Toddler Whining!

The age of whining! They have learned enough words to ask for what they want, but still find they need to cry or whine to get it. My eldest daughter turns 2 in a week and has recently taken to crying and whining for everything, especially when I am nursing her three month old sister. The two year old is crying three times as much as the infant! Solution? Ignore it. It can make for a very long day, but the only way to break the habit is not to reward the behavior.

For example, she is allowed one book before nap time. She started whining and crying for another one and I refused and after about three days of whining she gave up and accepted the fact that she would only get one book. The thing about toddlers is they will keep trying elsewhere. If she wants crackers she whines for them. I tell her she has to say "please" and ask for them. This usually results in screaming. If I give her the crackers the whining stops, which I have done out of desperation while I try to change and nurse the infant. However, this means she will do it again and again. I must put my foot down and not let her have what she wants or it will never stop.

She has been particularly whiny this week with me and not her father. Seeing this makes me feel less guilty about not giving in, knowing that she is playing me, as toddlers will do. Three days seems to be the magic number with a toddler. I know there are parents out there dealing with the same thing and all I can say is hang in there and stick to your guns!