ok,so I agreed to take care of her because my cousing had no one else..She is a single parent...I have two kids of my own 3yr and 14month.so I'm a stay home mom. The problem is my niece is very sentimental..she cryes for no real reason..I first try to talk to her ,but she won't listen she cryes louder..so then I ignor her..well 20min pass and she is still crying.I go and try to talk to her and the samething happends so I just have to let her cry til she gets tire..(Example of why she will start crying)..two days ago I found her under the bed drinking my douthers bottle..all I did was ask what are you doing(I saw what she was doing,but I acted like I didn't see her drinking the baby bottle) and from then on nonSTOP CRYING. and it is always like that..I can't tell her anything...So I talked to my cousing and told her to talk to her doughter,because if she didn't stop I don't think I can babysit her anymore..my niece just puts her head down, and just cryes.What do I do?
2007-01-09 11:34:06 · 8 answers · asked by Angie29 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
her grama use to take care of her..and she tells me she would act the same with her. Also the first two days of the week are the worst,then she's a wonderful lil girl. I also take care of her7yr sis after school.
2007-01-09 12:58:13 · update #1
I think you should put her in time out or just start tapping her on her hand..
2007-01-09 11:41:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
This child's heart is broken. You are not the best person to do this, because you have two very young children who need you, too, but if you are the only one, you must resolve, then, to be there for this child. She should be off somewhere alone under the bed at 4. I helped raise my nieces for a few years, right after the birth of my son, and so I have some awareness of the tension between wanting to give to your kids your best and wanting to give to your niece. We basically just acted as a family group while we were together and you should do this with your neice. When you all are together, she's basically a sister of your kids. Keep her involved in what you do.
NO CHILD CRIES FOR NO REASON.
2007-01-09 11:44:10 · answer #2 · answered by cassandra 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can try this angle:
Have a few fun projects, movies, crafts, etc... planned in advance. When she starts crying tell her she has the choice between crying by herself or joining you in a fun movie, craft, whatever- but she doesn't get to do both. If she wants to keep crying, go ahead and start your movie etc without her. It's doubtful that she will want to cry alone for long and will come to see what you're doing. If she sees you painting or watching a fun movie with popcorn she will probably want to join you. After establishing this choice for her: to cry or find something better to do, it probably won't take long before she just starts finding something fun to do on her own. My 19mo. old is just starting to have her crying fits when she really wants something she can't have. I tell her that she can cry on her own in her room or she can come sit with me on the coutch and watch Tivo while I work on my computer (or some other activity she enjoys). In only a couple of weeks her crying has gone to a short lived frown of unhappiness. I'm hoping she will eventually understand and accept "no" on her own and get over it.
Otherwise it sounds like your neice is lacking attention and wants to be like your baby (who i'm sure gets tons of attention) One other suggestion I have for you is to set aside even 30 minutes of special you and her time where she gets all of your attention. Just knowing that she will get her turn might alleviate some of that unhappiness.
2007-01-09 12:42:57 · answer #3 · answered by Erin H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe something tramatic has happened to her that no one knows about such as sexual or physical abuse.Many times when children are stressed,especially if they are still developing verbal skills,the only way to communicate is to become extra sensitive to other sitiuations and cry all of the time.
I think you should do some deep investigating as to why she acts out like this. There is more to it then her just being a "brat."
2007-01-09 11:51:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm wondering if she's over tired. Does she still nap? Does she cry a lot at home? what does your cousin do? Be sure you give it a chance. It could just be an adjustment to your home. It's so very kind of you to watch her for your cousin. Here's a link with a bunch of ideas of how to help crying children. If she doesn't stop, I think I would consider the effect it's having on me and my family and stop watching her.
2007-01-09 11:50:20 · answer #5 · answered by bibliobethica 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She is just doing what her Mom does. Just ignor the child when she crys like that. Tell her you are going to go and do whatever and she can join you or she can cry. Then go with the other kids and do whatever. She will figure out that she is missing a lot.
2007-01-09 12:56:39 · answer #6 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She misses her mother likely. Unfortunately, that takes patience to get through. She has to get used to being with you, and that is that.
Meanwhile, you can read to her and your kids, play games, and color pictures together. The way that she will get used to you is by ENJOYING herself at your house. Have Fun With Them---fun just kind of rubs off, and she will forget what is making her sentimental. It is work, I know, but I have had the same problem to deal with.
2007-01-09 11:46:40 · answer #7 · answered by * 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something is making this little girl very sad and very scared. She feels very alone and needs lots of love and support right now. I know she may annoy you or drive you nuts, but she's a baby. She needs good, strong, loving adults to teach her that it's going to be ok.
2007-01-09 12:40:51 · answer #8 · answered by Jilli Bean 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋