Completely Embarrassed by 2 Yr Olds Horror Screams

I'm thinking that "getting over the embarrassment" isn't the issue--the screaming is. Solve that & the problem is solved!

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A few things... Get him out to the parks or in the tunnels more and try and wear him out. He'll be more apt to be willing to go to bed.

Little ones are much more willing to lay down and watch a cartoon and then go to bed.

He doesn't want his pajamas? Don't make him. Let him sleep in his clothes.

Can you put a tv that's hooked only to a dvd player in his room?

I imagine, even if they don't have kids, they have an idea. The phrase 'terrible twos' doesn't come from nowhere! lol. You are pretty lucky that they aren't the type to come pounding on your door! (I had neighbors who used to pound on the walls when my DD was a newborn and crying... yeah, like that's gonna help...) You could make up a batch of cookies, and take them to each of your neighbors. Include a card that says something along the lines of 'I appreciate your patience while my son is testing his limits! Here are some cookies to dull the pain!' or something like that... just so your neighbors know that you aren't just allowing your son to run rampant. I'm not sure what advice to give as far as teaching your son not to scream...

I agree with Denise P. You need to work on the screaming. Do you give him two choices for everything? Do you want to wear these pajamas or those pajamas. Let him take his time deciding but make his choose only from those two choices. Do you want the red toothbrush or the green toothbrush? Do you want to cuddle and read a story in your bed or cuddle and sing a song in your bed? Do you want three kisses good night or two kisses good night before I leave the room. Door open or shut? Put up a No screaming sticker chart You can print them out online from DLTK.com

Like Red said- if the neighbors have kids I'm sure they understand. All kids go through phases. Please don't be embarrassed. We've all had a screaming child. (My kid went through a screaming phase too- at bedtime and other times as well. Want to talk about embarrassing screaming? My daughter would scream "poop hole" at random times- in public- for no reason. She used to yell it at people. I don't know why.)
If you feel up to it- approach your neighbors and say something like "I know little Billy can be loud sometimes and I apologize. Bedtime can be kinda difficult sometimes. We're in our terrible twos right now." I can almost guarantee the other Moms will sympathize- we've all been through it. Please don't be embarrassed.
do you have an evening routine? That seemed to help my daughter because she knew what was coming every night. We even set up a timer at night. Ten minutes before the night routine we set a timer. When the bell went off it was time to brush teeth. Then potty, ponytail, and then pjs and hop into bed. . A bit of independence seemed to help too. She got to choose which pjs she wears (If she insisted on sleeping in underwear- fine- as long as she took off her clothes from the day), which color hair pretty (her hair is super long and has to be up every night), which story we read, etc. Maybe even letting him pick the order of the routine will give him a sense of control which may make it easier to transition to bedtime. My girl is almost 6 and sometimes there are bedtime struggles but she knows the routine and is pretty good about doing it and going to bed. She and my husband have toothbrush "races" (pretend races while he MCS- like a horse race) that she loves. She also has extra incentives where if she finishes her routine in enough time (no dragging her feet or complaining) she gets an extra story. It seems to work for her. But while you are finding out what works for you please do not feel bad. As I and other Mamas have said- we've all been through it. Screaming kids happen.
Hugs- good luck. I hope you find something that works for you and your little one.

D.,

Are you a single mom? No help with your boy at all?

I think you should try and get him out of the house/apt after dinner and let him run his little heart out. When you return home, give him a soothing bath, get him ready for bed, a story and see what happens

While I'm all for giving my neighbors a treat now and then, I would not want to bribe them into NOT calling CPS on you. I hope you will introduce yourself to you neighbors and show them that you are good mom, going through the TWOs!

Blessings...

Love and Logic (it's a strategy that Sandy mentioned) - check your library or bookstore. Twos are terrible because kiddos can't communicate what they want/feel, etc.,and because they have no control over anything in their lives and they are starting to realize it. Good luck!

I agree that the screaming is the issue that needs to be resolved. You said he's tired. Perhaps putting him to be earlier might help along with giving him choices. Sandy L. described ways to do that. It is really helpful when we're able to opt our kids into making decisions in the routine. It was difficult for me at first to use this indirect approach but once I was able to do it smoothly most battles were gone.

Also, try using a sing song tone of voice. Make going to bed fun. Perhaps put on some soft music to play while you're getting ready for bed.

Some kids like to stick to a particular routine. Some like a little variety. Perhaps let him choose which he does first. Teeth or pj's. Stop yourself and even take a break when you notice that you're getting upset. Once we are upset the battle is lost. It has become a battle of wills.

Another way of doing that is to say something like when we get your pjs on we'll watch a cartoon. That way he is working towards doing something that he wants to do. Both of my grandchildren sometimes prefer watching 30 minutes of TV to reading a story. We mixed it up at that age with mostly reading to them. And, what is important, is that I snuggle up and watch the program with them.

My grandchildren as preschoolers like to listen to both music and books on CD. They could choose what they wanted to listen to after the books were read.

I think kids go thru times when they don't want pjs and would prefer sleeping in their clothes. I was usually able to get my grandchildren to strip down to their under clothes. I'd try that too. Lots of kids sleep in the underwear and clothes. Being flexible helps a lot.

Please don't be concerned about CPS. First, it's unlikely anyone is going to do that unless they hear you yelling or screaming back. But if they do, CPS will talk with you and will understand about the screaming.

I bet that is stressful. I would start trying to reason with him a little. Tell him that screaming makes people upset. Is he having tantrums??

UGHHH! My 2 year old started doing the same thing lately. Another little boy at his babysitter does it and think that were he picked it up. Anyways, I agree it's so embarrassing!!! I do punish him and I do see a slight improvement, but he is definatley in his terrible twos and expressing himself shall we say. I say try putting him in time-out everytime he does it and see if that stops it. Maybe knock on your neighbor's door and tell them that you know this is going on and that you are working on it? I don't know, I'm kind of a straight forward person so that might not be your thing. You are not alone though. Good luck!