Questions

Aggressive 2yo

Posted on 2/17/2025

Dear John, My almost two year old daughter (20 months) has been showing aggression in her daycare class for the last couple of months and it’s escalating. It started with biting one child and...

POTTY TRAINING WITH 22 MONTH OLD

Posted on 11/22/2024

Please help us with potty training! We used "Naked and $75" with our oldest child and it worked great. Our next child, however (22 months) is really struggling. We've been doing it for 6 weeks...

From 2 year old bully to well behaved boy

Posted on 11/19/2024

Our 2 yr son has been struggling with lots of hitting, pulling hair, pushing, poking, grabbing (until his sister is screaming), biting, etc. towards anyone who displeases him. His 3 yr sister gets...

Time for a visit from a coach

Posted on 11/5/2024

I am a single mom of 4. My childrens ears have officially stopped working and it's as if I'm not giving any instructions at all. The youngest (1.5) is now picking up on some bad behaviors. How do...

TOILET TRAINING SNAFUS NO BIG DEAL

Posted on 10/28/2024

We started training my now 21 month old son at 19 months. We had him trained during naps and he's been dry overnight several times as well. However, for about the past two weeks he's been waking...

SIBLINGS IN SAME BEDROOM

Posted on 10/26/2024

Within the past few months, we transitioned our 4.5 year old daughter and our currently 23-month old son to a set of bunk beds (has stairs, not a ladder) in preparation for our new baby being...

20 MONTH OLD REBELLING AGAINST TOILET TRAINING

Posted on 10/14/2024

Hi I have a 20 month old daughter and have spent 5 days doing naked75. During this time she would randomly sit on the potty when asked but most of the time she would refuse. When she did sit on it...

Mass Confusion Has Taken Over!

Posted on 9/27/2024

I need a reset with our boys, ages 11, 9, 6 & 5. After a season of intense caring for our baby and 2-year-old daughter, things have become a disaster. The top misbehaviors in the house are...

3 YO WAKES UP BEFORE SUNRISE AND WANTS TO ROCK 'N' ROLL!

Posted on 9/22/2024

Early morning wakings are becoming a problem for our 34 month old. He is waking up at 430/5 and waking up his 5 year old brother (they share a room). He naps at daycare from 1230-2 and his bedtime...

Nap-Time Struggles

Posted on 9/7/2024

We are struggling with nap-time. My 3 yr girl and 2 yr boy always take a nap in the afternoon. If they are at their grandparents’s house and are in separate rooms they go to sleep quickly. But if...

Look Out Boss, Here Comes the Baby!

Posted on 9/6/2024

I have a 6-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. My daughter is the typical first child who is bossy, little mama and directs her brother frequently on what to do, not to do etc. She’s a...

Demanding Eye Contact from a Toddler - Yes? No?

Posted on 8/29/2024

I’m currently reading the well behaved child. My son turns 3 in October. It says not to micromanage and say “look at me when I’m talking to you” but I would like my children to look at someone in...

Building a parenting framework

Posted on 8/29/2024

I have a 19 month old daughter and a 35 month old son. I’m currently reading the well behaved child and reading the sibling rivalry part however it says 3.5 years and up for the tickets. My son...

Potty Gate question

Posted on 8/29/2024

My daughter is 19 months. On august 1st we started potty training. I can count on one hand the amount of times she has gone on the potty. She is able to understand commands. When we ask her where...

TODDLER POOPS AND POOPS AND POOPS IN HIS PANTS

Posted on 8/22/2024

My son is 27 months. We’ve been potty training since 19 months. He’s struggling with still pooping his underwear a lot. He poops very frequently so it’s not uncommon for me to wash out 4-6 pairs...

Taming the Terrible Twos

Posted on 8/21/2024

Our 2 yr son is very disrespectful and has a fiery temper. He loves to hit and say “no” whenever we cross his will or sometimes even when he thinks trouble is coming. The rebellious, defiant...

TERRIBLE TWOS IN TWO CHILDREN AT ONCE!!!

Posted on 8/20/2024

My 3 yr daughter and 2 yr son can be very emotional at times, especially my daughter. Sometimes she has melt downs over the silliest things. For example, I tuck her in for the night but I use the...

NEARLY 3 YO LITTLE GIRL WON'T POOP IN THE POTTY

Posted on 8/9/2024

My 33 month granddaughter pees on the toilet, and has few accidents. Either informs us she has to go or it happens when told every few hours that it’s time. Pooping is another story. She hides...

BOYS WILL BE BOYS AND BOYS ARE WEIRD

Posted on 7/15/2024

We have a 7, 2 and 2 month old. All boys. Sometimes my 7 year old likes to shake his butt (or front side) in our 2 year olds' face. Usually while changing or rough housing. The boys share a room...

7 YO TAUNTS 2 YO

Posted on 7/15/2024

Our 7-year-old son is home for summer with our 2-year-old and 2-month-old. I've noticed him acting manipulative and greedy. For example, when the two-year-old gets up from his nap he will tell him...

Toddler guidance and independence

Posted on 7/11/2024

We recently found out that Baby #3 is on the way. We are trying to conquer the terrible twos with our son and conquer some issues with our 3 yr daughter. She has had a sneaky, disrespectful...

When Phases and a New Baby Coming Collide

Posted on 7/9/2024

Hi, we transitioned my son to a full bed because he began climbing out of his crib, and it was becoming unsafe. He has always been a great independent sleeper. However, now he requires either me...

Retraining will be challenging, possible and necessary.

Posted on 6/24/2024

Due with baby #3 in 9mon… 4yo and 2.5yo still sleeping with mom and dad, 2.5yo not potty trained. Where do we start in retraining our children so that our bed can be child free, and out of diapers...

How to untrain what was trained.

Posted on 6/22/2024

My 2.5 year old daughter is without diaper during the day but at naps and night with pull apps for the last 10 months Stil we have to remind her to go to the toilet and if we find she sometimes...

Post Vacay Reset

Posted on 5/5/2024

We recently went on a trip that was 13 days long. There was lots of drive time as we went to see different friends, family, and attended a wedding. Before the trip I could see that our two kids (3...

"Special Tantrum Place" for Tantrums

Posted on 2/28/2024

My son (21 months) is in full blown “terrible twos.” He does lots of throwing fits. When they happen he gets a swat on the bottom and has to sit in his bed until he will be sweet and say he’s...

Hide and seek marriage.

Posted on 2/22/2024

I am married but in a lot of ways feel like a single mother. Our 2 kids are quite busy toddlers. My husband often works late (not because he has to but because he wants to) and when he is home he...

Big Girl Voice

Posted on 2/14/2024

Re the most recent question about the 5 yr. old whining, interrupting. What would the advice be for a 26-month-old, who basically does the same thing? Time outs don’t seem to affect her.

Lying 2.5-Year-Old??

Posted on 1/30/2024

My 2.5 year old daughter has started lying and it is quickly becoming a big issue in our home. I know that John says something like, “Ask no questions, they’ll tell you lies.” So I have tried to...

Mom and Grandma Working Together

Posted on 1/30/2024

My 26 month old granddaughter whom I watch 3x a week is pretty well behaved, naps without fussing, picks up toys. She has occasional outbursts when is refused something , but a very short 2-3...

Road Trip & Potty Training

Posted on 1/16/2024

My daughter (2.5) is potty trained and we are working on potty training our son (19 months). We have a long road trip coming up in April when we have to travel from South Dakota to...

Teaching manners and respect to toddler

Posted on 1/16/2024

We are working on teaching our kids manners and trying to teach them to be respectful. They know excuse me, please, thank you, and yes ma’am/sir. Recently when I’ve been feeding them my daughter...

Avoid Pushing Toddler Too Early

Posted on 1/9/2024

My daughter is 2.5. I don’t plan on starting homeschooling for quite a while yet but my husband feels like we should start working on letters. He started working with her on numbers when she was...

Toddlers are stubborn and sneaky - really?

Posted on 1/7/2024

We live in a rougher part of town and our front door is close to the road. Because of this and because of my kids being very young (2.5 & 1.5) I don’t want them outside without me. We lock the...

2.5 y/o refuses to poop

Posted on 12/28/2023

My 2.5 year old is potty trained when it comes to pee but not poop. She is a stool holder, she constipates herself and I have to give her mirlax daily. I believe they are painful because of how...

How to space kids?

Posted on 12/27/2023

From previous questions you know that our two kids are very active and often very naughty. God is helping us and we’re trying to follow your advice. Some weeks are rough. Others are better but we...

Big move Big changes

Posted on 12/15/2023

Since our move my daughter has started having accidents again. She was day potty trained (only a couple accidents a week so staying dry and clean 98% of the time) but after the move she started...

Toddlers Acting Up After Moving Across Town

Posted on 12/12/2023

Recently we moved to an apartment across town from where we were. My kids (2.5 & 1.5) are really struggling to adjust to the new place. They are used to seeing their grandparents every day and...

How much to expect from toddlers

Posted on 12/5/2023

How do I know where to draw the line between what to expect for proper behavior and what is too advanced for the kids (girl 2.5 and boy 1.5) to learn? My husband and I have high standards of what...

Toddlers struggle with rules.

Posted on 11/30/2023

How do I teach my little people (2.5 and 1.5) to have respect? Often the baby will scream and yell for what he wants and doesn’t use much English yet. My daughter talks clearly but often demands...

Night training continued

Posted on 11/27/2023

My daughter (2.5) that I mentioned in an earlier question seems to be a very heavy sleeper. Because of our current housing situation she sleeps in our room but is in her own bed. I have considered...

"Fit Places" for a two year old

Posted on 11/26/2023

At what age can I start using tickets? I tried for a while with my 2.5 year old but she just chewed/folded/tore them up and thought they were toys. So far time out and pictures taped to the fridge...

Night Training

Posted on 11/26/2023

1. My daughter (2.5) is day potty trained other than occasionally having accidents. But at night or nap time she still wets the bed. We stopped doing diapers totally with her quite a while ago but...

Climbing Toddlers

Posted on 11/1/2023

I have two very busy little people (2.5 and 1.5). They are very curious and love to explore but can also be naughty at times. Christmas time will be coming soon and I love to decorate for it. But...

When AlphaMom is in the Room

Posted on 10/30/2023

My 2.5-year-old son keeps asking, " are you happy?" when I am firm or use "Alpha Speech." I'm not exactly sure how to answer or even if i should answer the question. I don't want him to think my...

Stay The Course

Posted on 9/19/2023

A while back I had asked a question about potty training my daughter (2). She has the idea down but often gets too busy playing and then has accidents. I have been making her wash out her...

Wrong Place? Wrong Time?

Posted on 9/13/2023

My grandson is 32 months old. He’s been in a Christian preschool for the last 3 weeks. The teacher often sends texts and reports to my daughter (mom) about the grandson shoving, hitting, and...

When will sharing 'click'

Posted on 9/12/2023

When I hear my two little people (2 and 15 months) arguing, fussing, yelling, etc. at each other in the play room, should I go investigate and discipline whoever is in the wrong (if one sibling...

2YO's Fascination with Fido's Bowl

Posted on 9/11/2023

My son is 2 weeks away from turning 2. He plays in the dog bowl of food and water multiple times a day. We have told him not to and have calmly put him in timeout but he’s not seeming to get it or...

DISCIPLINE WITH A TODDLER

Posted on 9/5/2023

We have followed your advice and most of the bad behavior (throwing food, bully little brother, battles over picking up toys, being a tattle tale) have cleared up. But we are still struggling some...

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