Toddler behaviour after newborn's arrival...

[albanyd]

Hi,

My toddler is there next week and we've just had our second baby (arrived on Tuesday!). Toddler is very much in love with baby but his behaviour around the house is crazy- so excitable, physical, energetic. I've never seen him like this- is it a normal reaction?

Does anyone have any tips about how to manage toddlers at this stage of new family life??

Well if you found yourself upsurped by a new human who is getting lots of attention you would up the attention seeking wouldn't you at that age?

It's tricky getting the balance right, toddlers like to be involved with 'helping' with the new baby as long as it's not the most attention they get. They still need one on one time with mum.

Congratulations on your new arrival.

DD was 2 when DS was born and she acted out for about 2 weeks - out of character hitting, 'naughty' behaviour etc. Then things settled down and things got back to normal. All to be expected but I think we were lucky in that it didn't last long.

Probably feeding off the energy and excitement in the house. Congrats on the new baby.

Tips
Never say you cant do something because of the baby. Its not I cant play with you bacause Im feeding the baby, its I cant play with you because Im tired and need to sit down for a bit. Not we cant go to the playground because the baby is napping, but we cant go out as I have to clean up the kitchen etc
Get the toddler to think that the baby loves him the best. Look toddler, look how baby likes to look at you, he likes to watch you all the time. Show him how big and strong you are etc
Tell toddler the baby likes his toes tickled the best, that way if toddler wants to pat the baby he will go for the toes and not the head. Practice gently tickling and tell toddler to watch how baby smiles and looks at him when he tickles gently
Toddlers are great at handing you wipes for nappy changes and picking up dropped toys... look baby wants you to get the toy for him

My son was 3.5 when his sibling was born and went a bit 'hyper' for a couple of months. He's not so bad now unless the baby is getting lots of attention from relatives so it's all an attention seeking thing!

My DS was actually ok when DD was born (he was 2.3), but we had lots of visitors and a lot of attention was on him too.

I think he’s been the worst recently as she’s now 7 months and on the move and into everything and he’s obviously realized she isn’t going away now. Plus she tries to take his toys. He seems to have calmed down a bit, but we had a couple of awful weeks - or it could just be him being nearly 3 and nothing to do with the baby!