End of tether....any advice welcome :)

[samandsophsmam]

Can any one give me any tips. I have 3 DD's age 5, 4 and 2. I feel like a first time mum as I feel I can't cope with my 2 year olds tantrums. She bites, kicks, pinches and claws at my face if she can't do something or wants something she can't have. I never experienced anything like this with the other two (they must have been angels) and the new thing is dragging round on my legs to get 'cuddles' which when you pick her up she doesn't want.
I never get to spend enough time with the other two as DD3 takes so much of the attention.
The rigid body thing getting in to car seats and in to her buggy is a big problem don't know how to deal with that one and also letting her walk is always so traumatic because if she is not on reins she will just run and when she is on reins she just 'dangles'!!
Bedtime takes over an hour and we have to lay next to her and whoever takes the turn usually falls asleep and then the evening is gone.
Any help would be a great help.

I have no advice, only sympathy and the suggestion you remember everything is just a phase....it really will not last xx

Well, no advice for the kicking / biting / pinching or sleep problem, but for the others:

On the 'cuddles' - maybe try hugging her in situ? So don't pick her up, but bend down, keeping your legs straight, and hug her into your legs. (Another one I used for small child when 'pick-up, pick-up, pick-up' was screamed requested when out).

For the rigid body - I used to bring whatever the current favourite toy / soother was and would state that being tucked into seat / pushchair successfully would result in provision of same. It didn't always work, but sometimes the distraction was sufficient to get the straps on. - Also, it never worked if the toy was in sight for some reason, so keep it hidden until the straps are on if you do try this.

Have you tried making the reins into a game with her? I used them to play 'horse in harness', with lots of 'giddy-ups' etc. on the flat and 'puppet on a string' (so arms / legs had to be moved upwards in time by the child when the reins were gently tugged) when going upstairs.

Hope she grows out of this stage soon - mine is nothing like as challenging as your DD3 sounds and still I found it mentally draining.