Omg please help!

[Toddlerhelpplease123]

Toddler is nearly 3.

Every morning when he wakes up. We get him out of his cot and he can run around upstairs or come into bed whilst his dad or I get morning drinks (milk/ tea etc.)

For the last couple of weeks he has started screaming in the morning when we go downstairs to get the drinks.

Like full on. Full wake the whole street up screaming non stop.

I honestly dont know what to do.

Obviously I have been being calm and saying whats wrong, etc. Explaining dad always comes back with the drinks. Offering other drinks that are already available in case hes thirsty (water, squash).

We have done ignoring as well. And sternly please stop screaming - because it is literally as loud as he can.

This has been a few weeks now. He’s just been getting worse. And obviously the return of his drinks is the culmination of the event and he just happily drinks his milk so I dont know whether he thinks his screaming is resulting in a positive outcome.

But we cannot have this.

What do people suggest?

I said to DP this morning maybe we need to try no milk. He can have a glass at breakfast but hes not going to die or starve of milk deprivation in the 20/30 minutes it takes everyone to get to breakfast.

Any ideas! Help please

Take him down with you?

What time is he doing this? Any time from 6am is fine for starting the day imo.

Take him downstairs.

Why can't he go downstairs?

Have you tried taking him downstairs with you while you get the drinks?

Are you giving him a bottle of milk? Mine were always super grumpy in the morning until they had a wee and a cup of milk.

I’m really surprised that a 3 year old is still in a cot. What happens if he needs the loo?

This would also be my solution. It’s going to be an evolving situation until language allows you to reason with him, so unless it’s important he stays upstairs for some reason, this is one of those things where I’d say choose your battles. This one isn’t worth fighting.

No, it's not.

OP, either take him upstairs or have the drink ready to give him when he wakes up. I'd have thought that was really obvious but maybe I'm missing something

Sorry, take him downstairs

Just all go downstairs for breakfast when he’s up? No need to faff around with morning drinks brought upstairs, he’s probably hungry and thirsty and wants to downstairs for breakfast. Also why is he in a cot? He’s probably also frustrated if he can’t get himself up in the morning and has to shout for you. He’s 3, not a baby.

Why is he in a cot at aged 3?

Why are you making drinks for everyone and bringing them upstairs?

He's been in bed all night and wants to get up. You all go downstairs and have your drinks together and start your day.

He wants to go downstairs.

This thread is really odd. A 3 year old in a cot having milk when he wakes up? Just take him downstairs.

Don’t leave him alone upstairs. Either take him with you or one of you makes the drinks and the other stays upstairs. If he wakes at the same time everyday then you get up 10 minutes earlier and have the drinks ready.

I agree with others surely you take him downstairs with you? Also if he's nearly 3 he really should be moving out of the cot and into a bed.

How long does it take to get a cup of milk?

take him downstairs and have breakfast - prolonged morning drinks does not seem very 3yo friendly and that’s what he’s telling you!!

We have a large house and he’s too short to really navigate the stairs independently. If we take him down then we have to ferry him back up for everyone to get ready, have showers, get dressed etc.

It’s something we are going to have to try but I am not convinced it’s not just moving the problem.

He has drinks upstairs. He’s not going to die in the period it takes to get drinks (less than 5 minutes - probably 2-3). And he’s literally screaming blue bloody murder bless him.

It will take him longer to get milk if we are getting dressed.

How is he too short to navigate the stairs? Also you don't all need to get up, showered and dressed before breakfast just go down and eat and then get ready afterwards?

And no he’s not alone. One of us is always upstairs with him getting ready.

And the cot. He likes his cot has no issues with it. We are going to change it soon.

Why do you need to get dressed before you go down? Perfectly normal to down in PJ’s etc for breakfast, then go back up to get dressed later.

He's bored and frustrated and your morning routine is strange. Why is the whole getting dressed thing so rigid?

I still dont get the issue with taking him downstairs unless you’re living in Buckingham Palace. Just take him down with you or one of you makes the drinks. I can’t see how it takes 2 of you to make 3 drinks. It’s no big deal to take him down and go back up if you’re insistent on it taking 2 of you to make drinks.

How can't a 3yo get downstairs unless there's additional needs?

Getting him back upstairs shouldn't be a big deal either!

Have a pack of biscuits by the bed, give him one of those as soon as he wakes. Get him dressed then all go downstairs for actual breakfast. Get rid of the milk.

This should be a total non issue. Take him down to start the day or bring a thermos of his milk (hot or cold) upstairs with you when you go to bed.