[bald_daddy77]

I was just wondering if anyone had some advice on what I could do to help my girlfriend out with her 2 year old boy "Bob". I should probably start at the beginning.

This last January, Bob's father was admitted to the hospital with injuries from an automobile accident (Bob was not involved in the accident). For whatever reason, the hospital treated his injuries and sent him on his way. He had internal bleeding that was not caught at the hospital, and when he got home, he took some medication (i don't remember what) that was primarily aspirin and laid down with Bob for bedtime. My girlfriend went in to check on Jim a few hours after that, and called 911 when she saw that he was pale and not breathing. Bob woke up when she called 911, because she was administering CPR, but she took him out of the room when he didn't respond. The paramedics arrived and took his body, but Bob didn't witness that.

Now Bob is usually a great kid, he's pretty well mannered for a two year old (in my opinion). But he is quite stubborn about some things, and particularly doesn't like going to bed or taking naps. Whenever we try to put him down for a nap or bedtime, he just cries and tries to either get away or hold on so tight that you can't put him down. If he sees either of us go outside, he runs to the door and starts banging on the door with a toy or his fist, and crying to go with. She tried putting up a gate in his doorway, but he only knocks it down or crawls over it. We've tried laying with him until he's asleep, sometimes that works, but if he wakes up during the night, it's extremely difficult to get him back to sleep. We've tried talking to him, to settle him down, but he won't even look at you, just continues to cry and try to get up. If he wakes up and his door is closed, he lays down and kicks his feet against it until you think it's going to come off the hinges.

I'm really new to all of this, so if you could please offer any advice on what we could do to help him with this problem, I'd be very grateful. Thank you for your time.

[kalhayd2]

I'd speculate that a lot of his behavior correlates from watching his fathers death(or illness, you didn't specify). But a lot of that is typical two-year old behavior.
Our 18 month old throws CRAZY fits and most of that is due to limits w/ language. Verbal communication is brand new at this age. If you think that he's troubled from watching the CPR and the trauma related to that I'd suggested finding a good pediatric counselor.
lots of luck.

[Samual]

In my experience, a lot of that is typical behavior for a toddler.

[abrahamalegre]

looks a lot like the phase of the terrible twos for toddlers just remember to be always there as a firm and strong guidance force for your child.

[QueenAngie]

Welcome to the board!

A good, relaxing routine also helps children to know what comes next.

Snack, a warm bath, PJs, reading, prayers, and bedtime was always a good routine
for our kids.

You do not get them all excited and running around, then expect them to suddenly
be ready for bed.

All the best!