Wednesday 29 March 2017

Checking in about toddler meltdowns: wants whatever choice he just rejected


Hi all,I have a feeling that there's not much more to do for this than what we're doing, but I wanted to at least throw it out there to this awesome sub in case brain melt has caused us to miss something.Latest 21 M old toddler challenge (and we can't WAIT for this one to move on to something else) involves this habit: I have choice [x], I express desire for that, I am about to get choice [x], I hysterically freak out and express desire for [y], and then if given [y] I immediately demand [x]. It's consistent in a bunch of different arenas. He has two pairs of shoes; the one he wants to put on is the other pair, always. At bedtime, which used to be so easy, he demands to be put in his crib (night night!!! NIGHT NIGHT!!!), then freaks out as you're setting him down and demands to rock again; you start rocking and then... no, why are you doing that? He wants 'night night'. Couldn't have been more clear about that, people! Then you put him down and he wigs out.I'm aware that I've described many of your lives right now or in the recent past. In the meantime, this is what we're doing: Let him express his preference (within reason, I should note-- one pair of shoes vs. the other, not one pair of shoes vs. strip naked and streak down the hallway) and give it to him once; when he changes his mind, change back, but then the next expressed preference is the one he gets. Change, switch back, change again, then we're done. Tantrum ensues. Ride it out.Our thinking is, let him have some preference, but teach him that there is a limit to this and that when he makes a choice, it results in a particular outcome; these aren't hypothetical questions.Our strategy, about two weeks in, is having no discernible effect.Better strategies? Other thoughts? Brilliant ideas from the hive mind? Or stay the course and wait for the next joyous behavior to emerge, at which time we probably will think back fondly on these days and wonder what we were complaining about? via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2mQL2Rh

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