How can I get my 3 yr old daughter to stop crying about EVERYTHING??

Question

When I say she cries about everything, I mean everything... She is very loving and pretty well behaved, but she does not know how to express herself in any other way. I try to tell her that we can talk about anything and that she needs to tell me when her brother does something to her, but how do I really get through to a 3 year old? I am finding that I am starting to give in to her more and more, and I know that is wrong because it gives her power over me. Although with everything else she cries about, it is an easy way out of another incident! My daughter is the light in my eyes and I so badly want to help her express herself...

Answer 1

My 3 year old has gone through that and still does at times. I believe it's frustrating for them when they feel like you can't understand them, there's always that language barrier. But she cries over pretty much everything too, what I've learned to do is try to focus attention on something else. Yesterday she was crying b/c she wanted to have chocolate late at night, so I had to direct her focus on something else and she forgot about it. I just picked her up and started tickling her and playing w/ her and she forgot all about it. Also, she is horrible about taking bathes so I got her a bathing suit and now she loves to get in the bath and when it's time to get out she will let me bath her and everything. You have to be creative and patient! Good luck!

Answer 2

My 4 year old son has been this same way since birth. I'm also a child psychology major so I started to implement some things I was learning in class to help with him. It has gotten better but it takes time.

Your daughter has learned that crying gets a reaction form you. You reacting to her crying (as all mothers do) is her pay off. It's time to stop reacting dramatically to any crying that is not for an appropriate reason. I started walking away from my son and telling him that I can't listen when he cries because it hurts my ears. He would cry harder and louder and so on and eventually he got the point and started calming down. He is a very emotional little boy, wears his feelings on his sleeve, so I hated withdrawing from him like this but it was the only thing that worked.

You have to get down on their level, physically, and communicate in THEIR words that you won't listen when she cries like that and that you can't understand her. Teach her, through your reactions, that what she is crying about is unecessary and only go "full mommy" on the times that she is really hurt or really upset about something that warrants tears. You are not with holding love from your daughter, you are redirecting it in a more positive way.

My son still has his moments, especially if he is tired or if his baby sister takes a toy away that he really really likes, but we have learned to redirect his focus on the incident to something else, another toy, a show on TV, asking his baby sister if he can have it back. He has come a long way in the last year with this approach.

Answer 3

I choose i ought to purely hug you. I understand precisely what you advise, purely for a quick time my little female might even cry at the same time as you have been retaining her. i did no longer be attentive to what i become going to do. She become my first and that i become devastated. She's now 8 weeks and doing plenty extra useful. First all, (i will probably get thumbs down, yet oh properly) don't be afraid to place him down for a jiffy. Crying won't harm him. I asked my pediatrician. Kalyn had colic and can scream for 3-4 hours on the instant and not something might console her. Take a smash. walk away for 10-15 minutes. Pop in each so often to make optimistic he's nice, yet leave him be. have confidence me i be attentive to this is tough, yet you like a smash especially circumstances too. yet another element, if this is easy cleansing, try the Snuggli. My infant did no longer look after it plenty, although this is the only thank you to get issues completed especially circumstances. Do you have kinfolk interior of sight, or acquaintances that ought to come over during the day to hep with the infant at the same time as you entertain older newborn. in case you're breastfeeding, proceed. I experience sorry with reference to the reality that my infant would not take the breast. only bear in concepts, that this is purely slightly and it will bypass. in case you ever choose somebody to speak to, or purely some help, e mail me each time. i would be of all the help/help i'd properly be. good success

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my 3 year old daughter. I used a combination of two things. I literally started giving her time outs whenever she cried for something ridiculous (obviously not if she hurt herself or something). I also started a reward chart when she got points whenever she got through a day without crying for ridiculous reasons. Worked like a charm

Answer 5

You just answered your own question.......don't give in to her because she has the power...She knows if I cry I get my way! Reverse it, every times she cries send her to her room and tell her when she acts like a big girl then you will talk to her.....3 year olds are very intelligent.....She may act a donkey for about a week to make you give in. But if you are patient and tolerant of her crying she will get tired and adjust to your way of doing things. Good luck and don't give in because you will only create a monster and when she starts school she will cause problems for you.

Answer 6

It's a girl thing. You are used to a boy...........girls cry ALL the time!!! My 5 yr old STILL cries at least 3 times a day. Funny, she NEVER, EVER cries at school. They use it. When she cries I just tell her...I need you to stop crying and tell me about it. She is getting better. If she's really wound up I tell her that she needs to go to her room until she can calm down to tell me about it....she NEVER does go to her room..she always manages to pull it together. Just keep working on having her explain what's wrong, then address the issue. My daughter is VERY verbal, but still does cry about lots of little things......it has slowly gotten better the older she's gotten.....good luck!

Answer 7

Sounds like she knows crying will give her want she wants. Tell her in a firm calm tone that when she is done crying you will discuss what the problem is. Get down on her level when you talk to her. If she continues to cry walk away. Let her know that you want to help her but are unable to when she's crying. If she was to use her words then maybe mommy can help her? Reward her when she does use her words to express her needs. (stickers, a special dessert, etc) Be very firm. Good luck

Answer 8

my kid did that alot at that age. She never had terrible two's.. but at three she did try the whole drama thing, especially crying and whining... I just created an atmosphere where that didn't work for her. I just looked at her and said 'use your words' and walked away. that is all I said and all I did for monhts it seemed, lol. She would scream and have tantrums and and even hang onto me so I couldn't get away from her screaming. Anyway, it worked. She is now 7 and when she is whiny I just count her 1-2-3 for whining. She will actaully stop crying and get a really nice tone of voice and ask for waht she wants

Answer 9

just tell her that big girls don't cry. console her of course, but don't be too sorry- dont be mean tho! just let her know that what she is doing isn't a real great way to show her feelings. just be patient. she will outgrow it in time with your guidence and if she doesn't, take her to a child psychologeist- just for a consultation to see if there is anything else to do to help her.

but don't give in to her! that just will not work in the end- she will think that you are an easy target for her spoiling and will. be gentle, but firm. it always works!!

good luck!

Answer 10

Lots of exp with kids and methods of change. #1. Stop helping her. #2 If she wants something she cannot have it til she stops crying. #3 Positive reinforcement for when she isn't crying. I have seen a similar but less loud method of getting what they want. Pointing. Jumping up and down. Head banging. Be her mother not her friend. That will come later.