3 Year Old Gone Crazy

He knows that their will be a new baby in the house and he is afraid that he will lose his mommy. If you haven't already you need to invalve him. Tell him that he will be the big brother and will need to help you. Tell him the baby is his and let him make some decisions about the baby. My son was three when I got pregnant. I included him in everything. He helped pick out colors and toys and clothes. He loved to go to the doctor with me. I told him that it was his baby and he would have to help me take care of him. The day that the baby was born I let him hold the baby all by himself. They will try to be the baby again for a little while but when they learn that you will love them just as much after the baby they will be the big boy again.

Even though he's 3 yrs. old he knows there something different about you. He feels it. And he's going to react in his own way. He needs to know that you are there for him but at the same time know that he's going to be a big brother. He needs your love and support every day. He needs that cuddling time right now and after the baby is here. He needs to know he's not losing you. Disapline and support he needs from you right now or it's only going to get worse. We'll pray! Good luck. P.

Hi B.,

I only have one child a boy who is 11. I have to say he has always been a wonderful child however when he was 3 he was a little doctor Jeckle and Mr. Hyde, he was just terrible and I could not for life of me figure it out. I seriously think it has alot to do with the age as well as your other factors. I also run my own childcare and preschool out of my home and have worked with young children for over 17 years and in my opinion 3 year olds are way worse than 2 year olds. It's hard but just try to cut yourself some slack and hang in there.

S.

HI B., Most children can sense something when your expecting, even if they can't express themselves. Sometimes they feel you won't have time for them and they decide to act out and get your attention that way. At 3 children are possesive with things as well as people. Its hard for them to share, whether it be a toy or their mommy. Reassuring him that you love him, and maybe doing something with just the 2 of you may help. Hopefully he will calm down after he realizes you will love him no matter how many children you have.

Hey B., my son is now 7 and he didn't go through the terrible 2's untill he was 3, I thought it missed us, I guess he was a late bloomer, I think your son's picking up on changes and that definitly effects little one's even unspoken changes, but this is all age appropriate, they always keep you on your toes, just when you have figured it out, they go through a new stage then you scrambling for what to do next! :)

I am also a home daycare Mom and above all a mother of an almost 5 year old girl and an almost 3 year old boy. I have been down this path. I am sure he is sensing the pregnancy and perhaps remembers the lost pregnancy and the fact you were unable to hold him for so long. It is also very hard to share yourself with other children in the day care. Your children naturally do not want to share their mommy. On top of all this he is a 3 year old boy and they are high energy and know how to throw fits. My best advise is show extra patience and a lots of love. Try and make him feel that he will always be your special boy. Give him one on one time after the daycare is closed or before it opens. But never give in to the tandrums. If you give in once then they know they can get what the want again and again by repeating the bad behaviour.
Good luck!

Hi! wow, classic jealousy syndrome. He is going to need lots more mommy time now than before. Try to go back in your mind to when he was a baby, and treat him as lovingly as you did then. Give him extra hugs and extra compliments and when he can sit still on your lap long enough put his hand to your tummy and tell him you are going to make him a buddy! That it's a wonderful thing for "mommy and son" to SHARE, TOGETHER. You are busy but he needs your undivided right now, don't overdue it, he still needs your guidance like any youngster, but a little extra love goes a long way. My name is C. I am a single mom and I live in Rock Falls. My e-mail is ____@____.com if you can help me with some daycare this fall. Thankyou and God Bless!

We experienced a similar situation with our 2-1/2 year old this year. We just had our second child the first week of August. Prior to my pregnancy, our daughter was loving, kind, obeyed pretty much all the time, and had all kinds of energy. After I began showing and we began to talk about the baby and remodeling/moving around furniture to make room for the baby, she began getting whiny and opted to do the opposite of what we requested of her. At her in-home daycare, the sitter said she was getting pretty moody and at times wanted to be left alone, but then there were times she just wanted to be held. My husband and I thought that maybe we were putting too much on her by talking about the baby that was coming, etc. so we began watching how much we talked about him. We started focusing more on her again and how she could help when the baby got here (i.e., helping with diapers, holding him, playing with him). We even took her shopping to buy the baby a gift, which she loved. I made sure that every night, I had an activity with her that didn't include talking about the baby.
Once her brother arrived, she was great about it all. She brought him her gift, and he also had a gift waiting for her at the hospital. Anytime he cries she rushes to him and holds his hand or gives him a kiss. We're still juggling having time with her without the baby around...while he's sleeping, but since we began talking with her more about how she can help with the baby rather than there's a baby coming and no mention of what her role will be, that seemed to let her know that she wasn't going to be replaced...we needed her to help us with him. She still gets sensitive...I think more when we're a little more preoccupied with the baby, but that just causes us to focus back on her again.

Hope that helps a little bit.

S.

Hi B.,

I gave birth to my second daughter in April and my three year old daughter was the same way as your son. Hang in there it does get better. Granted, it doesn't go away right away as we are still having our moments but it is getting easier. Everyone I have talked to says they went through the same thing. All I can say is I can't wait until my daughter turns 4, hopefully it will stop. Again, hang in there!!! Feel free to email if you need to vent. ____@____.com.

-L.