Nightmare 4 yr old, help!!

[hazzajo]

I've got 3 boys and middle ds is 4. As he is getting older his behaviour is getting worse not better. Ds1 aged 7 is a completely different child and well behaved. Ds3 is 3 months old. I feel like I'm walking on eggs shells with him all the time as the slightest thing will set him off and he can tantrum for hours. Trying sticker chart but he just throws wobblies about getting/not getting stickers. He is aggressive, rude and completely unreasonable. Family members have made it obvious he is not pleasent to be around which makes me very sad. It's sooo embaressing dragging him down the road to get to school on time. Will he grow out of this? Have tried ignoring him which makes him madder. Have tried giving him attention but he just demands more and more. I feel like I just can't win. I'm starting to really not like him much and it's really upsetting.Help!!!

sorry forgot to add this is not a new thing since ds3 was born. He has always been difficult.

Any tips?? Thanks

Hi Hazzajo, Sorry you are going through this. I know where you are coming from as I have a ds who sounds very similar and can fully appreciate the problems with the school run as I too have this twice a day with ds who is four also. My eldest was also alot easier but then I did not have to do the school run twice a day aswell as after school clubs and friends to tea. On a good day I can see that he is only four and just learning but on a bad day I can get really frustrated with him and long for bedtime to come. I don't know what the answer is but I keep thinking as he gets older he will be easier to reason with. You sound like you are doing a great job though especially as you have a tiny one in tow. I wonder if it would be easier to go back to using a buggy again with him just for the school run or even to go in the car and then try to walk again in a month or so, this is something I am considering. I am sending you big hugs and will be watching this post closely.

Thanks for replying. It's nice to know I'm not the only one. Like you say it's easier to be paitent some days and others I'd gladdly send him back and swap him for another!!

He gets 11 hours sleep a night. Is that enough for a 4 yr old?? His diet is not too bad but I guess could be better. He is quite fussy with food though so don't want that to become a battle ground too. He goes to nursery 9-3 3 days a week and is perfectly behaved there. He saves it all for home lol!!

My ds also sleeps for eleven hours and I think this is quite average. My ds is also a picky eater and has a fairly good diet. One thing I have thought of trying is Omega fish oils as I have heard that this can calm them a little although I understand they are a bit expensive. Maybe they will just get all this testosterone out of their systems now and then will turn into little angels for us one day soon! Wishful thinking!

I'm thinking of trying zero tolerance approach. Would mean he would spend most of his day in time out and mean a few days of pure hell but it's got to the stage where I'll try anything. I'm too soft I reakon or I get so cross and frustrated myself that I end up just letting him do as he likes and or shouting back which I'm not proud of. I wonder if omega 3 would help. I'll try anything!!!!!

Just noticed another post on 4 year olds has started. We are not alone and it has now spread to the female 4 year olds too so that kills the testosterone theory! I'm off to Boots first thing tomorrow for some Eye Q Omega supplements. See you there.

I started a recent post on DS2 whois 4 next month. Exact same thing awkward and battling about everyhong. The school run is teh most humiliating. All the other mums stand around chatting while I am running around yelling like a banshhe.