Hello everyone! I am new to this discussion and my husband found this board and I just have to ask for some advice. After what my husband and I went through last night, (and every other night in the last two months), I am hoping that someone else has some experience with this. I am having a REALLY big problem with my three year old. She just turned three in December. The issue right now is that she will have these screaming crying fits for no reason in particular and there is no consoling her once she has started in. She screams at the top of her lungs to the point where I am sure the nieghbors can hear it and she will hold out on one of these tangents sometimes for hours at a time. She is very stubborn and she will not quit until SHE is done. We have tried spanking, yelling, reasoning, talking, asking questions, putting her in her room and closing the door and letting her scream. She opens her door even at the threat of a spanking(and we spanked her everytime she opened the door!) which was spank, put her in the bed, and she would get up and open the door immediately and scream out it and then we would spank her again and start over. We did that for about 20-30 mins and she continues to open the door. I have thrown out all the candy in the house. I thought maybe she was having sugar peaks and crashes. Now the tantrums have started happening at night. She wakes up in the middle of the night and refuses to tell me why she is crying. I ask her questions, she doesn't answer, I turn around to leave the room and she yells no and starts screaming and crying again. It's almost like she wants me to stand there and just stare at her all night long. Why won't she just tell us what is the issue so that we can fix it???? If my husband tries to go in and deal with it she screams that she wants me and will NOT communicate with him at all during one of these episodes. She is normally very good for her dad, except during these tantrums. It is now happening two to three times a night! My husband and I are exausted. We have learned not to pick her up and console her until after she has COMPLETELY stopped crying. I am at the end of my emotional rope and I was in tears last night just from shear emotional stress! PLEASE HELP ANYONE!

Wondergirl

I'm so glad you had a peaceful night finally. Now you've gotten a few hints as to what works--the bath, the snacks, spending time with Mommy, back scratching, quiet voices. Build on that foundation. The more quality sleep the two of you have, the more relaxed and happy you both will be.

I'm proud of you! Welcome to the Creative Mommy Club!