A quick question about the 'terrible two's'

Metranil_Vavin

Hi - I am more than aware that children go through horrible stages and the TT's is one of them, but I just wanted some confirmation that what my son is doing is 'normal'.

He is 2 and 5 months, and although he has his tantrums/strops etc, this weekend has seen it escalating to a new high. He is literally whinging and crying/kicking off every few minutes, demanding things and if they aren't bought immediately, going bezerk.

He isn't ill. although had a virus last week that has cleared up. His speech seems to have come on in the last few days a lot..could it be a developmental stage thing?

Also he demands his 'spinning bowls' which are basically a collection of my plastic kitchen bowls/colanders that he has always liked to spin, particularly with his special teddy inside, however this weekend he cannot play with the bowl for more than 30 seconds without having a tantrum at that too! Like the whole game frustrates him to tears..I'm not sure what isnt happening that he wants to. Yet if we try and take them away/persuade him to do something else, that sets him off too..we just cannot win!

I have to say this weekend has been testing to say the least, not helped by the fact I am 6 months pregnant and feeling exhausted and achy. I might add that I had also considered this may have something to do with it, but we haven't behaved any differently with him and he still gets loads of attention/hugs/love/days out to the park etc etc.

Any wise words appreciated. Is this just one of those things that we have to ride out?

He is as I type having yet another tantrum...

shortdog

Both of mine went through phases like that - it will pass, and he will become human again, I promise. Carry on as normal, ignore the tantrums and the whining (easier said than done, I know) and make sure there is no reward for tantruming.
In the meantime, find a pillow, or a quiet corner, where you can scream when it all gets too much. Try leaving him with grandparents etc for an hour or two - you'll get a break, and they get to spend some time with their darling grandson(!).
He probably is picking up on you feeling rubbish, and that's what might be causing it, but, honestly, they all get like this from time to time, almost as though they are possessed by some evil spirit for a few days. The spirit moves on to someone else, and your lovely, sunny, pleasant child reappears. Probably just as you lose the plot and abandon him with his grandparents!
Sending you some hugs, hope it passes soon.

Metranil_Vavin

haha shortdog, 'possessed by some evil spirit' sums it up perfectly! I keep waiting for his head to spin round!

Sigh..it is wearing though. I feel upset, angry and emotionally drained all at once

Back to work tomorrow for a well-earned break

mysk_girl

Entirely normal. Mine change into demons when they are having a growth spurt, like the extra effort and energy required to grow just tires them out so much they can't cope with the world around them. Maybe the effort involved in his speech improvement has just used so much of his energy reserves that he is exhausted? I found extra snacks helpful, naps (if you can!), quiet time and (shhhh!) television so that their mind can slip into neutral for a bit helped calm the worst of it.

Unfortunately you do just have to grin and bear it a little bit though, just stay consistent and it will pass...

geoffky

My 14yr old has them at the moment...Took her phone off her,You would think i ended the world...

emweaver

My 2 year old is the same too and I have been worried about her behaviour as my eldest was nothing like her. She drains me and wears me down every day and it all starts as soon as she wakes up until she goes to bed!

I wasn't sure if it was her age or the fact that she became a big sister at only 1.5 that made her such a little monster.

Metranil_Vavin

OH reckons DS is going through a big growth spurt. His vocab and language has definitely come on in the past few days, so Im wondering if the poor little fella just can't cope with the world at the moment.

He also wants to sleep lots and has been going down to bed at night with a lot less fuss than usual, so I guess this ties in as well with the growth spurt thing.

Hang in there everyone I guess is all we can do!

charlieann

We had simular. Dont forget they will be testing the boundaries and seeing what they can get away with. Don't give into the demanding behaviours else he'll learn that is how he gets something.
Ours is 4 and had a tantrum at his lego today for falling over and not doing what he wanted. We got scream, shouting and throwing before he put the lego in time out. He was then put in time out for his behaviour and reaction to the situation and was ok again when he talked through his frustrations.

emsywoo123

DD is nearly 10 and I can say hand on heart I'm sure she never had a tantrum. Honestly, she was an angel. :A

DS is 2 yrs and 6 months...... And isn't :rotfl:

Tonight, the wrong pillowcase. Spectacular melt down as I had changed it. I do change his bedding regularly btw :eek::D

Counting_Pennies_2

I do wonder if the pregnancy is having something to do with this too.

Are you slowing down a bit, resting putting your feet up. Talking a lot about being careful of mummys tummy, mummy can't hold you for long etc. Talking about a baby's room looking at things to buy or get out for it .

The reason I say this is at about this stage of a pregnancy little ones do start to feel affected by the slightest of changes. Your time has no doubt been centred on him 100% when you are with him, and I wonder if he is sensing the shift

Not that any of it is wrong, but maybe just regular hugs are needed. Perhaps the speech is also exhausting him so maybe some quiet downtime is needed, or even a cat nap.

hth