Toddler Taming By Dr Christopher Green - Anyone read it?

[SilveryMoon]

This book was leant to me. Has anyone read it? has it helped? What are your thoughts on it?
TIA

Oh, I like CG! The best quote I remember from him was that when mothers complained their dh's didn't hear the baby crying at night, that his own wife had found his hearing improved with a sharp kick!

He also advised that a garden rake was the best way to tidy a playroom which I found to be true.

I did the tying the door shut thing at the time out of desperation, but I didn't (and still don't) feel great about it.

CG's line
"the short fever fit does not harm the child, only his mothers nerves" has kept me sane over the years

DS has had over 20 fc long past the normal age of 6 and DD had 4, even managed 4 between them in two weeks.
It's this type of perspective I loved about Toddler Taming.

I liked it, almost uniquely for parenting books. It was laid back enough for me, and I liked that he admitted to his own mistakes rather than only singing his own praises. You felt like he has really been there, unlike some other parenting "gurus".

I didn't agree with it all, I didn't follow all the advice.

But I didn't find it patronising, and that was what I liked I think.

I liked it. Some bits I didn't agree with, so I ignored them. Mostly I dipped into it as problems cropped up. If I liked the suggested response, I adopted it. If not, I made up my own mind in what to do next.

I like it, tis only parenting book I owned rather than borrowed. I like its realism , and the way it reminds us of what is NORMAL behaviour for the age group and how most kids grow up eventually.
I think you may have taken it a bit personally. step back, change things a bit at a time, see what happens, your child may change their behaviour a bit at a time too.

It was funny enough to get DH to read it too.

Thanks UniS I think i will give it another go.

I've never read this but am slightly aghast at the sound of the tying the door shut thing. What is that all about? It sounds awful.

Horton, he's talking about when you have the child who will not stay in their bedroom at bedtime and basically involves tying the door handle to another door so it can be opened a short way but not fully. (He also says how to be careful with the length of the rope as one of his sons trapped the other one's head in the gap.)

I liked it - I borrowed it and have now returned it, but the bit that stuck in my memory was the bit at the start about the survey about traits of toddlers and how 100% of the parents reported their 2 year old was "very active".

My DH bought this book for me back in 1999. I insisted I didnt need any books to tell me how to look after a baby. It was the toddle she turned into I struggled with.

CG really helped mostly because he made me laugh and didnt take it all really seriously.

I loved his advice about Grandparents. I was having running battles with my mum with regards snacks and sweets etc. CG very bluntly put it that your parents brought YOU up and you are alive so it cant be all bad! Their house, their rules. Simples.

Give it another go. As with all parenting books read them through and then take away the points that are relevant to you.

Have you tried just ignoring the tantrum? Put him in his bedroom, shut the door and wait until he realises you mean business. Shouyld only take a few mins. IMVHE.

ronshar Tantrums at home are one thing. Tantrums in Tesco are something else intirely!

They most certainly are

Start small and then aim high.

All three of my children love a bit of drama. DDs 10 & 5 learnt fairly quickly that mummy wasnt playing the game.
DS 18 months is just getting to understand that when he drops like a sack of potatoes mummy walks away. He soon gets up and follows me around feeling sorry for himself!

Next time your child starts with the drama take a good look. One eye will always be on you, watching for your reaction!

Yes, he did it earlier. I yold him that if he climbed up onto the tv table again, he's have to go and sit in my room (that's where the naughty spot is......I don't send him to his room because I didn't want it to cause issues at bedtime and also thought that if he started to think that my room is where he goes when he is naughty, he might stop trying to get into bed with me at 3am!), anyway, he did it again and dp said he was watching me while he was doing it. Needless to say he was frog-marched straight to my bedroom

I have to say that I dont agree with the whole not using their bedrooms as time out spaces.

I have always used it as the ultimate deterrant and I have never had bed time issues.

I had a friend who used the bathroom as a time out space!!! I asked her if she removed everything from the room and drained the toilet each time? She couldnt understand the danger of leaving a small boy in there.

I don't think sending him to his room would definitely result in bedtime issues, I'm just not willing to risk it iyswim
There is nothing in there that can harm him, he is safe.
Plus I thought it might help with him crawling into bed with me.
If we are out and he is really acting up I tell him he'll go straight to bed when we get in, so he goes straight to bed.

Anyway, thank you for your support, but I should be getting myself to bed now. Ds2 had me up at 5am and he is teething, so better get my head down incase it turns into one of those nights.
Thanks again x

No problem, these children are sent to try us

DS is the same 5.30 mornings and lots of disturbed nights. rubbish.

Good night.

I borrowed the incredible years book from the library and read it on a long drive to cornwall for our first big holiday with dd, then age 3. It was the first parenting book I have veer managed to read from cover to cover AND ENJOY READING In parts it made me laugh and I truly irritated DH who was driving by wanting to read out excerpts.

It was brill reading for that trip as DD got up to all sorts of mischeif on that holiday and I kept sane by remembering bits of the books advice had no idea how well regarded carolyn webster stratton and the incredible years programme is until I returned to work (in SSd) and starting raving about it - when several colleagues ahemed and advised they were wbster stratton trained

would recommend as a very good read and very sympathetic to streesed out parents

Thanks dobby I will look in the library/book shops next time I'm in town

I loved Toddler Taming for all the humour.

Also The Incredible Years is a fabulous book and Caroline Webster Stratton is very well regarded.

Thanks JP I've written her name in my diary and am going to look out for her book next time I'm in town.

I ordered a copy of The Incredible Years today. I couldn't find it in the library and thought to hell with it, I'll just buy one.
Ds1 has been really good the past few days though, the aggression has calmed down now i am giving simple threats (no cbeebies for the rest of the day, fav toy taken away etc etc), so getting there! Yay!

I loved this book.

I liked the way CG would say stuff like 'what do you mean he wont do so and so? You are bigger than him!'

Useful when you begin to believe that a two year old is in total control of you and your OH.

It was funny and common sense too. I never felt it blamed parents but I may dig it out and have another look.

I thoroughly enjoyed it - and its sequel. Has he ever written one about teens, as we're just about to start that rollercoaster?

The other books I enjoyed were Libby Purves' "How not to be.... a perfect mother/family etc.." My sort of book - how to cut corners!

But with any of these books, it's just vital to remember to ditch any bits you don't fancy and borrow the ideas you like.

Yep good book, one of the best. I refer back to it often!