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Naughty toddler? Help!

4 replies

LegoMa · 08/01/2018 09:45

My DS is 2 in a few weeks and I think he overall he is a bright, funny and loving little boy. His speech is coming on brilliantly and he is talking in short sentences. He’s a good sleeper at night time, goes down fine and sleeps through.
However, he has a real naughty streak and I’m struggling to best know how to deal with him at the mo. Obviously I know most 2 year olds are the same, but sometimes I wonder if they’re as bad as my DS?

Basically he’s SO hyperactive constantly, if he’s in my bedroom he’s getting everything out of my drawers, taking lids off bottles of cream etc, squirting my perfume. Then he will move on to my jewellery box and empty it all out onto the floor- it’s impossible for me to get ready unless DP or someone else is watching him or he’s napping. He’s very very strong willed and throws massive tantrums on the floor, sometimes headbutting it if he doesn’t get his own way. I feel like he’s quite a tightly wound child atm.

He also climbs on absolutely everything. When you tell him not to do something, it just encourages him to do it more. He will climb onto the tv stand and hit the tv repeatedly, you tell him off and remove him and it literally makes no difference, he’s back doing it again. He pushes his cars up and down the wall and then looks at us to see how we’re reacting- he’s bright and it’s like he does these things because he knows how to get a reaction and attention is what he wants.

When changing his nappy or getting him dressed it’s such a battle, arches his back, throws a massive tantrum. He will kick me in the stomach and hit me in the face also. When I tell him off he laughs! He finds it funny when I lose my temper with him (which I try not to do but it’s hard). Yesterday I regretfully burst into tears as I’m at my wits end with him. Tbh he did actually stop misbehaving and gave me a hug and said “Mummy’s sad. love you Mummy” so it’s good to know that he has developed the ability to feel remorse and know that it’s wrong.

Any advice/ experience with this sort of behaviour would be really appreciated. I know I need to set boundaries and nip a lot of this in the bud now, I’m trying but my methods don’t seem to be working!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
mrsnec · 08/01/2018 09:59

Hi there, my ds is 2 next month and is exactly the same. We have bolts on the outside of all the doors of the house and thread pieces of plastic through the drawer handles so he can't get in.

The kitchen cupboards have child locks on but he can still get in those.

I feel like I'm wrestling with him every time I change him and I too have found myself in tears over it when I've been kicked in the face.

I don't really have the answers. I just wanted to tell you you're not on your own. I have a dd who is 3 and they are playing nicely together sometimes these days which is great but I just try to keep ds occupied, take all the help I can get and I do stick him in front of the TV sometimes if he gets too much.

LegoMa · 08/01/2018 10:53

Thanks! We have bolts on our doors too! And a gate in between our living room and open plan kitchen!
I know what you mean with the wrestling I feel the same, everything is such a battle, having to chase him and catch him then pin him down just to put his shoes or coat on whilst he squirms and wriggles and screams! He’s the same getting into his car seat aswell.

It’s good to know I’m not alone thanks, was your DD the same at that age? I always feel like girls are so much calmer!

OP posts:
mrsnec · 08/01/2018 12:03

I think I remember dd being a little bit naughty but nowhere near as bad and definitely not the same with nappy changes.

She still had her moments but dh and I agree ds is ten times worse. Since I replied to you he's emptied a drawer in the sideboard, a vase of flowers and dh's trophy cabinet! He also climbed out of his cot when I put him down for a nap.

Last week my everso judgemental mil offered to have him for a day and handed him back after a couple of hours with a face like thunder as she couldn't cope with him!

He's a menace but he's also the most beautiful and funniest little boy I've ever known. I just keep thinking it will get better and its not my fault. I am not doing anything wrong.

I hope things get better for you.

lizzlebizzle33 · 09/01/2018 09:46

My boy is 22 months and just the same, to the point where I don't let him in our room or the kitchen, he is just into everything.
The only way I can change him without a fuss is on the floor with the telly on, rod for my own back there I know but it's better than being kicked in the face 😩

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