2.5 year old asking to be alone to cry? And potty training regression? Similar experiences!?

[Napqueen1234]

My DD 2.5 has been quite difficult recently- stubborn, uncooperative and more grumpy. Understandable as we have a newborn so massive adjustment period. I have been as accommodating and gentle as possible with bad behaviour using distraction or joking to diffuse or whatever although must admit with tiredness I have a few times lost patience for example forcing a coat on her when needed or pulling her along by her hand when she refused to leave the park in the pouring rain.

Recently she’s wanted to lie on the floor and cry and cry and when I try to help or talk to her she says she wants to cry alone. I always allow her to cry and then offer cuddles or a story etc. Today we did all that and she was in a good mood again but then said please can you go away I want to lie on the floor and cry. So I did as she asked and she was immediately hysterically crying again. I thought perhaps she has emotion to release so have left her alone for 5 but is this normal?!

Also she wanted to potty train when newborn was 10 days old- did really well for first 3 weeks id say 90% poo and wee on potty or toilet but the last two weeks has massively regressed and having lots of accidents. Should I just power through?

Thanks!

Bump

I don’t think it’s normal but it’s not necessarily bad. I’ve a dd of the same age and she wouldn’t do this. But my ds7 has taken ages to learn to self regulate without an adult. It’s good to be able to know when they want to be alone and calm themselves down in their own way without hitting others. To me she sounds emotionally mature so I’d leave her be, just stay near for hugs. You’ll be glad of this as she gets older.

Both of mine regressed with potty training after big life changes, and after speaking to some friends their children did the same, so I think that’s normal.
Power through or put her back in nappies a try again in a few weeks/months old when you feel ready.

You have a newborn and a 2.5yr old, make life as simple as you can for yourself.

Personally, I’d need at least 95% success to keep going because I have enough washing as it is.

@Isawthathaggis tell me about it I did about 4 loads of laundry today! It’s killing me! Thanks @teapotter I thought it seemed very mature but strange for a toddler- I did offer to stay next to her and just let her cry but she really wanted me downstairs. Poor little thing.

In terms of the wanting to cry alone, my 3.5 year old DS is a bit like this and has been for at least a year. Sometimes when he is sad he seeks a cuddle straightaway and other times he shouts he wants us to go away or calmly asks us to go to the other room. I was surprised at first because he is generally very cuddly and it seemed more like the behaviour of an older child but he really seems to find it helpful to be left alone at these times. I tell him that I am there for a cuddle when he is ready and he will usually seek me out in a sad/calm way a little while later or even bounce around wanting to play. It sounds like your DD has found a way to release some of her more overwhelming emotions and express what she needs. I think it is within the range of normal and also may well be that she has a healthy instinct for what she needs when she feels sad.