To ask how to manage toddler tantrum in middle of road

[coffeeforone]

I'm having difficulty managing my 2 year olds tantrums when crossing the road.

Twice in the past week I've had the following situation;

Picking DS1 from nursery. It's a short walk from home but need to cross 2 busy roads. The bigger main road has a pedestrian crossing so fine. DS loves proper crossings/waiting for green man so crossing safely is no issue. However the other road there is nowhere safe to cross, it's fairly constant traffic so I just need to wait for a gap in road, and walk across with toddler holding hand. Problem is road has lots of potholes and DS gets distracted, wants to jump in the puddles etc, so if he starts messing I literally have to drag him off the road resulting in a tantrum on the corner of a busy junction. I have newborn DS2 in sling so find myself desperately negotiating/bribing DS1 to calm down, especially difficult when it's heavy rain so more puddles and more temptation around.

There is nowhere else to cross this section, it's not a 'main' road hence the lack of crossing, it just gets busy.

Any tips would be appreciated!

I do the shopping bag approach, or under my arm facing outwards. And if too wriggly/kicking they get dragged.

Priority is to get them off the road.

My DD2 would climb out her pushchair if in mid tantrum which is why I favour putting the baby in the pram. Also would have been incredibly difficult to get her in pushchair in first place if she didn't want to be there.

I had a bolting toddler and she scared us with how suddenly she would run off so we drummed it into her that cars and dangerous etc and she had to be more careful. We now have the opposite problem. If we’re in a car park or pavement she freezes if there is a car in sight. It’s like she doesn’t trust my judgement and even though I say it’s safe, she just stands there pointing at the car (often in the far distance). On the plus side she is in general safer but it comes with its own challenges- particularly if she freezes in the middle of the road. A middle ground between crazy bolting and freezing up would nice nice!

Have a talk at a calm time and explain he has to walk across holding your hand. If he doesn't scoop him up around the middle. He will wail but keep it up until he learns, He is old enough to understand consequences. If he succeeds lavish praise

I have two only 19 months apart. With the right sling you can get toddler on your hip still, or get to a sling library and learn to tandem (Not for everyone!)

My number one go to though would be a book aimed at toddlers about dangers put side, or specifically crossing the road. Add that to plenty of practice at home or on much more minor roads.

I couldn't get on with reigns either!

But as everyone else has said, middle of the road tantrums are just a no nonsense deal. Shout No and hoik them across the road .

Bribery?

When you reach the road, get something desirable (small toy, stickers, a sweet) out of your pocket and say if he holds hands and walks nicely all the way to the other side when you say it is safe to cross then he gets the treat at the other side plus a load of ott praise.

But yes if he starts to play up mid-cross then you have little choice but to hold his arm/back of coat firmly and usher him across. We've all been there.

As my mother would say, “reins until reason”
Reins save lives ( and sanity)

Hi looking some advice please: have a 2yr 7month old boy and thinking if having another but very hard decision to make as I suffer with lupus sle(currently under control and drs happy for us to have another). Also my husband has a brain tumour and has has two awake brain surgeries.
I feel the reason for wanting another is so our wee boy has company when we our sick(ive a good supportive family).
Would be great for wee man to have someone to play with on holiday,in general and especially at Christmas.
Husband not sure about another baby and I just don't know what to do for the best??

Oh god this brings back the suppressed memories of the days of DS1 going through a stage of doing the "toddler flop" in the middle of the road - just dropping to the ground and lying there. DS2 was always in the sling. I found the 'surfboard carry' most practical.

When DS2 was bigger buggy and board worked better.

Reins. Either that or they get squashed.
My dd was similar so i used reins.
We have to make unpopular choices sometimes to keep them safe.

Sorry wrong place to post and cant delete,apologies xx

Get a toddler trike that has a handle you can push it with. Baby in sling, toddler in trike.

I would try buggy with a buggy board for toddler to stand on while he’s wearing reins, while walking home, my DS is 4 in April but I had similar situation when I would go out as he won’t stop running so I had to use the bag with the strap on it for his safety and made sure he stopped at the pavement before crossing the road

Pushchair and reins!

Just pull down your pants and scare them away

sorry autocorrect