https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:50:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762915 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:05:55 +0000 MamaCate 2762915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: hurray! 🙌<br /> It is hard to pick your spots on when to let them take the lead and when you need to step in. It sounds like LO needed more structure in this situation so I hope it keeps working!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762903 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 21:00:27 +0000 macintosh 2762903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: it totally worked! I had to do a combination of "2 more times" and picking him up to get out the 2 doors both times, but it was sooo much better! Minimal screaming and one floor flop. It dawned on me during the process that before I was setting NO limits or expectations, just hoping he'd finish playing and move along. Then when I interrupted his free play moment it was a shock. I think he really needed to know the limits :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762619 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 08:40:07 +0000 MrsBrewer 2762619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh same here with a struggling 2 year old. I'm also 37 weeks pregnant on top of it! For me though the hard part it's leaving somewhere, it's when we get to the car seat and I try to buckle her in.....dear lord....you think I was murdering her!! She flips around, stands up, gets stiff as a board.....all of the above. Whenever I'm done, I'm full blown sweating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762602 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 07:19:20 +0000 looch 2762602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son didn't understand 5 minutes at that age, but he did understand 2 more times, or variations of that.</p> <p>Additionally I'd probably ask the staff what they're doing and if they have any suggestions. My son was never the kind that lingered at daycare, that kid wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, our issues were in the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762601 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 07:15:21 +0000 erinbaderin 2762601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't like "Bye, I'm leaving" because I don't want to make them think that I would ever actually abandon them somewhere. That being said, sometimes I do get frustrated and do it. I find, like other people have suggested, doing some tangible countdowns - "Ok, you can run down the hall two more times and then we have to get shoes on. After you have your shoes on you can have one more run and then we're going to the door." - is helpful. Also sometimes I just have to remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, getting home five minutes later isn't really a big deal.</p> <p>Also for what it's worth, if anybody is staring it's probably in sympathy and bemusement. I'm always thinking "Oh, those poor guys" and not "Ugh, why can't that mom get her kid under control?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762589 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:38:25 +0000 catgirl 2762589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use timers a lot at home to help with transitions. DD loved Daniel Tiger so we also use two of the little jingles- "it's almost time to stop so pick one more thing to do" and "that was fun but know we're done." For some reason they really help. </p> <p>Like others I try to prep ahead of time and explain all steps. I keep repeating them as we go. </p> <p>I also will try to make it fun for her. We have a decent walk to our car from our building, she can get easily sidetracked. So I'll say " we have to go to the car. Do you want to fly like a bird or hop like a bunny?" She likes having a choice but since they both get us to the car it works for both of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762582 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:13:20 +0000 psw27 2762582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another thing that helps us are "transition objects" - so DS will usually pick a toy or two to bring along for the ride to school. I'll keep the items in the car or stroller during the day. When I'm trying to get him to move along I'll remind him that his car/book etc is waiting for him in the car. Or I'll bring it in with me and it helps him move away from the other distractions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762581 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:10:59 +0000 MamaCate 2762581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: I hope it helps! I find "two more turns" Or "two more truck laps" more accessible than 2 more minutes since minutes is not really a thing. DD also responded well to: "it's almost time to go. Do you want to do 2 more slides or 3 more slides?" When I was fine with the higher number and knew she would pick it. </p> <p>Good luck--it's hard being 2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762577 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 23:23:05 +0000 Dahlia 2762577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Telling DD she can do something for two minutes and then has to leave helps - she has no concept of what two minutes is, but she gets the limit. Outside of that, bribery or seeing if she wants to race me. Or being really silly, and asking something like if she wants to walk like a duck or like a bear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762574 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 22:11:03 +0000 Boopers 2762574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I agree with this! Prepping beforehand and giving the expectation prior to the transition seems to help my son a lot too. For example, it used to be a battle to put my son in the shopping cart at the store. Now as we are getting out of the car or we walk in I always prep him and say "you are going to hold my hand and walk into the store with me then it's time to sit in the cart so we can go shopping." Now he doesn't fight me and is excited to pick out a cart and sit in it, thankfully!</p> <p>Whenever it's time to leave a place that he's excited about I tell him "it's time to leave, you may hold my hand or I can carry you out to the car." The first few times he would say no! Then try to run away. I would calmly pick him up and say "you chose not to hold my hand so now I am carrying you to the car." I've been consistent with that enough now that 95% of the time he holds my hand.</p> <p>2 year olds are exhausting! Once you find something that works just keep the expectarions clear and consistent and over time there should hopefully be less battles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762573 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 22:10:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2762573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had an awful time with that around that age. For us t was leaving the park and coming up the stairs to our condo. I was pregnant and couldn't carry a thrashing 2 year old, though sometimes did (so I can tell you have more patience than me already!!) </p> <p>Things that helped briefly were a sticker chart and bribing with a video. The chart for us had pictures of the routine for coming from outside, stairs, take off shoes, coat, wash hands. If she did them all she got a sticker. She would recite the steps and it did seem to help a little. The bribe was just if you come up without complaining and stalling I'll let you watch a two minute video on my phone. </p> <p>I used to try @psw27: trick with the phone timer but she would just throw a tantrum when the timer went off. Like she would watch me set it then stand there and watch it count down instead of continuing to play, then start melting down as soon as it ended. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762571 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:48:55 +0000 macintosh 2762571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Canoli: ugh, you're right it's maddening! Another mom called the from steps "daycare purgatory" :silly: </p> <p>@MamaCate: Oh, I really like this idea. Of course I do also think this is a phase. He has had the same bedtime routine forever but lately he's resisting that too. He's been a hot mess this week, I'm hoping it's a development thing and not molars...</p> <p>@psw27: another good idea! I've told him "5 minutes" before but never tried a timer. </p> <p>Ugh, it's not even just that he's procrastinating, he's actually being really wild and rolling around on the floor or playing in a way that he could hurt himself. I'm hoping tomorrow is better because I prefer not to have the other parents staring :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762557 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:11:21 +0000 psw27 2762557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is super challenging with transitions. He's almost 3 now but about 8-9 months ago we started using the iPhone timer for most transitions. We even have him set it. We ask him do you want to leave/stop playing/etc now or in ___ minutes? He always picks the minutes and then we set the timer. It isn't perfect but it's helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762556 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:11:06 +0000 MamaCate 2762556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: ugh this is such a challenging age! I think the "bye I'm leaving" doesn't work because they know we won't actually leave, and can undermine the next thing you say, since that one might not be real either.</p> <p>I would try to come with a transition plan you can live with and then prep and cue and rehearse over and over again. So the plan is: "you get to push your truck two more times, then we get your lunch, then we go to the lobby. Two hugs for teddy, then in the car. In the car we can listen to your favorite songs and go home because daddy is waiting." (Or whatever) then you review the steps at the beginning, then one by one. "Ok now we have one more hug for teddy then we get in the car for songs." "Now we are in the car, sit down and buckle so we can go see daddy". Etc etc</p> <p>Kids like repetition and control at this age. This approach might be something you can live with? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762554 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:02:16 +0000 Canoli 2762554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember this all too well and at 3 sometimes we still deal with this. Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly other parents are in and out. Like why am I the first parent in the parking lot yet the last on to leave.</p> <p>I'm sorry my response is not helpful. I too have tried the bye I'm leaving and he just doesn't follow. It's very frustrating! Offering commiseration to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/challenging-2-year-old-behavior#post-2762549 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:38:11 +0000 macintosh 2762549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is just over 2 and we've had some of his most difficult behavior (ok, tantrums) this week. When I pick him up from daycare it takes forever to get him to be ready to transition and leave the room. Typically I try to be patient and coax him along, but lately it takes way too long and he'll scream if I pick him up to carry him out.</p> <p>Next we have to stop in the daycare lobby while he plays with the giant teddy bear or sits in the little chairs. Then he stops in the main lobby where he sits in those chairs, then out the front door where he goes up and down the ramp or steps multiple times.</p> <p>I'm wondering if there's a more gentle technique to get him moving. My reverse psychology trick - ok bye, mommy's leaving - didn't work today. He just said bye :shocked: </p> <p>My other option is to carry him, which isn't safe when he's struggling, or bring the stroller in. Both options will certainly make him throw a fit. </p>