Help please!!!

[angcaltam]

I need advice badly,
My 2 1/2 year old son has been having mood swings if you could call it that. One minute he is a normal happy child and the next he just goes nuts, he belts into his older brother for no reason and we usually have to drag him off him to stop him. Last week he picked up my car keys and through them at me for no reason, he doesn't just hit his brother but his parents, grandparents well anyone that is close by when his mood changes. The other day I had to hold him down until he calmed down because he wouldn't stop hitting me, which he has a good hit on him. I'm taking him to the Dr on Wednesday but I'm going mad.
Anyone with advise please give it to me.
We have tried the naughty chair, putting him in his room and smacking him which we hate but we don't know what else to do.

[mumof2girls]

Hi Katherine;

Has there been any changes in his routines, family etc that could have him unsettled? It's a hard one when they suddenly change. Also does he have any speech problems? if so he could be getting frustrated with not being able to verbalise things as quickly as he likes. Not sure what say except keep your chin up and give him lots of cuddles and tell him you like cuddles not him throwing things. Good Luck! :)

[angcaltam]

Hey mumof2girls,
He had a hearing problem for awhile but it did fix itself. He is still having speech problems and we thought maybe that could be it but I didn't think it could make him that savage. He had another episode today where he hit his older brother across the head with my car keys then once I took them off him he picked up a couple of little kids chairs a through them at him then hit him across the head with a hard cover book. I ended up putting him in his room and shutting the door because he has trouble opening them still, just so he would stop hurting Angus.
I don't know how much more I can handle. He scares me when his moods change. I'm counting down the days till he goes to the Dr. I'm just so worried that he is really going to hurt someone.
Thank you for taking the time to post and I will keep you posted on what happens. Esp when he goes to the Dr on Wednesday.

[Rell]

Could it be his diet? My sister's son started to get a little agresive and out of control at about the same age. Since putting him on a stricked diet (Fengold Diet) which eliminates addatives and salicylates he has become a different child. I know if my daughter has foods with too much colours and flavours she becomes a little hypo. This is just a thought, I hope you can get things settled soon.

[shanz]

hey Katherine just thought i'd add something that amy or may not be linked that Caleb also does.He seemingly doesn't feel pain. Or register it.The other day i watched as he did a somersault off the bed and wacked his head and he will just get up rub it and five seconds later do it again.and it isn't like a normal two year old that doesn't feel it as much,he had a massive egg on his head that bruised and it just doesn't phase him.
Just thought i would add that for you because i know it concerns us and i had a thought that maybe it was linked.
Cheers, Aunty Shandi.

[mumof2girls]

Hi Katherine;

Not sure if this would help but document in a book over the next few days what/when he has to eat and drink and also the times of his tantrums and how long they last, what he does eg: pushing/shoving/shakes his head/whole body etc what is happening just before a tantrum etc. This may help you and/or the doctor see a pattern if there is any. Sorry I can't be of more help to you

Kay

[moggs]

Hi,

It must be hard on you Katherine, especially how you've exhausted many avenues and want to find out the cause. I do agree what the other ladies have said, I believe it may be due to an inability to express himself and he becomes frustrated. Another possibility could be the diet. Some kids have bad behavioural problems to additives. Also I've heard fish oil (in capsule form) is really helpful with children with behavioural difficulties.

Good luck

Moggs.

[angcaltam]

Thanks all,
Only 3 days to go till we take him to the Dr's. I'm counting down. We have been trying to watch what he is eating but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I will keep you all posted on how things are going and if there are anymore ideas please share them with us.
Thanks again.

[Melissa1983]

Hi Katherine

The same thing is happening to me. But its my eldest. It has only been the last week, she hits everyone, talks back, mean to her sister. i dont know what to do either, but i am thinking she is just missing her dad.

[angcaltam]

Hey mummyof2,
Caleb has been like it for a while, he use to have a minor hearing problem which seems to have fixed itself. When he had the hearing problem we thought that was just the way he communicated but then once his hearing was right we thought he would get better which wasn't the case. He has started saying a few more words, but his mood swings are getting really bad.
He does do other strange things like line his cars up in a staight line and they all have to be facing the same way. He has also done this with our shoes, his smurf and simpson toys.
We just can't wait to see the Dr on Wednesday, not tomorrow but the next day!!! And counting.
I will keep you all up to date on how he is going and what the Dr says.

[angcaltam]

Well Caleb went to the Dr's yetserday and all is good. He has a few traits of Autism but the Dr doesn't want to lable him Autistic, he doesn't like to lable kids if he doesn't have to. :confused: He wants to see him in a years time to see how he is doing with his speech and everything else. We asked about his anger but he has told us to do time out everytime he hits someone and if it is another kid that he hits make sure he sees us giving that child lots of attention and make sure we give him none. This is fine for us but we have to make sure that when we get people to look after him for us that they do this aswell. We are giving DH's parents a trial run on Saturday, they are having the kids all day for us so we will see how they go. He wants us to get him into speech therapy and see how that goes. I went down and bought some flash cards yesterday to work on his speech more at home.
I will keep you updated on how he is going, and if Aunty Shandi is reading this a big thank you for being there to support me through all of this!!! You are the best!! :p

[mumof2girls]

Hi Katherine;
I was going to say the same as the Dr (autism at least mild) because of what you said in your last post about lining things up etc but wasn't my place to say, he just sounded like other children I have worked with in childcare. One thing you may consider if this is the case is a day or two a week in childcare as this may help him socialise and the centre will also get funding to have someone work one on one with him as well, this all needs a diagnosis confirmed by a doctor. All the best and if I can help with anything then let me know :)

Kay

[angcaltam]

Hey there Kay,
We are going to put him in childcare 1 day a week next year, his big brother starts school next year so Caleb will be getting lots of attention. The thing is that the Dr doesn't want to put a lable on him so that won't help.
If you have any ideas on what we can do at home to help him out that would be great.
Hope to hear from you again soon.

[shanz]

Thanks Katherine, only to happy to help get mine and Uncle Steve's little man better....,and on the straight and narrow!!!