2.5 yr old fights EVERYTHING

ivyreb · March 2014

My 2.5 year old son is super stubborn and fights me on brushing his teeth, rinsing his hair in the bath, everything. This week he was sick so I had to give amoxicillin twice a day, along with eye drops 4 times a day. I can't even begin to explain the struggle that happens, and how I physically have to hold down his body to do this stuff, only succeeding sometimes. He's my second, but my daughter is so much more "eager to please" than he is. I try to let him do it himself, or show him how things work and don't hurt, or explain, or use force... seriously, nothing has worked so far. My mother in law says my husband was exactly like this until about 3 or 4 years old, and nothing helped with him.

Does ANYONE have any suggestions? I'll try anything! Thank you!

jllmb79 · March 2014

I do a sticker chart for brushing teeth right now. I am so sick of the fight and it works most days. My sticker chart is for a movie night ( popcorn, staying up a little later, disney movie). She helped me make the chart and we talk about it and the reward before I tell her we must brush her teeth. I start out with only a few circles needing stickers for the movie. After she got her first movie I made more circles needed to get stickers for the next one.

bumpuser9524622 · March 2014

My DD is very stubborn, but we have found that giving her options helps a ton (just make sure to give options that you're okay with). It really is a power struggle (so don't engage in it) and giving choices helps them to feel in control. For example: "Would you like to stand up or sit down to brush your teeth? It's your choice." "Would you like to put your shoes on or do you want me to help you? It's your choice." Good luck!

klv · March 2014

I agree with giving choices. Do you want to brush or do you want help? Not brushing is not a choice. How about having 2 toothbrushes and he can pick which he wants to use that night?

DD is almost 3 and is very strong willed but giving choices helps. She gets to pick her underwear every morning and gets to choose what shoes she is going to wear. She will pick out her fork, spoon and cup at meal times. I will sometimes give her a choice of veggie (corn or peas?!!).

Give him control over things that don't matter much in the end but he will feel more important having a say in how things go.

sugarbear0524 · March 2014

I agree with the choices, but if I give my son choice "a" or choice "b", he will demand choice "c". For example, "do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue one?", he will demand the yellow one (which is not weather appropriate, does not fit, etc.)

To the OP, we're right there with you. I'm praying this is a stage that passes quickly.

janinekrause · March 2014

Choices help but my 2 year old fights everything lately. it is an age thing above all else. When I can and it makes sense, I give her jobs and control so she feels like she has more.

Just take a deep breath and ignore the screaming and yelling. Certain things I fight because they are "musts"- i.e. getting the soap off her hair in the bath, others I let go- for now, she "brushes" her own teeth.

yeah. · March 2014

no advice, just commiseration. My husband and I call DD2 "honeybadger" - she does not give a shit. She's s-l-o-w-l-y getting better with consistency and age, but she's been much harder than DD1

Nformed · June 2014

MaineMama · June 2014

Dear Dec 14 spammer moron (aka Nformed) "testing" on an old thread on a random board will bump it to the top of the page. You are welcome.

Want a personalized experience?

2.5 yr old fights EVERYTHING

Re: 2.5 yr old fights EVERYTHING

Choose Another Board

Search Boards