Two Year OLd mOving moOd changes

United States
August 28, 2010 10:12am CST
Is normal for a two year old to have sudden mood changes after moving? My two year old has just been crying and crying and waking up in the middle of the night and my thoughts are that the moving has made a big impact to her and I do not know know how to make her feel better. I have set up all her personal items and have just tried to make her feel as if everything is going to be ok but she is just not accepting change and honestly as a person it is wearing me out I am exhausted. She never cried at night as and infant and she has been sleeping through the night since she was 1 month old I have gone through different means to try to make her happy. Has anyone gone through something similar? If so what technique did you try? Thank you for reading hope to hear from you.
2 people like this
8 responses
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
28 Aug 10
Hi, I guess your daughter has not get used to her new environment and she need time to adapt to it. Don't force her and let her calm down for sometimes. What you can do is to arrange her toys in old place like what you have at your old house, talk to her that you guys have moved to new house and this is a new place for her to stay. Sleep with her everynight, sleep at her side and pad her at night when she cried in the middle of the night. Hugs her and tell her that everything is fine. Let her calm down and don't get yourself nervous. Good luck!!
2 people like this
• Canada
30 Aug 10
I like the idea of arranging the toys and/or furniture in the child's room like they were in the old place as that may help. I personally wouldn't recommend to anyone to sleep with their child though because then it can get to the point where the child can't see without you and that creates all new issues. BUT if the child has a nightmare then by all means they can crawl into bed with you, BUT the minute the child falls back asleep they should be put back into their own room and bed. That way the child wakes up in their own room/bed and knows that they can be just as safe there as with mum and dad.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thank you for the great advice I have not logged in a while but that does not mean I did not hear out all the great feedback I recieved!! Thanks for the tips they were very helpful!!! Purpleteddybear: I agree my daughter has been sleeping in her toddler bed since she was about16 months old and after they had invaded our home I was terrified at what could have happened to her so she started sleeping with me and boy was it difficult to put her back to her regular routine and even with having a better mattress than us!
• Canada
30 Aug 10
I personally haven't had this problem happen with me, but in the experiences I have had with going to friends or families for visits my kids were out of sorts. They would have trouble sleeping as it is a new environment and they take a little bit longer to adjust. I'm sure that your child will be fine, just needs to get used to the new place is all!
1 person likes this
• Canada
13 Dec 10
That's great news! I am so happy to hear that she has adjusted!
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thanks for your advice and truely being a new mom consists of different experiences with your child and luckily 3 months later my daughter is now comfortable with her enviroment and is just doing so great!
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
19 Sep 10
Hi. Adeliza1220. I am sorry that you are going through this with your daughter. The only thing that you can do is to soothe her as much as you can. Give her some of her old toys and books to play with, this may could help her to feel at ease. Also, maybe you should try making your furniture be in the same location as it was in your old home. Try to make your home look the same as much as possible. That way, everything will seem familiar to your daughter. I have not had this problem as much. My kids adapted to our new home. They were even more excited to be living in a new location. I was also excited to.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thanks for your advice and after a 3 month lapse I have finally gotten her to accept the new home and now she is back to sleeping through the night and things are just going so great. I admit that even for me it was difficult to accept the change but hey that is how life is changes come and accepting them in the most positive way is the best thing to do!
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
29 Aug 10
i think she is having a hard time adapting to the new situation and to the place. her reaction is normal i think. try to talk to her most of the time and tell something nice about the place and everything in it. you can exaggerate to get her attention. :-)
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thank you for your response I really do appreciate all the advice I have received!!!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Sep 10
I would assume that the main reason that this is happening to your daughter is because of the fact that your family has moved. Moving is a big adjustment for every person to make and younger children aren't equipped with all of the coping mechanisms that are necessary to make the transition a smooth one. That said, I think that the best thing that you can do with your daughter is to take time with her and share that she is special. Just giving her extra attention through this time of transition should make her adjustment a bit less rocky.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thank you for your advice and yes it is a big adjustment to her because it is her first move it took her about 3 months to finally be comfortable!
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
28 Aug 10
my brother's son abhi(2years old) boy is so intelligent. When he saw once, he can do it automatically, i love the way he talks, when i am going to college daily he gives send off to me. I so happy with him. I love him.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thank you for your response and for sharing your related experience I am happy to hear that he takes it well!!
@magrylouyu (1627)
• United States
28 Aug 10
Yes, it is completely normal. If she had friends there and now she doesnt get to see them as often. My kids were all basicly raised in one state then we had to move 4 hours away. It's rough. Some people say that small children dont really know the difference. In reality they know what is going on. All you can do is reassure her that everything is okay. I know you said she is 2 years old but just try sitting with her at night and read a story to her and just rock her to sleep in your arms. That's what I had to do with my youngest who's 13 months. Within 2 months she was doing pretty good. She just may not like change. Personally I dont even like change, but small children just cant express themselves like us adults can. Good luck, I hope you can try to get your daughter to sleep at night again.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Nov 10
Thank you so much for your feedback I have not logged in a while just been up late nights with her until she finally has accepted the change and now everything is going great and she feels more comfortable. The things is we moved down the street from where we were but it was quite of a task to get her settled in!
@gnomeland (421)
28 Aug 10
you have not said how long you have been moved but i am guessing no too long. some of us do not take to change very well and this is for little ones more so as they have no 'power' over their lives. this decision has effected your child greatly in a way they cannot explain like an adult in words they can only express their upset by crying and being moody. you have done the right thing in setting up your little ones personal items but to reinforce that this is their new home how about getting them to choose a new bit of furniture, toy , lampshade, beanbag, wall poster or cushion for 'your special new room'. if they feel that they have had input into their new life they may well feel more able to sleep and if it is possible to invite their old friends/relatives around to see the new home with what they chose for it, it will help to reinforce that change has happened but this change is good and not to be afraid of.they will settle soon, good luck.:)
• United States
28 Aug 10
Thank you for your response and for your advice and I apologize for not mentioning the time frame it has been and it has been about 3 weeks and I have tried so many things and it still continues. I do understand that childrens points of views of everything is very different than an adults and that it is hard for them to accept change and that they usually express their ways through their moods but nothing has been able to help her feel better and it has been tough.