Please tell me the whiiiiiining stops!

[fragglerocker]

DS is 3. Over the last few weeks he seems to have forgotten how to speak properly and most communication is a horrible squeaky whingy noise accompanied by lots of foot stamping, arm flinging and pointing. He is having a moment now, making the screeching noise and banging his feet. The reason? A piece from his Charlie & Lola game has rolled under the sofa and instead of asking me to get it for him (like he normally would) he has decided to turn into some kind of monster!!!! He doesn't tell us when he needs the loo, will just stand there screeching so usually ends up with wet pants. He won't ask for things, like if he wants a drink or wants a certain toy/book/whatever, he just does that horrible sound and expects us to know what he is on about. It's like he is a baby again. What's going on???

I don't know. But I wanted you to know you're not alone. DD1 is driving me insane with her whining!

How do you respond when he whines? When my son whines, I ignore him until he asks nicely.

Whining is getting him something. Stop that something and the whining will, mostly, stop.

I know several 3yo's, including my own, who has regressed a bit in the last few months into whining and talking with a baby voice. It will pass. In the meantime I say to DD, "Use your words in a big girl's voice" then I blank her until she behaves. Works most of the time.

We do ignore the whining but it doesn't seem to make much difference, he just does it for longer and louder! I ask him to speak in his normal voice but he gets really frustrated as if to say why can't you understand me now!! I hope it doesn't last for long, I can't bear it

Yes, of course the whining stops.

Whining is the equivalent of fingernails slowly raking down a blackboard. I much prefer tantrums that blow over quickly ish.

So he finally stops when ?

He whines.
You ignore.
He whines more.
You ignore.
He whines more.
You explain that you will ignore him until he stops whining.
Ahhh he thinks - that is how much whining I need to do soooo....
He whines.
You ignore.
He whines.
You scream your head off.
Ahhh - thats how much I ned to whine thinks lad soooo...

My advice is - walk away, lock yourself in the loo, do not be physically present.

There's whining here too and it's hideous. My strategies are "I can't understand that whining voice"; "Stop whining"; and " If you're going to whine you'll have to do it in another room". And sometimes shouting. The whingey talking is bad enough, but what really drives me demented is when DD wanders round the house just making a whining noise without actually saying anything (this is when I tell her to go into another room!).

We've just had a bad few weeks of near non-stop whining but it seems to be abating a bit now thank goodness, it's awful.

Me too. Been in tears this morning. Thing is he is 21 months and speech non existant. Well he can say words I've heard him like mum, dad but prefers to whine. I've shouted at him, ignored him everything none of it works. He does it ll night too, whinges and whines in his cot. I cuddle him lots, play with him etc but I dread everyday just lately. I look forward to work so I don't have to hear it sometimes. Feel like the worlds worst ever mum :-( Dosnt help that he's clingy too, cant even make a brew sometimes without his clung round my leg. :-(

Rosemary yes that's pretty much how it goes as soon the whining starts I lose all patience with him. My mum's advice is pretty much the same as yours - just walk away and leave him for a few minutes.
Zimbah same here too, DS will walk about making that noise! makes me want to rip my hair out.
chezziejo you are not the worlds worst mum, you sound exactly like me! I hate my job but sometimes I can't wait to get to work just be away from him. And my DS is a clinger too, well more of a hoverer actually, always under my feet.

I used to sing loudly when they whined and it stunned them into stopping
Sadly whining does last a long time just takes different versions as they grow older

DD is nearly 9 and still whines. I don't think it stops until they leave home.

Have no advice to add other than that which has already been given but just wanted to say - I feel your pain, there's a whiney 3yo in this house too and some days it drives me demented!!!!! Today has been one of them.....

DD is 7.5 and still drives me insane whining and whinging. I like some of the answers though. Why doesn't MN have a 'like' button for comments?