Toddler won't get dresses do I...

[Motherofmonsters]

1. force him into his clothes.

2. sit it out until he eventually lets me do it with the possibility of staying in all day

I'm going to my mum's down the road with his cousins which we do all the time. I've said where were going and im pretty sure he understands and was excited initually

He's picked out the clothes that he's refusing to wear. He's merrily ignoring me now and playing with his cars

What's he wearing now?

You are the parent. There are some things its best to negotiate, some are justt rules, like not running into the road. He has to gett dressed, will throw a paddy and then get over it. Too much toddler power is not a good thing

What is he wearing at the moment? Take him in that.

I drove DS to school in his pyjamas once - he didn't believe I'd actually do it and was mortified. He didn't argue with me about getting ready again.

If it's a one off... Do the reverse psychology trick of "I bet you can't get dressed quicker than I can do x/in under 20 seconds"

Or

Is he naked? I've taken my son in his pants before (at age nine) I did put his clothing in the car too btw

Here's what I do- start singing something with a tense build up (like the theme tune for Mission Impossible), and incorporate a count to 5. It works for both dressing and undressing.

Essentially turn it into a game against the clock. My not-quite-a-toddler-anymore still loves this.

He's in his nappy, I have to walk so the neighbours would probably report me!

Race him.

Honestly, get a hold of him and get him dressed! He needs to know that these things aren't really his to decide a good part of the time. It'll be like trying stuff an octopus into a sock but it's got to be done

You make him get dressed. Surely that's part of being a parent?

Of course you could just sit there until HE is ready.

Make a rod for your own back and all that.

I once carried 18 month old DS to childminder in nappy abd a blanket.

He asked to get dressed half way and got dressed like a lamb when we arrived

I either make it a game- set a timer on my phone & see can she get dressed before it goes off or just go in whatever shes wearing but secretly pack normal clothes so she can change at destination.
I don't think forcefully dressing is realistic as I know my toddler would just undress herself. She's very strong willed...

You make him get dressed. Surely that's part of being a parent?

Of course you could just sit there until HE is ready.

Make a rod for your own back and all that.

Exactly this

I feel your pain. My 19mo is just a nightmare when getting him dressed. We tried a lot of things but now we just deal with it. As soon as he's dressed he's fine 😂

I do a sticker chart for getting ready nicely when asked but revert to forcing the clothes on her if she refuses. She’d happily stay in her pyjamas all day so waiting it out would probably result in me getting fired for not turning up to work.

I used to tell mine that a gang of monsters were just getting out of the garden shed and would be in to get them if they weren't dressed pronto. It usually worked.

If nothing worked then I just used to get hold of the child and make it happen. Yes, force the clothes on and ignore any protests. Certainly no pleading or negotiation.

Older children do it too. I remember once at 8.30am finding DD1 still in her pyjamas when she should have been getting dressed for school (was 6 or 7 at the time). I actually went into her room with a bag and began putting her school uniform in it, saying that I would take her to school in her pyjamas and she could change there. That panicked her into getting dressed extremely quickly, as she knew I would do it. We were on time for school too.

You are the parent. Toddlers do not rule the roost, or they shouldn't anyway.

I drove DS to school in his pyjamas once - he didn't believe I'd actually do it and was mortified.
That might work for a school aged child, old enough to be "mortified" but a toddler has no concept of that - they will just think "awesome. I didnt want to get dressed, then I didnt have to" and it will be even worse next time.

Just sit him on your knee and put his clothes on. Tell him what you are doing and explain why he nees them on and just put them on! I have to do this all the time otherwise Id have lost my job by now.

What if you had to be at work or an important appointment?

You are the parent.

Grab toddler and sit them on your lap. Dress them. If they're sat on your lap you're less likely to get kicked and hit by a stray flying arm! You just get it done. I also use this method for teeth brushing

Thanks all, I know I'm the parent I just get confused sometimes with the gentle parenting, natural consequences and giving toddlers some control etc.

He came over in the end when I finished feeding DD and was kind of willing still some wrestling though.

Well done! its bloody hard to know when you are doing the right thing but sometimes you just have to get the job done.

My DS is 2 and gets silly when getting dressed sometimes. If I pretend I've forgotten what goes where he loves it and rushes over to get ready. E.g 'hmmm I've got these trousers, I can't remember what to do... can you come here so I can put them on your head please?'

My daughter sometimes resists getting changed. I find distraction is the best technique... "oh what's this, is this your new toy/book etc... what was your teachers name again in nursery? Ohhhh and who is your best friend etc etc"

Failing that I plonk her in front of the TV for a bit so she's suitably zombie-fied then get her dressed!

I’d have asked him what he wanted to wear and not had the clothes laid out. Gives an illusion of power for them and often prevents those little power struggles. Choose your battles and ignore everyone saying you’re the boss etc. Family isn’t a hierarchy.

Hi OP, just wanted to say I have the exact same issue. I find sometimes singing while dressing stops him tantrum-ing just long enough to get some tracky-bs and a jumper on.