Temper Temper
G does a couple of really funny things when he's mad. First, he tries to hit, or throw, whatever the offending item is. For a time, he was hitting me, but the only thing greater than his anger is his desire to make me happy, so he now sort of does a fake out. He raises his arm to hit me and then at the last second diverts to hit the wall or table. Then, he cries because his hand hurts, and he holds it out to me to make it feel better.
Right now, he's whining in his crib (woke up too early from nap) and threw his blanket at the wall of the crib. He used to stand up and throw it OUT of the crib. But then I wouldn't bring it back to him, and he was so sad without it. So he doesn't throw it out of the crib any more.
I've only had to do time outs two or three times. Mostly for throwing things at mommy or hitting mommy. He has stopped both (for now - I realize this will all change as he realizes more and more he does not - in fact - have to listen to me at all).
My doc recommended time outs for one minute for each year of their age. I think a full minute for a 18 month old is excessive (and unrealistic) so it was 30 seconds. Enough time that he knows he's done something wrong, but not too crazy.
My doc also recommended putting them in their crib, for crib time, when they are being difficult. I'm not going to do that either. The crib is a place of happiness and comfort, not a place to go when you're in trouble. I'm applying my dog training on this one. Don't make a dog go to his kennel ('home') when he's been bad, you want them to like the kennel.
I want G to like the crib, not think of it as a prison to serve time.
He really does not like making me mad at him. I tell him no and he claps his hand to his eyes (you can't see me, if I can't see you) and then a few seconds later rushes at me for a hug. If he's overly tired sometimes he continues the bad behavior and screams and goes all limp and falls to the floor. Usually then it's time for a bath and to go to bed.
Right now, he's whining in his crib (woke up too early from nap) and threw his blanket at the wall of the crib. He used to stand up and throw it OUT of the crib. But then I wouldn't bring it back to him, and he was so sad without it. So he doesn't throw it out of the crib any more.
I've only had to do time outs two or three times. Mostly for throwing things at mommy or hitting mommy. He has stopped both (for now - I realize this will all change as he realizes more and more he does not - in fact - have to listen to me at all).
My doc recommended time outs for one minute for each year of their age. I think a full minute for a 18 month old is excessive (and unrealistic) so it was 30 seconds. Enough time that he knows he's done something wrong, but not too crazy.
My doc also recommended putting them in their crib, for crib time, when they are being difficult. I'm not going to do that either. The crib is a place of happiness and comfort, not a place to go when you're in trouble. I'm applying my dog training on this one. Don't make a dog go to his kennel ('home') when he's been bad, you want them to like the kennel.
I want G to like the crib, not think of it as a prison to serve time.
He really does not like making me mad at him. I tell him no and he claps his hand to his eyes (you can't see me, if I can't see you) and then a few seconds later rushes at me for a hug. If he's overly tired sometimes he continues the bad behavior and screams and goes all limp and falls to the floor. Usually then it's time for a bath and to go to bed.
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