piccyami
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Post by piccyami on Sept 14, 2017 8:48:35 GMT -6
W has apparently decided that he hates transitions.
We had complete meltdowns over me taking him out of his crib (he'd been standing there holding his hands up), changing his diaper, getting dressed, giving him his cup, going downstairs, getting in his chair, getting out of his chair, and getting in the car. This was all this morning.
He's completely happy if we let him do what he wants, but as soon as we initiate something, he has a laying in the floor flopping and screaming meltdown. He also completely happy at dc, but they mostly let him do his own thing until he's ready.
Is this normal? Does it end soon? Tips for dealing?
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Sept 14, 2017 8:49:07 GMT -6
Is this just today so far?
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Post by Dramaphile on Sept 14, 2017 9:25:50 GMT -6
Toddlers are basically in a state of power struggle. Nugget's current transition freak-out is over clothes. She hates changing her clothes, and will throw a fit if you try and clothe her without extensive negotiations. And even then, she's spent the past 3 days without a shirt at home. She either wants to keep the same outfit on for days, or wear nothing. I have had to intentionally spill things on her just to get her to change.The other night she went to bed in only a diaper because I gave up on trying to convince her to wear clothes. She used to freak out about diaper changes, too, and has only recently mostly stopped that.
So, potentially normal power struggle stuff. Giving warnings that transition is going to happen can help, that gets more successful over time when they can understand it better. When I worked in daycare, we had transition songs for activities, like cleaning up and getting ready to go outside and meals. Might help give him a positive association with change and a sense of routine.
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piccyami
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Post by piccyami on Sept 14, 2017 11:51:33 GMT -6
Is this just today so far? He's been doing it for a couple of weeks, but it finally clicked that the transitions were the problem this morning. All of the things I listed occurred between 6 and 7:30 this morning, though. Everything is a screaming meltdown until we get to school. And z is totally cool with most everything. Except diaper changes. That child would prefer to go pantsless and diaperless. |
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piccyami
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Post by piccyami on Sept 14, 2017 11:53:43 GMT -6
Dramaphile, I figured it was normal and he was just getting a jump start on the power struggle, but we really have to figure out how to preempt more just so he doesn't spend the entire morning screaming over one thing or another.
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stringy
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Post by stringy on Sept 14, 2017 13:08:53 GMT -6
Does he wake starving? Cuz sometimes that is P's problem and she's grouchy McGroucherson until I get some snacks in her. Just leave some cheerios in a bowl on the floor for both snacks and entertainment.
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piccyami
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Post by piccyami on Sept 14, 2017 18:14:00 GMT -6
Does he wake starving? Cuz sometimes that is P's problem and she's grouchy McGroucherson until I get some snacks in her. Just leave some cheerios in a bowl on the floor for both snacks and entertainment. We bring sippy cups before they get out of the crib, but I'll try solids, too. They've been sttn lately so we've been cramming as much as we can into him before bed. |
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Post by charlotte on Sept 14, 2017 18:47:12 GMT -6
Regarding food, I pretty much have some type of food to munch on available to him at all hours. Some of time he carries around a Tupperware thing with him all day so he can snack. I'm sure this is not recommended.
What works for us is mostly a comfort/fun item coming along with us. Anytime we are going to transition I say something like "we are going to go downstairs now. Would you like to take your alligator or your race car with you?" Something about being able to take a toy of his choosing along with him makes him a lot happier about it.
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piccyami
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Post by piccyami on Sept 15, 2017 7:19:24 GMT -6
Does he wake starving? Cuz sometimes that is P's problem and she's grouchy McGroucherson until I get some snacks in her. Just leave some cheerios in a bowl on the floor for both snacks and entertainment. We had Cheerios in bowls this morning, along with the milk. It definitely helped when he figured out how to get them out. But he would definitely still prefer to stay in his soggy pajamas and diaper (because no matter what diaper h puts on him, it is going to leak) all morning. |
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