Is your child well behaved in public?

[shampain]

Because mine isnt...and its really getting me down to the point of when we go out im on the verge of a panic attack as soon as he starts off playing up. Hes so stubborn, wont hold hands, wont stay close by, runs off out of sight, when you try to get him he throws himself on the floor, screams as loud as possible. Its stopping us doing things as a family, as its just not worth the fall out and embarrassment. Its also coming between me and OH as we both just get upset and fed up of days out ending in tears and the whole things being ruined. We have tried all sorts with Paddy and nothing works with him, im just so fed up i feel like running away. xxx

 

[Odd Socks]

bella's only 14 months, but it depends what we're doing & whether she wants to be doing that or not (isn't it always with these toddlers?).
she's very into holding hands & walking, then, when she's not going fast enough, she reverts to trying to crawl. i'd rather she didn't crawl around crowded shops & in the precinct (the other weekend, she wanted to crawl after pigeons near a main road). when i picked her up, she threw a complete paddy, she screamed as if she was being tortured & i think everyone was staring at us!
at other times, she can be wonderful. we were out at the trafford centre yesterday & once she got over the whole "being in the pushchair" thing, she was squealing, pointing, giggling.
xx

 

[Blah11]

Amelie used to be an angel. Shes fine going out to eat but walking in public shes a nightmare just now In shops she wont listen when I say don't touch. She'll usually hold hands but will want to look in every single shop with a toy or a book or sweets and wont come out again unless i either buy her something or carry her out crying
We were in Berwick this weekend and she ran full pelt away from me and wouldn't stop when I said stop. I had to run after her and got to her JUST as she got to a road


Has paddy always been like this or is it recentish cos theres only 2 days between our 2. Wonder if its just an age stage?

 

[nikkip75]

Eden's just turned 2 in July and she is exactly the same. I dread going anywhere. Even doing the school run is a nightmare! The not holding hands, running of, touching and wanting everything, climbing out of the pram, throwing herself everywhere like I'm trying to murder her if I just try to pick her up. It all makes me want to stay in the house for the next year!

We had loads of lovely days out planned during the summer hols with all 3 of the kids but we hardly done anything because it was just too much hassle. Just a trip to ikea yesterday turned me into a massive stress head and I was in a terrible mood for the rest of the day.

I vaguely remember my 5 year old being a nightmare to take out too though. I remember a day out to Warwick castle one summer and it was full of tourists from Italy, USA, Spain, China. And the look of shock on all their faces when daisy had one of her meltdowns over a plastic tiara in the gift shop was priceless!

It will blow over. I love taking daisy out now, she happily skips along holding
my hand. I don't think there was anything i done to change it tho. She just grew out of it x

 

[hot tea]

Nope! Well, sometimes. Sometimes he is an angel. Sometimes he is all in everything. He is three, it is normal behavior. I have no problems with it. it is actually a healthy if your child tries to bend the rules.

 

[Lilicat]

We got to Stay and Play sessions at Sure Start twice a week where we see about 30 children aged from newborn to four. At some point one of them is always having a temper tantrum, even the most angelic of children has meltdowns. So I would assume it is safe to say no toddler is perfectly behaved all the time and it is completely normal.

Have you considered reins, which would eliminate the hand running off and hand holding issue. You can get animal shaped backpack ones

https://www.amazon.co.uk/2-1-Harnes...32/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1316465024&sr=8-12

William is not a confident walker outside yet but when he is we will be getting him some Mickey Mouse ones from eBay, he loves Mickey Mouse so hopefully he will be excited about them.

 

[nikkip75]

We've got one of those cute little backpacks. It's a pink fluffy poodle. Eden loves it as a cuddly toy but try getting it on her and she will literally turn into a screaming writhing mess on the floor. The last time we tried to use it was a few weeks ago at a car boot sale. She seen it coming out of the boot and ran! When we got her back and struggled to get it on her she threw herself to the floor and rolled over in the wet grass screaming! It got put back into the boot and we lasted about 10 minutes at the car boot.

Daisy loved wearing reigns. Eden HATES them!

 

[Lightworker]

Because mine isnt...and its really getting me down to the point of when we go out im on the verge of a panic attack as soon as he starts off playing up. Hes so stubborn, wont hold hands, wont stay close by, runs off out of sight, when you try to get him he throws himself on the floor, screams as loud as possible. Its stopping us doing things as a family, as its just not worth the fall out and embarrassment. Its also coming between me and OH as we both just get upset and fed up of days out ending in tears and the whole things being ruined. We have tried all sorts with Paddy and nothing works with him, im just so fed up i feel like running away. xxx

My DD1 never used to like to hold hands. She preferred to wander freely, and you know what I did? I let her (as long as she was safe ofcourse).

I know it can be hard when you are in public, but I think that perhaps you are paying too much attention to what other people think. What your child is doing is normal and natural for him. He is just trying to explore and satisfy his curiosity. Which are both great things. Its how they learn. If it is safe for him, i.e. no risk of being bumped, run over etc, perhaps you could just allow him to walk, and you walk very close to him.

Don't worry too much what other people think. Children won't always behave the way you want them too, but remember, they are learning what is acceptable, they won't be perfect every time.

I hope I don't sound preachy, but I am just hoping you will see the futility in caring about what other people think. Incidentally, when some people see very well behaved children, they might think that these children are repressed and afraid of their parents. You can't win people will always have opinions lol.

All the best. If its any consolation, when my DD1 turned 3-ish, she loved holding my hand, so perhaps its a phase that he will pass. x

 

[sabby52]

Dec used to be a complete nightmare in public, wouldnt hold hands, screaming to get bought treats, running away ect.ect.ect. But since he turned 3 and started playgroup last year he has got much, much better. When we are out now he will hold my hand and he now understands it is to dangerous to run away from mummy.

I would say it is just an age thing and hopefully he will grow out of it

 

[Hannah]

Addison has her moments! Sometimes an angel and others it's lIke the devil has possessed her! lol! I have found that giving her a choice ie walk holding mummy's hand or the pram or go in the buggy normally works. That way if she misbehaves and starts to run off I ask, do you want to go in the buggy, if it's no, I remind her to hold on. If she refuses I put her in the buggy. We have had a few meltdowns because of this but I rode them out and now she seems to realise she won't get away with it so always holds on after reminding.

I think it's completely normal to go through this though, they are just setting boundaries and exploring. Whatever you decide to do, be consistent! Good luckx

 

[shampain]

On phone at the moment so will reply to you all individual when I'm on lappy. Thanx for all your replies. We had to leave the swimming lesson today as he was so naughty screaming and smacking and wanting to just do his own thing. After him nearly castrating oh we called it a day. So angry and fed up.

 

[Lilicat]

So angry and fed up.

This stage will pass, I can't promise whatever stage he will be in next will be any better but this one will pass!

 

[aliss]

Yes but he is very easily distracted by others and will have a meltdown as soon as people are gone.

 

[hattiehippo]

Tom's younger (21 months) but I can already see he's heading this way - he's going to be the child in the middle of the pavement screaming "you're hurting me" or "you're not my mummy" in a year or so time.

I find some days he's fine to be given the space to walk on his own in shops etc and he'll stay with me but others its just not happening because he just constantly tries to run out of sight or grab things....its like some days he knows how to behave and tries his best to listen and others he just can't for whatever reason. Same as some days he will hold my hand when needed and other days he just doesn't want to and will scream and scream.

I haven't got much help other than as far as I understand its a normal stage of development and majority of kids go through it at some stage. But I understand how hard it is when people are looking, especially when your's is the only 1 losing the plot!

Is he open to bribes and rewards? Would the promise of a small toy or treat if he walks properly and holds your hand round say 2 shops help????

 

[March mummy]

My boy had a time where he was an angel then had a good few months exactly as you describing he would run off and then tantrum on the floor if you caught him, it was a nightmare if you put him in a trolley he would climb out or scream. It was a nightmare but i just used to ignore him and when i a shop that was quiet and I knew was safe i walked away from him and pretended to leave the shop, ( I was actually hiding behind the shed in store and could always see him) as he couldnt see me or find me he got worried and has been as good as gold every since he never leaves my sight and even tries to help with shopping.

 

[special_kala]

River is pretty well behaved but to other people thet might not think so. Shes not all that into holding hands but i dont see that as ad behavior, the same with touching things in shops as long as shes careful and puts itback or gives it t me i dont care.

Of course she throws tantrums sometimes but i dont get embarrassed by them, shes a toddler its kind of what they do. Ve had people give me dirty looks, some of them from mothers of babies! Have felt like saying yea right luv give it a few years you wont be such acocky cow then! Lol.

 

[Lightworker]

River is pretty well behaved but to other people thet might not think so. Shes not all that into holding hands but i dont see that as ad behavior, the same with touching things in shops as long as shes careful and puts itback or gives it t me i dont care.

Of course she throws tantrums sometimes but i dont get embarrassed by them, shes a toddler its kind of what they do. Ve had people give me dirty looks, some of them from mothers of babies! Have felt like saying yea right luv give it a few years you wont be such acocky cow then! Lol.

hahaha, a long time ago I used to be that smug mom of a newborn thinking to myself "nope, my child is never going to do things like that" haha...two years later I was bingeing on humble pie

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

River is pretty well behaved but to other people thet might not think so.

This is pretty much what I'd say about Ruby. She behaves like a 2 yr old

 

[lollylou1]

Annabelle is a nightmare but we have one of those little life (i think they called) back packs and she loves that, she does hate shopping in general but is ok if going for a general walk if using the backpack
Lou
xxx

 

[smelly07]

Thats just toddlers for you, imo its not naughty behaviour. i agree very much with lightworker, my LO doesnt want to hold hands thats fine and i let her walk freely and have done for such a long time, we hold hands when crossing the road though whether she likes it or not it doesnt matter to me thats a must lol!
She does listen when i say NO sometimes she may throw a paddy but i ignore it and she gets over it extreamly quickly usually going from scream to hysterical laughter the strange child

I dont care about the STARES it doesnt bother me. I know that anybody who has had children or works with them knows exactly what they can be like and people who havent soon will learn or if not live a life of shaking head syndrome everytime they see a mother with a

You arent the only one and certainly wont be the last so dont let it stop you going out and about, just try not to get stressed and upset over it as your LO will pick up on it.....whats that saying ....keep calm and carry on lol xxx


OH AND ANOTHER THING WOULD YOU BELIEVE MY FAVOURITE AGE IS 2-3 .......I BLOODY LOVE IT........tee hee xxx