Hi all - looking for some advice/reassurance about my 3.5 yo. My LO has always been highly emotive and has always struggled to regulate his emotions. But he has always been the most caring and loving child and we’ve always had a very close relationship. However these past 2 weeks it’s like he’s a different child. He’s hitting, testing limits, saying he hates me, won’t listen etc etc. things that are likely to have contributed to this - I’m heavily pregnant, my mother in law has come to stay with us to help when baby comes and he’s recently moved rooms in nursery and increased his day there. I have always practiced a more gentle parenting approach which has always worked. He was always well behaved and listened etc. we never used to shout, discipline etc - we never really had to as our approach always worked. But I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I look into his defiant eyes and I don’t recognise him and my heart is breaking. I’ve recently shouted a few times which I hate and that just seems to drive a bigger wedge between us - but everything is a battle and challenge with him. As I write this I know so many of you will say his age, new baby coming, mother in law being here, nursery changes have all contributed. But I guess I want some reassurance that this is a phase that will pass? Also how do I deal with his behaviour? Feel like being more strict is needed even though he won’t listen and the divide us just gets greater. I worry when the baby comes that this will only get worse. Our family don’t live near so our support network is small so he really is the centre of our world which I don’t think helps either….any words of encouragement would be great!