Dd2 2.10 has been screaming for half an hour now, apparently she doesn't think it's bedtime...

[Dawnybabe]

She's now hit the Terrible Two type behaviour. She will suddenly erupt into the most godawful screaming hysterical tantrum over absolutely anything and it is slowly driving me insane. She has never been like this before. Even dd1 was never this bad. I had heard of these complete meltdowns but up until now never experienced it myself. She did it at toddler group last week and I had to carry her screaming all the way back to the car, it was humiliating and horrible.

I've just lost it and gone in her room and shouted at her. It's made no difference. She's got bed time milk, dh has tried to read her a story but she won't stop screaming to listen. I know I shouldn't have shouted at her but I want my adorable little girl back.

I'm sat here crying. There isn't a room in the house I can't hear her screaming from. What do I do? Do I ignore it or do I go to her? She wants to come downstairs but it's way past her bedtime. I think she's tired and making it worse. Dh is in there trying to calm her down. I wish he'd leave her alone and shut the door and not give her any more attention and let her go to sleep. Except I hate the thought of her crying herself to sleep.

Ignore. When she calms down a bit go in for a cuddle and explain why she has to go to sleep. My ds dies a really high pitched scream that goes right thru you it's so embarrassin when he does it in public but all I can do is remove him from the situation or if at home remove myself. I hope she stops soon!

Screaming tantrum or screaming crying?

Screaming tantrum. She just doesn't want to go to bed.

Think she's running out of steam now, screaming is getting quieter thank god.

Would love to go in and give her a cuddle but can't bear the thought of her kicking off again.

Please don't let this last much longer.

This isn't any comfort just now but don't feel humiliated at toddler group. The other mums probably sympathise deeply. It's not your fault and it's really hard to handle.

I know, thanks Redhead. Doesn't make it any easier but at least we're not alone.

I just want my lovely little girl back. She was always the easy one. Sweet, adorable, easy going, could take her anywhere, always a pleasure to have around. Now I feel as if someone's swapped her for something else. She's so defiant, always pushing it, and she hits too. And she's started being naughty at her preschool. I'm sure they've seen it all before but I find it all a bit upsetting.

She sounds exactly like my ds too! He started hitting out. I've introduced the naughty step and taking his fave toy away after a warning for things like hitting and throwing. How did it go last night?

Sounds like DD (2.5) - she does this frequently. I'm struggling to get her out of it. We've just started a reward chart which DD seems enthusiastic about.

Your little girl hasn't gone!

She's just testing the boundaries to see if she can move them by tantruming hard enough.

Just calmly stick to the decisions you make and don't allow the boundaries to move in response to her screaming. She will eventually get the message that screaming doesn't work and give up.

That's not to say she won't still try again occasionally or that she won't scream from pure frustration of course.

If you can't bear to leave her alone in the room when she does this then calmly pretend to be getting on with a job or reading a book. Once she has quietened down you can give her your attention again and dole out the hugs. Remember she is still upset and angry and it's ok to acknowledge that once she's calmed down.

It does get better if you are consistent, honestly.

Timandra that is great advice, though hard to stick to