https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:01:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2881048 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 21:47:05 +0000 irene 2881048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your child is awesome. If I offer mine (7 yo now sob sob) with (A) the thing I would like him to do but he doesn't and (B) the thing HE definitely doesn't want to do, he would proceed to crying and whining and not doing either of them. Or ok he picked (B) but didn't carry through with it after say 2 hours later. Your DS made a choice and stuck to the guns and took up with whatever consequences it leads to with no wailing. I think you are very blessed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880721 Sun, 14 Apr 2019 05:47:22 +0000 MrsADS 2880721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@badgermom yeah I agree. My strong willed 3yo would have added 45 mins of hysterical screaming to the op's situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880719 Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:19:34 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2880719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad to me... I'm sitting here drowning my sorrow over my DD's blood-curdling screaming over stupid stuff like going potty before bed, how much toothpaste is enough &amp; that her step stool was a few inches to the side of where it usually is. That all took place just tonight during bedtime routine. 3 suuuuuucks! 😵 Nearly every suggestion I offer is met with an angry "I can do it by myself!" or "I don't need advice!". 🥺 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880627 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:49:55 +0000 MenagerieMama 2880627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds totally normal. I sometimes realize I need to be more careful about the choices I give. My latest threat to LO1 coming out of bed at night for no reason is that if she does it again I will lick her toes. So far it’s worked really well (why did I come up with that??) but I need to change my plan because at some point she’ll pick the toe licking and I don’t want that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880621 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:13:11 +0000 gotkimchi 2880621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BadgerMom: this exactly! I also try not to ask questions i don’t want answered like ready for bed or do you have to go potty when there is really only one thing I want them to do </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880616 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:08:49 +0000 Mrsbells 2880616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: sounds normal to me for that age. Toddlers like to test the boundaries of what they can get away with and say mean things that they don't really mean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880613 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:49:44 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2880613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son definitely tests what he can say No to and try to do more of what he wants. I try to only give him options that I can truly live with and when there is no choice I takeaway the next fun activity. Overall though I like when LO negotiates and advocates on his behalf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880605 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:20:35 +0000 josina 2880605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dd is only 2 (25 months) and is sooo strong willed.<br /> Some nights she will refuse to eat anything. She already has to pick out her own clothes or throws a fit. She has to put her pants on herself. She refuses to wear any pajamas. She refuses to sleep in her own bed (so sleeps with her brother, they share a room).<br /> Seriously, my 2 year old is way way worse than my teenage step-daughter has ever been. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880602 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:04:44 +0000 BadgerMom 2880602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t know if this makes you feel better or not, but I wouldn’t even consider these scenarious “strong willed.” Sounds totally “normal willed” to me. You gave him a choice and he chose. It may not have been the choice you would have chosen or would have liked him to chose, but it is what it is. I think the takeaway is you can’t give him a choice you can’t abide by. I had to remind DH of this often. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880581 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:37:40 +0000 kiddosc 2880581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I routinely pick out an outfit for my 3 year old, she comes in and loses her mind that she wanted to pick out her outfit for the day. I put the clothes away and she goes to the dresser and pulls out the EXACT same clothes I just put away. </p> <p>Threenagers man. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880579 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:32:35 +0000 KT326 2880579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal! My almost 2.5 year old is already like this. I'm just waiting for the day when he goes to daycare with no pants... He is so incredibly picky with his clothes! My 7 year old doesn't care at all and will put on whatever I hand him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880544 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:10:03 +0000 MamaBear87 2880544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my little to a t. We try to make sure we give her 2 options we are comfortable with. Gives her a sense of control and mostly keeps m Mommy from pulling her hair out. </p> <p>We wouldn't have allowed food or something else though. She is now old enough that she has to try a bite of everything, if she doesn't like it fine but she has to try. And sometimes she just isn't hungry and only has a few bites, also fine but we try not to let her outright refuse. </p> <p>She's also 3.5 and is both my delight and makes me want to bang my head on the wall on a daily basis 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880542 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:09:06 +0000 wrkbrk 2880542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man that all sounds completely normal to me. This age is all about them seeing how much will they can assert. I don’t even fight these battles with my three year old. I couldn’t care if he sleeps naked or eats strawberries for dinner - mama is busy and tired 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/strong-willed-littles#post-2880539 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:00:04 +0000 babycanuck 2880539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Someone tell me my kid is normal LOL</p> <p>Being 3.5, he has now discovered the various choices he has. He's very strong willed..</p> <p>Example 1: My sister (S), BIL and my son (L)<br /> BIL: Hey L, time for dinner, Have some chicken fingers.<br /> L: No.<br /> BIL: Okay, so we need to fix your haircut. You have two choices: Eat some chicken fingers, or we use the noisy thing to fix your hair (the clippers, which he's scared of)<br /> L: Haircut<br /> S: Okay wait - do you understand you can have your chicken or Uncle C will use the noisy things on your hair?<br /> L: Haircut<br /> S: Okay, no crying though. You need to be a big boy.<br /> **Goes upstairs with BIL, doesn't cry, comes down and high fives my sister saying "See I'm a big boy" and still won't eat.<br /> :shocked: </p> <p>Example 2: Bedtime last night<br /> Me: Ok L - time for bed. Let's put on your jammies you picked out.<br /> L: No - I want different ones<br /> Me: Please sweetheart just get your jammies on<br /> (Note: Normally I would let him switch and don't care, I was mentally drained and super tired from work and got agitated pretty quickly. Bad mommy.)<br /> L: No, I want different ones.<br /> Me: Ok. Here are your choices: Put on the jammies you picked, or you go to bed naked.<br /> L: Ok. *Climbs into bed with no pjs, covers himself up* I want you to leave my room, mommy.<br /> Me: *SHOCK* Ok :(<br /> Slept all night, warm in his blankets but no jammies!</p> <p>I can only imagine how things will be as he gets older... </p>