We’ve got a kid like that!

Kenneth Hynek • 22nd Apr 2009 • Family, Health, Parenting
babies, Ella

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This article could be — no, strike that; is — all about Ella.

Babies are born with different activity levels. Some little ones are content to sit on a parent’s lap or watch the world from an infant seat. But not these highly active babies.

These are the ones who are constantly on the go, never want to sit still (and are usually miserable if confined to a seat or playpen) and may even be reluctant to stop investigating the world long enough to nap or eat. While their energy level is nothing short of amazing, they can be absolutely exhausting for parents.

As Jensen says: “I see other babies that just sit on their mothers’ laps. They don’t squirm to get down, they don’t climb all over them, they don’t ‘talk’ constantly. Sophie just hates to sit still.”

Both Larocca and Jensen agree that the biggest challenge with a non-stop baby is trying to get anything at all done around the house. Larocca hands over one new toy after another to keep Nico’s attention while she unloads the dishwasher at top speed — but says sometimes he still grabs the cutlery rack and dumps it. Changing diapers means providing a one-man entertainment show. “Otherwise,” says Larocca, “he just crawls away as fast as he can go.”

Ella hasn’t learned to crawl yet, and I only give it 50/50 odds that she’ll crawl before she walks. She loves to walk (with help from mommy and daddy) to an utterly extreme extent.

Seriously; she can be fussing herself sick and utterly inconsolable in either her mother’s arms or mine, but the minute you set her on the floor, let her grab on to your hands for support, and pull herself up into a standing position, this big goofy grin spreads across her face.

And then she begins to walk, in her not-yet-balanced, not-quite-stumbling kind of way…and whatever was bothering her before is but a dim memory, the fussy baby replaced with a glowing, grinning, squeaking bundle of “look at me…I’m walking!” joy.