Terrible two's at 17.5 months - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Tiff24 · 07-14-2008, 08:51 PM

My son is 17.5 months old and he has turned into a little monster! I really need some advise on how to handle him. I'm sure he's going through his terrible two's. He's been having very frequent mood changes and temper tantrums. He's always been a laid-back, very happy boy. If you told him "no" he would just go play with something else. It's just been the past few weeks where he's been showing some "bratty" behavior. He throws everything! He'll pick up a block and look at me or my husband and throw it. We warn him that if he throws another one, that he'll go in time-out. Right away, he'll pick up another one, look at us, then throw it. It's this way with everything! He's constantly getting scolded 'cause he's either throwing things, standing on the couch, smacking someone or ripping his books. He has NEVER ripped his books before a few weeks ago. He's never hit our dog before a few weeks ago or even thrown things. This is completely different behavior than we are used to. He has quite a few temper tantrums also. If he doesn't get something, he screams and cries. If you put him down before he wants down, he makes his legs go limp and screams. LOL! I know some of you are reading this and thinking "what a brat! He must be spoiled!" We do not give in to his tantrums... EVER! We always (well I always) follow through with time-out or a swat on the butt. I've read that you need a strict routine when your child hits the "terrible twos". Our routine is pretty strict already though. Please help turn my monster back into my angel!

Also, he gets super frustrated when he can't figure things out. Like if his square block won't fit in the round hole, he throws a tantrum. At night, I let him pick two books to read before bed. If I start reading the wrong one first, he throws a crying fit.

felix61379 · 07-15-2008, 06:51 AM

Your son doesn't sound bratty at all!! He sounds NORMAL! The key is to follow through on punishment for any bad behavior. He's learning brand new things now. They think it is sooo cool to throw things at that age. All my kids did it. Hitting, jumping, all those things are kids learning how to express themselves. Just tell them that they can't do that because they could get a boo boo. If they continue, punish them by time out or whatever works best for your child. Time out for my kids wasn't the best deterrent. Each of my kids has a trigger and it took my awhile to find it. My daughter has a baby doll and she really doesn't want her baby doll to take a break, so she tries really hard to not make mommy mad enough to take it away for awhile. With my son it's money (he is 3 and obsessed with change). I take a quarter from his wallet when he disobeys me. My other 2 are a bit older and for them it's no bike ect... Good luck and hang in there, it will get much better!

Tiff24 · 07-16-2008, 08:26 PM

Thanks so much for your advice. We've been really consistent with time outs but we are seeing no progress. My husband and I decided on a different spot for time outs, we are hoping it will work a little better. I used the new spot for the first time tonight. Aden couldn't have cared less that he had to sit in time out, but when his time was up he started crying when I told him he could get up! LOL! So I told him he could go back and sit in the corner if he wanted to and he did. Oh, what am I gonna do?!

felix61379 · 07-17-2008, 08:31 AM

Ha Ha! He sounds just like my 3 year old. He sits in time out very well. In fact he likes to sing "on top of spaghetti" while there. It's like he's not affected at all. My best advice is to just be consistent and stick to it. Don't threaten and not follow through. It drives me nuts to hear a parent dish out a HUGE threat that they know they will not follow through on. The kid knows it too!! My niece knows that her father will threaten bedtime and never go through with it. As your child gets a bit older, you can change up the punishment, but for now, time out might work best. Good luck and try and keep your sanity, it can be a struggle at times at best!

manj · 07-17-2008, 10:18 AM

Been thru' this with both of my 2 little brats(I always wonder if little girls are better behaved at this age) - anyway boys are boys.

Looked and asked for a lot of help. F

(removed )

The Best Thing I learnt along the way is that as parents we've got to have clear boundries for everyone at home and Parents Must Be Consistent at all times.

Good Luck

manj