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Expert Reviewed By - Do you find yourself asking yourself “Why does my toddler moan so much?” midway through trying to get literally anything done? Is it a constant battle when trying to get your toddler to wear shoes, having to leave the park or getting into bed?
Why Does My Toddler Moan So Much?
Your toddler may be moaning a lot for a number of reasons, the most common of which are:
- They’re feeling frustrated,
- They are overtired,
- Your toddler is hungry,
- They are feeling insecure and scared,
- Your toddler is bored,
- They are seeking your reassurance and approval,
- Moaning has got them what they wanted in the past.
NOTE: Whining and moaning are usually at their peak before your toddler has the language skills to efficiently express their needs. However, if your toddler is moaning a large proportion of the time, you need to start looking for a specific cause to change this behaviour.
7 Ways To Stop Your Toddler From Moaning So Much
Toddlers are at a very exciting but exhausting time in their development… But all this developmental activity needs careful handling as they can easily become whiny and moan when they don’t get their way.
Fortunately, there are 7 key tricks you can use to help break your toddler’s constant moaning habit once and for all:
1. Give Them The Words
Toddlers need to learn how to substitute whining or moaning for words and for many toddlers, this is a hard skill to master.
If your child is moaning then get down to their level and acknowledge that they are wanting to tell you something. Acknowledge that they may be tired, hungry or want your attention and then offer them the words they need to use instead:
- If they want you to pick them up, then teach them to say ‘Up, please’.
- If they are thirsty, teach them to say ‘Cup, please’.
- If they want you to read to them, teach them to say ‘Book, please’.
Encourage them to say these words before you pick them up or give them what they want…
And always make sure you are talking to them at their level whilst making eye contact.
It is important that once they start to use words rather than moaning that you praise them and respond promptly. Keep your response to their moaning consistent and gradually your toddler will learn that using words gets quicker results than moaning at you.
A great book for helping your toddler expand their vocabulary is the timeless classic The Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry.
Illustrated in Scarry’s signature style, the book is packed with hundreds of names for objects both familiar and new, grouped by subject, occasion and theme. From colours and numbers to fruit and vegetables to animals, vehicles and so much more, this is a beautifully entertaining way to expand a child’s knowledge of the world!
NOTE: At this stage, your main priority is to break the moaning habit. Teaching your toddler patience can come later.
2. Reduce Feelings Of Being Scared And Insecure
Whining and moaning can often go hand in hand with clinginess and if this seems to be the case with your toddler, consider what has been going on in their lives recently.
Has something significant happened such as the arrival of a new sibling, moving house, starting day care or have you returned to work recently?
All of these things can trigger your toddler into feeling scared or insecure and this can lead to excessive moaning as they crave your attention.
If you feel this may be the cause then you need to ensure that your toddler feels safe again by offering plenty of one-on-one attention and keeping to a regular schedule.
Toddlers love routines and knowing what is going to happen next, so make sure your toddler has a regular daily and bedtime routine that includes predictable 1-on-1 time with you where they can do the things they like best.
Use tools such as monster spray (or water to you and I) and night lights during the nighttime routine to help your toddler feel safe too.
Finding the right night light for your child can be quite a task. You want something safe, comforting, and practical. The Cozy Starry Night Light ticks these boxes, with eye-friendly warm lighting and an easy-to-use dimmer.
Its gentle glow makes it the best night light for feeding baby, diaper changes, or comforting your little one back to sleep.
As your baby grows the Cozy Starry Night Light's starry sky projection can provide comfort and gentle quiet time stimulation. Its soft lighting ensures a dreamy, peaceful environment, supporting your baby’s natural sleep cycle.
It really is a fantastic nightlight (at a very reasonable price!)
- Eye-friendly warm lighting with adjustable brightness.
- Includes a timer function for convenience.
- Projects a starry sky that is soothing for little ones.
- Rechargeable battery, so it's very portable.
- A USB adapter is not included for charging.
- The star projector is static without motion (however, this is ideal for very young babies and toddlers).
- Battery life varies based on the brightness settings.
PS: Here’s a handy video to help your toddler adjust to a new baby:
3. Give Your Toddler Enough Attention To Avoid Boredom
Looking after a toddler can be exhausting and they can be very demanding of your attention. However, you need to appreciate that you are the centre of their world and that this is just a phase.
Before you know it… their friends will become their central focus and you may even miss the constant need for you.
But right now their constant demand for attention can be trying, so ensure that you are spending enough concentrated 1-on-1 time with your little one, as this may alleviate some of the moaning for attention later on in the day.
Whilst ensuring that you are sitting down together and reading a book, playing with a toy or doing an activity at a certain time of the day are great ways to engage with your toddler… there are other things you can do to help them feel part of what you are doing throughout the day too.
Include Your Toddler In Your Day
Now I know I’ve spoken about not entertaining your toddler 24/7, but this is slightly different…
To help reduce your toddler’s moaning, you need to engage your toddler in what you are doing.
From cooking dinner, folding laundry or even tidying up the living room, encourage your toddler to play alongside you.
If your toddler feels you are engaged with what they are doing… then they are less likely to be demanding and will therefore, moan less.
An ideal toy to keep your toddler engaged while you are cleaning is Melissa & Doug’s Let’s Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! play set.
This colorful, kid-sized set looks just like the real thing and includes a wooden pretend play broom, mop, duster, brush, and organizing stand. Perfect for coping you and joining in with household chores, this sturdy set will withstand even the most enthusiastic cleaners!
You can also give them some PlayDough or Building Blocks and encourage them to make whatever their imagination can come up with.
No nursery is complete without wooden blocks. They provide hours of fun and education through play from honing fine motor skills, improving problem-solving, developing creativity and teaching colours and shapes. My favourite is this colourful set from Melissa and Doug.
Encourage your toddler to play nearby when you are busy, and check in regularly by asking them what they are doing and encourage them by telling them they are doing a good job.
This regular verbal checking-in will make them feel attended to without you having to pick them up or sit right there with them. It is the beginning of independent play.
Remember, toddlers don’t like to be left out… So, if you need to clean the house, fold the laundry or do some cooking, include them in the process by giving them a duster or some socks to match up.
The craving for attention and moaning will decrease and you will definitely get more done throughout the day.
NOTE: If you engage your toddler in activities alongside you as well as spending specific times of your day playing and reading with them, your toddler will feel part of your life rather than being an add-on when their allocated timeslot arrives.
4. Change Locations And Get Plenty Of Fresh Air
A change in location always helps a moaning toddler. Getting outside and encouraging them to run around allows them to focus on something other than you.
It also allows them to explore and play independently, free from the restraints of the home.
Daily fresh air is especially good for your little one’s sleep cycle too as it will help realign their circadian rhythm, hopefully resulting in a toddler who’s ready to go to sleep without fuss later in the day.
5. Go Back To Basics To Avoid Frustration
For some toddlers, there are so many new skills being learnt that sometimes it all gets too much.
While challenging your toddler’s new abilities to help improve their skills is vital, the timing is important to avoid frustration, whining and moaning.
If you notice a change in your little one’s body language and see that they’re becoming frustrated with a particular skill that they are trying to perfect… it may be time to remove that particular toy for a while and replace it with one less challenging.
It is best to save the more challenging experiences for when your toddler is fresh from a nap, well-fed and when you have time to support them.
Successful play experiences are what we are aiming for and these are more likely to happen if your toddler is well-rested and has a full tummy.
So another thing to consider if your child is moaning or whining a lot, is whether they are getting enough sleep and eating well.
I know from experience that a tired toddler is more likely to be a whiny toddler!
6. Enough Good Food
Also, ensure that your toddler is having enough food at their regular meal and snack times.
Toddlers use up a lot of physical energy which needs to be fed with a healthy and well-balanced diet.
If your toddler is hungry they will struggle to concentrate and will quickly become whiny (like many adults!).
For some great recipe ideas for toddlers, I love the Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook. It’s a great way to get children involved in cooking, excited about food and engaged in family life.
Full of fun and easy recipes, your toddler will be super keen to join you in the kitchen to prepare their next snack or to help with dinner!
Yes... you will need to help and guide them, but this great book provides the perfect starting point to introduce your toddler to the amazing world of cooking and all the life skills that it brings.
7. Enough Good Sleep
Take a look at your toddler’s sleep schedule and see if you can adjust it to ensure they are getting age-appropriate sleep.
At no other time in their lives will your little one learn so much both physically and mentally and this can easily lead them to becoming overtired and moaning at you out of desperation for soothing company.
If you are having issues with bedtimes then take a look at my post on Bedtime Routine for ideas on how to get your bedtime back on track. This may reduce the moaning and whining significantly.
Or if you think your child is going through a sleep regression, check out my article about Sleep Regressions to rule this out too.
Looking to get your little one to sleep quickly and effortlessly to prevent overtiredness? Check out my Bedtime and Nap Cheat Sheet and master the art of making daytime naps and bedtimes as seamless as possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Why Does My Toddler Moan So Much
Looking for more information about “why does my toddler moan so much”? Find the answers to the most common questions here:
Will A Moaning Toddler Stop On Their Own?
A moaning toddler will NOT go away on their own. If moaning works for them and they’re getting what they want, why would they stop?
Therefore, you need to be prepared to adjust your behaviours to help your toddler break this habit or you’re going to have a toddler who moans a lot for a long time.
Once you have decided on a policy for dealing with your toddler’s moaning and whining it is important to stick to it.
So, if you are teaching them to use words rather than moaning then ensure that you emphasise this. And if you do start giving in to your toddler’s demands, without reinforcing the use of words, then your toddler will always go for the easy option and continue to moan.
REMEMBER: If whining and moaning get a result, I can guarantee that your toddler will use it whenever they can.
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Why Is My 1 Year Old Whining And Crying All The Time?
While the reasons for your baby whining or crying all the time will be similar to those already mentioned above, a 1 year old may be moaning because they:
- Have a dirty or wet diaper,
- Are being overstimulated,
- Are overtired,
- Are teething,
- Have wind,
- Are experiencing colic or reflux,
- Are feeling unwell.
As your 1 year old does not yet have the means to communicate with words… you will have to learn to distinguish between true distress and general whining.
Checking all the obvious causes of your baby’s whining is the easy part, deciphering their frustration less so.
Most babies will whine and cry at some point but limiting their frustration will help a lot. A good way to limit your baby’s frustration at not being understood is to encourage language development from an early age.
As soon as your baby starts babbling, have conversations and engage with them verbally.
And even though they cannot talk back with fully formed words… they will be learning the art of conversation and seeing how important words are in communicating.
Toddlers of this age are easily overwhelmed with all the new developmental skills they are gaining so often they just need a cuddle and a bit of quiet time to calm them down.
Why Is My 2 Year Old Whining And Crying All The Time
By the time your toddler is 2 years old, most children will be able to use words instead of whining or crying to tell you what they want.
They are, however, still easily frustrated when they are attempting new skills and are very self-centred.
Teaching your toddler patience, and how to share and use words instead of moaning is a key part of their development. So, if your 2-year-old is whining and crying all the time follow the guidelines outlined above to stop this bad habit before it becomes a big issue.
Why Is My 3 Year Old Whining And Crying All The Time
If your 3-year-old is whining and crying all the time it is probably because up until now it has worked. Why would they stop moaning if it has always gotten them what they want?
There is no excuse for a typical 3-year-old not to be able to verbalise what they need and I would not tolerate whining at this age.
So, if you are satisfied that they are getting enough sleep, are eating well and are getting enough age-appropriate play and developmental opportunities with lots of love and encouragement…
Then be consistent, give your toddler the words and ensure that they use them before you do what they want.
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Click Here For The FREE Cheat Sheet
