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Original poster

How do I handle this with my 2 year old? I am despairing

86 replies

Klor · 27/01/2025 15:12

Ds 2y 3 months won’t get dressed. I have tried everything, tv, food, playing first, getting cross, leaving him to do it and leaving the room… nothing works for around 30 minutes. When he eventually relents, half the time he will undress himself a couple of minutes later. I am on my own all week with him so nobody to take over and I am getting late for work often as a result of this. I can’t cope with it anymore. I am quite robust and I have clear boundaries with things but this is one thing I can’t seem to crack and to be blunt about it… it’s fucking up my day. This morning I got cross and then he cried and I felt like the worst mother ever and cried on the way back from nursery. I just don’t know what to do

OP posts:
lakesandplains · 27/01/2025 15:21

So so trying at 2 - it will get better! I'd talk to nursery and bundle him out the door in whatever with clothes in his bag if i had to - he can't make you late for work that's unacceptable.

Mine was so stubborn at 2 we'd take her out without her coat in depths of winter as she just would not put it on before we left at that age! She's a self motivated determined and brilliant teen now.

Thisismeme · 27/01/2025 15:21

I would ask nursery if you can bring him in pjs for a while. This will take the heat out of the situation. Our nursery would definitely help with thjs

Soonenough · 27/01/2025 15:20

Get him to choose his outfit for the morning as part of his bedtime routine . Within weather appropriate boundaries let him make the choices. Any resistance in the morning remind him that he chose the outfit .

ItsProperlyColdOut · 27/01/2025 15:20

Maybe he could sleep in his day clothes and you could just get him up and take him out in the same clothes.

CoffeeCueen · 27/01/2025 15:19

Oh it’s like toddlers are biologically programmed to pick the worst moment to be awkward!

Getting cross will not help, although goodness knows we’ve all been there.

Maybe he associates getting dressed negatively with you leaving him at nursery?

Can you make it a game? He may not be old enough but mine liked a game. Race each other to get dressed (make sure dc wins). Pretend to get it wrong and put the socks on his arms.

Also put the clothes on a warm radiator, and let dc pick (red trousers today, or blue ones?)

MoMhathair · 27/01/2025 15:18

Are you bringing him to nursery? If so, could you get nursery on side and arrange that you can bring him in just his PJs (or even his nappy, with the heat turned up and blanket for outside) so that you can both take a break from the hoo-ha of getting dressed? It'll pass eventually. 2 year olds are just unreasonable little dictators who eventually get bored.

Scottishshopaholic · 27/01/2025 15:17

Dress him right before you go out the door, literally have everything ready so you go straight out the door and strap him in the car seat.

Is it anything to do with clothes? Could you get some character clothing to get him a bit more excited. Have you tried giving an option?

Chuchoter · 27/01/2025 15:17

Back to front all in in one.

Ace56 · 27/01/2025 15:16

Can you put him in a dungarees or something he can’t take off? Then after a few weeks try normal clothes again as the behaviour pattern has been broken.

Do you think it’s about the clothes (eg sensory issues) or it’s just about control?

Bakedpotatoes · 27/01/2025 15:15

You can either get up slightly earlier so you have the additional time or warn them once, then take them and their clothes and get in the car.

Have they said why they don't like getting dressed? Would helping choose the clothes help?

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