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Improving attachment with my 2yo

10 replies

babbscrabbs · 12/10/2018 01:41

I don't feel I have a very good attachment with my 2yo DC and want to fix it before he gets any older. I'd love some tips or advice on what I need to focus on.

I've been guilty of being "absent" and ignoring my son's needs due to a mix of mental health issues, a demanding older sibling, exhaustion and distraction/stress from work. It started in pregnancy when I was mentally unwell and didn't form a good connection with him.

I'm trying to break this cycle but it feels like he doesn't want to know and ignores me. I'm also at work long hours 3 or 4 days per week so not getting the time I'd like to invest.

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SnowdropFox · 12/10/2018 02:23

I don't have any experience of this op but it might help if you let us know what you currently do with you lo and others will hopefully be able to suggest where to build on Smile

babbscrabbs · 12/10/2018 02:43

Not much tbh. He plays by himself while I try to get on with a few bits in the house. When it's just me and him we have about five or six hours a week. Typically we have met up with friends for a few hours but then I just ended up chatting to the mum for a lot of it so have stopped doing this as much to have more one on one time, occasionally go to the park, an activity group or for a walk. Sometimes we go to the shop or to a cafe. I struggle to engage with him (he's a bad sleeper so I'm pretty much permanently exhausted) and often just drift off or start thinking about my to do list of a million things. I feel like I don't really know what he likes. His childminder is brilliant and really plays with him but I struggle to maintain it for more than a few minutes.

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Cantchooseaname · 12/10/2018 02:54

Something like swimming? It’s a natural environment to interact, and a snack/ coffee to zone out after is perfectly reasonable.
Maybe a box of simple craft stuff- sticker book, magic painting, cake mix packet. Choose a time of day/ week- is Friday am after breakfast, get our box and choose one thing to do together. Set yourself an alarm on phone and try to give it your sole attention for those 10/15 mins.
We are all busy, distracted- that’s normal.
If you feel you want to imporove it, start with where you are, add a little bit each week.

Be kind to yourself- you sound very reflective, and that is a great start. It’s fine to be busy and not have desire left to pretend play fairies/ doggies/ endlessly. Give yourself some time to do things you need too- or get him involved in them. My 2 yr old loves loading washing machine.

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IRBJan17 · 12/10/2018 03:04

Could you get him involved with the housework with you so youre killing 2 birds with one stone? My almost 2yo has a mini cleaning trolley and loves to do things like sweeping the kitchen and dusting with me. Reading too, although majoritively its me sat with a book on my knee whilst he turns the pages at lightning speed haha.

tbh i agree its difficult to maintain playing things like cars for more than a few minutes sometimes, but thats not always a bad thing. Maybe try a few minutes then have 10 minutes doing something else, then have another few minutes. if you do too much at once youll both end up overwhelmed and it wont make a difference. but chances are, he knows who his mummy is and would come get you if he wanted u to play something with him that much.

be kind to yourself too, you cant maintain a bond with him if youre constantly beating yourself up over it x

Madmarchpear · 12/10/2018 03:19

I can't remember where I read it but co-sleeping was recommended to improve a parent child bond, even if an independent sleep routine had already been established. I'm sure it will get easier when he starts to talk and can waffle to you.

babbscrabbs · 12/10/2018 03:28

Hi, thanks for your tips and kind comments.

For some reason I get quite anxious about swimming. We do go but I've only ever been with DH there. I need to try to get over it as I think he would love it.

He already talks very well so can communicate and we do chat but it feels quite tokenistic from my side.

He does sometimes help with the washing and tidying toys etc. It could be good to do more of this.

I think the key realisation is that I'm often rushing around or distracted and need to get into a routine where I put him first so a box of activities could work there. I work part time so I can have one on one time with him but end up just whiling it away and then feeling guilty. Part of my problem is that I struggle to switch off from work so my phone is often pinging. I need to have better boundaries.

OP posts:
stellabird · 12/10/2018 03:36

Reading is always a good thing for bonding. Get some age-appropriate books and make time for reading before bed. Half an hour would be ideal ! The books don't have to be typical story books - anything that interests him would be great. My son's favorite book at that age was one about how your body works !

And put the phone away - turn off notifications .

babbscrabbs · 12/10/2018 03:43

I love that idea Stella but it's virtually impossible to do with both children there. They fight over which books they want read and who gets to sit on my lap. The younger one shouts over me while I'm reading if they don't like the book.

I will read to him more during the day though.

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Rosesared · 12/10/2018 20:40

Skin-on-skin. How about sharing bathtime? DH has 2 boys from a previous relationship (now 16yr and 14yr old) but I remember when I first moved in, they were 4 n 6 and them 3 shared bathtime on a Sunday morning. It was the highlite of their weekends together before going back to mum's. 3years old is (imo) certainly not too old for skin-to-skin.

YouAreMyRain · 12/10/2018 20:52

The main things are lots of eye contact, smiling and physical contact. He needs to experience himself as loveable - so basically needs to see that you are finding joy in his company.

Theraplay activities are designed to reinforce this bond (check out theraplay.org)

Some information from the theraplay website;

"The Theraplay Institute
Wilmette, Illinois
Lullaby: Parent cradles child in arms in such a way that eye contact is fully maintained. Parent sings lullaby to child, inserting, wherever possible, child's name and descriptions of his or her features. Example: "Twinkle, twinkle little star, what a lovely boy you are. Nice brown hair and soft, soft cheeks. Big brown eyes from which you peek. Twinkle, twinkle little star. What a lovely boy you are."
Peek-a-boo with hands, feet, towel, blanket, hood of coat, behind pillow or door.
This little piggy went to market.
What will happen when I push this button: Parent gently presses nose, ear, toe and "beeps," "honks," etc.
"Pop" cheeks: Parent fills own cheeks with air and guides child's hands to push gently on parent's cheeks with fingers to pop out the air, encourage child to fill up cheeks and parent pops. Toes can also be used to pop cheeks.
Patty-cake: can be played with feet too!
Any song or rhyme paired with movement, such as dancing, bouncing, rocking, moving limbs, finger plays. Personalized wording, as in Twinkle above, is preferred. Examples: Rock a bye baby, Patty cake, Itsy bitsy spider, Ride a horsie, The wheels on the bus, Rub a dub dub, I'm gonna get you.
Various experiences with touch and textures: Lotioning, making hand or foot prints in powder, pressing hands or feet into play dough or shaving cream, baby oil for back rub with the child facing you. Be aware of possible sensitivities to odors.
Activities promoting eye contact: parent puts sticker on own nose and helps child pull it off: parent puts cotton ball on nose with a dab of lotion, child blows it off. Blow bubbles in front of child and help him pop with fingers or toes.
Lotion pass: parent puts lotion on nose, passes to child's cheek, helps child pass it back to parent's forehead, rubs lotion on child.
Comb hair with child facing you, commenting on special color, texture, etc.
Tower of hands: Put lotion on parent's and child's hands and make a hand stack, alternating slippery hands. Move from bottom to top and top to bottom.
Pushing over: Parent and child are face to face with child lying on back cradled between parent's legs; parent and child put hands together or child puts feet on parent's shoulders; child pushes parent over (gently) while parent comments on strength. Note: pushes can also be with fingertips, noses, elbows, etc.
Blowing over: blowing mightily, parent "blows over child" encourage child to do same"

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