Sometimes, whingeing is a simply a sign of a gloomier mood; this could be caused by many things, hunger, tiredness or illness. You should do as much as possible to encourage a more positive attitude, giving praise when your child is in a good mood and attempt a calm refusal until your toddler starts to realise they are more likely to get what they want when they ask properly in a reasonable tone. If your child is unable to talk yet then you may need to distract their attention with another activity when the whingeing starts.

Why do toddlers cry?

Toddlers can cry for a great deal of reasons;

Fears - sudden shock, the dark, a nightmare, insects etc

Anxiety - been separated from you, a new environment

Attention - Just wanting to spend more time with you

Frustration - Not been able to achieve a challenge they set themselves

Cuts and bruises - genuine pain, realising how easily they can be hurt

Your child could also be hungry, overtired or rebelling against bedtime - or they may just want to have their own way and demonstrate their independence.

Whining and moaning

Whining is one type of behaviour guaranteed to unite parents as they struggle to combat "I want, I want." It can be appealing to give in and accept your child's demands for a bit of peace and quiet, but this is a huge mistake as it will only make the behaviour worse.

Obviously you can't just give in every time your toddler wants something, but it does help to explain why not "you can't watch the telly now, it will soon be time for bed" or "no you can't have sweets just yet, your dinner will be ready soon"

Occasionally when your toddler says "I want" what they really want is some attention. Try offering a cuddle, some praise or just a few minutes of your time to read them a story, in some cases they will probably by quite happy to go off and play again and have forgotten all about what it was they wanted.

Don't give in to your child's demands, this will only show them it's the best way of getting their own way.

Look at the obvious causes first, such as tiredness, hunger or just boredom.

Deal with a situation quickly, if your child asks for something they can't have tell them so, don't leave them asking until they start whinging.

Give lots of positive attention even for the little things. Praise them when they ask nicely or behave well, so often these things are overlooked just because they're expected.

Toddlers have short attention spans; keep them busy with things that interest them.

Sometimes it helps to mimic them to show them how silly they can sound; this can result in your child laughing. DO NOT DO THIS IF IT MAKES THEM ANGRY.

If you know you will end up giving in, then its better to do so straight away, if you try to hold out then this will just teach your child the longer they whine the more chance they have of getting their own way.