- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
December 2010 Moms
star1123
member
Oh goodness - the terrible twos!
star1123
member
I know there have been other posts about the tantrums/meltdowns, and I am just venting I suppose. But my gosh. Aiden probably screamed (the high pitched toddler scream that makes me scream myself) about 87 times today. No lie. Any point of the day where he did not like what was going on he screamed. Heaven help me. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't make me feel so unbelievably defeated as a mom like I clearly did something wrong for my child to act like this. I think it's taken a toll on me, and I am sure he is just feeding off my annoyance. Or, at least I hope that's it. I really try to ignore it most of the time.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Oh goodness - the terrible twos!
Is he doing the baby pterydactyl screech for attention, or just crying/ screaming 'cause he can't get his way??
We have a problem with the high pitched attention screech here and it's harder this time around b/c my older one thinks it's funny and then does it too... OMG!! I was screaming at DS1 the other day that if HE didn't stop he was getting a time out!! I could kill them. But for that, we generally ignore/ leave the room/ no eye contact. If they don't get a reaction from you, it stops quickly!!
For the crying/ screaming tantrums, we also ignore to a point- he's getting better. But if he does something he shouldn't we say NO- don't touch, etc, whatever he was doing. If he continues, then we say NO and remove him from it. If he does it again (usually he's laughing at us by now), he gets a warning for a time out. One MORE time?? Time out in the chair in the corner for 1 min.
GL. It takes willpower of steel to get through tantrums and screaming!
I only read one book and didn't care for it- The Happiest Toddler on the Block. It involves talking to your LO like a "caveman" and basically talking like an idiot to them. I couldn't do it! I have it if you want it!!!
I got good tips on the Bump! and Babycenter.com
Sigh...thanks! It really is honestly so helpful to even HEAR of other toddlers having tantrums. I don't know what the hell it is, but it just seems like so many of my IRL friends always have that line, "Johnny is the perfect angel and just never has had a tantrum" Whatever.
I think I do all of that, so I feel good that it seems like I am doing the right thing. I get annoyed though because most of the time when I say NO very sternly it does not even seem like it phases him! Like at dinner tonight, he threw his fork on the ground and I said NO very, very sternly and I think he barely even acknowledged me.
I was actually interested in that one since we loved Happiest Baby on the Block. You weren't a fan?
Ginny DX 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Charlie DX Specific Antibody Deficiency & ASD
Don't worry, your house isn't the only house! My child is king of tantrums. He screamed in the carseat the entire way home from daycare today. Screaming/crying/meltdown fit over NOTHING. There was absolutely nothing he could possibly be screaming about. He screamed all the way up the steps and into the house and finally I popped a paci in his mouth just to shut him up. He sobbed for like twenty minutes after that. I think I can deal at home, but in the car is just too much for me. They are just learning that the world doesn't actually revolve around them and that they are too small to do all the big things they want to do. It must be hard really to want to be independent, but not able to be! At home, I generally try to either figure out why he's upset and help him, or if it seems to be about nothing or because I flat out told him no, then I walk away and let him tantrum by himself. Unlike most kids who stop screaming when no one is watching, my kid usually will finish out his fit. LOL In public, I tend to try to distract him with food or my phone. I know it's normal, but I don't want to be the mom whose kid is screaming bloody murder in Walmart. If I can give him something to make him stop, I probably will.
I know that the caveman talking is a bit weird, but I found the latter chapters about how to reinforce good behavior with positive discipline & give warnings & do time outs pretty good. It was especially nice because it goes from 1-4-ish years, so some of the strategies are appropriate at this age, and others are good for the future.
The point of the caveman thing is, I think, mostly to make sure your LO understands that you listen and acknowledge what s/he wants..even if he's not going to get it from you- and I do find that sometimes S calms down when he can tell that I understand that he to see another fire truck, for instance, even if I'm not going show him any more videos of trucks.
My little guy can be such a stinker. It's terrible. I should know how to handle it as I've been through it a few times before, but I don't!
A warning though to all of you - for me 3 was worse than 2. So things might not head in a positive direction for a while!
Good luck though - hope the screeching calms down - to maybe a dull roar!
I do agree here!! At 2, they can't help it. At 3, they start backtalking!!!! AH!
And no, I really did not like HTOTB!! Though I guess I do positive reinforcement and time-outs anyways, so that I do agree on. Knowing the WHY they do stuff is nice, but I dunno- it wasn't my style. I have heard rave reviews on 1-2-3 magic, but I've never read it!
And FWIW, I do my time-outs "supernanny style"- I do have a book of hers as well, but it's very very basic.
I have a little screecher, and it's definitely frustrating. Most of the time, he honestly screeches just for the heck of it. I'm paying attention to him, he has what he wants, and he just lets out this ear-piercing scream. Sometimes, I will be talking to him, and he even responds with screeches! I've tried ignoring him, tried telling him, "No screaming!" but nothing seems to work. I dread taking him to restaurants, because you never know when he is going to let loose.
So, I have no advice, but you are not alone!
Ugh. Hang in there!
The trio didn't hit the terrible two's until 2 1/2...it lasted until 3 1/2. So far Jericho seems like he is going to follow that path.
I think anyone who claims their toddler has NEVER had a tantrum is a liar, liar pants on fire!
You are certainly not alone!
We definitely hear the attention shriek and lots of whining lately. We're trying to push him to use his words more, so we try to ignore the whines and cries and give him a lot of positive reinforcement when he asks for things nicely.