MSE Parent Club

Lu_T

Imogen has been dribbling and knawing on things since she was about 12 weeks, but no sign of anything yet. We've had a few really awful days with her pulling her ears and screaming but STILL nothing's appeared :eek:

I use Ashton and Parsons powders which are a homeopathic remedy and really seem to help. They're v cheap :money: esp. compared to Calpol or Nelson's teething granules and don't space her out. I get them at Lloyd's chemist, but many other chemists do them.

I have also rubbed her gums with my (freshly-washed) finger. If I do it quite hard when she's upset that seems to help.

HTH!

zippybungle

:eek: Help!!!!!! :eek:
My toddler has turned into a Devil child . He is 2 years and 1 month.
Last month he moved from his cot into a big boy bed.
However, last night he woke up at 2am and didn't settle back down to sleep till gone 5.30am.
He is normally a good little boy, but last night he just would not stay in his bed. He kept running into our room screaming I want Mummy, when I tried to put him back in his bed he would kick out at me and go floppy so that it is difficult to grab hold of him. He was screaming hysterical. When I managed to get him in bed he screamed I want to get down or I want Daddy, I want a drink etc etc.
I have tried being nice, tried ignoring him and also being firm, but nothing seems to work!
I was also thinking about putting a stair gate across his door, but I think he will just keep rattling it. Last night we tried shutting his door closed, but he banged on it like he was going to knock it down! plus he eventually opened it.
He also woke up one night last week and had a simular screaming fit, but it wasn't any way near as bad at last nights.
Please help before I crack up

Zippy x

Snaggles

zippybungle wrote: »

My toddler has turned into a Devil child . He is 2 years and 1 month.

There's your answer! They're not called the terrible twos for nothing....:o

All I can suggest is that you:

a) Decide on where your boundaries lie, and stick to them no matter how upset he gets, or how tired you are - if you give him mixed messages at this stage, you can make a rod for your own back (I've been there, so I'm saying this from a place of sympathy and experience, lol). I'm not saying you have to be overly strict - just decide on boundaries that suit you and him. If he keeps getting up for example, take him calmly back to bed but avoid direct eye contact and don't speak - that way, you are reassuring him but not rewarding his behaviour.

b) Don't be too hard on yourself - two year olds are hard work - if someone (Grandparents?) offer to take him for a bit (overnight it great ), let them. Warn them that he's playing up a bit, but then relax and let them get on with it. They've seen/done it all before remember, and one broken night or stressful day is easy enough for them to cope with, but it will give you a vital break, so you can gather your strength to head back into the battle (that's what it feels like sometimes)

c) Remember the phrase 'this too shall pass' and say it to yourself over and over when things get rough.....and it will pass.....I promise!

Snaggles

Thanks for the advice on teething by the way - I'll try the flannel and the gum massage today! Although I think she's settling a bit, she hasn't cried half as much for the last day or so (although her cheek is still red, and she is still chewing, dribbling and pulling her ear a bit).

It does seem SO early, but then I suppose some babies are born with teeth, so maybe it's normal. Bit scared of breastfeeding a baby with teeth (she already bites!) but I'm sure it will all work out.....:eek:

purplepatch

Have you got rid of the cot yet?

We had both the cot and the bed up for a while when DD1 moved to a bed. If she wouldn't stay in bed I would threaten her with having to go back in the cot and it usually worked, although I remember I did see the threat through a couple of times. I was fortunate in that she never climbed out of the cot so that worked for us but it probably wouldn't be any good for you if he's a climber.

The twos are quite terrible it has to be said.... and the threes aren't much better either!! Four is where it has got a bit better, in my experience anyway.

moozikgal

Could he be having nightmares? It sounds like he is really scared an not just playing up.

Does he have a night light or a light that he can turn on himself. A darkend room can be a frightening thing when that age. I can remember seeing gremilins and all sorts and not wanting to go to sleep.

If he is going to sleep and its lightish, waking up in the dark then dropping back off when its getting light again i would see if leaving a light on might help. A stair gate or closing the door wont help as if he is scared that would terrify him thinking he was locked in the room with a monster or something.

Take each day as it comes, ask him what is wrong and be calm. If it is a monster then a room check under beds behind curtains etc might settle him and get him back off to sleep quicker. Also try holding his hand for a little while to see if that helps him of to sleep.

hope you get it sorted soon
x

zippybungle

Thanks for your replies.
I know this is the start of the terrible two's, but I wasn't quite prepaired for this :eek:

I don't think he is waking up scared or anything, he would just rather be with me and is a very head strong little boy (don't know where he gets that from :rolleyes: )

Tonight I will set his night light up, but I think the stairgate might have to be put across his door too. When he slept in his cot we never had any trouble, he would go straight to sleep and not make a noise till the morning...we have put the cot away now, besides there would be no room for the cot in his room as well as his bed...and he would climb out of it if he was in a rage.

Wish me luck for tonight, I'm still at work now and only had about 3 hours sleep last night

Zippy x

Snaggles

I'm not sure how much they cost Zippy but what about a bed guard - I know it wouldn't keep him in, but wondered if it would that make him feel more secure?

SusanCarter

Hi all, we just got back from our holiday camping in the cotswolds on Saturday. We were there when they had all the rain but furtunately the campsite was ok and Alice didn't seem to bothered by it.

Zippy: perhaps he doesn't feel as secure in a bed as he did in the cot? I can't think of any suggestions as to what to do about that if that was the problem but maybe someone else has some ideas...

SarahLou

Just a quick message to let you all know that I gave birth to my first baby on 07/07/07 - she weighed in at exactly 7lbs too so I'm guessing her lucky number may well turn out to be 7 in later years!

She's now 3 weeks of age and is an absolute gem (getting better during the nights anyway.... :j)

We've called her Jessica Marie.

Thanks to everyone who assisted with regards to claiming child benefit, going on maternity leave, etc, etc. that I was asking about all those months ago (seems like an absolute age since I was logged on asking that type of question!)