We have a two & a half year old, a ten year old, and a three week old. It's the two year old that's giving us a run for our
money! The biggest problem. She puts rocks in her mouth. I have tried things like, hey, let's put that special rock in this nice box! or, let's paint them and recently, hey, how far can you throw that rock? Nothing works it goes into her mouth and then she bombs around and I try to get ahold of her without causing too much commotion, otherwise she runs quicker! I don't want to have a choking fatality and we can't seem to get this one under control! Other than spending all day and night inside what else is there?
Secondly, tantrums obviously she is bothered by this new brother my husband is off work for a month, and quite
honestly this new baby is a breeze! The two year old screams and whines and won't settle until 11 or 12 some nights and she is burning us both out! I try to spend as much time alone with her as I can and I cuddle her and tell her how special she is anyhow, we are burning out, stressed out, and wondering how such a sweet kid can turn into such a
monster!
What are we doing wrong? help!
I think you're doing everything right. Two year olds become three year olds, and that's the brightest side of your problem. I do have a few little ideas that worked for me.
Each time I brought a new baby home I placed him, or her, into the arms of the next youngest one. It was that child's little baby. And whenever people came to see the baby, as friends and relatives invariably do, I made sure that the others were front and center, not the new baby.
From the start, each little person in the family had responsibilities with the baby and was made to feel useful; even
when they flushed the diapers down the toilet, even when they dropped the milk on the floor, even when they woke the baby by mistake. We all make mistakes, and two year olds are no exception.
She may still be jealous of the baby, but you can do whatever is possible to avoid that. She will never be two years old again. When she becomes 3 and 4 she'll become an independent little person. Now, she's still your baby. Enjoy her sweetness while you can.
As for the rocks in her mouth, maybe she's actually lacking in some food. That's just a far out guess, but she might appreciate something big and chunky in her mouth, (raw carrot, potato, frankfurter, pineapple) or some mineral supplement.
Probably she's just doing this because the first time it happened it caused a great stir. She needs the attention and
you're doing what you can about that, but maybe there's more you could do. Ask your older child to cooperate and to include the two year old in some activity that excludes the baby. Eventually, your two youngest will become fast friends, we all hope, but for now the two older ones could associate occasionally. That little two year old wants desperately to be noticed and appreciated for herself.
Another brilliant suggestion is to keep rocks away from her. Don't take her where rocks exist. Give her a little bag of large smooth stones that will neither damage her mouth nor slip down her throat.
Finally, I assure you that your little girl will drop her rock-stuffing habit in no time at all. Maybe she's done with it
already. And whatever she takes up next, to get your attention and drive you crazy, might be much worse. Just remember that every family gets through this "terrible twos" stage at least once. You missed it, apparently, with your first child, and with luck your baby won't put you through it. But right now, it's just one of those challenging pleasures of parenting. Stay calm. Don't let it bring out your own worst. Love her every minute and show it, whether she has rocks in her mouth or anywhere else.
Yours sincerely,
GG
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