Ds has recently shown fixations on things, bordering on obsessive behaviour, and I am just wondering if this is normal for a 24 month old. He clearly understands a lot and is trying to communicate all the time but speech is slow (only a handful of recognisable words although he can put them into 3 word sentences)
Examples of his behaviour...
He watched a DVD of Peppa Pig for the first time last week and now wants to watch it all the time and gets very upset when even the ad breaks on Nick Jnr come on, and inconsolable when the programme finishes. He indicates he wants to watch it by 'oinking' (!). The crying (not really tantrum type, more just really unhappy) lasted about half an hour the first night and has diminished with a bit of distraction tonight.
He fixates on a phrase eg. "daddy go way" (when dh goes to work) and will continue saying it on and off throughout the say until dh gets home.
He is very particular about things like snacks - he will only 'accept' a snack if he is lifted up to the cupboard where we keep them, and can choose himself. He also has very definite ideas about what books he wants to be read in the evening and won't settle down to sleep without us finding the one he wants.
These are just a few examples, there are others which crop up on a more random basis.
On one hand, he is mostly a very sociable, smiley boy, but on the other, he can turn in matter of seconds into a very demanding, intractable little so and so.
I don't think his speech is out of the boundaries of normal, but I do suspect this is causing him quite a lot of frustration in how he controls his environment.
Anyone got any advice/experiences to share?
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Does this sound like normal toddler behaviour to you?
petaluma · 17/08/2011 21:13
They were early talkers and late walkers.
If it's any consolation, they're still just as 'toddlery', just they can talk about it more!
And what you are doing for discipline sounds very similar to me. I was 
yesterday because DT1 was sploshing his drink from his sippy cup on the car seat as we were driving along in the car and DT2 was yelling "FOr goodness sake! DOn't splash your drink! I will take it away!" I think they must hear it 20 times a day. And about 1/2 the time I do have to remove the offending item, but as much as I can, I pick my battles. Like you did at the playground. I think that is important too otherwise you are constantly saying no and that's no fun for either of you.
Something that is also working well at the moment is to count to three. If one of the boys is saying he wants to climb into his carseat of highchair, I'll say Ok, mummy will count to 3 and if you're not in I will help you in. 1.....2......3 and by 3, almost always they have done what I wanted, if not I do it for them.
Hi OP. Yes I too worry about recognising where babydom has ended.
With respect to hunger though, i think its probably a good thing to offer him some of your food on his own plate, but if its a snack you dont want him to eat, say "yes, you can have a snack", but then put a healty snack on his plate. If he notices/complains you say " mummys snack" pointing at yours. I know this because I too drink coke, but dd doesnt try to drink it simply because of the repetition of "mummys drink". My dd has a poor appetite so Ive recently stopped all snacks. One thing im noticing is that Ive stopped snacking too to avoid her seeing food when its not mealtime...its only a matter of time before I lose some weight (which is a good thing - being SAHMhas been bad for my waistline) 
I too wonder if Im too soft at times. I got tough on the sleeping issues at 9 months and it worked, Ive recently got tough on the no snacks, and that seems to be working too. Continuing the theme, getting tough on behaviour seems to be the strategy too. To be honest though I cant identify any behaviours that borther me unless its a normal toddler behaviour (wanting to watch another programme, go in the swing again, only wanting mummy to push the swing, finding sharing her toys difficult)
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