2 Yr Old Son Changes His Mind on EVERYTHING!!!

That is a tough one, but I went through it for a short spell with all of my children. If they asked for something and got it and had a fit I took it away and they went to their time out high chair for two minutes and had to be quiet for one minute before they were allowed to get down. If they asked for the same item again they were simply told "no" and if a fit evolved it was back to the chair.
I stopped giving choices for awhile as well about a lot of things. I gave them what I wanted them to have and didn't ask if they wanted apples or peaches, or whatever it was. I just did not give them a choice. If we were going to have play time I would offer to play with the blocks or put together a puzzle or whatever. If they didn't want to play with what I offered then play time with mommy with over and I went and did something else.
Good luck I know how trying it was.

If he was born in late May, this could be a Gemini thing - we see situations from many angles at once and as a result change minds a lot:) But seriously, making decisions is a big skill. Of course he is exploring how far he can push you, but it's not the only thing he is doing - he is learning to recognize what he really wants and gets frustrated when he can't decide what is better. So instead of looking at it from the perspective "he is out to get control over you for the rest of your life" , look at it from his point too and just don't let it get to you so much. Maybe help him by talking with him about what he wants and why he wants it, help him do a little analysis. He will learn.

I totally feel your pain. I'm going through the exact same thing with my two year old. It's awful! Suddenly she has discovered her independence and had to to all by herself. If she chooses something (like her snack), I make her stick to it. If she decides she wants crackers, then pitches a fit because she really wanted fruit snacks, she gets nothing. I know this is a phase and it will pass, but boy! it's tough some days. Good luck!

All I can say is it's pretty typical. How to relate to him? Just remember, he's 2 and he has the attention span of, well, a 2-year-old. :)

What got me through was to go with the flow, within reason. I would indulge when I could (for example, pick up and put down a couple times), then distract when necessary. For example, if on the second or third time I picked him up and he started screaming, I might have changed tack and gone all melodramatic-and-funny kissy face all over him to make him laugh and get out of the mind-changing rut. Or if it was changing his mind on what he wanted to play with (always the one toy he couldn't find, of course!), I might try to enthusiatically get him to chase me or something instead.

This too shall pass. My DS is almost 4 now. Into the three's we were able to start reminding him, "this was the toy/song/movie/game you picked," which doesn't always work, but as he gets older he no longer changes his mind every 5 seconds. It will get easier. Hang in there and keep your humor. It's a stage and it will pass! :)

I agree with the others, for the most part -- this is a phase & will pass eventually. =) But I'd like to add one more option for you. I know you're little guy is only 2, but I don't think it's too early to start teaching him that decisions have consequences. He needs to learn that when he decides something, he needs to live with the consequence -- whether that's good or bad in his eyes. He won't fully "get" it at this age, but you can begin to plant the seed in his beautiful brain.

Good luck!

Dear M.,
Don't give him a choice. Just give it to him. You can't compromise with a 2 yr old. He might have wanted something else or he may have been tired when he cried when you picked him up and then put him down. He needs to know that you are the authority and he is challenging you even at 2.
A good resource is gfi.org. You will find CDs & books that will help in the toddler years. L. J

Your son is at the age when most children try to see just how high they can make you jump!
So I would just make it clear to him that the minute he starts in fussing over nothing that he will be in quiet time out for 2 minutes.
Believe me, this is not a matter of him "changing his mind", but rather a matter of manipulating you.
So, nip it in the bud now, or you will be paying for it down the road big time.

He is a normal 2 yr old. My dgtr just went through this stage with her son. If he is still in a baby bed, put him in there for a little while when he gets like this. If it is about what food to eat or what to wear, discuss it ahead of time and let him know he is not to fuss about it or he will be put into his crib until he is ready to cooperate.

I know this is frustrating but it is a phase. So take a deep breath. We went through this with my son and what nipped it in the bud, was making him live with the first choice he made. There were some fits about this, but it only took 3-4 times before he caught on, that he needed to say what he meant. We always told him, we are listening to what you said when you answered the question, now here is your strawberry yogurt... then we did not engage him any more about that particular topic. It is pain but it did work quickly. Good luck!

Hi M., I deal with this on a daily basis. I have an In Home Childcare business, have been dealing with this issue for 16 years with children. When they begin this "stage" I sit down with them in a neutral time (i.e: mealtime, storytime or in your case bathtime) and have them look you in the eye and explain that when you choose to change your mind or whatever choice you make the first time is the choice that you've made and I'm not going to change it for you. I will not tolerate you changing your mind with every choice I give you or every request. And leave it at that. Then you absolutely positively need to implement that new rule immediately and BE CONSISTENT ! That is the key here, as it is with everything that pertains to a child, consistency. Consistency is your best friend because a young child, even prior to one year of age will understand VERY, VERY quickly that you mean what you say and that you WILL follow through with ALL rules. By an adult waivering on their set rules a child learns very quickly how to manipulate every single situation. He is totally playing you. If he/she is continuing after a week or so have another talk with them during neutral time, re-iterating that you won't tolerating him constantly changing his mind and htne you have to follow through consistently. Hope this helps, keep us posted as to his progress.
Take Care,
A.

Ask him if he is sure and when he makes a decision, DON'T allow him to go back on what he says/wants and don't let him take control. It's a game to see WHO is in charge. Trust me, he might scream, etc. a few times, but once he realizes that he DOES have a say, but that you're in charge, it will stop. IF you don't, it will only get worse.

my son turned two at the end of june and we're going through the same thing. with him, he says he wants something, then i repeat what he wants (oh, you want...), he changes his mind (no, i don't want...) and i say, 'oh, so you don't want ...' and then he says that yes, he does. it's kind of a pain, but since i know what to expect and don't do anything until his third answer, it's working pretty well. of course, every kid is different...so best of luck! in related behavior, when my son starts to throw a fit about something he wants/wants to do that i don't want him to have/do, i just tell him i'm sorry he's upset but that's the way it is. sometimes i'll say 'if you want to cry, it's okay, but go in your room' or 'do you need to go back to bed?' he always says no and may cry for a sec but he usually gets over it/i distract him.