Toddler/preschooler's behavior as birth approaches

[DanaMarie]

Just wondering what affect everyone is seeing on their young one's behavior as time for new baby approaches, or what has been going for the mamas who've delivered. My son turned three in September, he has 2 older brothers, 1st and 2nd graders. Throughout pregnancy the youngest has been very attached always kissing rubbing my belly feeling baby's kicks. In these last weeks i have been talking to him more about the baby coming out of mommy soon and that he's going to be a big brother. In the last few days however he has been so whiney and sometimes truly crying. This morning I pulled his chair out from the table for him and that set off the waterworks. Now I have him sitting on my lap because I realized that he was truly having a moment and those tears are so real. I'm guessing he's really sensing baby's approach and is just overwhelmed. This reaction in him is new to me cause DS2 never went through this when I was having #3.

Anyone else experiencing similar reactions with their young ones?

[brenda-sw]

We are having some issues here and I am not sure if it is related to time change, baby coming or just a TWO year old thing. My daughter is 27 months and has been whiney and crying ALOT more than usual the past couple of weeks; also her sleep has been off. She has also been taking a BIGGER interest in my huge belly. So maybe she is sensing that the new one will be here before she knows it. One of the hardest things about being a parent is not knowing what is causing behavior changes/issues, sleep disturbances, etc, etc, etc!

GOOD LUCK!!

Brenda

[Om Girl]

DD is 32 months and is going through something as well. She's excited about the baby coming and knows that it will happen relatively soon. She too rubs my belly and talks to "her baby" daily. (It's become like a security blanket for her!)
But, she also has been extremely whiny and clingy and needy. (We are fighting a cold, but this has been before the cold symptoms appeared as well)
I don't have any advice mama, I know my patience is thin lately as I get close to EDD and it's a struggle to meet my own needs and DD's. Sending you patience vibes.

[fallriverfox]

Mine (3.5 yo) has been a bit off too. She's been having a lot of "accidents" and is very clingy and whines all. the. time. She claims to be happy and excited about the baby, but I think she's pretty rattled. She did announce this morning that the baby is coming today and put on a special outfit and everything. I'm afraid I may be disappointing her (although it is my due date)

[Om Girl]

Fallriverfox: that comment about your daughter's outfit and announcement is too cute!

[hannybanany]

My 3 year old has been very whiny/clingy/not herself the past few days. I don't know what it is... Maybe she can tell that I'm anxious and that's bothering her.

[OkiMom]

DD is 21 months and has been getting increasingly clingy/whiny for the last couple of months. Its gotten to the point where I dread her waking up each morning and from naps because I know what I have to look forward to. For example, last night she woke up and realized DH was cuddling her instead of me, she freaked and I had to spend almost 2 hours calming her down before she would go back to sleep. She finally went back to sleep but had to have ahold of my arm. Every time I moved my arm she cried.

[bax]

I was going to post a question about this myself!

DD is 27 months and has totally been "regressing." Of course it could just be a normal phase--she often goes back and forth--but it's like everything is going backwards at once. She's back to hitting, throwing food off the table, running from me when we're by the street/trying to get into the car, waking up in the night, not going down for naps, etc.--all things I thought we'd mostly worked through. She's also been having crazy wild tantrums over the littlest things--even when she's not tired or hungry etc.

We're still nursing, and she's been wanting to nurse more and more for longer and longer--which is usually fine bec. I get to lie down and rest and I figure it helps me toward labor. But when I decided we would tandem nurse instead of wean, she was down to one or two quick sessions a day--I thought, how hard can this be?--but now I'm envisioning myself being one of those mama pigs who just lies on her side with babies attached all the time!

[ma_vie_en_rose]

The only real thing that has been driving me nuts with my girls lately is that they suddenly can not get along with one another. I am having to constantly regulate their play. They have also become extremely competetive for my attention. So, I have tried to have more one on one time with each to help. I think some of this has to do with the time change, though.

As for their general attitude on the baby, DD1 is more BTDT about a new baby joining. She is excited, but she is not so curious since she is already a big sis. DD2 is really, really into the whole baby thing. She is always playing with my belly and asking about the baby. She is playing with her babies a ton, too. Also, the BFing has picked up an awful lot in recent weeks, but that may be due more to the colostrum coming in more.

[nznavo]

My son is turning 4 Fri and has been really sad and quiet today, definitely baby related. He has been so amazing throughout the pregnancy, and I would love to make it all magically ok for him but I think it's just one of those things we need to work through as it happens.

[yogagirl]

Hey nznavo, my dd's turning four on Friday too! I'm still contemplating whether to have a mini party for her on Saturday or not. We're all sick here with a cough. I was thinking this cough (which dd aquired first) was part of this processing of what's coming up any day now!

[ambotchka]

DD is excited and keeps asking "whens baby get out?" She's extremely interested in changing diapers on her dolls, other real babies, and I just caught her trying to put on a 0-3 month sleeper. Sometimes, she crawls on my lap, pulls up my shirt and moves my bra and pretends to nurse. Then she says, "I'm a baby." She also carries her doctor kit around and constantly checks my belly's vitals.

[nznavo]

Hey, yogagirl that's cool! We're postponing the birthday until 22nd. I was due on 4th but still no baby so Fri seems a bit touch and go for us.