Could this be a vax reaction?

[FluffiB]

Please don't flame me for vax'ing my son! I was ignorant and knew nothing about it when he was born, but we've been doing delayed vax since he was 2. His first MMR was 3.

Anyway, he recently had his 4yo shots, DTaP and inactive Polio. No obvious or immediate side effects. Maybe about 2-3 weeks later (which is a few weeks ago), he started getting very aggressive by hitting a lot. He's been growling every time he gets mad, and although hitting wasn't uncommon, this went on for 2 weeks. We've been trying to work with him instead of disciplining (long story), but it wasn't working. I finally had enough and started putting him in a timeout in his room (another long story here). He stopped hitting after 2 days, but it started happening again.

Can the vaxes cause his aggression a few weeks later? He's an explosive child and is pretty aggressive to begin with, but not to this extent. We have also been trying to be more firm with him as he's very oppositional, so I don't know what's making him so short-tempered and angy a lot.

I'm at my wits end here. Is this normal for a 4yo? Is it the summer heat? It's been very hot here the last few weeks. Is it allergies (he does have environmental allergies but not on meds)? ?????

[brendaziz]

Many factors can contribute to behavioral changes- diet, sleep, all kinds of stuff. But I just wanted to let you know that your son is NOT abnormal in any way. These are the same things I am working on/dealing w/ w/ my 4 year old every day. Just keep on keepin on. There'll be days when you take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back- but some day you'll look back and be able to see things for what they are- just a phase (even if it seems to last forever!)

[Ophelia]

you won't get flamed, don't worry about that.

Could be just a coincidence, really no way to know. Is there anything else in his life that has changed? Is he in daycare or around other kids a lot?

[FluffiB]

Thank you for response. I was doing more research, and it seems I'm not alone. Some call 4's "the anger age." I really hope it's a phase! I knew 3s would be tough, but no one told me about the 4s!

[ramama]

Four-year-olds can be a delight, can't they? No one told be about fours either, and I can't wait until my 4yo turns 5 in January. Not that her behavior will automatically change, but at least we'll be on the other side of 4. Four's been a real challenge. She has a lot of the anger issues that you describe, as well as "animal" responses. And nothing works to modify/change the behavior. Nothing. I'm just waiting it out. And hopefully our whole family will emerge from the fours alive and sane (until DD2 turns four!).

FWIW, I've never believed "terrible twos" and "terrific threes" and other stage monikers, but fours have really lived up to the labels.