Tantrums | Imamother

amother

Fri, Sep 01 2023, 8:03 am

I have a two month old baby and a 21 m.o toddler. Toddler has been a menace since baby was born. Refusing to sleep in the am- waking up super early and screaming for HOURS. Demanding food /drinks and rejecting everything I give her, getting angrier with each try. Scratching, hitting, biting and hysterical screaming/ crying. She also does this exact same routing when her father is at mincha. On a good day she wakes up at 5am and does this routing until I have to leave for work at 8. Then the same while her tatty is at mincha. She also gets furious when I have to feed the baby. I’ve tried stern “no”, walking away from her, distracting her with books/ toys/ etc. absolutely nothing works. (PS: I’m a toddler playgroup morah, I’m very good with tantrums but I can’t get hers to stop! My mother says it’s because of the new baby but I do my best to give her attention and love. I’m starting to feel like there’s something wrong with her. Please help!)

amother

DarkOrange

Fri, Sep 01 2023, 9:43 am

If it’s only happening since the baby is born then it is likely because of the new baby entering the family.

I once heard it described like this. Imagine your husband comes home and says honey, I got a new wife! Aren’t you excited? Look how cute she is. That’s how your toddler feels. She was the only child or the youngest child up until now and is too young to really comprehend that others have siblings and that mommy having another baby is an acceptable option. It feels like a huge betrayal to her. Like you’re cheating on her.

It’s a hard transition but she will adjust. Just keep focusing on her and giving her as much attention as possible. Her tantruming really sounds awful especially when you’re taking care of a newborn too.

amother

Wandflower

Fri, Sep 01 2023, 11:49 am

Find a way to make the baby's feeding time a time you can give her attention by speaking to her, singing together, reaching her books....