Is anybody else's toddler freaking out?

[lmonter]

My 2.5yo is tantruming and freaking out all over the place, up to 3-4 hours total throughout the day. It's getting tiring. While I know part of it's just the way stubborn 2yo's are, I'm also wondering if he knows exactly when the baby's going to be born and is acting out because he knows it's sometime soon. The reason I'm wondering is because it's gotten progressively worse over the last few days, and I don't know if I can handle him doing this *all* day since I'm technically not due for another week and a half.

Any advice or commiseration?

Lanna

[Hollycrand]

My dd freaked out the 2-3 weeks before the baby was born too. She was irritable, had tantrums all the time (before she had hardly had any), and didn't want to do anything with either dh or I. We tried to spend as much time as possible doing special things with her (tickling, playing, going for long walks, making special foods together) before baby arrived.
Now baby has arrived, and she's not freaking out as much. In fact, she's very happy to be a big sister, and was only traumatized by the fact that dh and I had to be away for almost 22 hours (it was a long labor). She still has her moments, but I try to laugh and smile with her as much as possible.

Sorry this doesn't really help too much, but I sympathize...

[BetsyPage]

I think my toddler is in disequilbrium and just tired of waiting for the baby to be born. (17 days "overdue" today.) So things are definitely a little unsettled around here. Dh went ahead and started his "leave" yesterday to be home while I tried a castor oil induction (didn't work, obviously!) and I'm so thankful b/c dd got extra daddy time, which helps a lot I think. The only "routine" that is firmly in place right now is naptime, b/c I need her to nap. Everything else is very disrupted b/c of my lack of energy, consistency and distractedness. I can't worry about it until after the baby comes, but it's definitely challenging.

Hollycrand- that is very encouraging to me to hear.

[adtake]

This is #3 for us, ds are 4 and 2.5...the 2.5 year old is doing fine, acting totally normal. But the 4 year old is whiny, tiresome, fussing about everything. And of course not listening. DH and I are so worn out over it. We too are trying to spend extra time with him and talk about the baby. He did fine when #2 came along, but he was only 19 months old.

Hang in there.. maybe give her some space? Let her buy something for baby?

It's hard, but we are there too!!

s

[clynnr]

Livi is driving me up the wall! (Some days, anyway. ) She is almost eighteen months, and I swear she knows something is going on. Last night DH, DD, and I went out for dinner, and DD *had* to know where both of us were at ALL times. She would freak out if she couldn't see one of us, and start yelling for us.

What made it worse is that we went to a Chinese buffet, and the whole time one of us was up grabbing food, she was yelling, "MAMA! MAMA!! MAAAAMAAAAAAAAAA!" It was actually kind of funny and cute. I thought for sure I was going to go into labor last night just because she was being so clingy. Oh well.

[ZenMamaJen]

Yes...we have the same situation here. Poor dd.

I feel guilty , but I also have VERY little patience (40w9d), so that makes me feel even guiltier (is that even a word?). I'm trying really hard to be objective about her tantrums and whining, but sometimes I just need to walk away. Sigh. I do feel very badly for her, she knows something is happening and I think all the stress (for lack of a better word) around here is getting to her.

[Stayathomemommy]

I dont blame the new baby coming to all the extra fussyness or tantrums. although i am sure they pick up on the excitement and antisipation going on because of the baby. But i am just crankier, unable to play with them like normal, and we aren't getting out and playing as much as normal. that is what i contribute to the extra fussieness. if you can get out and about. cuddle them a little extra if they want it and dont stress about it. 2yr olds just go through fazes and it may just be a coincidence that now is the time that the tandrums are starting.

[clynnr]

Originally Posted by Stayathomemommy

I dont blame the new baby coming to all the extra fussyness or tantrums. although i am sure they pick up on the excitement and antisipation going on because of the baby. But i am just crankier, unable to play with them like normal, and we aren't getting out and playing as much as normal. that is what i contribute to the extra fussieness. if you can get out and about. cuddle them a little extra if they want it and dont stress about it. 2yr olds just go through fazes and it may just be a coincidence that now is the time that the tandrums are starting.

Yeah, I know this is a lot of it for us. I'm just so tired all the time, and I know it's way less fun for her. She has been an angel today, so now I feel bad about writing that yesterday. She is such a good kid!

I love that she has discovered she has an opinion on things (from which shoes she wants to wear, to what food she wants a bite of, to which song she wants me to sing for her)! Sometimes we have a communication gap, and that can be really frustrating for her too.

I just have to keep telling myself that she is still a baby too.