HELP! 2 yr old ds throwing violent fits - new baby due in less than 3 mos.

[dylansmumplusone]

that might make it sounds worse than it is... or potentially i'm in denial about how bad it is.

ds will be due mid-april. he's generally pretty well behaved, he's very clever and extremely active. if he doesn't get out of the house and get some exercise every day he's much more of a handful.

his fits are mostly when we're out, he doesn't bother much at home, probably because i just ignore or distract him.

when we're out though, usually when we try to leave a place, he is getting worse and worse. at the hairdresser the other day he was okay for the haircut, but when we tried to leave (they had a bunch of toys he was enjoying playing with) he threw himself on the floor, banged his head, when i tried to pick him up he kicked, screamed, shakes his head (vigorously!) and was crying so hard by the time i got him in his pushchair he was gagging. this sort of thing has happened a few times, more and more often it seems.

i've tried ignoring him (doesn't work when out because other people provide an audience), distracting him with toys and/or snacks, being very firm... in the end i just have to wrestle him (literally) into his pushchair and get out as fast as i can. generally as soon as i'm out the door of the place he stops.

i am really at my wits end and scared when the baby comes i'm not going to be able to leave the house because i won't be able to deal with ds1 tantrums and take care of ds2-to-be.

has anyone had any success dealing with these sorts of tantrums??? please??????

[dylansmumplusone]

oops i meant to say ds will be TWO in mid-april. sorry preg-brain!!

[dylansmumplusone]

bump

[bigboydiditandranaway]

would going to a toddler group help, ds has got used to putting away & leaving toys behind, i say this now but as u know, toddlers are contrary

[dylansmumplusone]

unfortunately that's the very first place he started doing it! he never wants to leave anywhere if he's playing with toys. softplay or the park is okay (not great, but manageable). i've just started getting him to put his toys away in the evening before bed (instead of me just doing it after he's in bed) in the hopes that it might help.

it's hard because it's not like he's tired or hungry or seeking attention... he's just p'ed off that he can't do exactly what he wants when he wants! i honestly don't spoil him at home, he has rules and doesn't get away with anything. but out of the house it's a different story. i just wish i knew where i was going wrong.

[LadyBabo]

I don't think that you're going wrong anywhere, seems to me more like a developmental stage? He just hasn't learnt to give in gracefully yet!