3 Year Old Stuff

Not sure if any of this will help, but here goes nothing:

1. Either we do it quickly or I do it for you (worked with my youngest who was determined to be independent but not with my eldest who wanted me to do it for her). OR I have all the time in the world. I will sit and wait until you're finished but it might mean missing X, Y, Z later on. It's up to you. (Didn't work with my youngest but did with my eldest.)

2. I'm not sure other than the games. With my eldest, who never stops talking and always a decimal too loudly, I just tell her to take it outside or to her room. Quiet voices around me please - if you need to be loud do it outside.

3. Wonder if he's getting sick too? Mine are always more prone to night waking when they are coming down with something.

Good luck - I hope you get rest soon!

They can smell fear-if you let him under your skin-he might stay there for a while-for gosh sake-don't let on! I don't think I can make any suggestions-just try to remain patient-this age is much easier than the teenage years-eek! All the best!

Oh boy.
Did you pull out your hair yet?
I feel for ya.

Try telling him "You and me are a TEAM. Mommy is sick, I need help. Can you help Mommy? Be a big boy? I would really appreciate it...."
All I know is, with my son... when/if I am not feeling well, he sorta steps up. I will ask him to help me, I am not feeling well, I am sick.
Just like how Mommy helps you when you are sick, do you mind helping Mommy? Mind you, I don't tell him to do things that an adult should, but little things...and he really feels "proud" he is helping his feeling-sick Mommy. And... it keeps him busy. ;)
So, instead of slapping my head in angst/irritation/no-patience... I ENLIST my son, to "help" me... encouraging him that way. Try to engender a "TEAM" thing, for him.
And that helps.
It really impresses me when my son does that. Once I was sick and he even told me "Mommy, if you need help, just ask me okay? And I'm right here..." He said it to me as though he as a "Man."
Putting on his real-big- boy pants.
LOL
But it was nice.

3 is an awkward/hard age.
And well, both my kids have naturally LOUD voices, and I am noise sensitive. What Mom isn't. So I just tell them, "lower your volume, Mommy's ears are full... and then I will be no, fun..." And they get it.
But even when my eldest was a Toddler and her brother was a baby... i always said WHISPER BROTHER IS NAPPING..... Shhhhh.... and she did. And she would tip-toe.
And do quiet things. I had "nap time activities" for her, if/when her little brother was napping.

I also tell my kids, if/when they are contrary "You CAN have your opinion. Fine. BUT we STILL HAVE TO DO THIS, now."
And I just get going.
Or, give your boy a longer heads up. Meaning, if you have to leave in 15 minutes, tell him from 1/2 earlier. That way, even with his dawdling... you will be still on time.

The getting out of bed thing is a phase.
Don't worry.

Quick suggestions for what works in our house:

1. Carseat dawdling - Whoever is in their seat first (and if they are both capable of doing so, seat belted) gets to choose the music, or which park we will be going to (if that's what we're about to do).

2. Does your baby nap in a different room? If so, try some white noise to block the noise of the house.

3. Is he still napping? If so, it might be time to cut down on the duration or frequency of his naps.

Good luck!

Get the book "1-2-3 Magic."

Those 1/2 year marks always seem to be troublesome! My kids were so sweet at 2 and so cranky and full or tantrums at 2.5! Then they were really reasonable at 3 then stubborn as could be at 3.5! This too shall pass. Someday you will look at pictures of your son at this age and wonder where the time has gone. In the meantime, try offering an incentive (bribe) for getting buckled in quickly, like a juice box or a toy he likes to play with in the car. If he is eager to have that item then maybe he will hurry up a bit. Or say "if you hurry we will have time to go on one of the rides in front of the grocery store!" then if he is taking too long say "darn, it looks like we are running out of time for that ride." As for the loud voice thing, I have no clue. I have a loud child as well and when she is scolded for being too loud her reaction is to yell "I'M NOT BEING TOO LOUD!" :) The getting up at night thing, try a sticker chart, each night that he stays in his own bed all night (barring a bathroom trip or two) he gets a sticker on his chart. 7 stickers earns him a prize like a dollar store toy or a trip to the ice cream shop. Best of luck!

Does my 3-year-old daughter have a long-lost boy cousin? LOL. You have my COMPLETE empathy. My daughter had carseat/dawdling issues for the longest time. I kind of took advantage of it for myself--chilled in the front seat, if I didn't have to be anywhere immediately but then again I just have one.

I saw a big dawdling change when she started preschool. I don't know if your son has started any schooling yet, but for some reason that helped. I'm not saying that's the cure, but here is something else that helped. I "threatened" to help her into the car seat. Two and three is all about independence and control so any offer of assistance was considered a threat! It worked! I also still count to three. I tell her that if she is not in her seat by the time I reach one, I will help her.

Like your little guy, my gal has a loud voice. We're teaching her to use her "inside" voice, particularly when in public places. Oddly enough the library was a good teaching tool. She has to use her "library: voice or we're going home.

And maybe it's just the time of year for kids to get out of bed. I'm still searching for an answer on that.

Good luck.

Hey J.. Hope you're feeling better by now! I have to say I'm with Ephie. When we had to be somewhere (like me going to work!) I didn't have time to mess with this kind of dawdling. I told my kids that either they did it or mommy did it. They knew I meant business too.

I'd just keep stressing "inside voices" and "outside voices". If you haven't had his hearing checked, I'd do that, just in case.

With the waking up, put a gate in front of his room so that he can't come out. It's a safety issue for kids to roam the house at night. Don't allow it.

Good luck!