Where did I go so wrong?! Toddler hitting

[Xxx122]

Mums please tell me where I went wrong and how to correct!

I have always had amazing patience with my LG. She is 2 in feb. For the full picture, I also have a 12 week old little boy.

For the past month, maybe two months. My angel toddler has turned into a monster. She is hitting me, her brother and our dogs.

This definitely isn’t learnt behaviour from home. She is in a childcare setting but is good as gold there.

I am not a shouter and have never really shouted to discipline unless danger. However I am finding myself frequently shouting at her and loosing my patience. I always explain that it hurts and makes others sad. Offering redirection sometimes works and then encouraging to apologise.

She is really testing me, for example she just poured her milk out over the carpet.

I cant help but feel I have failed her, that she also might be acting out because she wants my full attention again.

I’m so disappointed in my parenting this week with her. I feel I am constantly on her case.

Dad works away for half of the month. Whilst he is away, MIL has baby every Wednesday so i get the day with her.

Any advice would be appreciated!

It’s likely she’ll be doing this to get attention after the arrival of your baby. Even negative attention is attention and toddlers are obsessed it.

My daughter was similar when her brother was born. Like you, I did start responding in a very stern manner (I would say “no!”) in a very cross way. She would keep doing it. In the end, I changed my approach and would pick DS up whenever DD hit him and calmly leave the room without comment. The first time I did it, she said “you didn’t say no!” so I knew she was awaiting that response to get attention. After repeating this several times she eventually stopped the hitting.

perhaps try a boring reaction to take the attention away from this behaviour? Also make sure she’s getting loads of positive attention where possible.

Absolutely nailed it- yes to all of this.

Agree with the first reply but also I want to add, don't forget how young she still really is. She's not even 2.

I only have one child, but a few of my friends had their second when their first was 2/3 years old (so older than your DD) The older ones are all 5 now and when we all look back at their 2nd newborn photos with "the big kids" in they all say the same - "omg he's still just a baby/I can't believe I thought she looked grown up here" or some variation.

Easy one. She hits - you pick her up and say ‘no hit’ put her down, ignore her and make a fuss of the person she hit.

You didn't. She's two. You have a good 36 months before she turns into a semi reasonable little human so crack open the good wine.

I love this, Thank you xx

Thank you, I will definitely try this! I forget sometimes that she is still a baby too!

All toddlers hit. It's how it's reacted to that let's it continue or not.