Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

I'm so upset.

I'm going in to have my DS tomorrow morning, and my DH and I are running around like chickens without heads this morning.

DD is getting into EVERYTHING--I guess it goes with that theory of "bad attention is better than no attention".

For instance, she's been climbing up on our dining room chairs and sitting in the middle of the dining room table. We have VERY high bench-level seats, and it's really dangerous for her to be up there.

She got up there in the 30 seconds it took to put milk into her sippy cup.

Worst of all, she KNOWS the meaning of the word "NO"--I've seen my DH tell her "no" and she abruptly stops what she's doing and does something else.

Just now, I sat down for a second and she started to climb the chair. *I* told her no, and she quickened her pace in order to get onto the table before I could get to her.

I'm so upset that I'm crying as I write this...I just really, REALLY don't know how this is going to work. I'm planning to BF again, and I know that it can take an hour in the beginning--I'd hate to think what she'll get into in that span of time.

Not to mention, I clearly don't know how to discipline her, since my DH can tell her "no" and she listens, but she blatantly defies me.

I'm so sad.

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

This is all understandable and your emotional and overwhelemed, I mean you are having a baby tomorrow.

Dont worry right now, take each day as it comes and everything will work out. Ask DDF to help and be part of the process with the new baby.

Congrats and stay calm this is an amazing time for you. DD is just aware that something big is about to happen and children act out at those times.

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

It will all work out. She knows you are stressed and scared and is feeding off of it. My DD acts the worst with me- it amazes people when they see it. I think that she is nervous and scared too so she is just acting out right now.

Good luck with the new baby and hang in there!

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

I'm sorry that I don't have advice, just

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

STOP. BREATHE.

I swear to you- everything will be FINE!!!! You are stressed and anticipating a huge change and she is responding to that. Not your fault- you'd have to be on some heavy drugs to NOT feel some stress right now.

DD#1 was 17 months old when #2 came. It was crazy, but we survived. In fact, I kind of look back on those first few weeks fondly even though I KNOW at the time I probably wanted to poke my eyes out.

Now, I have a super whiny 3 year old and a 19 month old who is starting to "turn to the dark side" like her sister did- and #3's birth is looming in the near future. I'm stressed but I KNOW it will all be fine- because we got through it once before.

The unknown is the scariest thing. I swear, it's NEVER as bad as we build it up to be.

You have us all here to talk to- you'll get through it and it will be wonderful.

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

BTW- all DH has to do is raise his voice slightly and Mads immediately complies. Me? She laughs half the time.

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

Posted by Porrruss

BTW- all DH has to do is raise his voice slightly and Mads immediately complies. Me? She laughs half the time.

Re: Having a baby tomorrow and my 18 month-old is acting out

Thank you all so, so much. I know I can always turn to all of you when I'm stressed out about something

I tried talking to my mom about this, but she's the worst about stuff like this--she thinks I should be spanking DD when she defies me because "it'll get the message across". I spanked my DD one time and I went up to my room and cried after. I don't want to do that again.

You're right...she's feeling how stressed and overwhelmed we both are. Today we are both running around like lunatics and the poor thing hasn't had much mommy-daddy time

I just wanted to thank you guys for your words of wisdom, I truly appreciate it