Trials of Terrible Twos! Suggestions on How to Handle Clothing Issues?

My son hasn't encountered this issue yet, but a few years ago I used to work in a pre-scool/day care. And if the parents complained about how their child would have clothing issues we always told them to bring them in their PJs. After that the children always coperated with their parents.
If your little one give you issues with getting dressed. Leave her in her PJs for all of the running that you need to do. Having her in her PJs for the day wont hurt anyone, and maybe the next time you dress her she wont give you so much greif.
Good Luck!

You could try laying out 2 or 3 outfits the night before...in the morning let her choose 1 of the outfits laid out for her. That might help eliminate the battle. To start you could even lay out 3 pants and 3 shirts that could "mix and match" so she can pick a shirt and a pair of pants/skirt whatever.

Good luck! My 20 month old is stubborn and I know it's only a matter of time before the clothing wars will begin!

HI,
I suggest picking your battles. My 2 1/2 year old girl likes to dress herself daily and has a major fit if I even try to help. Alot of the time she'd rather not have pants on which is fine as long as we aren't leaving the house. Normally I just let her go and after awhile she gets cold and put them on. If you're not going anywhere and the heat is on, what's the big deal if she's not dressed? When I need to leave and she won't get dressed, I tell her I'm leaving with out her and that's all it takes to get the clothes on. Somethings just aren't worth the fight! Good luck!

I would not isolate her in a room by herself as punishment. She might be acting out because this kind of treatment is downright terrifying for a small child. Don't do that. Put her in a time out, but don't close the door on her. That is just mean! About the clothing issue, remain calm at all times. I know this can be challenging, but if she is upset and then you get upset- she will only get more upset. Speak calmly and sweetly the whole time. Empathize with her and tell her that you know how much fun it is not to have pants on. You think it is fun too, but it is too cold outside not to have clothes on. Get her favorite toy and start playing with it (and have her clothes nearby). WHen she approaches to play, keep talking about how great taht toy is why slipping her into her clothes without her realizing it. Keep playing with it, laughing about it. Give her a surprise for letting you get her clothes on. What ever it takes, but do not put her in her room or she will always HATE getting dressed. Make it fun. Turn things around! Do a "getting dressed dance" or have a sticker reward or candy reward or anythign you can to bring this terrible experience into a positive one. The most important thing is to level with her. Let her know you know it is much more fun without clothes! Good luck. I know this is so hard!

Hi E.,

It's a good thing they're so cute at two, isn't it? Relax in the thought that this phase should be over by the time your baby is due in March. :)

I don't think it is mean to close her in her room when she is misbehaving because after all, whenever we lose control, we want the privacy of our own room to cry in. We are all allowed to express ourselves, just not violently or at the expense of others. Later on, you can send her to her room to regroup and change her attitude, which would be consistent with how you handle it now. The problem is, it's ineffective.

Try putting her clothing in her lowest drawers and telling her to come out for breakfast after she has dressed. Let her know she can ask for your help if she can't get something on herself, but then you can leave her room and let her do what she will. You then wait until she is dressed before you serve her breakfast. I wouldn't put a negative spin on it like, "Not dressed, no breakfast" because she's willful and will rise to a challenge by not eating breakfast. Just relay it as a courtesy to her that you will be more than happy to wait and serve her breakfast after she has chosen her clothes and dressed herself.

Do you think that might work, or have you tried that already?

Good Luck.

Just remember they are all phases... if you love it, video tape it. If you hate it, enjoy the knowledge that it is just a phase; it will be gone soon.

D.