Advice please - DD suddenly hates her cousin!

[smallplainblonde]

Hoping someone can give me advice on how to deal with this. My niece is 7 and DD is almost 2. From the moment my DD was born they idolised each other. DN was so helpful with her, she was the person DD would really belly laugh for and they just had a lovely relationship.

Both families are just back from separate holidays so the girls have spent 2 weeks apart (very unusual as I do childcare for DB and SIL so they spend a lot of time together) and my DD is being horrible to her cousin.

She keeps hitting her, crying whenever DN tries to play with her, won’t share toys, takes whatever DN is playing with. I feel like she is constantly crying or whining when DN is around and it’s becoming difficult to have them together.

DN is also finding it really upsetting because she loves her cousin so much.

Has anyone had this and how did you deal with it?

She's got used to having you to herself and resents having her cousin back again?

When my DD was 2, she used to kick off, without fail, every single day when it was time to go and pick DS up from school.

Don't know how you deal with it though -other than to make sure your DD does have plenty of time with you without her cousin about.

She is 2 and 2 year olds like their own way by nature they are all mememe it will pass just don't let her away with it make a bit of a fuss of your neice when she hits out at her and move on.

It's a phase, she's asserting herself, they do call it the terrible twos for good reason.

I'd be worried if it was the other way around but your 2 year old is just being a normal 2 year old I'm afraid. Just let your niece know that it's not her and that your daughter is just going through a phase at the moment. Breeze it out with lots of encouragement for her to share and no hitting - be gentle please etc. They will soon be friends again.