Horrible day with toddler

[Atthesideofthelake]

I’ve had a horrible day today. Suffering badly from pregnancy insomnia which has plagued me since the start of the pregnancy (now 20 weeks) - go to sleep fine but wake up at around 2 and can’t go back to sleep.

Toddler woke at 530, I tried to lie quietly with him but he clearly wasn’t going back to sleep (he never does in bed with me) so put CBeebies on for him. I must have fallen asleep somewhere between teletubbies and Chuggingtons as DS went through to DH to wake him. But then he had to leave for work. Since then it’s just been whinge, whinge, whinge, tantrum after tantrum. He isn’t normally this bad so I think something may be wrong - teeth or something?

Just depresses me. I’ve just put him to bed but feels really low, like I’ll just have to do it all again tomorrow.

You have my sympathy OP, toddler tantrums and pregnancy tiredness isn’t a fun combination.

I know it’s hard when you’re tired and you’ve had a hard day, but tomorrow is a new day. Try to get an early night or do something relaxing just for you. You’re doing an amazing job.

I would definitely try a dose of calpol in this situation. Hugs.

I had an awful toddler day on Wednesday, every decision I made went wrong Inc dogsitting a friend's daschund for an hour that barked furiously and terrified said toddler to mistiming his nap, leading to grumpy tired clingy whining and feeling like the worst grandma in the world. I cried when he was picked up and barely slept wed night worried he would want to come back on Thursday. On Thursday he ran into my arms and smiled, cuddled and chuckled his way through til 5 o clock and its one of the nicest days I've had in six years of grandma childcare.

Ah, second pregnancy with a toddler is really tough. Will you get some respite tomorrow from DH? You need to sleep.

Thank you. The morning wasn’t too bad (apart from starting too early!) but then he just whinged incessantly after his nap and after nearly an hour I did snap at him as I was just sick of it. I know tantrums (and whingeing especially when tired!) are normal but so relentless!

Thanks for your kindness. I’ve given him some calpol before bed - he wouldn’t eat tea so I do think something is amiss.

He goes swimming with DH tomorrow morning @NoSquirrels but it’s not long enough! might invent a load of errands for them both …

He's probably coming down with something. Earache or a sore throat.

I had a day like this yesterday with my 3 year old and 5 month old. My husband got in and I was in tears. Today has been a brand new day. Hope tomorrows better.

Your toddler probably wasn't much harder today than any other day, you just had nothing to give. I don't know if that's any good to you but it does help me a bit to realise I'm done in rather than my child giving me a particularly hard time if you know what I mean. Sort of forces me to muster a little more patience than if I just feel he is out to get me! Insomnia is awful, it just makes everything soooo hard. Google "cognitive shuffle" for insomnia, it works for me sometimes.

I hope he’s as perky as possible for swimming and then falls asleep for a long nap in the car (whilst your DH sits in a McDonald’s car park or similar) and then they both do the supermarket shop together before returning not before 4pm earliest. Fingers crossed!

Definitely let your DH have a full daddy day while you rest at home tomorrow!

I find sometimes you get stuck in a cycle of them tantrumming and you feeling stressed. If I recognise it I sometimes make us all jump up and down to reset ourselves and try and start again.

I know mine get a bit crotchety if they’ve had too much TV. Not sure how much he would have had and no judgement here, I’ve been there at 6am and pregnancy is hard. I’ve fallen asleep and DS has had a crazy amount in this situation. You can set your phone/iPad to time out though if you would like.

He never watches tv on phone or iPad. He ‘watched’ maybe half an hour this morning before wandering off. Then he was watching some Thomas the tank engine for a bit while I showered and dressed (tv in our bedroom.) then just moon and me in the evening so not amazing but he definitely hasn’t been watching the tv all day or anything.

Agree with this, they sort of get suck into our mood and it all goes downhill. Or you don't handle the first incident/tantrum/toddler drama well and it spirals.

There's just no escape on days like that though is there, that's the hardest part!

I could've written this! 20+1 weeks pregnant, 21 month old toddler. Really struggling with pregnancy insomnia, fell asleep early hours of this morning and DD got up at 3am just screaming for hours and has been having tantrums over absolutely everything ALL DAY. No idea what's up with her but it's relentless. I have cried several times today.

I have a 2 week old DD and a 2y4m DS. Pregnancy was HARD. All you have to do is get through it w

^^with you all alive. Dont feel bad about screens. Try to get fresh air every day. Lean on your husband.