Is this normal toddler behaviour

[tiredmummy198]

Really struggling with my 27 month old DS

Everything is a battle, trying to change their nappy; get them dressed etc they run away. Doesn't listen if I say stop doing something, refuses to say sorry if they hit you etc.

I look at other kids and they are so calm and well behaved.

Any tips for dealing with this?

Bump

It's normal but draining I know. The only advice is try not to make things a battle. Give choice where there's a realistic choice otherwise don't engage with battle but tell them what you're doing, give consistent chance to do it themselves then do it for them. It does get better and chances are your toddler is entirely normal if that's any consolation xx

Please have my assurance that it does get better. My son has a very fiery personality and the phase of his toddlerhood this kind of behaviour went on for felt ages. He was very hard work between 18ms up to about 3 and then things started calming down a little. I thought everything would always be a battle so I feel you

Benefit of hindsight is always a wonderful thing of course but I do wish that I hadn't labelled behaviour so much as I think I used to read into things and panic

As other poster said it is draining. On a practical level to make your life easier I'd also agree that sometimes choosing battles is only way. I think the hard line are things where they hurt you or someone else or are doing something dangerous. For your mental health letting go of other things can be liberating. I remember how much of my day was spent nagging and moaning over things that I now realize just didn't matter. I also think when they're in that phase it's really really hard to remember that they just don't have the impulse control. It seems at times they are being manipulative but I've read enough to know that's just not possible at their age/stage of development. So sometimes a quick walk away a few breaths and a reminder of this helped me

I also realized (don't know if this is issue for you) sometimes giving too much choice was creating overwhelm and overexcitement for him which would then translate into tantrums. Id suggest simplifying by giving just 2 very simple options in any area you can give choice.

The sorry thing will come in time. It used to really frustrate me too but now my son will say it of.his own Accord after thinking for a few mins and if feels much more meaningful than when I've nagged him to say it because I was cross. The best thing in mean time is just to role model this well and sometimes talking aloud about how he hurt your arm etc and poor mummy etc eventually sinks in!