make the 1 Year Syndrome worse and may cause lasting traumas. Instead of shouting or reacting, explain situations in a way they can understand cause and effect and ask for their help.
Help them release their energy. This is especially useful for 1-year-old sleep problems. Playing games with them and making them tired during the day will ensure they sleep better at night and reduce aggression issues.
Don't fulfill every demand. If babies' negative or inappropriate requests are granted when they are angry or crying, they may develop these behaviors as habits. Therefore, be careful not to fulfill your baby's demands unless they ask politely and avoid crying.
Encourage socializing with peers. While overcoming self-centeredness and not sharing may not be achievable for you, babies who socialize with peers or pets go through these stages much faster."
