PMS And Toddler Behavior

You are defintely not alone. I have noticed it since my 10 year old twins were babies. I don't know if it's so much that they align with your cycle, as much as they pick up on your energy. And no matter how calm and cool you act, they pick up on the real stuff underneathe. The days that you need them most to be mellow and not needy are the days that they are the total opposite. There may be something to the cycle thing, because my husband started working out of the home four years ago, and I swear, when I am pmsing,(and doing a pretty good job of not letting on) he is moody and irritable with me and the girls.
I looooove a product called premsyn pms. I get it at Rite aide and I buy three bottles at a time because while pamprin and midol sit on the shelves. This stuff is sold out .Also, I tried to have an adult over if possibe when they were young. For some reason, someone elses energy made a huge difference. Or have a playdate as long as the mom sticks around. Lastly, I had "no agenda" days whenever I could. Trying to stick to an agenda just created more frustration due to not being able to accomplish anything. I found the days I kept the to do list blank were so much easier. Good Luck

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Dear K.,

I don't know, but as Shakespeare said, "there are more things in heaven and earth than this world dreams of". I do know that children are experts on the moods and feelings of their mother especially. Who knows. But your having that diary is a great tool for trying new ways of doing something when you know the 'ides of the month' are coming.

C. N.

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I am nursing so my experience is not recent, but I used to feel that MY HUSBAND was the one with PMS shortly before my cycle would begin!!! I'm now inclined to believe that that was NOT just my imagination!

Thanks!!! :)

I have definitely seen a correlation between PMS and my son's behavior. He is 6 years old. He becomes more argumentative and seems to everything he can to get himself into trouble. I've noticed that it doesn't happen every month but I haven't taken the time to keep a log or diary. I do try to keep myself contained and not let anything get to me most months which helps sometimes. Most often though, he is a terror to deal with during the times when I'm most crabby. It is no fun! I wonder if this sort of thing happens with girls too or if it is just a boy thing.

Reading all of the responses to your question was SO FUNNY! We women are something else, aren't we? Naturally so intuitive, but when it comes to PMS, we are clueless! Always trying to transfer the blame. Whether it is coworkers, children, husbands - whoever. Funny how they all seem to get so much more irritating at "our" time of the month! News Flash. It is US! WE are the culprits! They are reacting to OUR mood. I think we all need to face facts and realize that, in this instance, it really is us, not them.

Hello there! I too have found that my 3 yr has been acting the same way. It seems just 1 week before I get my monthly that my 3 yr old is VERY demanding and just out right defiant. Her father has also noticed it. We aren't together anymore but I honestly thought he was making it up to try to pin something against me. Now that I read your story its hard to think he is making it up. I haven't found a way to curb the behavior as of right now but just wanted you to know that your not alone.

yeah....

mine is the same way! it seems like he saves all his tantrums and stuff to when i have pms...lol

seriously, i think that kids have a sixth sense about when their parents are going thru something and can sense all is not well.

Wow- I have been wondering the same thing. My daughter appears to be more sensitive and "moody" when I am PMS'ing. I thought maybe it was just me, but I have noticed the trend over the last several months. I have not mentioned to anyone, but always wondered. It is great to know that others are curious about this corelation too!
C.

I have yet to determine if my three year old is experiencing her own version of a cycle or if she is just responding to me. Either way we must all do everything in our power to be in control and calm. I've found that if I get excersise on a regular basis, maintain a well ballanced diet, drink enough water and get time for my own creativity my period and my pms aren't as bad. I wish you luck in finding a way around and out of this awful pattern.

There is a wonderful book called "The Fabric of Autism" and the author overcame autism but discussed this issue. She taught special ed and said all the kids could tell when she had PMS and was menstruating. She would have to give them warnings to let them know. Some of the verbal children said they could smell it on her prior to her even menstruating. She said the children were very sensory and their olfactory sense was heightened (I think that was the sense). Anyway, she definitely found a correlation. The homeopathic remedy sepia is great for PMS and could help translate to your kids as well.

I waited before I responded to see what other people's answers would be, because this question was so interesting.
I swore when my youngest was a baby that he would get very fussy and irritable once a month for a few days, and I always wondered if it was some hormonal thing, since I was breastfeeding, and maybe he was getting a "hormone cycle" because of the nursing thing. I wasn't getting my period yet though, so it was hard to say if the timing was right, but I did start getting my period when he was over a year and still nursing. And he would always be fussy, especially with eating during that time. Go figure. I think there IS something to this, and more than just us being a little cranky during our periods. In fact, I really don't get mental PMS but a day or two before, the rest is lots of physical symptoms (cramping, fatigue), so I can imagine it made my baby feel yucky too if he was getting hormonal surges from breastfeeding.
I seriously don't think I imagined this. :)

I was just telling my hubby that I felt our daughter did this. Even when I try to be extra tolerent because I know I am irritable she is so hard to deal with at that time of month. I know that isn't scientific but it for sure happens in my home too!
K.

I just want to say thank you for posting this question!! It happens at my house with all three of my kids, a 9 year old girl and two boys who are 3 and 4. I thought that the kids were just being difficult cuz I was irratable, tired and generally did not feel well, and that it was all just ME! So again thank you and now I know that I am not the only one who had these same thoughts :)

I have two girls, ages 6 & 3 and have noticed that this happens alot with them also. I haven't kept a journal but, DH and I have talked about it and he has also noticed the change in thier behavior.

In my case, the moon and I are not on the same cycle, so I guess I can rule that out. I think when I take them for there annual check-ups, I will ask the doctor if this is pretty common and if they have any suggestions on how to handle it.

I do experience this, I am glad that I am not alone. I think it has to do with our mood, even though I try to be cheerful and energetic like usual. Moms and wives are the anchor of our famlies and we set the tone. It is difficult to do it 24 hours 7 days a week! My son is 18 now and and my daughters are 6 and under and every one is moody at that time!!! Good Luck!

I swear my kids are out of control when I am PMS'ing. It makes sense... women all go on the same cycle if the spend time together. Our kids probably are the same way. I always just thought I had no patience and it was just me!

I have been researching this myself. I started by looking at the full moons because every time our son acts out of character we are getting close to a full moon. Oddly the full moon and my period are on the same schedule so I don't know if it's the moon or my period...but I am starting to log it myself. Either way I guess I will know when to expect odd behavior. He starts up about 2 days before the full moon and right about the time I start and the behavior lasts for about 4 days. I am curious to see if many women PMS around the schedule of the moon and have these issues or if other women have these issues with their cycle being different than the moon. I start about 2 days before. Here is a link to good lunar calendar for anyone interested:

http://kalender-365.de/lunar-calendar.php