*Vanity* Need Help with Toddler that won't wear non-Summer clothes

Terrible Two Parent | self

[GipperCT]

OK, FreepPeeps! Need emergency help with 26 mo. old boy who does not want to wear any heavy shirts, pants or jackets.

I know there are some sympathetic parents out there, pleez help a fellow freep parent on suggestions.

It's not that he just doesn't like it, it's the stubbornness that goes along. I know, the nanny jokes will ensure, but that's ok. He makes himself sick crying and they eyes and nose run all over the place like his jacket or pants are holy water to a vampire ;-) when we try to get him used to these things for a while. He'll go on for 20 minutes like that shaking and crying.

Anyway, any assistance is appreciated.

[MotleyGirl70]

Lol!

I highly recommend Duct Tape. It's thin, like summer clothing, while wind and water resistant.

You have a pithy way of describing clothing. Have you ever worked for the J. Peterman catalog?

[P-Chan Penny]

The toughest decision of my toddler's day is whether to love on the Blue Care Bear or the Pink Care Bear. Usually she has them kissing each other. She's 22 months old. Mine melts down when it's time to leave the bathtub. Yup, leave. She screams like we're maiming her the entire time the water drains. We ignore it, pick her up out of the tub (NOT EASY when your subject is a wet slippery two year old having a major meltdown) and dry her off. She writhes and screams until we have her dressed. Then I snuggle with her and she forgets why she's crying and it's over. I do bop her on the head when she misbehaves or tells me "no" when I tell her not to do something. I don't bop her hard, just enough to startle her. But I caught her the other day throwing her food onto the floor. I didn't say anything to her, because she took one look at me, bopped herself on the head, and said "bad, bad!". I couldn't help but laugh, and then she gave one of those really cute toddler smiles. They always make me melt! But she's getting really good at manipulation. Now when she know's I'm upset with her, she comes to me and says "hug, mommy, hug?" How in the world am I supposed to resist THAT?!?!

[dakine]

Oh yeah...

[Cagey]

Have you ever worked for the J. Peterman catalog?

No, but I did once purchase an Urban Sombrero.

I treasure it still. Rugged manly look, supple Brown Angus suede, tethered with a natural hemp cord complete with rosewood stop gaps. Imported from Rhodesia. I tell you that hat is pure testosterone.

[nopardons]

Remove ALL summer weight clothes; pack them away.

If he wants to go outside, he must wear the winter clothes, or not go outside. Or, as others have said, you can let him go outside in his underwear. I'm in Conn. too and it's COLD! No matter how stubborn he is, he isn't going to want to be outside dressed like that. Just don't let the neighbors see him outside and NOT dressed.

And reread the rest of my post. Don't allow him to do ANYTHING that he wants to do, unless he wears what he needs to wear. Take away ALL of his toys. Don't allow him to watch T.V.; if you do allow that. Make him stay in bed/room, except for his meals.

You are the parent! Never, NOT EVER, allow your child to run the house. If he figures out now, that he can make you do his will, you've lost and he will NEVER do what you say.

[nopardons]

hehehehehehe...most GOOD mothers sound alike. :-)

[nopardons]

Awwwwwwwwww.....she's adorable!

[GipperCT]

Thank you!

[GipperCT]

NoPardons:

Good advice, I like your advice. Yes, it is getting nippy here, I may try this at night, I know he'll love the 50-ish weather during the day.....

[nopardons]

As I type, it is 47 degrees here. I wouldn't be comfortable being outside, in nothing but my underwear; neither will your little one.

You'll both get through this and then, you'll be faced with even more stumbling blocks. LOL

[YankeeinOkieville]

And just exactly how are you going to explain that to the cops when the neighbor's call you in for child abuse?

No kidding, it happened to me when the eldest was in grade school. We lived in WAY upstate NY at the time and the school's "mandated reporters" got on the phone to the CPS do-gooders instead of calling me to ask why he didn't have a coat on. The simple reason was I was tired of the daily fight and decided to let natural consequences take charge. I figured if he went without his coat for one cold (although it was a relatively warm 40-some-odd degrees) winter day, it would lessen the hassle.

We lived 5 blocks from school and he refused to wear a coat even in the dead of winter. Now granted he was a bit older than 4 but every bit as stubborn. After pulling him out of class so he could tell them how terrible his mommy was only to find out it was HIS choice and then finally calling me and my having to explain my situation and theory to the automatons at CPS, they told me they (well at least the one I talked to, anyway) thought it was a good theory but to go ahead and make him take it anyway to satisfy the $#!+ for brains at the school.

He carried his coat back and forth to school every winter day after that, even when the temps dropped well below freezing, (single digits... negative single digits) the most anyone could do was get him to put his arms in the sleeves where it hung off his torso all the way home.

Turns out his base body temp is somewhere aroud 99.8 and to this day (he's now 24) he never wears more than a light jeans jacket on the coldest of days.

[GipperCT]

Thank you again!

[P-Chan Penny]

Thank you! That's her "yes, I know I'm not supposed to do this, but aren't I just SOOOOO cute" smile.

Hey, it works!

[nopardons]

Welcome! :-)

[nopardons]

She really is adorable, but don't allow here to "smile" out of a no no.

Trust me, my very beautiful, now adult daughter, couldn't ever get away with anything and she and I are better for that. :-)

[webstersII]

"he'll go on for 40 minutes straight like this."

If what you are doing isn't working, then you haven't found his "currency" yet.

Take his favorite toy and put it in Time Out when he acts like this. (Don't do it with tuff like his blanket or special stuffed animals that he sleeps with for comfort and assurance because that can make it worse, just put up toys that he plays with). Put the toy up somewhere that he can't get to it but where he can see it, then set a timer for a few minutes, especially one which ticks so he is aware of it constantly. Tell him that it's in Time Out until the timer goes off.

After the timer goes off, ask him if he is ready to put on his heavy clothes. It may take repeating the process a few times.

Once you find the currency it gets alot easier.

[P-Chan Penny]

Depends on whether the no no is dangerous or not. If not, then I never mind it, but if it is, then it's a loud shout and a swift bop to the head. If it's harmless, then I usually just either laugh, or usually tell her she has to help mommy clean it up. Of course, the last time I asked her to help me throw something away, she got really gung ho about it and started throwing everything away... clothes, shoes, toys. Ah, to be 2 again!

[MotleyGirl70]

I treasure it still. Rugged manly look, supple Brown Angus suede, tethered with a natural hemp cord complete with rosewood stop gaps. Imported from Rhodesia. I tell you that hat is pure testosterone.

Too funny.

You've got a knack for this now.

You found your "katra" in the clothing catalog business. Looks like you've got a new gig ;)

"It's a peach".

[ShadowDancer]

You two enjoying yourselves? You have some sort of a problem with the fact that I would have sewn the winter clothes onto the child's skin?

[dakine]

Your reputation exceeds you....(yes, that's what I meant)