My sweet little 2 yr old is acting out A LOT now- pls read...

panama389

I've noticed that ever since Lourdes has been going with him to daycare he has been acting out alot when we're all home together.  I try to include him in the changing of the diapers or the feedings.  Whenever I'm holding the baby for a feeding I try to talk to him - say his name so that he knows I'm thinking of him.  I also make time to read to him before he goes to bed and give lots of hugs and kisses throughout. But for some reason, Jacob has  been very difficult and I'm not sure if its just the "terrible two's" or just the fact that he is jealous.  Since DH is home on Thursdays & Friday's and Jacob has his speech therapy appointments on those days, DH makes time to take him out just the two of them.  He fights to go the bed, he fights to take his bath, he asks for juice and when he gets it - he pours it all over the place.  And to top it all off now he wakes up in the middle of the night and starts whinning.  Its all becoming a bit of a struggle, especially with a 3 1/2 month old who might be teething.

Does anyone have any suggestions/tips/experiences they can share so that I can better gauge what is going on with my boobie?

TIA

MrsAmers

How long has your infant been going to daycare?  My daughter was bad for the first two weeks that DS went to daycare.  She still has her moments (she's 2 1/2 after all!), but the worst of it seems to have passed for now.

Also, I would try to arrange for some time just with your toddler.  Whenever my DS naps and my DD is awake, I try to give her as much time and attention as I can.  And when I'm nursing DS, I talk with DD about the toys she is playing with, ask her questions, etc.

There are certainly days that she is a real handful, but there is no way to know how much is her age and how much is because of her new brother.  But we just continue to be consistent about boundaries and consequences.  We're also trying to be really set in our ways about feeding and sleeping, since a tired or hungry toddler is definitely more poorly behaved!

panama389

MrsAmers:

How long has your infant been going to daycare?  My daughter was bad for the first two weeks that DS went to daycare.  She still has her moments (she's 2 1/2 after all!), but the worst of it seems to have passed for now.

Also, I would try to arrange for some time just with your toddler.  Whenever my DS naps and my DD is awake, I try to give her as much time and attention as I can.  And when I'm nursing DS, I talk with DD about the toys she is playing with, ask her questions, etc.

There are certainly days that she is a real handful, but there is no way to know how much is her age and how much is because of her new brother.  But we just continue to be consistent about boundaries and consequences.  We're also trying to be really set in our ways about feeding and sleeping, since a tired or hungry toddler is definitely more poorly behaved!

DD has been going to daycare with DS for about 4 weeks now.  I do those very things that you mentioned.  I guess I'll just keep on and re-inforce it that way.

neverblushed

I think you are doing everything you should be doing to help your older child adjust to having a new baby in the family.

Unfortunately, doing all these things doesn't mean an older child will not still misbehave/act out/regress, etc.  It just means that after the acting out/regression/misbehavior, your child will eventually get back to something like their normal selves.