2yrs, 4mnths: sudden, dramatic increase in tantrums and defiance.

[black_rose]

I also took her to a chiro and found she needed an adjustment from a fall down our stairs a few months earlier.

[lozzy_mac]

My son is exactly the same age, and I have found that he is so sensitive to small changes in our relationship.
I'm a little distracted and extra tired at the moment and his behaviour has taken a major backslide.
I've also heard of a fair few toddlers having delayed reactions to a new sibling.
and if he's getting molars on top of all that I think that makes for a pretty reasonable explanation!

I'm trying to build in as much connectedness and play as I can. He was whinging last night after a rough bathtime and it took all my strength but I pushed all my frustration to the side and said "hmm, it sounds like you need 20 kisses!!" and once he'd giggled through those he said "more kisses!" and it did make bedtime a little easier.

There are lots of suggestions for creative connection etc on Laura Markham's website. I think she is just fantastic.
All the best, its so tough and I imagine a whole lot tougher with a 10-week old!

[Santosha]

Thanks so much ladies. It does help to know that others are seeing similar behaviour. Though I guess my gut tells me it's something more as he's gone from his standard level of screamy-no-no (which is still pretty full on compared to anything DD ever did), to just being out of control miserable from dawn to dusk.

During a nice big open mouthed wail today I managed to get a good look in his mouth and yes, there's the top of one of his bottom molars poking through. Ouuuuch. So with a dose of panadol on board and lots of positive attention from me this arvo, he's been quite good. Still refused to get his shoes put on, contradicted about half of what I said and fell apart when not allowed to bring a large stick into the house... but that's just normal!

Mmmm 2 is fun