He was a horror of a baby, the worst 6 months of my life, but has been a real pleasure as a toddler. Compliant, chatty, affectionate, very few tantrums - lovely really.
Recently he's got really bad at listening to me or responding to requests, and I am often resorting to counting to 3 or shouting . We can't get much done because he'll do nothing for himself, he won't even get clothes out of the drawer in the morning any more (he used to like choosing his own). He's also taken to hitting or chasing our pets, which he knows is not allowed, and when this happens we explain that it's mean to hurt animals and he has toys removed (although he's not that bothered by this because he's not that attached to any of them). I think a lot of his behaviour is designed to get him to be the centre of attention.
He's recently started with a really excellent childminder who has no problems with him but rarely minds large numbers of kids so he gets a lot of undivided attention. I'm not very imaginative or energetic when it comes to play so I wonder if there's a link? I'm a bit worried because DC2 is due in 4 months and he won't be going to the CM any more
I love him dearly but it's really upsetting to see him being rotten when he was always so sweet.