Toddler Whining?

My child’s whining is starting to drive me crazy! How can I handle it?

ByJeanette Sawyer Cohen, PhD, clinical assistant professor of psychology in pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City

Pediatric Psychologist

Updated
March 2, 2017

Consider whining just another form of toddler communication. After all, even
a highly verbal two-year-old doesn’t have access to all the words and phrases that you do. If he’s feeling frustrated, angry, sad or simply overwhelmed in the moment, your child may rely on some heavy-duty whining to get his point across.

Whining usually gets worse when a kid is hungry or tired, so don’t plan anything demanding (like a play date or trip to Home Depot) close to naptime or for when he hasn’t eaten in a while. Schedule play dates after he has napped and had a snack, and don’t expect a complaint-free shopping excursion in the late afternoon. The whining will pass as he continues to develop more verbal skills—at least until he’s a teenager!

Plus, More from The Bump:

How to Tame a Tantrum

10 Annoying Toddler Habits (and How to Deal)

Does “Time out” Work for a Toddler?