I have a 17 month old and a 30 month old. They are tandem nursing, and we've seen almost no signs of frustration or jealousy towards each other.
However, something new has come up and I can't figure out how to deal with it. Younger toddler loves, and I mean LOVES to pull her sister's hair. She loves the reactions she gets. It doesn't help that older sis' hair is super curly, past the point of spiral curls to the point of corkscrew curls. So when little sis gets her hand in there, it's nearly impossible to get it out without pulling somewhat. Even when I'm *right there*, older sis still gets hurt. But it's horrid when I'm in the next room, a few feet away, or whatever. She screams, and younger sis pulls harder, trying to get away from her screaming, and ends up with several strands of sis' hair clutched in her fist. I tell little sis that pulling hair hurts big sis, please don't do that. But, as you all know, at this age, they don't get it, it's more for repetitive purposes. But I can't make big sis understand that it's a phase that little sis will outgrow either. When big sis was at this stage, I just had big brother get up and move. "She's looking for your reaction, the more you react, the more she's going to try to do it. Let's just move away from her to show her that when she hurts you, you don't want to be near her." It worked, within a few weeks, she stopped pulling his hair/hitting/whatever. But he was 4, almost 5, when big sis was at this stage, not 2.5. She's only 2.5, she doesn't get it, all she knows is that baby sis is hurting her. Mommy isn't protecting her.
Anyone? Any ideas? Suggestions? Thoughts? All are appreciated, thanks so much.
However, something new has come up and I can't figure out how to deal with it. Younger toddler loves, and I mean LOVES to pull her sister's hair. She loves the reactions she gets. It doesn't help that older sis' hair is super curly, past the point of spiral curls to the point of corkscrew curls. So when little sis gets her hand in there, it's nearly impossible to get it out without pulling somewhat. Even when I'm *right there*, older sis still gets hurt. But it's horrid when I'm in the next room, a few feet away, or whatever. She screams, and younger sis pulls harder, trying to get away from her screaming, and ends up with several strands of sis' hair clutched in her fist. I tell little sis that pulling hair hurts big sis, please don't do that. But, as you all know, at this age, they don't get it, it's more for repetitive purposes. But I can't make big sis understand that it's a phase that little sis will outgrow either. When big sis was at this stage, I just had big brother get up and move. "She's looking for your reaction, the more you react, the more she's going to try to do it. Let's just move away from her to show her that when she hurts you, you don't want to be near her." It worked, within a few weeks, she stopped pulling his hair/hitting/whatever. But he was 4, almost 5, when big sis was at this stage, not 2.5. She's only 2.5, she doesn't get it, all she knows is that baby sis is hurting her. Mommy isn't protecting her.
Anyone? Any ideas? Suggestions? Thoughts? All are appreciated, thanks so much.
