Toddler screams and has melt down every day

arcook0307

DD1 will be 2 this month.  DD2 is 4 months old.  Any noise that comes from the baby's mouth really causes my toddler to scream like she is truly upset about something.  It is hard work figuring out how to get it to stop.  I'm usually nursing the youngest when she'll start to grunt and pull off the breast.  That will start it all up.  After that, everything sets her off.  I'm on edge all day due to her crying and screaming and when she does it I honestly feel like I might lose it. I can't even describe how it gets under my skin and I'm ashamed to admit it.  I've tried cuddling her, scolding her (in the beginning), picking her up when I'm not nursing to say "Oh my! Hannah is loud!" and tickling her.  Anything to distract her......  nothing really works.

rlyttle

Oh my DS has had a million meltdowns since he turned two. Is it because she is bored, mad, sad, frustrated? Do you have any idea? Can you give her a special task when you are nursing? Watch a show, play on the ipad, anything? What about a sticker chart for every time she lets you nurse in peace? Then she gets a prize if she doesn't bother you all day. Something like that? Or have you thought about taking her to daycare/preschool a couple times a week? She might thrive on getting out of the house and being around other kids. 

arcook0307

NOTHING works.  I try to sing, read, snuggle, play, discipline.  I've tried it all.  It's directly related to the baby.  She just goes NUTS anytime the baby makes a noise.

christyjane17

I have a 2yr 4 month old and an 11 month old. From 18 months until right at 2 DS was so dramatic (for lack of a better word) about a lot. Tantrums, sensitive, ect. It drove me insane. It's gotten much better lately. I'm not sure if its age, me not nursing, or the baby being more toddler-like now so DS feels not so shorted or attention/threatened. It also could have been molars. I know what you mean by feeling frustrated. Your hormones are probably still all over the place too. Do the best you can to connect with your DD and offer quality attention. This WILL pass!! And if you are having a rough day remember that they won't even remember!!

cpmich

Sounds like she has found an effective way to get your attention.

jlpev

When dd was born ds was almost 2.5 & he did great until dh went back to work. Then he got soo needy & whiney. He just felt like he wasn't getting enough attention/love. He would start whining & I would ask him if he needed a hug? Then he would give me a huge hug & be over it.