DD is having multiple meltdowns per day, over things that seem kind of insignificant. For example, I moved some boards outside around so they would dry better, and she became hysterical. If I rearrange any furniture inside, she's likely to become very upset. She's become very picky about food, and doesn't want anything that she doesn't like the look of even on her plate. I gave her 3 chicken nuggets the other day and she became upset because two of them were browner than the other one, and would not have them on her plate.
Right now she is upset, screaming that she wants to go to the store and get some candy.
She doesn't stay upset for long, but she doesn't stay calm for long, either.
She also has been complaining of leg pain at night sometimes, and when she does, she can't stop moving her legs (I gave her Epsom salt bath and some iron-rich foods and she hasn't complained lately).
She sometimes is awake for hours in the middle of the night. Last night she couldn't sleep from 2am until 6am.
She says she's having bad dreams, but its hard to tell if that's true or not, since she always says, "yes" when I asked her if she had a dream, and sometimes she says the same thing she said last night and the night before. She doesn't wake up crying; she just tosses and turns and finally says, "I can't sleep." We cosleep and I sleep very lightly and I know she's not crying out. She is saying today that she had a bad dream about a dragon, and for the past few nights she says she dreamed about "bobos" (monkeys) going down the drain in the sink.
My sense is that anything unusual during the day really disrupts her sleep. Yesterday we had a friend over in the late afternoon (usually our playdates are in the morning) and I think that is why she had a rough night. But I don't really know for sure. She doesn't seem upset by changes in routine during the day, and seems to enjoy new things. But then she doesn't sleep well at night.
She is very imaginative and creative. She also doesn't like to watch a movie a second time or read a book a second time or do the same puzzle twice. She likes things new and interesting and after that they are boring. She doesn't like repetition.
We don't watch much TV (we don't actually have any reception or cable) but we sometimes watch Netflix dvds like Little Bear or Teletubbies etc.
She doesn't like playing with other kids. I think the concepts of taking turns and personal space are too much for her right now - or at least, all the rules of social engagement are too troublesome to be worth the slight fun of playing with others. She plays with me all the time, though. She doesn't play independently at all, really. We spend all day and night together and she doesn't go to daycare or preschool.
She's very active and doesn't like to sit still for things like storytime at the library. She will sometimes let me read a book to her but usually only if she is doing something else at the same time, like taking a bath or nursing.
We don't use any punishments and I try to be empathic when she's upset about things. I also try to engage her in problem-solving but often she is too upset to communicate with me. She doesn't like to be comforted when she is upset unless she got physically hurt; she is sensitive to my feelings and will ask me if I'm happy; she's pretty affectionate when she's feeling well.
We spend most of our day playing pretend games (e.g. "mama be the horse and I be the baby cow. Help! The baby cow has fallen in the hole and can't get out! Mama put on your rescue cape!")
Her diet is okay. We usually eat organic with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Sometimes her papa brings home terrible things like Oreo cookies about once a week, and sometimes we go out for ice cream, but overall, its pretty healthy.
I did try various elimination diets about a year ago to try to help with sleep issues, and we recently night-weaned, but it seems since she's turned three our sleep has gotten worse.
That's all I can think of. I know much of this is typical for 3 year olds but sometimes I wonder if she's a little more extreme. Anyone have any ideas or advice?
Right now she is upset, screaming that she wants to go to the store and get some candy.
She doesn't stay upset for long, but she doesn't stay calm for long, either.
She also has been complaining of leg pain at night sometimes, and when she does, she can't stop moving her legs (I gave her Epsom salt bath and some iron-rich foods and she hasn't complained lately).
She sometimes is awake for hours in the middle of the night. Last night she couldn't sleep from 2am until 6am.
She says she's having bad dreams, but its hard to tell if that's true or not, since she always says, "yes" when I asked her if she had a dream, and sometimes she says the same thing she said last night and the night before. She doesn't wake up crying; she just tosses and turns and finally says, "I can't sleep." We cosleep and I sleep very lightly and I know she's not crying out. She is saying today that she had a bad dream about a dragon, and for the past few nights she says she dreamed about "bobos" (monkeys) going down the drain in the sink.
My sense is that anything unusual during the day really disrupts her sleep. Yesterday we had a friend over in the late afternoon (usually our playdates are in the morning) and I think that is why she had a rough night. But I don't really know for sure. She doesn't seem upset by changes in routine during the day, and seems to enjoy new things. But then she doesn't sleep well at night.
She is very imaginative and creative. She also doesn't like to watch a movie a second time or read a book a second time or do the same puzzle twice. She likes things new and interesting and after that they are boring. She doesn't like repetition.
We don't watch much TV (we don't actually have any reception or cable) but we sometimes watch Netflix dvds like Little Bear or Teletubbies etc.
She doesn't like playing with other kids. I think the concepts of taking turns and personal space are too much for her right now - or at least, all the rules of social engagement are too troublesome to be worth the slight fun of playing with others. She plays with me all the time, though. She doesn't play independently at all, really. We spend all day and night together and she doesn't go to daycare or preschool.
She's very active and doesn't like to sit still for things like storytime at the library. She will sometimes let me read a book to her but usually only if she is doing something else at the same time, like taking a bath or nursing.
We don't use any punishments and I try to be empathic when she's upset about things. I also try to engage her in problem-solving but often she is too upset to communicate with me. She doesn't like to be comforted when she is upset unless she got physically hurt; she is sensitive to my feelings and will ask me if I'm happy; she's pretty affectionate when she's feeling well.
We spend most of our day playing pretend games (e.g. "mama be the horse and I be the baby cow. Help! The baby cow has fallen in the hole and can't get out! Mama put on your rescue cape!")
Her diet is okay. We usually eat organic with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Sometimes her papa brings home terrible things like Oreo cookies about once a week, and sometimes we go out for ice cream, but overall, its pretty healthy.
I did try various elimination diets about a year ago to try to help with sleep issues, and we recently night-weaned, but it seems since she's turned three our sleep has gotten worse.
That's all I can think of. I know much of this is typical for 3 year olds but sometimes I wonder if she's a little more extreme. Anyone have any ideas or advice?
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