https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:51:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923935 Sat, 29 May 2021 12:15:06 +0000 caitcat 2923935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: I totally forgot I did something like this too. It worked surprisingly well. It was like it primed the kids to be (slightly!) agreeable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923933 Sat, 29 May 2021 10:26:12 +0000 Jess1483 2923933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: One thing that helped DS1 at that age: I would say “in 2 minutes (or after one more thing), I am going to say “time to go” and you will say “okay!” For some reason, giving him the appropriate response helped him not have a meltdown. It took a bit of practice, but definitely paid off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923931 Sat, 29 May 2021 08:32:44 +0000 bhbee 2923931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of good ideas here, thank you everyone!</p> <p>@pachamama: Yes anything for naps!! She decided a while ago that napping sideways in the bed made it more fun and I was like whatever you want if you stay in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923930 Sat, 29 May 2021 07:41:25 +0000 caitcat 2923930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Transitions at that age are so tough - and it’s got to be even harder as the youngest one! Timers always stressed my kids out, but putting on a song and saying, “we’ll go have lunch when this song is over!” worked sometimes as a “hidden” timer. </p> <p>My oldest was also really stressed about missing out on the fun she was having when it was time to move on - I’d catch a quick video of her playing/drawing/at the park/etc on my phone and then let her watch it after we’d moved on to our next step. It seemed to help her still hold on to the fun though the video, but be able to leave it in the moment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923929 Sat, 29 May 2021 04:51:49 +0000 pachamama 2923929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: Its hard bc the youngest has FOMO with the older kids! We are in the same boat with naps. He is refusing to nap in his crib so I laid on the floor with him and he fell right asleep. Big brother watches TV at this time. :-/ His brother was the same - napped in my bed at 2.5! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923925 Fri, 28 May 2021 17:22:57 +0000 Chuckles 2923925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Early 3 was a hard time in terms of tantrums for DS. I second the use of either a visual timer or a quick countdown of doing something one more time. But anything longer than 2 minutes is bound to be meaningless at that age. Also, what about having there be something positive happen during or right after the transitions that you think will be harder. I'm thinking about something like, 2 more times down the slide and then we will sing your favorite song on the way to the car. Or, 5 more splashes and then we'll have a tickle fight when you get into pjs. Kind of like, first (activity ends), then (something else positive) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923917 Fri, 28 May 2021 14:25:19 +0000 LadyDi 2923917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DS1 was around this age he knew some numbers and was very interested in clocks so I would say "ok when the big hand is on 6 then it's time for bed." This worked well for him but he has always generally been easygoing. </p> <p>DS2 is 3 and it is harder. Timers don't really work (although maybe a visual one would...having Alexa set a timer is not good for us). When we are at a playground or something similar I tell him he can slide 2 more times or if we're swinging I count down from 5. I try to offer a choices when I can, so if he is freaking out about nap time I try to give him a choice between two toys to take one to his room, or choose his pajamas at night. He also gets distracted easily, so if he's getting worked up but I tell him to race his brother up the stairs or start pretending to be a dragon or something else silly he usually forgets he was about to tantrum and ends up complying, 2.5-3 was a very rough time for this behavior for us. Now that he's approaching 3.5 I feel like it's a little better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923914 Fri, 28 May 2021 13:17:58 +0000 bhbee 2923914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: yes on naps but she’s started to fight it. I think it’s going to get worse this summer as the big kids are not napping and she wants to keep playing with them, but I’ll keep her napping if I can so she can stay up until their bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923913 Fri, 28 May 2021 13:12:59 +0000 pachamama 2923913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: this sounds EXACTLY like my kids when they're hungry and tired, like you said. Is she napping still?<br /> What works for us is "ok 2 more times then we leave!" but theyre boys so they get over stuff really quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923912 Fri, 28 May 2021 12:43:40 +0000 catgirl 2923912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used Daniel tiger a lot - “it’s almost time to stop so choose one more thing to do” followed by “that was fun but now we’re done.” </p> <p>And I agree that if you are going to use a timer having it be visual is helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923909 Fri, 28 May 2021 09:53:01 +0000 bakingdoodle 2923909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't use timers for my kids because they have no concept of time. So I usually just say why don't you go x times on the slide and then we go home. Usually, they even come to tell me they want to go home even before that number of times is reached...<br /> I've never tried the visual representation... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923908 Fri, 28 May 2021 09:31:34 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2923908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Timers, my phone shows timers as a circle so she can watch it tick down and change color (it gets red at 5 sec). Saying 2 min or 5 min or whatever doesn't work, but the visual representation seems to do the trick. We also ask E for how long she wants it set for which gives her some control. She is a big fan of asking google to set the timer too, I mean my brain hurt the first time she said hey google set a timer but it works well for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-transition-tips#post-2923903 Thu, 27 May 2021 20:57:31 +0000 bhbee 2923903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO3 is 2.5 and very strong willed (and so, so loud). As she inches closer to 3 she is having a hard time with transitions especially from special things (which are many this time of year). I know there are some good tricks for this but I’ve forgotten them all! She definitely doesn’t understand a time-based warning. Some recent meltdown examples:</p> <p>- put on sister’s old dance costume and tap shoes, had to take off before bed an hour later, meltdown<br /> - got new chalk when we went up to brother’s last day party at the school playground, melted down when it had to be left on the patio when we went inside for bath<br /> - lots of little things throughout the day ... hanger seems to be a factor</p> <p>I know it’s just a lot of excitement and she’s probably mentally exhausted and it’s hard to be (almost) 3 ... how can I ease the way? When we find a successful distraction she recovers immediately so it’s just remembering those things that will work!</p> <p>Thanks!! </p>