So come tell me about 3 year old boys and testosterone

[Greedygirl]

Is it true that they have a "surge" of testosterone at this age. My DS is certainly noisier, more aggressive and generally a PITA recently - does this tie in with other people's experiences? I am hoping that he will calm down before my mum and dad come to stay later this summer. Apparently I was as good as gold and very quiet - the complete opposite of my lovely DS!

[Avantia]

All the 4 's

4 , 14 and at 40 a drop in testosterone - hence midlife crisis by men

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

Sounds exactly like my DS2! Iirc, with DS1 it started to improve noticeably from 3.6ish. Hoping DS2 will be the same, as not long to go if so (he's 3.5) .

[Greedygirl]

Oh a drop rather than a surge! OK. He is 3.9. We have just got back from holiday so don't know if that is anything to do with it. He mimics one of the children he met with some foot stamping and shouting. Arghhhhhhh! He is driving me potty!

[oneveryhappymama]

ahhh this will explain my DS behaviour recently!! Everything is "NO!" even when he means "yes"! And the foot stomping thing is sooo theatrical.

[Greedygirl]

Yes, yes, yes! A big shouty "NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOO!" with a toss of the head and dramatic pouty lips. Almost like play acting. And hilariously disobedient - he is compelled to do the absolute opposite of everything I ask! Testing times.

[BikeRunSki]

My DS too, exactly like yours greedy. He is 6 weeks off his 3rd birthday.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

Same here - thank God for this thread I thought it was because of DS2 or that DH and I had become crap parents.

Stampy, shouty. He has taken to roaring at other children when they won't do as he tells them

[Greedygirl]

Hurrah for the naughty noisy boys! Have just ordered "Raising Boys" by Steven Biddulph to get some reassurance and insider knowledge. My DS was enraged today when a baby knocked his jenga tower over - before he would have cried but today he shouted "NO!" and smashed the bricks about then stomped off. I then had to chase him around to get him to do some time out. So embarrassing.

[Firestone]

Oh good, this isn't just us!

[chocolateyclur]

I'm so glad this was posted. My 3.2 year old has turned into a BEAST of late - shouting, screaming and really oppositional. He will tell me he wants to be naughty, that he IS naughty and he is never a good boy. I've had nights with me in tears - I thought I'd turned into the worst parent in the world without knowing what I'd suddenly done

[Greedygirl]

Oh no, don't think that! Having said that I have become a proper control freak with my DS as I thought perhaps I had just been too soft with him and ruined him, so you are not alone! I know it is probably completely normal but it is still shocking when they suddenly change tactics like this! He has always been full on but normally in a very happy-go-lucky way.

[MrsJamin]

DS1 3.6 is like this. "I do NOT like pizza!" was my favourite as it's his favourite food yet just wanted to be oppositional. I just say "oh good more for us" and he changes his mind in the end. Testosterone surges often accompany a growth spurt, my Dr friend told me, which seems to be accurate. This too shall pass everyone! Until then, run off their energy & testosterone as much as possible.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

So what's the deal with my super aggressive hyper 3.6yo girl then? Please tell me that's a temporary hormone surge as well!

[Greedygirl]

Sorry Gwendoline - girls are a mystery to me! Apart from being one myself of course! Perhaps what we are all talking about is just normal toddler behaviour, linked with frustration and testing boundaries.