Any Suggestions for Terrible Two's

I've been mostly lucky with my 2 year old girl (+ several months), but she has had her moments. Most of my learning has been from my nearly 2 nephew(23 months), who currently lives with me and terrorizes his mother. I see how I handle my child, and how my sister-in-law handles hers - and the parenting makes all the difference!

Right now your son is learning how far he can push you, and whether or not you can be manipulated - he's not too young for that. Your best bet is, NO MATTER WHAT, 100% consistency. Don't EVER make empty threats or not follow through on something that you say you will/won't do. Let him test his limits, but pick a point to stop the behavior and stick to it.

I completely think time-out works wonders... and we tried the crib too. But then my daughter started freaking out at bed/nap time and thought she was being punished. The last thing you need now (or I needed then) was more trouble at bedtime on top of all day long! Try another area - I have a baby gate that gets set up at the end of the hall, about 2.5 x 2.5 feet.

Good luck - your little boy is testing the waters around him, and it's normal. But you have to retain control, because there is a chance if this isn't curbed now, it could get worse and worse, especially once he goes to school.

i have 2 sons too but they are 11yr and 7 months so my terrible 2 days have long gone on the older boy and have yet to come for the little one so i can't help you in that persective but i do know when he pushes your butttons he knows he is doing it and that he knows he can get a rise out of you becuase you respond to his "outburst button pushing whatever you call it" the crib may not be a good idea for a times out but instead maybe find a corner where it will be his time out corner where he cannot get withing reach of anything he may be able to play with and put some type of sign up like an arrow putting down to spot saying his name or naughty corner and put him there when you have for warned him one to many times and walk away and dod not respond to him and if he runs away from spot keep putting him back there and they say to do it for 2 minutes 1 minute for each year of their age. if he walks or runs away put him abck there and keep doing it til he gewts it and start time all over again and be firm with him. persistance pays off. well i hope this works and if not you can always get the book nanny 911. good luck.

the 2's DONT go away jasmine is goin to be 4 this june and she noes ALL the buttons to push and when she does sumthin gets taken away and she has to sit there.... and when she was 2 i would have to sit there and HOLD her until she would stop.. never thro her in bed bc that was her FUN area but i would hold her until she was ready to say SORRY or stop doin what ever i didnt want her to do... hope that helped a LITTLE bit .. Good Luck..

J. Marie

I am 25 and have been a stayathome mom for 2 yrs. now. My son just turned two Feb. 10th. He is just like your son in a way, but doesn't hit (thank god) cause my nephew whose 3 mo. older does. For the last 4 mo. I have done timeouts for Anthony in his packnplay set up in my bedroom. It is specifically for timeouts. I don't do the crib because I don't want him to think when I put him for naptime and bed that it is punishment. After he learned the word timeout and knew what it meant it has def. helped me. I threaten him alot w/timeouts and he will instantly stop what he is doing or not do it at all. I guess I am lucky to have a active destructive one for my first because as I am told the next will seem so much easier. My son also has asthma. He takes Flovent and Singulair. He got diagnosed after 3 episodes w/the prednisone the doctor told me at 18 mo. he def. has asthma. Well, I am not sure if this will help. Good Luck!!

wow, sounds like my house. my 2 and 1 year old are like that all day. I wish i had an answer. just wanted to share that your not alone. God Bless.

cj