So how long do the 'Terrible Twos' last, then?

[MolotovCocktail]

'cuz dd2 is approaching 22mo and has been behaving like A BEAST at times for the last month or so.

When the temper has stopped and tantrums abated, she's so loving it makes me melt.

But I'm weary at the ens of eaxh day and I dread nappy changes. Or asking her to take her coat off. Or needing to take something from her that could cause harm. She can freak over anything and its so, so draining.
The slightly embarrassing thing is that I have another dd who turns 5yo later this month who was nothing like this. I should be experienced!

[Froblawd]

Too long

[FinallyGotAnIPhone]

Now I have a 3 year old (nearly 4) I now think that the "terrible twos" is just a complete joke.... It gets much worse when they are 3!

[GoingGoingGoth]

Well DD is 9 and we're still waiting....

Honestly, she started around 20 months, and had her moments through being 2 & 3, it tapered off at 4, but then when she started school (and got tired) she could be a right madam. It's not constant grumpiness/tantrums but is easy to get into a negative cycle. Sticking to a routine and set bedtimes helped for us.

Just keep chanting "this too will pass"

It's funny now as stropping toddlers really gets on her nerves.

[findingherfeet]

Nooooo!! Surely the morning of my daughters third birthday she'll be a tantrum free zone

[Auntierosemary]

More like "terrible ones, twos and threes" in my experience. That's as old as my kids get so I have no idea beyond that!

[puntasticusername]

What they said. As soon as they get over the terrible twos, they become Threenagers :)

[JimmyCorkhill]

I learnt this from Mumsnet: terrible twos, threenagers, f**king fours.

Sorry

[Innogen]

Basically the terrible twos last until about 21.

[ShoeWhore]

Mine were all trickiest at 4.

Is there anything specific triggering it do you think? Ds2 was worst when he was hungry and I found that giving him a drink of milk first thing before attempting to get dressed helped massively, for example.

[adoptmama]

about 18 years.....

[MrsCosmopilite]

My DD (3) has just started! screaming, stamping, throwing herself on the floor, running away from me.... or maybe we missed the terrible twos and we're already into threenager territory. Whatever it is, it's bloody tiring!

[Sunshine200]

My dd is 2.4 & still has tantrums etc, but she went through a phase that sounds exactly as you describe - that feeli g of dread when you know you have to get her shoes on/ pyjamas off/ nappy changed etc. the awful phase only lasted a month or so, but felt like a long time.
She actually got a bit better when we potty trained her for some reason.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

From about 18 months till gone 4 IME. DD2 is certainly following that pattern anyway

[lljkk]

fades around 5 & comes back with a vengeance around 6.
12 is good. I like 12 a lot.

[MolotovCocktail]

There doesn't always seem to be a trigger, though I will admit I think she's incredibly frustrated sometimes.

She loves to walk now, so it seems, so I need to give her ad adequate time out of her pushchair (); I try as best I can to understand her developing language. I'm pretty good, but do get baffled. Also, it's so hard when she screams 'Mom! Mom! MOM! MOM!

M-O-M-M-M-M-M!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

And yes, potty training. I'm going to give that a whirl when she turns 2yo.

Toddlerhood is that weird transition between baby and child. Kind of like a miniature teenager. It's been easier today as dh has been with us. I have to admit it has been nice to have him change a few of her nappies today!!