3.5 year old DS constant whining is doing my head in!!

[JackJacksmummy]

Just the horrible whiny tone to his questions and whinging for every little thing. He's been sent to his room twice in the last half hour because the noise is getting on my nerves!!!

Anyone else have a "whinger"?

[Kath1975]

This thread has made me feel (guilty) but better. Also told my DD to shut up as she was whining non-stop...I just can't believe how flipping annoying it is, I just react like a flash. DD is nearly three and it is usually when she is tired, but then, invariably so am I. Saying "Shut-up!" doesn't actually work,by the way. DH coming to the rescue with a "come on, let's put the little einsteins on then"..usually does...so try that maybe!
Just thought, I distinctly recall being told to stop moaning as a kid so now i know what my poor mother had to cope with

[JackJacksmummy]

just wanted to say thanks for the advice, Asking him to talk properly and telling him i dont understand him when he is whinging is working and he'll repeat himself talking properly.

Yay!

[MNersanonymous]

I definitely think it's more effective to actually pretend you can't understand the whingey voiced requests rather than only asking them to use a normal voice btw.

[asteamedpoater]

FANTASTIC! I'm so pleased it's not just me - I've been feeling very mean at just how b*dy irritated my son makes me when he whines. I even lost patience with him today, even though I knew he was whining because he's not very well and was tired with a temperature, but after a while even that excuse just wasn't enough to stop me snapping and telling him that if he wanted a sympathetic mummy, he should talk normally or shut up. Now I expect I shall hear him telling his brother to "shut up" every five minutes - a new bad tempered expression to try out on everyone.

[hairycaterpillar]

My dd 3.3 has days when she whines and whinges non-stop it drives me mad. I find she is much worse if I react or if she's tired/hungry/bored.

[MNersanonymous]

Yep ds is a champion whinger. Some days are worse than others -e.g. if he is tired he reverts to whinge mode and everything is asked for in a whine voice.

I also go with the use your normal voice tactic. It takes a lot of patience and you have to check yourself.

I pretend I can't understand him if he whines so I say 'I don't understand you when you are whining, what is it you want - tell me in a normal voice' etc.

[littlemonstersmum]

oh my god- i have this exact problem with dd1 (3.5). i do recommend the 'say it in a normal voice' thing. i'm hoping i can just ride it out- but i do loose it with her and then feel awful about it!

[cory]

It's the age, it's the age. Does get better, honestly and is no clue to character later in life. Also, glue ear can make children very bad tempered.

[JackJacksmummy]

thanks, good to know i'm not alone.

I suppose it doesn't help that we are both frustrated by his glue ear - me having to repeat every single thing 2 or 3 times and him always having to say "pardon".

Anyway, he was sent to his bedroom again an hour or so ago for throwing his drink and ended up asleep in his bed when i went to check on him.

[scorpio1]

i do today. [arrggh]

[scattyspice]

I think this is quite typical of 3 and 4 yos. The best advice I had was to say 'speak in a normal voice' then answer the request / question (don't give in though). It takes a while but the whinging does eventually stop.