At my wits end!

Moo will be 18 months next month and I'm sure what he's doing is completely normal, but I don't know how to handle it.

He is becoming very rough, I'll be carrying him and he'll whack me across the face with his truck or whatever he is holding. Or he'll grab my face and head butt me in the forehead/mouth/collarbone etc.

He'll sleep for his usual 12 or 13 hours overnight but scream from the second he wakes up for at least an hour. Nothing makes him happy. He'll do the same thing after his daytime nap. Just drop to the floor and cry and scream, any effort to distract him he'll physically push me away.

He head butts hard surfaces all the time, not only if he's looking for attention or has been told 'no'. Will be running along, see the door frame and head butt it. Then he'll cry, be consoled, and go straight back and do it again!

Every nappy change, dressing/undressing or shoes on is a major issue. He'll either do the drop (you know, how they go all limp) the whole way through. Or with nappy changes scream, kick and writhe until it's over.

He bites me all the time. Just in passing or if I'm carrying him somewhere.

He is testing his limits BIG TIME! But where we used to be able to distract him from whatever it is, he now won't hear of it and just keeps going back to it until he finally chucks an epic tantrum.

We're at a loss as to what to do in these situations. We've been calmly explaining why we don't want him to do something (like when he hits me "gentle with Mummy, it's not nice to hit people") but it doesn't seem to work anymore.

All my friends smack when their kids do things like this, that's not something we're doing with Moo. We're fast running out of patience here so any tips would be appreciated.

Yeh, he's still so young and learning what life's about. He IS testing limits and he's doing it with mum because he knows that she's always the constant one with love and nourishment etc.
I was lucky that my DS1 didn't mind nappy changes (i dunno why?!), but he would chuck tantrums all the time - some screaming, some crying, some lying down and not moving - you name it. And he bit me. Thankfully that stopped at about 17/18 months. It seemed to get better once he started ODC. Maybe hearing it from another 'carer' worked?

Is he hungry when he wakes up? Maybe his energy levels (sugar?) are low and that's why he gets better after an hour, because he's got his energy back. Again, I don't know!

You had a big day today. :hug: for all of you.

Oooh yes he's definitely worse with me! Very well behaved for his Nanna last weekend :D I thought maybe it was hunger but when I give him food (like toast) he throws it, so who knows.

It's like I can't make him happy anymore :(

:hug: yes it was a big day :hug:

It is a normal phase, but the boundaries ARE being pushed, and i would work hard now to get some ground back. With dd I tried to follow some natural consequences, so that if I was carrying her and she hit me, I plonked her straight on the ground. Then I would say, gentle hands only please, and stroke her hand and or get her to stroke mine, then I would pick her up again (and repeat if necessary). She was piffed out of bed many times at that age for hair pulling, and I would explain she could only be in our bed if she had gentle hands...it was the same if she misbehaved while sitting on the bench etc.

As for nappy changes, it's a pain, but normal. Again I used natural consequences, and would continue to get ready to go out etc, and say 'well mummys going so let me know when you're ready to get dressed etc'.

Sometimes I still have to muscle her into some clothes...it sucks but it passes.

As for the screaming when awake...is he still tired? Or does he need some chill time like tv or stories straight after waking up? Otherwise hunger?

Hth

ooh honey, I have no idea but thought I'd offer one of these. :hug: it sounds like VERY hard work.

No advice hun - we have been in a similar situation withseh Miss J for a long time now. Could read and not give you some :hug: though. Hope some of the girls suggestions can help. x

Good idea about the consequences. That's something I haven't done yet.

I have no idea about the sleep thing. I've tried books, or a fav show among other things but he pushes me away from him. I gues it's possible he's still tired, but 12 or 13 hours was enough for him before all this so have no idea!

ok ... I don't know what the rules for gentle parenting are with regards to certain methods. But I was just checking out Dr Karps (sp?) happiest toddler on the block and thought you might want to take a look into it.
It seems strange, i know (you have to watch the video to understand why i say it's strange)... but if it works and doesn't harm your child .. WHY NOT?
You can find a few youtube videos search happiest toddler on the block and watch them you can get a rough idea how it works so no need to buy the dvd.

tell us how u go with it because apparently some aprents get immideate positive repsonse