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Difficult behaviour in a two yo (biting etc) - what can I do?

12 replies

redspottedfrog · 28/02/2012 20:15

DS1 is 2y4m. DS2 is 4mo so there's obviously been upheavel and lots of adjusting required of him, poor love. He goes to nursery three days a week, and has always enjoyed it. On the other days we take him to the same groups and parks etc he's always been to. DH is with us most of the time which is great for all of us!

He's reacted to DS2's arrival with some playing up, screaming some nights at bedtime etc. He has tantrums, but then he's two, so I expect it. We've had an issue with him hitting the baby, and has also occasionally bitten him. This is the only thing we do "time out" for, we remove him, explain why it's wrong, then get him to apologise. Not sure what else we could do really. Although it's not nice at all, I don't think this is an abnormal reaction to a sibling arriving.

So, about ten days ago I had to sign an incident form when I pucked him up from nursery as he's headbutted a child. After a scuffle over a toy that he was removed from, he went back over to her, held her face and headbutted her Sad. He has occasionally used his head at home too, but not with this kind of intent.

When I got him today, there were two forms for me to sign. This morning he stamped on a child's hand. At lunch time he was eating then suddenly launched himself across the table and bit a child Sad Sad Sad Sad.

They can't do time out, so they just remove him, explain why it's wrong and then distract him with another activity. They haven't said what if anything will happen if this carries on. I just apologise, say what we do at home, and that we'll monitor it.

Although I know this behaviour is unaceptable, and if I see him do it I'll absolutely call him on it, I also think that he's only two, his world has recently been shook, so he's reacting to this. We also know he has some hearing loss due to glue ear, and his language is slow to develop. We've got apts with all the relevant professionals booked in to see how we proceed with this. But I think there must also be an element of frustration for him too.

Is there anything else we could do to nip this in the bud? He's always been a very boisterous physical "spirited" child but this is a new dimension to his behaviour so we feel a bit stuck.

OP posts:
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Gumby · 28/02/2012 20:19

I think/ hope your nursery would flag up any additional needs but he does sound a bit more violent than most two year olds I've come across

Gumby · 28/02/2012 20:21

Perhaps if you're home with your baby it might be an idea to take him out of nursery?

redspottedfrog · 28/02/2012 20:29

I'm not taking him out of nursery, the places are like gold dust and I can't risk him not getting a place when I need to go back to work. Plus, I think the continuity is good, he's getting socialised, and the opportunity to do lots of things I just can't do at home at the moment such as messy play etc. Also for me I need the time to bond with DS2, and DS1 is such a whirlwind that it would be very very hard if he was at home every day of the week.

OP posts:
redspottedfrog · 28/02/2012 20:31

Oh and just to point out again, the "violence" is a very new thing. He's usually the one coming home with bite marks, not having been the biter Sad

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 28/02/2012 20:31

Meh, DS got bitten twice at that age.

Neither of the boys concerned grew up to be werewolves.

redspottedfrog · 28/02/2012 20:36

Katie are you saying that you think my DS's behaviour is "normal" then, if rather extreme?

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 28/02/2012 20:38

Totally normal red

The person who feels worst about it it probably you.

Toddlers sometimes bite much in the same way that my DD thought it was a great idea to bash her baby brothers head with a CD age 2.

redspottedfrog · 28/02/2012 20:44

Thanks! I'm so torn as I don't want to worry about it too much, I'm pretty sure he'll grow out of it and we just need to manage it till he does, but then I don't want others to think that I'm not taking it seriously enough. If he was at a group with me and he attacked another child (he's never done this btw) he would be taken home immediately. But I'd expect it to happen again...

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 28/02/2012 20:46

He'll grow out of it.

It's a phase, tis all.

You poor thing to be so worried, he'll be fine.

MrTumblesCrackWhore · 28/02/2012 22:44

Don't worry. I am in much the same position. Have a look at the lovely poster responses on my thread (search " miserable...playgroup again")sorry don't know how to link threads yet on my phone.
gumby I'm sorry but your posts don't sound particularly helpful or supportive. Your use of the word "violence" implies some premeditated action on the part of the toddler. Toddlers' brains, when developing, have the area which moderates impulses inhibited so, although undesirable, it is not part of a wider personality disorder!

Gumby · 28/02/2012 22:47

Sorry I guess it was badly worde

I guess from the op's post it sounded like both her and the nursery were overly concerned so I wondered if a health visitor might be a plan

MrTumblesCrackWhore · 28/02/2012 22:50

I guess I'm a bit oversensitive though - what with being in a similar position too. :)

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