Toddler meltdowns 😩
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@Adele it’s honestly awful. I’m in the process of getting diagnosed with autism so I struggle to control/understand my own emotions so it’s hard to teach my toddler. Also I have this deep fear that my child might have it too. I’m still waiting for my 2 year assement with my HV so hoping that will be soon. I solo parent 5 afternoons/evenings a week and when there’s no one there to tap you out it’s so stressful.
That’s a very long time to be so disregulated and upset. Regardless of if she has SEN or not, as an autistic parent it can be triggering. There is no harm putting some strategies in place to help her through these transitions (being tired can obviously cause an increase in disregulation and play a part), such as now and next visual timers, warnings of what is coming next and trying to give her a choice of two options (for pyjamas for example). I really feel you, my child gets disregulated a lot and is on the waiting list for a community paediatrician assessment. It’s so tough, even more so when it’s just you on your own x
We cut screen time and tantrums are shorter and less frequent. But still happens. Distractions ,giving choices works well or simply hug and patiently waiting till they stop yes they kick and fight but im holding strong. Stopping and giving hug also helps me to control my emotions because be honest is really hard and when happens in busy public place I'm getting so stress as people are looking at me like I'm bad parent.
@Jazmin we already try offering her choices and set boundaries but it’s hard when none of them are working in that moment. We’ve not had a huge meltdown like that for a while but tonight was just awful. If she gets upset we normally distract her with phones, books or toys but none of that worked. She was pushing herself so much I could barely hold her when trying to soothe her 😩.
@Dana we don’t have a huge amount of screen time tbh. We also have clear boundaries with it too. I tried to hug her but she was pushing so hard I couldn’t hold her. No distractions would work either. It was just one of those things I had to let her ride out.
@Chloe that works on my boy. But I thinking about weighted blanket I read that helps with self regulation. Every child is different I need to cut screen to zero no tv or phone around small one at all. My phone I keep in kitchen drawer.
Mines the same if she gets herself too worked up or upset she’s sick. We’ve been having it a lot at nursery as she’s taking quite a while to settle in so often I take her she’s sick because she doesn’t want to stay . Same with she will only sleep with me in my bed
@Dana we have a rule atm where she can ask for 3 different things to watch and if she won’t watch them the tv goes off. But we have it on in the morning for an hour and evening for an hour the rest of the day it depends. Most of the time it’s just background noise and she won’t watch it properly. We go outside and play a lot and go on dog walks too so she has a lot to balance it out.
It’s normal. I asked our HV the other week because our 2yr old has not long started with tantrums. She said it’s down to finding their emotions and they mostly do it with parents because we are their safe space. It’s hard and it’s a constant battle. I literally screamed at mine last week and felt all sorts of regret and sadness because I knew I shouldn’t have done it. I hear you and I am absolutely with you.