my 2 and a half year old daughter is starting to act up

Philippines
April 15, 2010 3:08am CST
My daughter is just 2.5 years old but she's starting to make faces, throwing tantrums and always want to cling to me everywhere I go. I'm now 5 months pregnant and it's really getting hard for me to give her my full attention. She now doesnt want to sleep on her bed and refuses to sit on her high chair because she wants to sit in my lap when she eats. If she finishes dinner before I do, she pulls me from my sit to send her to bed even if I'm eating. It's really hard. I'm thinking that she's beginning to get jealous about the new baby in the tummy because we keep on telling her to avoid bumping my tummy because there's baby inside. Help!
4 responses
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
17 Apr 10
A child is challenging from around age two until three and a half years old. It is called the terrible twos. Sibling rivalry is very common and can even begin during pregnancy. I know a lady that was going to call her baby daughter Katie but her toddler son couldn't say that name. He could say Hannah so she called her daughter that name. Now her son doesn't like Hannah and tries to scratch her. I think that before things get that bad you need to show your daughter you still care about her. She might be feeling very jealous. You should carry of asking her to be gentle towards you because you are pregnant. Good luck. My son is almost three and my daughter is 9 months old.
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
she is just jealous becuase you might not love her anymore,when the baby comes out. well you must explain to her that whatever happens.you will still love her. and that nothing will change
@pandaeyes (2065)
15 Apr 10
She is most likely worried that she is no longer going to be your baby. She wants to be the loved one and cant see how she will be if you have another smaller person to care for and love. I think I would talk to her about how she will be the big sister. She must see that she is important still and not being replaced and that she is not a nuisance and tiresome because of the other child.
• India
15 Apr 10
hai i have understood your problem. it is very tough to manage such a small baby. but we have to explain the baby about the situation in a nice manner. and you have to not scold the baby for every small matter otherwise the baby will misunderstand that you are avoiding her. and please everyday spend some time with the baby. at present you are 5 months pregnant as months pass it becomes hard to manage the baby so make the baby close to her father or to her grand mother so you can be get relief for some time. but till then spend as much time as you can with the baby.