My 2 year old son is a terror. Anyone else?

Question

I'm have two older kids, girls and they were nothing like him. I thought I had this parenting thing down but he gets more horrible every day. My girls are good kids, fairly well behaved. He was such a sweet lovely baby but it started when he started walking and he's gotten worse ever since.

He has had stitches twice - my daughters never have! He gets into everything, wants to take apart or investigate everything, do everything himself, has horrible temper tantrums when thwarted, if something cannot be eaten he must bang it, hit people with it or hide it. He torments his sisters, he likes to squash bugs, he yells loudly and he loves to make a mess. He is on the go from the minute he wakes up in the morning till he finally falls asleep at night (thank God!)

Is he just a typical boy? I love him dearly but please, when do boys like this get more civilized?

It's so good to know my boy is within the range of normal for his age. My husband, despite numerous discussions about it, remains rather lax on disciplining him, just kind of lets him run wild. But I am looking for any suggestions you can give me.

For the poster who said, the television is raising my son...? Don't know where you got that idea, obviously you just felt the need to post something rude. He doesn't watch TV at all, won't sit still long enough anyway.

Answer 1

He is 2 and a boy. First, you need to set some boundries. If he hits, give him a time out for 2 minutes. If he doesn't stay in time out, get a play pen. Also, if he uses things to hit other people, put the thing in time out (take it away). Also, give him a warning, and then time out if he does not do what you say.

Second, he is a typical boy. Take him outside in the morning and afternoon if the weather is ok. Go to the park. Let him run around and get his energy out. You may also wish to join Gymboree. They have classes that are at his level and playtimes through the week where he can climb and run on the equiptment.

Third, have him help you clean up. Make it a game and sing a song. Messes and wanting to do things himself is all normal 2 year old behavior. Sounds like a pretty normal 2 year old boy.

Fourth, get a babysitter at least once a week to have some mommy time. It will give you a break, and some help.

Answer 2

Around half way through college....
Just kidding. They call it the terrible twos for a reason. With boys it is usually a physical thing more than mental. He's establishing his ability to get around on his own and sometimes it simply does not go the way he planned it.

As far as getting into everything, those locks they sell at Babies R Us are a Godsend. Invest! I found that Legos are a good deterrant from him breaking everything and wanting to investigate. You simply have to channel his energy into something that is not gonig to trash your house.

The bug thing and the stitches are typical boy. Curiosity into seeing the insides has him squishing the bugs.Tormenting his sisters will stop when they get wise and form an alliance against him (I have seen this go down it is awesome)

In the end it sounds like his curiosity level is normal, he just can't seem to figure out what to do with everything that is now in his grasp. Help him channel it instead of just saying no. That is where he gets frustrated and tantrums come soon after that. Good luck.

Answer 3

I have a 2yr old boy and he is deffinately "hyperactive" and "out of control" and he doesn't like to sleep and he also doesn't like it if anyone else is sleeping.

I handle him by first remembering that boys are much more active than girls (I have a girl due in Dec and am looking forward to a child that is more relaxed).

Second, I remember that he is in fact a child so I need to keep my temper at all times.

Third, I repeat the same statements to him, like "stop it" or "no one like s that type of treatment" and last of all, "do you want a spanking". For the longest time it seemed like he did not understand me, but just recently he is catching on.

We were at a family event this weekend and he kept trying to get on stage and unplug the bands speaker cords from the speaker (not to mention other kids were reacting to it so he thinks it's a game). I first stoped him, held his arm and told him that he is not alowed on stage. Then I took him away from the stage and let him go. He went right back up there, so I said, do you want a spanking and he said no, so again I took him away from the stage and let him go and he did not go back.

This is the fist time I got him to understand and listen to my instruction and so far this week I can see that he is listening to me more and more.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

They don't. He is a typical boy. He will get past this stage when he reaches about the age of 15-16, when he finds new uses for females. He will always be taking things apart. Your car, the lawnmower, the microwave, the toaster......etc. Its just a boy thing. He'll probably even try to redo the bathroom plumbing at some point.

Thank GOD I had girls. Much easier to raise.

Answer 5

Whoa......I have a 21 month old daughter and I swear she is crazy! She does the same kinds of things especially hits!
When I remember I try to do take the suggestions that I've seen on Nanny 911 and that other show....... the best one that works for me is my tone of voice automatically I want ot yell at her but if and when I catch myself I change my tone of voice and amazingly enough it works........the hard part is using it at all times but I am getting better! But I also have a 7 year old boy and he was an angel......so I don't know if you'd call him a typical boy...

Answer 6

My son hasn't needed stiches yet, nor has he broken anything yet. But notice how I say YET! He is Going to do it it is just a matter of time! My son was a really good baby and the moment that he larned to crawl it was all over! I have more locks and baby gates than I know what to do with! I have to keep him out of everything! He especially likes to play in the toilet, and the garbage. Eats strange things that he stashes in his toy box and takes flying leaps off of every piece of furniture I own.
Just take a deep berath and repeat this Phrase: "GET OFF IT!"
Oh and this is not a phase, he is a boy and will continue to do stupid things, thats what boys, and Men do. It's their Job.

Answer 7

Oh Memories!!! My son got his first stitches at 11 months old when his cousin shoved him into the coffee table!! It has NEVER stopped - and he is 32 yrs old now.

Yes, you have a 'normal' little boy - some are just more accident prone & active that others, that is what makes him special.

It got to a point when I had teachers call and tell me "what a wonderful kid I had" -- my response was "HUH!!!" -- cuz he was a little terror at home!!! They will learn what you teach them, but they hardly use those manners at their own home.

Take care, good luck & God Bless little boys!!!!

Answer 8

wow him and my son would be best friends they do the same thing..my son is a bad *** but will always keep telling what is right..he is bad too and u makes messes..throws things...my son throws hisself on the floor and hits is head...i dont know i would just tell him he is doing. wrong and think of time out...i dont believe in wooping so i say time out works its a minute for every year..so hold him in ur lap for time out and dont let him go he will scream and yell. my son still screams when he is in time out....i think he was worse when he was 1 ha ...i dont think its terrible 2's ...i am 2 months pregnant..im praying its not a boy..been torutred to much..ready for a girl now! good luck with ur son.

Answer 9

Sounds like a typical boy with a case of the terrible two's :)

Answer 10

My son is also 2 and is also into everything! I've found that the one and only thing that makes him behave is a TIME OUT. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. We tried the whole smack the butt/slap the hand thing, but all it did was make him hit others. So we tried the time out, and it works! He hates it!