are all 2 and half year olds this demanding....

[weston]

my DD requires constant attention...we attempted to do some house cleaning this am as having another DD in a few weeks but its a nightmare as she won't self entertain....tv is about only saviour and that only works some times...i am sure other toddlers i know go off and play with their toys for hours...anything i can do??

[Tombliboobs]

Not for hours they don't, but my DS can for short bursts of anything from 10-30mins. I find playing with him for a good chunk of time and then saying now I have some jobs to do while he does his, works well. TBh, they are all so different and at 2 and a half you will be lucky get much done.

[TheWorstWitch]

Sounds like my DD ... I'd give her a duster and ask her to "help" clean.

[GhostWriter]

My dd is 2yrs 5 months and loves to 'help' with housework. Can't you give her something very important to do that will be a brilliant help and lots of praise while she does it and you get on. DD helps hoover, wash-up, load and unload the washing machine, dust, clean, mop etc.

[weston]

have attempted to get her to join in but she spends around 10 seconds then 'finished'! as winter looms thoughts of doing demeneted in house with hyperactive toodler and newborn scaring me! playbarn here i come...

[pigletmania]

Sounds just like my dd 2.7 years, requires constant attention, will self entertain for about 5 mins

[agingoth]

Ds1 was like this, drove me insane. Ds2 not at all, I think it's a particular sociability thing...

even now ds1 who is 6 will rarely spend time alone and must either be playing with ds2 or following me around house talking to me or showing off in some way bless him ('look at me mummy!! LOOK AT ME!! etc)

I can't remember how I coped when he was 2, with difficulty I think...we HAD to get out of house and do SOMETHING every day most of day cos he just would not play with toys etc. I did also resort to dvds a lot. When with newborn ds2 I did a lot of tv and reading aloud with ds2 feeding!! at times I do remember just wishing ds1 would go away and do something by himself for a change. YOu are only human, lol

[MaMight]

Yes, I think all 2-yr-olds are enormously demanding. You are not alone in believing that your 2-yr-old is worse than all the others though .

[Rosebud05]

Mine 2 year old is certainly like this! Also, when she knew another baby was on the way (7 months pg or so) she became particularly demanding if anything slightly unusual or sudden activity occurred. This would have included an intense cleaning flurry (in our household anyway ). I also experience her as more demanding when I'm trying to get on with something else, iyswim.

[Dominique07]

This is exactly the problem - we have to go out and take him somewhere in the morning before his nap, and in the afternoon after his nap!

Can get stuff done while he sleeps. A whole hour of freedom! It doesn't have to be too much of a 'trip,' I took DS out to splash in puddles today and then put his Ikea tunnel in the bedroom to crawl through. He does need constant entertainment though and I do have to resort to DVDs sometimes!

The other stresses with him are that he only wants to drink juice, no food, and I'm trying potty training! Yep 2 yr olds are a lot of hard work.
I hope your 2 year old will be helpful when the newborn arrives! No doubt this will 'entertain' her for a while?

[beesonmummyshead]

my dd is sooo demanding, I feel your pain (and I am no-where near brave enough to have another!), she is 2.1. I have a cleaner, it is the only way I cope, she comes for two hours once a week and means I get to keep my sanity.

If however my cleaner is away, i clean the shower whilst I'm in it, then bribe dd into the shower herself whilst I quickly change and wipe around sink and toilet.

when downstairs, she gets glitter glue and paints at the table whilst I clean kitchen/dust

the bedrooms/other bathroom waits until she is in bed as does the hoovering (or weekends when DH is around).

going for a looong walk helps both of us, and often when we come back DD wants some quiet time, and if I am feeling energetic enough I get other things done..
and apart from 10-15 minutes whilst she "paints" or glues, she does not play by herself.

[weston]

thanks for your posts, makes me feel better to hear i am not alone!!