overactive 2 yr old ds?

[stillinpjs]

Hi

My ds is lovely but so much hard work!! He's so jumpy its effecting what we do. For example, we go to a music group and all the other toddlers (18months - 3yrs) all sit with there mum's and dad's but my ds is everywhere. Trying to hug/ push/ play/ jump on everybody - young and old, everyone that is except me, if i pick him up and bring him back to me he screams and kicks etc. I'm starting to dread taking him anywhere.

I've tried not chasing him/ bringing him back and ignoring the cries/ being as exciting and entertaining as I possibly can be to make him want to be with me but none of it has made the slightest bit of difference.

He's horrid to his sister (4mo) which I'm sure is jealousy despite our best efforts to give him as much attention as he got before she was born. Today he drove his toddle truck into her head! (she's ok by the way) and has just had time out for spitting his juice all over himself and the sofa (wtf??)

I'm ashamed to say, I love him to bits but i'm finding it hard to like him at the mo.

I hate it because the only conclusion i can draw is that i'm just not a very good mummy.

gah you are not a bad mummy, don't think that

instate a rule - drink and eat at the table only

if he's not enjoying music group then don't go, restart in Sept

do you get out every day for fresh air and running, rain or shine? do so

have you a trampoline? in the garden I mean - get one, brilliant things (one bouncing at a time, make sure that you have safety nets too)

meet friends at the park, so that you are not in confined quarters

you have a new baby, DS is likely to be feeling a bit um er about the upheaval, do you get a bit of one to one time with him?

and finally, what about YOU ? do you have support at home, from family, friends etc?

No, no and no really. We moved 250miles last autumn (whilst i was heavily pregnant) so all my friends and family are miles away. I'e not managed to make friends - hence the groups but i end up being so knackered/ embarrased by his behaviour i've not really made any friends that way. DH is great when he's hear but that's only after 7pm really so the rest of the time it's just the 3 of us.

You're not a bad mum.
I agree with the need for outdoor play and fresh air, he sounds like he's an energetic little thing, I know it must be hard with a little baby too but dealing with his energy levels in a positive way (time-outs must be hell) will be beneficial for all of you. Get outdoors, a park or field where he can run, with a kite or ball or something, much cheaper than classes! Good luck!

Two year old boys are active and have ants their pants.

"For example, we go to a music group and all the other toddlers (18months - 3yrs) all sit with there mum's and dad's but my ds is everywhere."

I expect that the hyper tots don't attempt to go the music group.

Have you got the option of pre school?

Toddlers are like Labradors: they need a lot of exercise. You have ky sympathy! As Siddhartha says, anything to tire him out - football in the garden, sandpit with trucks and diggers in, walking (on reins if he's a bolter)- just tire him out!

It is a phase, at some point he will become interested in a "sitting down" activity- have you tried e.g. Cars colouring book? If toddler groups are stressing you out, don't go. Is there a toddler gym/playgroup with a bouncy castle, trikes etc near you? Our one was a lifesaver for a nearly 3 yr old & baby.

*my sympathy (on phone sorry!)

yes to trying a different group, there might be posters/flyers in the library/surgery/newsagent

finding your feet in a new area is very hard, sympathies

oh, lots of church groups are not very ''churchy'' iyswim, run by volunteers who will dandle your baby whilst you toddler-wrangle

Thanks,

This is the second group we've tried, he just has no attention span. I want to keep going as i feel he needs the company of other children and i need the company of other adults (even if it is only for an hr a week).

I do feel for him as dd has been very demanding but i've tried to overcome that by having her tucked away in a sling. Like i said, we try to give him as much attention as possible.

Rearlytired - Nursery not an option as too expensive .

Try looking for mum and toddler groups (Playgroups), which usually run in the mornings. Other mums or volunteers are always happy to help out (although I detest them whisking my DD2 away for cuddles an can't figure out how to say no , but that's a different story).

Otherwise, do you have a Sure Start centre nearby? They are free and usually have something on everyday.

Keep going with the groups as it's a great way to meet other mums.

My son is 2.5 and exactly the same. He is very physical and needs lots of exercise. To put it bluntly he's a ruddy nutter! I see everyone else's toddlers sat quietly whilst mine goes about jumping from the highest surface he can find. Exhausting!

I have a hyper toddler and tbh I would not attempt to go to a music group - it would be a nightmare...

I go to;

park
woods
selected friends houses
toddler groups (but we don't go for the whole time - I turn up 20 mins after it starts and often leave during the singing bit)
tumble tots type acitivity

TBH I don't attempt soft play places anymore due to an aggressive parent incident.

Mum of nutter hyper toddler here too. We tried music group once upon a time and I vowed never to do that to myself again.

Park, throwing stones in the lake, feeding ducks and playing ball are always a failsafe option. If he's a bolter like mine used to be a couple of months ago, invest in a backpack with reins. Little Life do cook ones and ds can choose toys, snacks and a drink to take so the reins thing is not a massive issue.

Ds prefers a select number of close friends, is a nightmare at busy softplay as I think he's overwhelmed by the whole experience and therefore I tend to meet the mums of his friends out in parks or larger spaces. He doesn't deal well with any kids in our house for any length of time so we keep playdates short - quick coffee with the mum whilst shoving the kids into the garden so sharing toys isn't too much of an issue, then we bowl them down to the local park.
I used to have to go to softplay places when dd was a bit smaller as they were the only safe places in could go with them both on my own, but now I don't feel as confined. Ds1 is less likely to run off and dd2 can be thrown a ricecake if she's hungry now. We're far from a perfect solution but things are definitely improving.

Good luck.

Cool not cook