Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

DS is 18 months (today!) and he's already into his terrble twos. he's throwing, hitting, saying no all the time, not letting us change him, tandrums, whining, etc. where is my sweet baby!?!?

i know this is a phase and i'm trying to teach myself how to deal with it cause im not doing a good job. i get frustrated easily and i dont want DS to see that. i feel like im always yelling at him lately.

i read i can give him choices like...do you want an apple or banana? instead of...what do you want to eat? so im going to try that. but how do you keep your calm?? thanks.

Message edited 4/18/2011 2:52:31 PM.

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

We have the terrible 15 months right now! Its awful. Whining, hitting, throwing things, arching back and screeching in the carseat.

When you find the solution let me know!

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

I definitely do choices. DD gets excited about that.
I also put her snacks on the lower shelf of the fridge or cabinets and let her pick her foods. I only put there what I want her to eat, but this way she gets a choice.

I also have to make getting changed exciting. I let her pick two farm animals or trains to bring to the bedroom and her us get dressed (or go in the bath). We bath those animals, dry them off, etc.
For pajamas, I let her choose. And I say things like "lets put on Morgan's princess pajamas or monkey pajamas."
She loves when we use her name!!!!

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

thanks!

any more tips?

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

Ooooh, yeah you can see from my post its a similar situation here. Generally she's ok, but she certainly is trying to test us. Sometimes DH and I look at each other like, "don't disrupt her, she is eating and being really good at the table". God forbid you do something like hand her a sippy she could fly off the handle Honestly, I ignore a lot of it, like turn around walk away ignore it...usually she gets over it. I kind of have an I'm not dealing with this attitude and walk away...she usually aims to please after this. Usually.

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?

Throwing: Our rule was, "we don't throw {toys}, we throw kisses {muh}.

When DS was younger, we'd say it to him. Now he's older/talking we ask him if we throw {toys}, he says no, we throw kisses and blows me a kiss.

HTH

Re: Tips for dealing with the terrible twos?