Ok- you'd think that with Seth being baby number TWO I would have this toddler thing down to a science right? uh-- not so much. He is NOTHING like Jaedon. Jaedon being my compliant, easy going child. Seth- uh, well, let's just say his Christmas gift to me was that he learned how to throw COMPLETE temper tantrums!
So- for those of my blogger friends who have or have had strong willed children I need some advice.
First of all about how to deal with the "I-want-you-oh-no-I-don't-I'm-just-going-to-throw-myself-on-the-floor" tantrum. And, well, just any other tested and true tips on raising a strong willed toddler- I'd be grateful!
Secondly I need some tips on how to transition a not quite two year old to a BED. (that is what the current and happening right now tantrum is about).
6 comments:
On the bed thing, we did the "move them at night after they fall asleep in the crib" method. They wake up in the bed and it gets them used to it, and you avoid the power struggle of "stay in bed and go to sleep" while trying to get them used to sleeping in a new place. Once they're used to the bed, we played games with when they could get up and when they had to stay in bed (try sign hanging in the wall with a different design on each side). Play the equivalent of "red light green light" with the signs until he learns which one means stay in bed. Next transition at nap time (less stress than at night when everyone's tired :-P) and use the signs. This method was invented with Meg, and then used for both Teddy and Anna with success, so hopefully it is helpful for you :-) -Elizabeth
We still get some of those fall-on-the-floor tantrums from the girl who's been in a "real bed" for two years now. The kicker for us is when she throws herself on the floor and then asks us to help her up. GRRR!
All I can say, is that I am there with you... my second child is SO different from the first. I laugh when I think about the times I thought were difficult with Eli - they don't even compare with Ayla's!!! ;-)
I think the key is to be consistent, which is what you are doing! He seems to be at that stage when he wants to be independant like Jaedon but he can't quite articulate it yet. He is pushing for control! You just have to say that you will win the battle and keep being firm, patient, and strong. He is such a great kid, that I think after this little battle is over, he'll be back to his fun-loving self! (okay, until the next battle, but enjoy it while you can!:)) Easier said than done, I know! You guys are doing a great job with your boys and it so encouraging to see 2 parents raising their kids in a biblical, God-honoring home!
When we were trying to get Samuel in the big boy bed, we got rid of the crib completely. We had the toddler bed and pack 'n play set up in his room and every night I would put him in his toddler bed. If he started to throw a fit, I would give him the choice of sleeping in his pack 'n play. He wanted to be a big boy, so he would typically choose his big boy bed and would stop throwing the fit b/c he felt like he had some control (since he had made the choice). Sometimes he chose the pack 'n play and that was OK too. We did this for about 2 weeks and then got rid of the pack 'n play. It worked great for us.
We did the borrow-another-crib-from-a-friend/family member method :). Dylan turned two the day after Ella was born and he wanted nothing to do with a big boy bed, so we borrowed another crib for Ella in the meantime. We had both a crib and a bed set up in his room for a while and we would put him to bed in his big boy bed and he would actually climb into his crib and fall asleep because he liked it better :). Eventually (around 2 1/2) he made peace with the big boy bed. Good luck!
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