I have a 2.5 and 8 month, my two year old is continually throwing tantrums if anyone except me tries to do anything to help him. He wont let his dad get him a drink, food, bath... anything. Its not just my husband, its to everyone! If someone picks him up and brings him to me(when upset), he will run back screaming and will stay there screaming until I come. On the days that I just can't possibly go on my husband will take over and my son looses it. It sounds like my husband is bashing him from his screams "i want my mum!" "Help mum" which of course he's not. Tonight he got so worked up that he peed all over the floor and appeared so traumatised. He tells dad to go back to work and to go away, even at story time. Its been going on for the past 3 months and i just dont know what to do! I've tried spending more one on one time with him but that doesn't seem to help. I'm looking into one day a week care just to get some distance but I'm worried about the outcome. Has anyone had a child like this? Or has any suggestions on what i can do? I am currently changing his diet to gluten free as i think this could be contributing to his behaviour.
3 Replies
I'd also book in with a peadiatrician, get everything ruled out
You would just need to see a nurse or a specialised person to get involved with some remedies. My son did do this for a while but I ended up just letting him throw his tantrum. And Mummy sometimes couldn't get his bottle or food or whatever and only Daddy could. He would throw his tantrum, almost 20mins-40mins sometimes. But I wouldn't give in. As hard as it was. Eventually the tantrums would decrease to 10min tantrums too. So that was a relief. Because he realised it wasn't working anymore. Plus he realised Dad was the only person around that would give him what he wanted.
This and versions of are pretty common in little kids and sometimes stem from changes in families. Obviously, little brother or sister would be getting a fair bit of attention from you right now, it is possible that Master 2.5 is pushing for his own attention. Is it so bad to make him feel special too? I suspect he is telling you what he needs, albeit in a not so positive way (which is typical for little kids who don't know how to explain their big emotions). Why not try actually showing him some positive attention instead of fighting against him or sending him away; get Daddy to take care of the baby a few times while you bath him, do story time and put him to bed. Leave baby at home with Daddy or nan or granddad for a couple of hours and take him to the library, or to do something he likes.
Some kids are more intense than others which doesn't mean that anything is necessarily wrong, it's just the way they express themselves.