Toddler Tantrum

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

Didder (that's her nickname, for those who don't know) is 2 1/2. Oh so very 2 1/2. Last few weeks she's been testing bedtime. One more drink, one more kiss, one more blanket. Some nights it's 20 minutes, some nights it's 2 hrs. I give in a lot to keep her from fussing. Her sisters and dad need sleep for school/work.

Tonight, she starts up with the blankets. And the drink. And random, uncompromisable babbling. After half a dozen trips into her room over the hour since bedtime, I finally told her I wasn't coming back and to go to sleep. She's heard this "no more" line before, and knows mom is a chump.

She fussed, then screamed "I HELP YOU I HELP YOU I HELP YOU!", which is her saying "I need help. Help me." I tell her dad to go "help you" her. He returns in a minute. She starts again, fusses a minute, then starts gagging. By the time he gets to her, she's screamed, coughed, and gagged herself into puking.

I hear her puke and start behind him. He's putting her on the floor and telling her to go to the bathroom just as I walk in the room. I snatch her back up, toss her in bed, and tell her goodnight. He said she had puked. I told him i knew that, turned off the light, and left him standing in the dark.

Now he's not amused. His heart is breaking, ripped out of his chest by the sounds of his baby girl screaming that she's yucky and "I HELP YOU!"

I've been down this road before. My oldest puked EVERY DAMN NIGHT for at least six months around this same age. I was pulling my hair out over this child! I finally asked her pediatrician about it. Without hesitation, the doctor told me to leave her to sleep in it. WTF no! I couldn't do that! That was disgusting! And mean! Traumatizing!

After another week of nightly puking, I figured what the hell. I gave it a shot. She puked that night and the next, but never again.

Back to Didder, she screamed for maybe 3 minutes and has been asleep.. in a puddle of puke.. since. Dad's heart is still breaking. He still thinks I'm mean. I told him it would be totally different if she was actually sick, but she's not. It's behavioral. She might not have intentionally puked for attention as her sister did, but puked from the excess screaming seeking attention.

What do you think? Mean momma?

[Fritzydoodle]

So far I'm the lone - the brat will live.   

[<3 Amber <3]

I, like you, have been (and am currently) in the terrible twos. Although, my terrible twos will be over in April.  

Anyway, while my kids have never actually puked, I have absolutely, without a doubt, let them scream their bloody heads off like I have NEVER heard a kid scream before, until they've cried themselves to sleep. There has been some gagging, and some serious gasping for breath and I just monitor from a distance (where they can't see me) to make sure they're still really breathing, but I let them alone. And eventually they fall asleep.

Now also, like you, for a long time I would enable the situation and keep going in there. Even now, once and a while (such as tonight), they will try every excuse in the book to stay up. Gotta pee, I'm thirsty, I'm sick, I need a hug or kiss (which are the two hardest for me to ignore since I'm a softy that way), and tonight, the newest addition was "my leg hurts".

She's going to be fine. I don't know if I could handle leaving one of the kids in puke (but not because i think it's mean, but because I have OCD that way...lol). It's hard for daddy's when it comes to their daughters.

Oh, and not to scare you or anything (or hijack your thread), but I had my son's 4 year old well check a few weeks ago and the pediatrician was asking me if we were having any behavioral issues with the 4 year old. Weird she asked, because hubby and I were talking about the excessive whining, crying, and how hubby thinks it's much for a 4 year old.
Turns out, the Pedi. (who has 5 kids of her own also) wonders why they call it the "terrible twos" because she says the 4th year is MUCH harder than the 2nd! Fan-fracking-tastic right?!  So now I have a terrible two AND a 4 year old in my house! She says 2 year olds are still learning to communicate and are still learning the limits they can push so they tend to get frustrated more frequently and thus the crying and behavior issues etc. 4 year olds, however, KNOW the rules and limits, can communicate effectively, and they are just blatantly disrespectful and disobedient.

Anyway, sorry that was a little off track. Back to the topic at hand:

I do not think you're mean. A little disgusting, but not mean...lol  

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

3 is worse than 2, 4 is worse than 3, etc, etc. the redhead was a monster at 4, into 5. being in school (she's a first grader) has really helped with calming her down. structure, routine, etc. at times i think preschool made it worse.
 

btw, the whole damn house smells of puke. but she slept all night.

[Chunk]

Sorry to hear about that, Mandy.  I dont think I could get through it, I'm glad Amy came with a kid that was past that stage.

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

are you kidding!? toddler tantrums are wayyyyyy easier than tween hormones! (if you're not there yet, you will be. soon. good luck.)

[RogueRyder]

I get the "hugs", hug.. walk toward door, "kiss", kiss walk toward door, "high five", high five walks back towards door, "fist pump", fist pump is were I draw the line, seal jail..er bedroom with nothing in it to play with and let the screaming commence. But once that door is shut it almost never reopens till morning. Just go down stairs and turn the TV up.

[urban cowgirl]

1 - No, you're not a mean mama. I would do the same.

Kierstin has always been my night owl. Jackson goes and goes and goes, but then collapses on the couch at 8 pm dead to the world if I don't have him in bed.

With Kierstin, we handled it with her watching cartoons in her bed till she fell asleep. I will NOT win Mom of The Year award for that one, but it worked for us. She stayed in her bed, watched tv for a bit, usually 30 min, then fell asleep. The last 3 months or so, she's been insisting on sleeping in Jackson's bed because she's "scared". He's putting up with it, she's not bothering him, and they're both going right to sleep. It works.

[Fat Girl]

I had a cousin, incidently named Penny(it must be the name that causes mayhem), that made herself puke for attention in to her teens.

SHe could puke at will.... and did so whenever she didn't get her way...or didn't like where she was being taken... or didn't like what she was being fed...or anytime she was disciplined in any way.....

How my Aunt didn't lose her mind I do not know..

[KendoPt4]

I remember one tantrum I threw, I smashed my face against the wall until I got a bloody nose so I could get attention.

 

I vote Stink + Live

[nj]

Your pediatrician was correct...as hard as it is to do...leave her there...she will live. As a mama, you know the difference between this bedtime procrastination on her part, and something more serious. 

I'm a dog mama...no kids...but that is what I would do..in fact, that's what I did when I was babysitting...I put the kid in the middle of a queen sized bed, put on a "sleepytime" tape, closed the door and walked out. When I went back in to check on him after he got quiet, 10 minutes later, he was sound asleep.

If you keep going back to her, she will keep dragging bedtime out longer and longer every night. Put an end to it now.

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

i'm currently dealing with a 23 year old having a tantrum.

bring back the puking toddler. she's much more reasonable.

 

[Wolfy]

i'm currently dealing with a 23 year old having a tantrum.

bring back the puking toddler. she's much more reasonable.

 

Chris is that young??

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

i'm currently dealing with a 23 year old having a tantrum.

bring back the puking toddler. she's much more reasonable.

 

Chris is that young??

does he look that young?
(he does when he shaves)

[<3 Amber <3]

i'm currently dealing with a 23 year old having a tantrum.

bring back the puking toddler. she's much more reasonable.

 

bwhahahahaha.