Okay, I need help - who can give me words of wisdom on the terrible twos?

[MrsFogi]

I thought we had escaped it with dd1 but it is dawning on me that the days of hell over the past week are the terrible twos and I'd love words of wisdom from graduates of the terrible twos about how to deal with tantrums, tears, constant "no"s, meltdowns etc etc. And dd2 would love help as she is getting bitten, thumped with toys and hit regularly at the moment.

[madcol]

Can't help we seem to have terrible 2 's at 18 months. I'm fed up with hearing myself say no and I'm worried that I shout too much.
DS seems to spend half his life whingeing and the other half spread on the floor yelling.
I get scared that he will be a really aggressive child.

[mrbojangles]

My only advise is that it WILL pass.
What they react to one week they will not even blink at the next
Not very helpfull im sure but that is the nature of the beast
Good luck and your not alone

[SmugColditz]

I'm sorry, I just don't know. I quake every time ds2 looks at me askance.

He screamed for 45 minutes in the park today. Because he wanted to get out of his pushchair for a picnic, but he didn't want the picnic, and he didn't want to NOT have a picnic, and he didn't want to walk around, or stand still, or sit down.

So I'm afraid I strapped him back into the pushchair, wheeled him a little way off so he could see and hear us but not completely deafen us, and ignored him until he stopped.

I did try to jolly, and distract, but this merely resulted in great gagging snotty sobs. Eventually he capitulated and nibbled some bread and flapjack.

[Ledodgy]

I've learnt not to get stressed by it myself and just ignore the tantrums and he soon stops when he's not getting any reaction.

Mine's a biter and a hitter and gets sent out in the hall for two mins whenever he does this but i'm not sure if it's working as he has a fondness for going into the hall cupboard and turning off all our electricity.

[SmugColditz]

Mine is like the girl with the curl ..... beautifully behaved. Until he's suddenly NOT.

[tania111]

my son was AWFUL between 18 months and 2. He hit other children all the time, I felt like a terrible mother and lost a friendship or two. He then grew out of it (although sometimes still gets a bit frustrated at 4 and a half but most angelic)

[SmugColditz]

My Hard Going 5 year old, however, was an ANGEL at 2. He was Robot BOY.

[Clairef29]

I promise you are not alone!! Only a couple of weeks ago I came on MN for the very 1st time as I was at my wits end. DD is 2 1/2 and oh do we know it.
She can be an angel 1 minute the turn into an absolute little witch the next!!! Her fave trick at mo is poining her finger right in mine and DHs face and screaming at the top of her lungs NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! every morning when its time for her to get dressed. I dread getting up every morning at the mo. Have tried using the naughty step but it doesn't make a bit of difference, shes not phased by it. have also tried taking her fave toys away, fave treats, using rewards when she is good, ignoring the bad, rewarding the good............the list goes on. I just pray thet she will grow out of it when she hits 3 . Or not??

[Ledodgy]

My worst incident so far was when he hit an old woman in the dr's surgery because she wouldn't give him her walking stick.

[Ledodgy]

My worst incident so far was when he hit an old woman in the dr's surgery because she wouldn't give him her walking stick.

[Clairef29]

Oh dear poor poor you ledodgy!! Touch wood I've escaped that one so far! She has just started pushing other children though so theres time yet!!