• Family and Individual Education and Coaching

Mary Kay Keller

About
Books
Classes
Coaching
Podcasts
Testimonials

Parenting advice?

Posted on December 25, 2010 by rachel.stenta@gmail.com

Questioner: Alisha

Question: Hello, I am a mother of two boys. My oldest is 26 months and is a happy go lucky little tike most of the time. My youngest is 3 months. I knew that my oldest would start to show signs of jealousy once the baby was born. My husband and I were ready for it.

Hitting the terrible two’s and a new baby all at once wasn’t so bad until about a month ago. I have started to notice some really odd behaviors from my toddler. He has started to whine for no reason or when he wants something. Before he would tell us what he wants. My son is extremely verbal for his age and has no trouble using words to express himself.

I am wondering if his whining is because of the new baby or is it possibly a phase?

Also I was thinking of placing him a preschool this fall because he seams to be getting bored with just being at home with Mommy. He is pretty smart (he know his alphabet, colors, shapes, and numbers to 20 and more) Do you think that putting him in a class at 2 1/2 is too soon?

Answer: Dear Alisha:

Sometimes when children are feeling left behind because of a new baby or a major change in their life they regress in their behavior hence the whining. Sometimes they will temporarily wet the bed or refuse to feed themselves (these are just examples).

When your son whines simply tell him you cannot understand and he needs to use his big boy voice. Simply repeat this statement to him if he continues to whine. Under no circumstances give into him even once when he whines or you will reinforce this behavior.

As for his being bored, rather than sending him to school at this age, why not try setting a time when he can have you all to himself and play games or do activities which do challenge him and are developmentally appropriate for him?

Whenever possible include him in the activities with the new baby even if they are boring as he needs to know he has not lost his status with you just because there is a new baby in the family.

I also suggest searching your local bookstore for children stories which focus on siblings and what happens when a new baby is born into the family. Often stories like these help little ones understand what his happening. Encourage him to tell you stories about the family as well.

Best Wishes!

M Kay Keller

Rating:

Knowledge Helpfulness Timeliness Politeness 
10              10               10            10

Comment: Thanks so much for your help Kay! We have started telling my son to use his big boy voice and he has already improved. We still have a ways to go but everyday is better then before. THANK YOU! -Alisha

http://astore.amazon.com/lifsjouagrass-20/detail/B005ELMC0Q

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Why is Breastfeeding Awareness So Important?
  • Babies are not empty heads that we need to fill up!
  • Learn the Baby Code Here!
  • What happens when optimal caregiving is not addressed.
  • Connecting to your infant through empathy.

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • August 2022
    • December 2020
    • February 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • February 2017
    • June 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010

    Categories

    • ACES
    • Adult Children
    • Adverse Childhood Experiences
    • alcohol
    • All Families
    • animal abuse
    • attachment
    • Babies
    • baby
    • Bedtime
    • bethchange
    • bonding
    • breastfeeding
    • caregiving
    • Child abuse
    • Children
    • communication
    • Dads
    • dating
    • discipline
    • emotional abuse
    • emotional development
    • empathy
    • family
    • father
    • fathering
    • grand parent
    • grandparenting
    • grandparents
    • health
    • infant
    • infant communication
    • infant empathy
    • infant massage
    • infants
    • massage
    • mother
    • mothering
    • mothers
    • Occam's razor
    • parenting
    • pet
    • prevention
    • protective factors
    • Q and A 13-17 yr old
    • Q and A 2 yr old
    • relationships
    • research
    • Resiliency
    • Romance
    • sibling
    • siblings
    • single dad
    • sleep
    • stepparenting
    • teens
    • Toddlers
    • Trauma
    • Trauma informed care
    • Uncategorized
    • videoblog
    • violence

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    © 2000, MaryKayKeller.com. All Rights Reserved.