At my wits end.

[TheManicMummy]

All my 2 year old does is cry, he cries for most of the day. Screams because I tell him no, screams because he's been naughty and goes on time out, hits his younger sister because he's frustrated that he can't put the blocks together. Screams his lungs out because he wants postman pat and then changes his mind literally when I put it on to fireman and screams because postman pat is on.

Screams and throws his food at every meal, rarely eats. Cries for water and then spills it all over the floor on purpose. Screams because he wants his dad and not me. He is so naughty it's unreal and I am at my wits end.

I cannot take one more day of screaming & crying. My one year old daughter gets so left out because I am constantly running around after my son, he's purposely destructive.

I don't know what to do anymore... I actually want to leave home. As awful as that sounds I can't do one more day of screaming.

I can see, you already have lots of good advice, but one tiny part is missing. Is it possible for you to keep an diary? Just writing down what you have done when, what made him happy, frustrated or upset... what food he has had....
Maybe when you have a quiet moment and go over your notes you can find a trigger? It can also be helpful for diagnosis / management of any underlying health issues.

I am not suggesting you do this, as I don't know your son, but my DD used to make herself throw up if she wouldn't get her own way. At some point, I had enough and I held both her hands and told her there wasn't enough sick on the floor, and if that is really all she had eaten.... (yep very cruel mum!). Anyway apart from the initial mess, she was never "tantrum sick" again. Obviously I snapped and her issue was pure and simply toddler tantrum! But sometimes reverse psychology works wonders.

I'm not an advocate of time out for any child but a just turned 2 year old? No way. Think you need a completely different approach to be honest.

How much quality time is he getting with you compared to his sibling? 2 is an age of big emotions (which they can neither understand nor express rationally) so punishing for them is counter productive. Agree about the tablet use. You need to sort out what's going on not divert him for an easy life. There are plenty of studies about the impact of screens on babies and toddlers and it's. it positive. It's quite possibly making the time when he's off the screen worse.

Hi all, my 2 year old is at that age where she likes to hit other kids. She does it usually when she thinks other kids are taking her toys. I've tried explaining it's not nice to hit and am tried my best to manage her. I've also got a 5 month old who demands a lot of my time. Anyway the reason for the post is today when I went to playgroup I was approached very aggressively by a rude mum at playgroup who said my daughter was hitting all the kids ( she wasn't) and that she got her girl and made her cry ( I didn't see it happen but maybe she did). I calmly apologised and explained how tough it is having to manage two, to which she said something on the lines of, I have two abs I can manage. She demented my girl apologise to her daughter which she did, but just went on and on about the hitting. I felt really embarassed and now angry that she made me feel this way. I don't mind she approached be but the manner was quite shocking! Am I being unreasonable to expect her to be more understanding? Perhaps share her experience and maybe say, I know how hard it is.... rather than being rude?

A diary is a brilliant idea, thank you! I really do need to find out what his triggers are, I find that this is half the problem, I don't know what it is which is causing the meltdowns.

What do you suggest instead of time out? .. He has a sand timer he can find calming, it lasts two minutes long which is recommended for 2 year olds (a minute for each year).

I made him a corner in his room with lovely pillows and a hard chair if he doesn't want to sit on the floor, surrounded it with books and puzzles and quiet activities. Unfortunately he just steps over it, I tried making "quiet time" in the quiet corner around 2.30/3pm (when he has his highest concentration) where we would sit and read a book or do a puzzle. Unfortunately he hates it. He wants to eat the book or throw it and the puzzles just frustrate him.. we tried this every day for two weeks, thinking it might take time to adjust to the new routine... no luck.

We have a lot of one to one time, my daughter is very self sufficient, will happily sit and flick through books on her own, play with the toys on her own whilst I deal with managing with my sons behaviour all day. It must be extremely lonely for her... she very rarely kicks up a fuss about anything, so luckily for my DS I get a lot of time with him, unlucky however for my DD x

Definitely no need to be rude about it... my son acts out a lot and I'm very lucky to have only met kind understanding parents.

I think I would probably parted some knowledge onto the other parent, explain that your child is only 2 years old and they are still learning about the world, the only thing that you can do as a parent is show them the right paths to take in terms of behaviour.

It is extremely tough looking after two children, especially trying to mange them both at a group. It's so daunting for me... so well done for getting out there in the first place! Don't let this woman discourage you from going again. But I wouldn't put the blame on yourself by saying that it's difficult trying to manage both of them, your child hitting another child really isn't your fault, if you had one child or 6 children to look after it still could've happened? Just discipline accordingly and move on? Xx

Sorry I just read back that you knew she was going through a hitting stage? I personally would've been watching my child at all times. Luckily for me there's only maybe been one or two incidents where my child has psychically hurt another.

Give yourself a break though, your most probably knackered and it's a lapse of judgement. Just keep a closer eye on your DD xx

Manic what does your son do if he's in a very calm place with very few stimuli? I'm wondering if he finds the books/puzzles/attention too much? Try white noise music, dim lights.,?

Usually he'll look for things to destroy? Climb? He might be distracted by lights for a moment but that's all... he's very inquisitive?

I took my son to my to my brothers SEN school and we went to the sensory room, he was still just as manic. I can't say there was much change to be honest.

He'll go from one thing to another, continuously, hes always looking for something to do...

I'm sorry but am stuck for ideas! He just sounds a total live wire! Must be exhausting. Does he ever get tired out - does he need lots of physical activity?

Have you tried cranial osteopathy..?