Oh Christ I've got a toddler - any good books??

[ItsAMiracleIEverLeaveTheHouse]

Evening all,

I have admittedly been slow to realise that I do now in fact have a toddler and not a baby (DD is 14mths - and no I'm not always this slow). I am now feeling woefully underprepared.

I had - super naively as it turns out - assumed that between babyhood and the so called terrible twos I might get a lull, just full of lovely learning to walk and talk (with perhaps with the odd rainbow or unicorn thrown in). Feel free to laugh loudly.

Well DD obviously didn't agree. She is a spirited, independent soul (little sod I think is the technical term) and has embraced toddlerhood with both hands (assuming she's not destroying something with said pudgy mitts at the time).

So I need help. REAL help. Preferably from some of sort of perfect mother/psychologist hybrid. Did any of you read anything particularly insightful/useful when the tantrums/throwing started......???

Ta in advance!

Hiya, I have 2 kids and a third on the way.......... and my god when that "phase" kicks in, you wish them back as a newborn!!

I LOVE self help books and swear by them actually....... always good to have something you can dip into when screaming in a pillow doesnt do the trick nemore...... (promise not a nutjob) I have New Toddler Taming by Dr Christopher Green and found that an awesome book to dip into when I needed advice....... I also invested in his Beyond Todlerom for my now 7 year old and that too has some handy hints in......

Also a great book to relate to and make you laugh out load is Secret Diary of a Domented Housewife by Niamh Greene, such a relatable, funny read.

I am sure your doing a fab job at managing the dreaded "phase" but hope my ideas help you along the way xxx

I agree toddler taming is quite good

Another vote for toddler taming. Christopher Green did a MN webchat in 2001 and it's summarised on the webchat bit of MN. Have a look at his advice on there and if you like what you see get the book from the library. Just enough humour mixed in and some funny cartoons - I loved it.

The Mighty Toddler is quite good, too.

thanks v much ladies
will check out all of your suggestions
(sat here with large gin by my feet and the proud owner of some seriously frazzled nerves after yet another day living v close to the edge)
Surely torment like this is in violation of my human rights or similar?

When I read the title of your thread I thought 'what is she going to do, erect a shelter out of them to hide from the little bugger'?

Ah it passes. Don't worry. I have two of them at once. What fun

ONE HOUR OF EXERCISE A DAY TO KNACKER THEM OUT helps enormously.

And any vice you can come up with at the end of the day as a reward for not killing the little sods. :)

The MN Toddler Guide is also great

sweet jesus - twins? two newborns scared the bejesus out of me but two toddlers is just not cricket!

hiding from my very own Little Dictator sounds like a genius move - wonder if I can fashion something from leftover bunting and empty gin bottles??

and Valpollicella - ta re toddler guide

Ah no, here's the interesting thing about toddlers. My children are twenty months apart and yet they still get to be toddlers at the same time!

Invest in contraception now

My DS sailed through the Terrible Twos and I couldn't believe how lucky I was... til the Terrible Threes occurred and he turned into a demon. He's like a miniature version of Kevin the Teenager at times.

My top tip on bad days is to grit your teeth and count down the minutes (or hours) 'til bedtime.
8am - "only 11 hours to go..."

I can also highly recommend Pinot Grigio.

whomovedmychocoloate - that is harsh. TOO harsh.

A perfectly normal gap of 20 months with the sick twist being that they're both toddlers at the same time. I bow down to you kiddo - one ankle biter has got me licked.

Maybe we'll wait until she's old enough to babysit before we have another one? I know my limits.

Eaglebird - I'm with you on the big countdown. Feels like I'm wishing both our lives away but its the only way to stop me packing a bag and running away with the circus sometimes.

The Mighty Toddler by Robin Barker is fab - I really liked her baby book so it was logical to buy her toddler book too. Toddler Taming is quite good too, although I found his tone a bit irritating a times!

If you time it so one is at least thirty months when you have the second you can avoid this phenomenon. But beware, my friend tried this trick then had naturally occurring twins!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! 3 under 3??? Officially the stuff of nightmares!!

Ooh yes and read 'The Triplet Diaries' if you want a real scare. She gets FOUR toddlers at once!

Have just logged on for help - dd (14 months) screaming, rolling around on the floor, arching back, throwing toys around the room - mother trying to decide if she is in mortal pain or having a tantrum... I'm thinking it's a tantrum but OMG how long can it carry on?

Will be investing in a book or two, if only to reinforce my sense that even if I'm wrong I have to be consistently wrong.

Liz38 - lets be driven mental together.

My Diary of a Demented Housewife arrived today.

Already making me feel better.

Might also order triplet diaries.

Love people worse off than me (not graceful to admit but true!)