in February 2023 Babies 🇬🇧

Bad tantrums/crying hysterically

My little girl is 2 years 2 months and the past couple of weeks have been quite difficult when I want to brush her teeth, hair, put her in the bath or take her to her bed. She suddenly so unhappy if I try and do any of these things, she’s gone from sleeping in her own bed happily 7-7 to me having to take her downstairs again to calm her down or lie in my bed with her until she falls asleep. If I do manage to get her into bed either transferring her or finally going to sleep in her own bed she’ll wake up about 4am and want a milk, fall back to sleep in my bed with us. I know most toddlers don’t like their teeth brushed and face washed etc but it’s gone from quite a leap to not really wanting it done to really kicking and screaming and being upset :( I wondered if any other mums are going through anything similar with their little ones at this age, and any tips to help! She also doesn’t want to sit in her high chair or at the table for meal times, demanding to sit in the living room. I have given in a few times as I felt otherwise she wouldn’t eat the food.

Show your support

I posted similar thing last week as also going through same. One way I've managed to brush teeth and change nappy is to pretend brush and change one of his toys and then he lets me do him as well. Not figured out all of it yet and nights are bit harder so trying to meet him in middle where I can by letting him do little bit of what he wants but then it's mummy turn and back to routine which seems to have worked in dialling down tantrum.

I feel like this is so normal for this age honestly! They’re craving control over things in their life and there’s not much they can control so it shows up as defiance. It’s a good time to start to introduce choices if you haven’t already, my girl doesn’t really understand it yet but I’m getting into the habit and the dialogue calms the situation down anyway. It doesn’t mean ‘do you want to brush your teeth or not?’ It can mean ‘which flavour do you want? Mint or strawberry?’ Or ‘do you want to brush your teeth before or after mama does it?’ I end up having to decide for her most of the time because she doesn’t get it but I’m sure she’ll get it soon! At least this way they get a feeling of having some semblance of control over their lives and not like we’re doing all these things to them against their will😅

maybe try to involve her in running the bath and deciding which toys go in? Unless it’s a fear thing in which case I’d suggest going in with her, my daughter won’t go in without me but I can get out and she’ll stay in there by herself, but personally I find it easier to wash her and she prefers me to stay so I usually just stay in with her. For sleep we cosleep so I don’t have specific advice but I’m sure there’s some choices you could incorporate for bedtime! Nightlight on/off, star projector on/off, white noise on/off, choose pjs together, choose which sleeping bag to wear, or if you have a reversible pillow/duvet she could pick which side each night?

Thank you so much this is all really helpful and just nice to have the reassurance that it’s normal!

@Brianna It’s all easier said than done, so go easy on yourself! I don’t agree with calling it the ‘terrible twos’ but there’s certainly a reason it’s such a popular saying!😅 I know some people on here appear to have such calm and compliant little ones, but you’re definitely not alone! I love my girls fiery personality and I hope she never loses it, even if it means starting WW3 just to get her to eat a vegetable 😭🤣

Aww thank you. Totally agree! I want her to be a strong little lady but my god it can be difficult 😂 you’ve given me such good ideas with the choices of things for her, giving a little control etc. thank you!

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌