Toddler acting up since becoming a big brother

[nomoreminibreaks]

I'm sure this has been done before but I was hoping for some of your wisdom on the subject.

DS1 is 2.10 and DS2 is 3 weeks old. It's come as a shock because DS1 has always been easy going, co-operative and well behaved. Now he is defiant, cheeky and often seems to be looking for the next opportunity to be naughty. He's also started waking in the night (normally only once and easily settled but on top of DS2 keeping us up it's pretty annoying) and has regressed with his toilet training when he was doing so well.

As far as I'm aware this is a textbook reaction to a new baby but I'm interested to know how others have dealt with it?

We have no 'naughty step/chair' or structured discipline as frankly we've never needed it but I'm wary of introducing something now on top of everything else going on in his life. So far we've been trying to ignore the bad behaviour and reward the good but our patience levels and tiredness means it not working well and we end up shouting

Thanks in advance!

We had exactly this problem when DD arrived (DS was 3y 6m) looking back I'm fairly sure i spoiled him too much - both in the run up to the birth and when we came home. I had a section so constantly rewarded (bribed!) him when he did what I wanted as I wasn't mobile enough to chase him round to enforce things like putting shoes and coat on etc. we found that once we realised partly what the cause was - obviously some of the bad behaviour was to do with his new sister And testing the boundaries - and rectified it he was a million times better! My best advice would be consistency! We had firm boundaries and gave a warning then the naughty step. It pretty much passed in a few weeks. Best of luck xx

Thanks Rocky - I think that's part of the problem here too. First I finished work in early December, then there was Christmas - lots of presents, visitors and chocolate to use as bribes for sitting on the potty etc, then DS2 was born on 3 Jan so DH was only back at work for a day or two before paternity leave, then even more visitors, presents etc. So he's been spoilt rotten and I'd be surprised if he can remember his normal routine at all!

My ds was 2.3 when dd arrived, and being blunt he was a right royal pain in the arse! Hated his sister, refused to do anything etc etc. It does pass but as pp says consistency is a just.

My health visitor told me its like your husband saying to you I love you so much I am getting another one just like you to live here with us all!