The Terrible Twos

Delitachan

Has anyone's LO started their terrible twos yet? I think mine has. My evidence:
Around the time LO turned 15 1/2 months, he started crying for everything - EVERYTHING. 
When walking and exploring, he wants to get into an area that we don't want him to. Turn him around - CRY. He tries to go back. Prevent him? = SINK TO FLOOR AND CRY. Pick him up to his feet? CRY. Walk away? CRY LOUDER then walk back to area.
He sees us serving milk? CRY.  Locks iPhone because he keeps punching in random numbers for the password? CRY.  Take the toy or other object away? CRY.
He sees daddy? Auto CRY.
Dont let him off the cart at the store? CRY

It's just constant wah wah wah. He hasn't learned "no" yet but man is this boy headstrong and bad tempered. It's his way or WW3!!
Is this the sign of the terrible twos?

vintagevix2016

How long does he cry for in those instances? If he is given/shown an alternative or a distraction, does he calm down after a minute or 2?

Damien will cry if we take something away, keep him from doing something, or if one of us leaves the condo but it rarely lasts more than a minute. He can often calm himself down by finding something else to do. Other times he needs help. If I offer him a new item to play with as I'm taking away the one he shouldn't have, it also greatly reduces the crying/fussing and sometimes keeps the tears from happening altogether. Doesn't always work, sometimes he's too upset to want whatever it is so he pushes it away. If my husband leaves, to run to the corner store for instance, I can usually calm him down with a distraction (book or something). 

He's now facing a lot more boundaries and restrictions because he's more mobile and suuuuper curious about everything around him and he's learning how to handle situations where he can't always get whatever it is he wants or go wherever he wants. Right now he knows, "This makes me happy/feel good. I like this," so when we stop him or take something away, his first reaction is to be upset until he either calms down himself or with our assistance. We practice validation a lot, letting him know that we understand why he's upset but for XYZ reasons he can't do that or play with whatever it is. He doesn't understand what we're saying when we do that, for now, but it's practice for us so that it just becomes second nature in the future.

Delitachan

Yea, sometimes he does calm down when shown a new toy - the boundaries thing,  he'll go ON and ON!
I've read that during their tantrums you shouldn't reason with them - they're beyond reasoning. My hubs likes to negotiate and validate it, but again, when they're in the heat of tantrum, you can't reason with them. Simply let them finish.
I'm guessing this is a terrible twos thing.

elliosu

My daughter is the same way.  I blame it on her molars coming in.  I don't even know anymore.  Eating takes a lot of encouragement, and naps are getting later in the day.   She wakes up twice at night crying with a lot of sentiment.  

adiaz132003

IDK how many of you keep up with the wonder weeks but one starts about now. Preston started his this past week.  It's the last major leap but it's the biggest I think.  Lots of crying and tantrums 

arteduc8

adiaz132003 said:

IDK how many of you keep up with the wonder weeks but one starts about now. Preston started his this past week.  It's the last major leap but it's the biggest I think.  Lots of crying and tantrums 

So good to know! Audri had been a bit extra tantrumy lately and this makes total sense! We got a faucet extender and step stool since she's tall enough now to help wash her hands and she loves it. She loves it too much. She wants to play in the sink all day and throws a fit when it's time to be done. Lots of positive reinforcement that she did a good job and was a good helper and she's moving on more quickly. But whoa, its a lot of work. 

Linsbins

Please tell me about this leap...I deleted the app since it never made sense with my kid. But mine is 15.5 months now and she's an absolute BEAR. Crying, screaming, etc. I feel the pain. 

vintagevix2016

Linsbins said:

Please tell me about this leap...I deleted the app since it never made sense with my kid. But mine is 15.5 months now and she's an absolute BEAR. Crying, screaming, etc. I feel the pain. 

It's the "Systems" leap and generally begins at about 70.5 weeks and runs through 75.5 weeks. During this leap we are seeing our toddlers develop their sense of conscience and self. According to WW, "After this leap, which is the first major stage in a child's life, the sensorimotor stage has been completed." We should be seeing an increase in the 3 Cs (crying, clinging, and crankiness). We will also see them switching through emotions rapid-fire, one minute they're happy and the next they're crying. There will likely be more temper tantrums but, alternatively, they will also be extremely sweet at times too. Very mischievous, which I personally love despite it meaning I have to shadow him everywhere. Our LOs may experience sleep issues, more nightmares, and might even start daydreaming. Think of everything being turned to 11, as Spinal Tap would say. Everything is more intense; emotions, reactions, etc. 

So what will our LOs gain from this leap?

We should hopefully witness them becoming more independent and self-reliant, which also means being a bit more will-ful. They will be pushing boundaries to see what they can do, how far they can go, and to show, "I do what I want." At this point, they will begin to recognize their extended family as being part of their family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.). We'll see further comprehension of what's being said to and around our LOs. Drawings might become a bit less abstract and more "real world." They'll even have a basic understanding of possession (this is mine, that belongs to her, etc.). 

I hope this info is helpful! 

elliosu

Thank you vintagevix2016

Delitachan

Dear Lord, we just got back from the specialist office. Of course it would not be complete without my child crying running around the room and making a mess with his Cheerios and milk. Are your little ones also afraid of the doctor to where they scream and cry?

meggyme

Delitachan said:

Dear Lord, we just got back from the specialist office. Of course it would not be complete without my child crying running around the room and making a mess with his Cheerios and milk. Are your little ones also afraid of the doctor to where they scream and cry?

Jackie isn’t afraid, but she gets antsy trapped in the room. I wish they’d let us hang out in the waiting room where at least there are toys for her.

AmberLiz99

Delitachan said:

Dear Lord, we just got back from the specialist office. Of course it would not be complete without my child crying running around the room and making a mess with his Cheerios and milk. Are your little ones also afraid of the doctor to where they scream and cry?

Nadia recognizes the doctor now, and totally Greeks out when she sees any of the nurses coming toward her. It's so sad