Diagnosis: Terrible Twos, or Something Else?
I’m going to make this quick because I have to get back to pulling my hair out ASAP.
I’m going to list Moanna’s recent symptoms. Your job is to diagnose and cure the problem.
- Saturday, she spent half the day in timeout for various things
- Saturday afternoon she napped from 3:00PM-8:00PM**
- Sunday, she spent the morning in timeout for similar reasons as Saturday
- Sunday afternoon she napped from 4:00PM-9:30PM**
- Monday, Daddy came home, so all was right in the world
- Tuesday, she peed her pants 5 times, FIVE TIMES (she’s been pottytrained forever)
- Tuesday, very sassy and had out-of-control energy
- Wednesday, we woke up to find she had pooped in her bed
- Wednesday, she could not control her energy and was bouncing and screaming all evening
- Thursday, she peed her pants 3 times, THREE TIMES
So what is it? A rotten week? The terrible twos? A UTI? The joys of motherhood?
My home remedies are not working. Doctor, I need a diagnosis and a cure because I’m close to bald with all of the hair-pulling.
**Before you get judgmental on me, let me clarify. We were out of the house on Saturday and Sunday during usual nap time (for us it is 1:00PM), so Moanna had to lay down later in the day. I do not believe in missing naps, even if they are late, and even if Moanna doesn’t sleep, she still needs quiet alone time to rest in her bed. I also do not believe in waking sleeping children. I think the crazy long naps were because she would rather sleep than spend all of her day in timeout.
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Awww! Mine are the terrible threes. My son is bouncing-off-the-walls, refusing to take naps, talking back but I think a lot of it is that we haven’t been outdoors for months. I have “joked” many times that I am running away, at least until summer, at least my family thinks I am joking
Good luck!! At least there are very fashionable wigs you can buy!!
Growth spurt? UTI? Is her doctor’s office available for an appt soon? Or is the doc available by phone? I’d call and ask. It could be nothing, but you might as well check. S/he might have some helpful hints, too. Here’s hoping it was just because she was out-of-sorts due to her Daddy being gone.
It sounds like she’s not feeling well. If she’s already potty trained and she’s peeing and pooping in the bed etc., maybe she’s coming down with something, a virus? Or maybe it’s emotional, separation anxiety from dad?
I feel like I make the same comment on every blog: I’m scared! (my kid is only 7 months old and full of adoration for us -haha)
How about this for advice: It’s Biblical but don’t worry. “This too shall pass.”
At least that’s what they say!
Hang in there
Unless they’ve not been let out all day to pee or poop, our vet says there are only two reasons dogs go in the house. 1) They’re sick. 2) They’re making a statement. The same pretty much applies to kids….
My guess is that her potty regression is a control issue–she can’t control other things in her life, so she’s controlling (or not) her bowel movements. Does she sleep at night when she has such late naps? I am in total agreement with you regarding “never wake a sleeping child,” but my son gave up naps at around age 3. We’d put him to bed around 6-7 and could count on him sleeping a solid 12 hours. Sometimes girls are a little ahead of boys …
When my son had a potty regression (relatively recently, so this is with a 4-y/0), the deal was that he had to clean his underpants himself if they got dirty. Ended potty regression right quick!
Now that she’s been checked out by the Doc and all is well I tend to agree w/ Laura about a control issue. She is also busy testing limits with you when daddy is gone. Stay consistant with your limits. Be loving but tough. Wear her out whenever you can with fresh air and activities (even when its brisk outside). Maybe it would be a good idea to try an early bedtime for the night if a nap doesn’t happen by say about 3:00. Don’t forget to call your mom if you need her.
I don’t know! But wanted to offer hugs and say a cute hat does wonders when pulling out of the hair has taken place
Hope things get back to normal for you soon!
Sarah
[...] After developing bald spots from pulling out my hair, it was time to go to the doctor and get a medical opinion. I did not want to institute a punishment plan if the potty accidents were something she really couldn’t help. [...]