Is this normal toddler behaviour?!

[lancsgirl85]

I'm finding my almost 17 month old's behaviour harder and harder to manage so just wanted to check whether this sort of thing is normal or if I'm dealing with a particularly delinquent toddler 🙈😂

Here's some of the latest things she does:

• screams like i'm torturing her if I try to stop her playing for a second while I change her nappy or dress her. It's like an insanely high pitched scream.

• when eating meals sticks her tongue right out and puts her fingers to the back of her throat causing her to gag. I tell her "no" and remove her fingers and she giggles her head off at "no" and does it all the more. Ignoring it and waiting for it to stop is the only thing that works, and I have to hope she doesn't make herself vomit in the meantime!

• tries to throw herself backwards out of my arms if I pick her up (this is only occasionally and usually if I've interrupted her playtime).

• has recently taken to opening the freezer door repeatedly and looking at me - when I say "no, come on, let's play with x or y" and take her hand to move her away and distract her, she screams and goes straight back and does it again, then again just looks at me giggling. And repeat ....

I'm sure the answer is most of this is normal and I love my daughter more than anything in this world, but my GOD toddlers are SO unreasonable and irrational!

Just needed to get that out somewhere 😂

All normal.

Try giving her a warning (or even asking) before you pick her up/stop her playing/change activity. They understand far more than you think at this age.

Follow her lead as much as possible in terms of what she wants to play with. I know it's not ideal, but just let her have a look in the freezer! Maybe get some frozen peas out for her to play with. Or ice cubes.

Oh I forgot her complete refusal to wear shoes or socks. If I put them on her and then put her in the car she spends the entire journey trying to pull them off and getting annoyed and frustrated until I have to pull over and remove them so we can drive in peace. I don't even bother with shoes and socks now, just put them in her changing bag.🤷‍♀️

Frustrating but normal! Can you get a lock for the freezer?

My youngest is the same age. Totally normal. They’re pushing boundaries as part of normal brain development.

She's not unreasonable though is she? Why would you need to wear shoes and socks in the car? Or the buggy? Just make your feet hot and uncomfortable for no reason!

I always talk to her as I'm doing things. So "right come then, let's get dressed sweetheart", then pick her up etc. It doesn't make a difference sometimes with her response.

@NuffSaidSam

True! It's just so that she's ready to go at the other end, eg I can quickly drop her with the childminder so I can get to work. But now I just hand the childminder the baby and the shoes / socks separately 😂

It's good to describe what you're doing, but you need to give her a warning. For example, 'after breakfast we'll have a bit of time to play and then it's time to get dressed', 'ok, five mins let to play and then we're going to get dressed', 'finish up with the Duplo now, it's time to get dressed' etc. You won't necessarily see instant results, but it will help long term.

Look at it from her point of view....would you like it if you were in the middle of doing something that you enjoy/is important to you and someone just said right we re doing this now and picked you up! I'd be well annoyed!