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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

2.7 year old won't get dressed

32 replies

Girlsville · 03/09/2012 11:34

Dd1 is 2.7and a total nightmare to get dressed. She repeats 'want to stay in mug apyjamas' non stop and cries if itryand gather dressed before breakfast. After breakfast she still refuses! She loves choosing which clothes to wear just doesn't want to put them on. We start every day with a horrible battle and I would love some tips!
She starts preschool next week and we will need to get dressed per breakfastso that we get there in time but I can't see it going well.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

3littlefrogs · 03/09/2012 11:45

She is old enough to understand:

"When you get dressed you can have breakfast/go to the park/play a game/anything else she likes to do".

Then ignore.

Whatever she asks for you say

"yes , as soon as you are dressed you can have/do that"

Ignore again.

Be consistant, do not enter into an argument.

When she does get dressed smile and praise and say "well done", "you look lovely in that outfit", "now we can go out" or whatever.

It may take a few days, but you have to reamain calm and look as if you have all the time in the world.

3littlefrogs · 03/09/2012 11:47

If necessary, take her to preschool in her PJs, take her clothes in a bag.

She will only do it once.

Original poster

Girlsville · 03/09/2012 13:14

Thanks 3little frogs!
She is a nightmare at beginning and end of day and angel in between,

OP posts:

ProudNeathGirl · 03/09/2012 13:22

I agree with littlefrogs' first suggestion, but not the second.

3littlefrogs · 03/09/2012 13:48

It depends whether you absolutely have to go to work.

If you have time and can afford to miss the preschool that is fine, you can go with the first suggestion.

negrilbaby · 04/09/2012 21:02

We found getting 'Teddy' to tell DS to get dressed and then using the teddy to help him to do so worked really well. Use a silly voice and hold the clothes out in teddy's paws. It also helped me to keep things in perspective and not get too cross with a two year old trying to exert some control over his life.

Iggly · 04/09/2012 21:16

Give her a choice between two things. So she has no choice about getting dressed just about what she wears. And get her dressed as soon as you make the choice, not five minutes later when she would have forgotten.
With ds we do have to pin him down on occasion - not roughly, just sit him in our lap.

I also find doing it after breakfast is better as he's not hungry and grumpy.

SizzleSazz · 04/09/2012 21:18

No breakfast here until dressed.

I have taken DD2 to preschool in her PJ's (with no breakfast). I refuse to be drawn into a battle over it. She only did it the once which i was a tad surprised about as she was the centre of attention and basked in it

Iggly · 04/09/2012 21:23

No breakfast here until dressed

Why? Just setting yourself up for a battle with a hungry toddler that wouldn't have eaten for what, 12 hours +? Hell, I don't get showered and dressed until I've eaten a massive bowl of porridge

SizzleSazz · 04/09/2012 21:25

Because she (and her sister) are both motivated by food Iggly. Otherwise she will prevaricate and procrastinate, playing with toys/messing around with her sister.

Once we are all sat at the table she invariably appears in the nude with her clothes as she wants to join us.

noblegiraffe · 04/09/2012 21:26

I might make a game of it with Ds(3) so put his trousers on teddy, pants on head, anything silly, then ask if it's right and what's wrong, where should they go??

Or I might tickle wrestle him into them.

Or sing a silly song expressing horror at his lack of clothes, while putting them on him.

Anything to keep it good tempered while still firmly getting him dressed.

Meglet · 04/09/2012 21:29

Our nursery is happy for DC's to be taken in in PJ's if there's been a meltdown at home. For parents who work it's impossible to wait 30 mins / 1 hour for a toddler to decide to get ready in the morning.

fivegomadindorset · 04/09/2012 21:32

I have taken DD in pyjamas before, I needed to get to work, and I had to get her there. Only time it happened.

pepperrabbit · 04/09/2012 21:34

We choose clothes the night before so she knows what she's wearing - I also found using the "uniform" polo shirts made her feel grown up and more motivated.
Just once I have taken DD to preschool (in the buggy) with her slippers on and no coat. i also told them she had to stay indoors that afternooon as they offered to lend her wellies, but she had pushed and pushed me to the enth (sp?) degree that week and I really needed to reset boundaries and consequences. The staff were a bit at me till they realised I was about to cry...
She has never ever caused that level of fuss again.
Also on a practical note if they get dressed after breakfast that's one less meal that might get spilled down that outfit.

oldwomanwholivesinashoe · 04/09/2012 21:41

I agree with the going to nursery/preschool in pjs/underwear. I had to take DS1 to nursery in just vest and pants because he kept taking his clothes off. He did it a couple of times then realised that I didn't care and neither did nursery staff so he stopped. I'm sure there are more child friendly ways, but if you have to get to work then needs be!
Although now am currently on matty leave with DC4 and I like to get everyone dressed after breakfast and every day DD2 (3) says "Why we get dressed? Where we going?" Clearly a girl after my own heart - no need to get out of pjs unless going out!!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/09/2012 21:48

Just let her wear pyjamas - is there any real reason not too?

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 04/09/2012 21:48

What 3littlefrogs said - nothing fun happens until she is dressed.

I had this with my DD, she was a nightmare, and she took ages to decide what she wanted to wear as well. She did grow out of it after about 18 months...

We also sometimes had races - to see who could get dressed first.

ProudNeathGirl · 05/09/2012 15:54

I think you need to make it clear that YOU are in charge, not her! Put your foot down woman!

(I realise it's not that easy - but really, you ARE in charge!)

madwomanintheattic · 05/09/2012 16:00

I took ds1 to swimming lessons in his pyjama top. He's 10. I parked at the far side of the car park so that he had to do the walk of shame. Unfortunately, none of his mates were hanging around the skate park next door.

I collected him and went straight out for a dog walk (deliberately). It was about 30 degrees and he was sweating.

Oddly, he got dressed before swimming the next day.

Do it now, and you won't have a 10yo to deal with.

blackteaplease · 05/09/2012 16:04

If you need to leave the house then force her to get dressed/ take her to preschool in her pyjamas. I have done this at least three times with dd. She happily gets dressed at nursery the little minx.

If you don't need to leave the house does she really need to get dressed? Is it worth the fight?

Could you introduce a sticker chart? We've been having real battles at bedtime so I took a load of photos ie, bathtime, brush teeth, pull up, hairbrush, stories, teddy and dd in bed, cut them out and made them into an A3 poster then stick it and a sticker chart where she can reach it.

We look at the poster and talk about what we have done/ what's still to be done and if she does all of them she gets a sticker on her chart. It seems to be working so far.

Melindaaa · 05/09/2012 16:06

She's 2 and a half. Just make her get dressed and be done with it.

ProudNeathGirl · 05/09/2012 16:52

Agree with Melindaa. Manhandle her - you are in charge.

MaryPoppinsBag · 05/09/2012 17:01

Of course it matters that she is in her PJ's.
She will turn into one of those people who Tesco have banned from entering the store because they are wearing PJ's aged 33.

I am with the people who would manhandle.
I don't do bad behaviour in a morning I simply don't have time.

3littlefrogs · 05/09/2012 20:47

DS1 went everywhere dressed in a Thunderbirds costume for weeks.

He is a perfectly normal young man now, and has very good dress sense.

Everything is a phase............

HSMM · 05/09/2012 20:54

Took my DD to primary school in her PJs once ... never happened again

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