Hyperactive, naughtly DD

[babyblue2]

DD2 is 20 months and has always been lovely, but very lively. She's going through yet another spell of total naughtiness. I know some say that they aren't being naughty at this age but you can see that as she's being told to stop something or whatever, her eyes are looking for the next thing to demolish, throw etc. I've tried ignoring it, distracting her, telling her off, putting her in her room, some of which occasionally works but more often than not it doesn't. She throws things, screams, pulls DD1's hair and attempts to hit. I'm now starting to wonder if perhaps the juice she's drinking is having something to do with it but I don't really know much about the effect it can have. Today I've decided to offer diluted fresh apple juice in a bid to try and find out if it is her current diluted squash. Can anyone shed any light on whether they think that her juice could be the problem (she has a good diet), whether the behaviour i've described could be a result and tips on what to do next. DD1 was never like this and it's been quite hard work on and off for a while. Both me and DH feel like we've failed her for some reason.

check the ingrediants - sodium benzoate is well known for tantrums.

i'd swirch to fresh juice anyway for the sake of her teeth tbh.

have you tried keeping a food diary for a week or so to see can you spot any specific food causing it.

my dd's behaviour improved dramatically when we eliminated wheat but she did have other symptoms of an intolerance so the improved behaviour was an unexpected bonus tbh!

keep in mind it could just be her persobnality though, dd is better behaved now but she's still by far the most challanging kid i've ever come across and has been since the day she was born! you may just have to accwept her for the way she is and learn how to best deal with this challanging behaviour

I'd work on one behaviour technique and stick to it - including lots of positive attention when she's not being difficult. Say ignoring small stuff, distracting, and then escalating to removal/telling off/whatever for refusal to stop or bigger stuff. And then stick to your new system through hell and high water rather than chopping and changing because it's not working immediately.

Don't think you've failed her, she's just at a challenging age. And she's a different person from her sister so may not behave the same way at the same age. My prejudice is that second children are often more challenging - you think you've got it down pat from no. 1 and no. 2 comes along to teach you different!

TBH I don't know which route to take with her, i'm currently doing exactly what you say edam, but she just doesn't seem to care, she just screams at me and moves straight to the next thing. She is sooooo fast, both in mind (you can see her mind ticking over) and physically. I've tried the praise thing, I always give positive feedback to her, love etc. She won't accept it, she just shouts no at me a lot of the time when I say well done, or clap. PS There's no sodium benzoate in her juice.

It really is her age. Some kids at that age seem to make everyone else look like statues. She will grow out of it.