Changing your parenting style...

[Arimeh]

Rach - you thread stealer you

If I can help someone else with my problems then I'll keep posting my whinges.. lol

[paradise lost]

My DD also sometimes cracks it when she's been sleeping too long. Her dad is the same way, he doesn't live with us so maybe it's genetic

I ignore her crying, but i don't ignore HER if that makes sense. I offer all the usual things i ALWAYS offer when she wakes up (drink/snack/books/toys) and if she is screaming and chucking stuff then i just pop in and out with whatever i was doing anyway so i am around but not feeding into her distress (i too find that the tantrums spin out a LOT longer if i sit and sympathise). She tends to get over it quite quickly if i am present but not too concerned about the screeching. She tries to hit if i try to hug when she's upset and rather than make her submit to obviously unwanted hugs and THEN get a telling off for hitting i just don't try until she comes to me for hugs (she knows i never refuse a request for huggles), then she gets giant hugs and kisses.

She also loves to mess in the fridge and the bathroom, so i keep both locked. I am not wasting my time or energy saying again and again that she can't go in there.

I'm not sure about developmentally because i don't read parenting manuals, but DD when she was 20months would throw things about and scream and scream (no tears) and when i asked what was wrong would ball her fists against her eyes and shout "CRYIN!" at me, so i'm pretty sure she knew that crying would get a reaction, though i didn't and don't discount the possibility that she NEEDED a reaction and wasn't able to articulate the real problem.

Bx

[mickyndan]

The best distraction I have with my 2.5 yr old is ... "can you please come here and HELP mummy do this or that"... He loves to "help". It could be as simple as putting his pyjamas on or packing up his toys but as soon as I use the word "help" he is so there and he even has a smile on his face. He is also one that wakes up really really grumpy so an early distraction seems to make his day a lot better. I can understand how frustrating it is, I cannot stand crying / screaming to get attention!! how annoying.

xxoo

[DoubleK]

mickyndan, thats great you have a magic word!! i need to get me one of those!