Gentle parenting is bull.

Going thru the same thing with my lo and she 4 almost 5 im going to take her to the pediatrician and have some blood work done look up and see if she has any vitamin deficiencies as sometimes that is a cause to them acting out

My 2020 kid is going through a similar phase. It's called a limbic leap. It's similar to the growth spurts babies go through during the first year, but this one is bigger because kiddo is bigger. Keep holding the boundaries and riding the tantrum waves. He is just testing his limits so keep enforcing them

Same girl, mine turns 5 in March and as I was gentle parenting and talking through feelings, he punched me in the face... I don't know what to do, but he's fine until a tantrum kicks in and it's all hell

They're testing boundaries.

Testing boundaries and autonomy is a huge phase at this age. I highly recommend the Whole Brain Child book, and Drama Free Discipline from the same authors. It's helped me a ton.

Gentle parenting doesn’t work for all kids. Most families I’ve met “gentle parent” and their kids are the worst specially as they grow older. Authoritative parenting is the way to go!

@Arlette There is a difference between gentle parenting and letting your child run your home. A lot of the gentle parenting homes with terrible children aren't actually gentle parenting, but letting their child run their home with no rules or boundaries

I feel like she's manipulating me. She actually started hitting my arm today and cried/whined for 30 mins because I wouldn't hug her after. It's really getting to me. I don't know what to do either.

I would not not hug her! Hugging her is the best way to teach how to be gentle.

I’m so tired of hearing about gentle parenting and then seeing people in the comments shut people down that doesn’t like gentle parenting or think it works! Everyone doesn’t parent the same! And what works for you doesn’t work for everyone!! And then yall are quick to say “you’re not doing it right” like how do you know what they’re doing!?🥴 oh and let’s not forget the scientific facts yall try to show people 🤦🏽‍♀️ so now you’re raising your children with science!? Or books!?😂 yall are insane! There isn’t a manual on how to parent!! You can raise your child to be their very best selves! And they still can grow up to be a drug addict! Or a serial killer!! It’s like just do the best you can as a parent but yall are trying to force this gentle parenting shit like it’s suddenly the only way to parent!

I've found through experience with my now 3yo that talking to a toddler about his feelings is about as useful as talking to him about nuclear fission. He needs boundaries and guidance. I'm still looking for effective methods of managing bad behavior, but when I figure it out, I'll share. Unfortunately, I'm extremely non-confrontational, which is a terrible way to be if you're raising toddlers - especially boys. IMO, "gentle parenting" is non-parenting. That approach may be the way to go if you're the babysitter, someone who doesn't have to be with the child always. But as a parent, who's responsibility is to mold the child into a functioning member of society, we have to get our hands dirty, leap out of our comfort zone and tackle the hard stuff head on! My boy walks all over me, and i cringe every time I have to get dad bc sonny isn't listening to me. I'm so desperate to find a style that works. I do know that so-called gentle parenting is not it. Good luck.

@Vanessa this was so well said