https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:11:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623865 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 19:08:56 +0000 Foodnerd81 2623865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sigh. Everything on here sounds soooooo familiar. I will say she probably does sense the upcoming changes. My lo's behavior got bad in the third trimester- epic meltdowns over things like leaving the playground or climbing the stairs to our condo. In the last year she got a new baby sister, had six months straight of back to back ear infections, started preschool, and moved. And turned 3. I just try to hang on to the moments when she is my sweet girl, however rare they seem. It does make me feel so much better to know its not just us. </p> <p>Oh and specifically to the running away thing- I've definitely carried my toddler home under my arm, screaming the whole way, when she ran away towards the street. And forced her into the stroller with her screaming. It's awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623848 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 17:39:31 +0000 daniellemybelle 2623848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are right there with you. Please let us know when you find an antidote! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623699 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:38:22 +0000 avivoca 2623699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am contentiously amazed at how bad the behavior has gotten in just the past month. She will be three in a few weeks and I thought the terrible twos were bad. The threenager attitude is awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623696 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:32:23 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2623696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: My daughter just turned 3 and we have a 4 month old. She definitely had a radical personality change in the last few months.</p> <p>I think most of it is just 3 year old stuff but I definitely think was affected by the baby even before he was born. We watched the episodes of Daniel Tiger with baby Margaret over and over again, and I actually think they helped. She still always sings "You can be a big helper in your family." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623632 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:50:40 +0000 tinyperson 2623632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like my 3yo...constant whining, back talk, not listening, not stopping when we tell her, tantrums at the drop of the hat. She's 3y9months now and just started kindergarten (we have junior k in Ontario) and we have a 4 month old. I assume all of these things are factors. It's hard every day trying to enjoy being with her, which feels really awful to say. 🙁 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623630 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:47:05 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2623630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup.<br /> From 2y10m to 3y6m I was really horrified by my daughters awful behavior on a regular basis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623627 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:45:02 +0000 Cherrybee 2623627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds like E. She is 3yrs and 2 mths now and.... just wow. She's a lovely kid but her behaviour is just vile at times. Every interaction is a battle. Getting dressed, eating, leaving the house, playing, reading books...... It's like she does everything in her power to wind me up. And it's a shame, because she repeatedly does herself out of enjoying things because God forbid she should actually do anything AT ALL without drama. She destroys things for a reaction and then, when I give said reaction, she hits me. And then *she* cries. Go figure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623623 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:35:19 +0000 Smurfette 2623623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO just turned 3.5 and I swear a light has switched and she can turn into the devil child just like that. Then back to her sweet self. The tantrums this weekend were ridiculous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623609 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:17:18 +0000 looch 2623609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What was interesting for me has been how quickly the behaviour turned around. My son was a very challenging 3 and 4 year old, but as a 5 year old, he's mellowed out considerably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623599 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:55:10 +0000 catlady 2623599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alivoo01: @babypugs: @birdofafeather: @KayKay: @Alba4: Ha, thanks everyone for at least reassuring me it is normal, even though it sucks. I was hoping it was a phase, but looks like I need to settle in for a long run of this. We will definitely need to revisit our discipline methods. </p> <p>@Mama Bird: Can't think of any trigger, other than the crib to bed transition, but maybe it's also just due to preschool. I think some of the older kids are rubbing off on her. I suggested the leash thing when she was younger and DH refused (he hates them). Maybe he'd re-think it now. Ironically, she seems to need it more now that she's older.</p> <p>@maddyz: I was wondering about this as well. Could definitely be pregnancy related. I guess at least we have some time to sort things out before LO2 gets here.</p> <p>@KayKay: Yes, I have forced her into the stroller a few times after the running (cue enormous tantrum, but at least she's safe). The running business caught us off guard. She has been really good at walking on the sidewalk for about a year now so we stopped worrying as much. I think we will both have to be more pro-active at stopping her and actually following through with consequences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623566 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:19:41 +0000 Alba4 2623566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal. The switch happened right when we brought home his baby brother. Good times. It's getting better...For now at least! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623560 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:09:08 +0000 KayKay 2623560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3-3.5 was the worst for us with DD1! She was a (relatively) easy 2y old, probably because she was pretty verbal. But 3y was a whole new ballgame with so much more willful disobedience and way more tantrums (probably because I didn't know how to deal with it...ha). It got a lot better around 3.5, though!</p> <p>I tried to follow a lot of Janet Lansbury's suggestions, not that it was easy, but because I really found that *my* reactions to her behavior could really influence whether things went farther south or recovered better. So really controlling my responses, trying not to show impatience or frustration -- but still being firm in the options/boundaries presented -- was key. It was hard, and maybe things got better at 3.5 because it took me 6m to be (a little) better at it? Or she grew out of it a bit....who knows.</p> <p>Specifically re: the running into traffic, maybe just a couple instances of forcing her to hold hands (or going back home immediately if she doesn't) for optional things....or forcing her to ride in the stroller (for things you HAVE to do) will help for a bit? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623559 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:07:59 +0000 maddyz 2623559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She might be feeling the end of your pregnancy and all the change that is about to happen. Maybe find ways to reassure her that even with the change everything will be ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623557 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:04:57 +0000 birdofafeather 2623557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, welcome to hell.</p> <p>Oops. Sorry. I should have said something more constructive but that's pretty much exactly what happened to our DD1 about a month before 3. Lots of emotions, tantrums, outbursts, crying, etc. 9 months later, she's starting to get a better handle on things. Doesn't help that DD2 was born a couple months before the change happened either. But yeah, this last 9 months has been rough and we definitely had to dig in our heels and sort out our parenting/discipline style. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623543 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:39:28 +0000 babypugs 2623543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is where we are. It's awful. I think it got worse when she transferred in her new classroom at daycare. It was definitely tough on her, but she usually adjusts much better. I'm starting to realize she doesn't need quite as much sleep as she did and pushing it is not helping--maybe that could help for you?</p> <p>Otherwise, no idea. I hope someone has good advice, because I feel like I'm losing my sanity as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623541 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:36:52 +0000 Mama Bird 2623541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you think of anything that triggered it (routine changes, new day care, or something)? It sounds pretty normal unfortunately, but sometimes kids are so sensitive to little things that would not bother an adult. My toddler turns into an irrational little madman if he's short on sleep (but is usually a sweet kid when he's well rested). </p> <p>And the traffic thing sounds so scary! There are backpack "leashes" you can use for a while if you can't get her to behave. I've seen a few people on the street with them. It doesn't look as bad as it sounds, and we also live in a neighborhood with lots of traffic and have to always be on alert for cars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623539 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:35:19 +0000 Alivoo01 2623539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's a threenager thing. DS did/acted out shortly before his 3rd birthday also! 2's were smooth, but 2.75+ oh man!! Terrifying 3's are no joke! He pushes limits by testing us, back talking, acting out, you name it! It's settled down some a few months after he turned 3 after he realized I don't play jokes and truly mean it when I saw certain behaviors are unacceptable! He still acts out, and punishment is still highly enforced, but it's been much better. When he started acting out terribly, I constantly asked DH if it was too late for a refund. It was THAT bad. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sudden-behavior-change-at-age-3#post-2623524 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:21:56 +0000 catlady 2623524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD will be 3 in a few weeks. We had a pretty easy time with age 2, she wasn't perfect and had her fair share of behavior issues, but we were mostly able to deal with them. About 2 weeks ago, it was like a light switched and she's become a nightmare. She does pretty much every annoying behavior you can think of - extreme tantrums for the tiniest things, stalling like crazy, so much whining, refusing to listen, and lately I've caught her even saying mean things to other kids and almost mowing down a baby on the playground (!). She tests us constantly, which I can deal with when we're in a safe place, but her latest "fun" is to ignore us when we tell her to stop or slow down when we're out walking. We live in a city and she has run almost right into moving traffic at least twice now and it terrifies me that one day, she will get hit (I am in my 3rd tri now and not so quick to catch her).</p> <p>Anyway...is this just a threenager thing or is this something to be concerned about? DH and I both realize at this point that we will need to change our discipline tactics soon if this keeps up. She did recently transition from her crib to a toddler bed, but I wouldn't think that would create such all-encompassing behavior changes (and ironically, we actually haven't had issues with sleep, knock on wood). She also switched to preschool from the toddler room back in late July, but this is more recent.</p> <p>If anyone has gone through anything similar or has tips to share, I'd love to hear it. We are pulling our hair out right now. </p>