https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:35:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2733044 Sun, 07 May 2017 08:18:14 +0000 Alba4 2733044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So interesting! Our DS turns 4 in Aug, and he was super easy until he turned 3.5. He throws tantrums, complains and whines all the time, wants to be held, and is just super needy and moody. This is very interesting! I was hoping 4 would be easier!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2733043 Sun, 07 May 2017 08:12:27 +0000 ALV91711 2733043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but we are going through similar things. 4 has been challenging. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2732986 Sat, 06 May 2017 14:08:02 +0000 travellingbee 2732986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: mine has gotten pickier too... :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2732976 Sat, 06 May 2017 13:20:48 +0000 Cherrybee 2732976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so glad I found this thread! My almost 4 year old daughter has been a nightmare these last couple of weeks. She has always been intense but oh my Lord she is like a moody teenager... She stomps about, huffing, pouting, yelling at us, refusing to do anything we ask her to do, slamming doors, throwing things down, screaming, growling.... She is never happy. You can't even hold her hand without her whining you've hurt her finger, or hurt her leg. She screams in FURY if you pull her hair a bit while brushing. She has never enjoyed food but now she barely eats anything - she claims not to like everything, even things she used to eat. She has started wetting herself again. And on Friday she bit another child at school and drew blood :crying: :crying: I was starting to wonder if she might be emotionally disturbed.... But could it just be normal? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712302 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 01:20:16 +0000 Kemma 2712302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: the "fours" are going to kill me! My oldest was a very compliant toddler so the change in temperament and boundary pushing is really challenging me! My girl is also quite emotionally sensitive so we have the added extra of emotional meltdowns... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712293 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 23:07:33 +0000 hummusgirl 2712293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4 year old is going through a challenging phase too. I just finished reading the book "How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen" and found it really helpful and practical. The main premise is acknowledging feelings rather than trying to change them which is what it sounds like you've been doing (i.e. reasoning, time outs, ignoring). The whole first chapter is "Tools for Handling Emotions." </p> <p>I really recommend reading it but to give an example, if he's acting babyish and wants to be carried, you might "give in fantasy what you cannot give in reality." This might mean saying "I wish I had super-human strength like The Hulk and could carry you around all the time! I could carry you to the grocery store, and the library, and the playground," and see how he reacts. If necessary, you could say "Even though you know it hurts my back to carry you for too long, you still want to be carried!" They give a lot of other tips if acknowledging feelings alone doesn't work, but that's the first step. </p> <p>I am so not perfect with this and still find my patience wearing thin, but it helps to have a few more tools to use. </p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Little-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/1501131656" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Little-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/1501131656</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712287 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:52:58 +0000 travellingbee 2712287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: @littlebug: @winniebee: @iluvboba637: thank you! This helps to know he isn't the only one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712266 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:46:58 +0000 iluvboba637 2712266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I, too, have been wondering wtheck is going on w my newly 4 year old. All of a sudden he is telling me every morning that he doesn't want me to go to work and cries and screams. He's been rough w his toys. Saying no to things with attitude. I thought he was grouchy because maybe he was about to get sick or something...then after a week of no sickness I started wondering if maybe it was like the wonder weeks that babies go through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712261 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:36:56 +0000 winniebee 2712261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right around 4, ds1 (who had previously been pretty low key) had a terrible few weeks. Granted we had some other life events going on (that were very difficult), but i definitely remember some crazy tantrums a few weeks after he turned 4. He went back to normal with some strict disciple and extra attention. He's almost 5 now and honestly this year has been his best and easiest yet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712259 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:35:26 +0000 littlebug 2712259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>D is going through the SAME thing. Turned 4 in January and oh.my.god. A friend once told me that there's the Terrible Twos, the Threenager year, and then the F*ckin Fours. I thought she was crazy, but....yeah. SAME exact thing - tantrums, crying over the littlest things, wanting to be carried. Basically, acting like a baby. I thought maybe it was just because his 1yo sister is SUPER needy, so he was acting like a baby to get attention, but maybe it's just an age thing. It is so frustrating. </p> <p>Tonight, when he was standing in front of me, arms up, and just whining/fussing like he wanted me to pick him up, I told him, "I don't respond to a 4 year old acting like this. I pick up A (his sister) because she's 1 and doesn't talk yet. You are 4. You can talk. When you can use your words and tell me what you need, then I will listen." I walked away and he just followed me, whining even more. 6 months ago, that would have worked. UGH!</p> <p>So I can't offer any advice, just commiseration! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712236 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 18:48:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2712236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So there seems to be debate on whether this is true or not depending on who you ask, but there is apparently a hormone surge in boys at age 4 that makes them really hard to deal with. By age 5 they are supposed to be tolerable human beings, but 4 is hard for many boys because the testosterone is kicking in and it's a lot a mini version of the super moody behavior you deal with when boys hit puberty. </p> <p>I know that's not really help, but maybe it will help you be less frustrated by it?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-return-of-tantrums#post-2712142 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 14:52:29 +0000 travellingbee 2712142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our just-turned-four-year-old has become a beast lately. He had been doing so well, but the last couple of weeks have been rough. He throws these ginormous, ridiculous tantrums that I thought he had outgrown. He also has been acting babyish and pretending he can't walk and wants to be carried. Reasoning with him doesn't work, time outs don't work, ignoring him doesn't work. I really am at a loss and wonder if this is normal or if I should talk to our doctor about it. He has always been intense and had HUGE emotions but I thought he has matured past these tantrums. :( Any suggestions? </p>