Very stressed

[lee_lee]

I am a single mum with a 16month old boy who has a temper on him, when i am trying to get him dressed he throws his head back and arches his head back.  It can get very stessful especially on a morning when we are in a rush because I am at college.  Has anybody got any suggestions of how to calm him down thankyou

[smudge]

Adding to Andy's superb advice - perhaps you could play some childrens story or musical tapes as you get him dressed. Sounds simple, but children love stories & singing along. (Even if you don't really feel like it first thing in the morning)! Good luck lee_lee.

[lee_lee]

Thabks for your advbice I will try it.  Its nice to know people can give advice

[mrs.pudding]

It might be worth letting him choose the clothes he wants to wear the night before.  He may come up with some odd combinations but it doesn't matter if it makes the mornings easier for both of you.  (one of my daughters lived in the same two tracksuits for well over six months!)

[Otrere]

I agree with Andy - Andy you really know your sh*t as far as kids are concerned - every time I have read your advice in this section I have been severely impressed!!! (I know, what a creep! - but I can't find fault in anything you say on Parenting!).

[ajcmum]

I also agree with Andy's reply, what you have said is exactly the right thing to do.

[nikkik]

Hi lee_lee, I often have the same problem with my 18m old son and my advice is simlar to that of andy hughes . I try to make a game of getting my son dressed. We play peekaboo when putting his tee-shirt over his head and when putting his arms through the sleeves. I say things like "1,2,3 boo!" and he starts to giggle so then I do the same when I put his arms through the sleeves. I think you just have to try to keep his attention and make getting dressed fun and maybe noisy!

[Hammer]

Give him a choice, even a very simple not-really-a-choice-at-all choice, like 'shall we put on the blue t-shirt or the yellow one'. If he thinks he's in control he'll be more willing.

I'm still amazed at how well this one works in loads and loads of situations. Once you get the hang of this one, tantrums become practically non-existant!!

[splange]

With the best will in the world you're not going to forever be relaxed/calm/up beat when it comes to bringing up children, it is hard and it can sometimes bring out the worst in us but we're all learning, mother and child so don't beat yourself up and know that your son will grow up. Good luck lee lee

[simont]

I sometimes employ the distraction technique:  for example child comes running up to me whining/whingeing/shouting and I say back, "Oh, Henry could you just look out the window and see if it's raining for me?  My washing is hanging out" and normally he does and forgets what the to-do was about.  In your circumstance you could try things like "Lets put this on now (cry, shout, back arching ) - oh, look a spider on the ceiling, how did he get there?" then put the article on whilst he is trying to i spy insy-winsy (who isn't really there where upon you say, "Oh, he's gone now, now where are your underpants?"  It might work, it's a bit like a jedi mind trick. 

It works on all four of my children most of the time and I normally mix and match it with andy's advice of games etc.  I hope it'll work on the baby too when she's bigger!

btw, this is mrs simont, the actual mr simont gets bullied and bossed about all the time by his four daughters - their charms don't work on me LOL.