Any other Dec babies throwing tantrums yet?

Sarah - posted on 02/20/2010

honestly, i think my intense little girl has been tantruming since VERY early. she's perhaps more intentional about it now, but... she's been cultivating her ability to express EXTREME displeasure since shortly after birth. we don't worry about it too much. it passes quickly. sometimes we distract her. sometimes we just let her go. its getting a bit better as her capacity to communicate is increasing.

Gene-Anne - posted on 02/17/2010

Yup, my little girl is starting to lose her mind too... i talk to her and a few times that has worked but if i have too, ya smack on de leg! naw i know why ya making noise.

Shannon - posted on 02/17/2010

HaHa, I have aVERY head strong little girl. She started throwing her fit around nine months. We can be at home or away she really doesn't care. She throws her little body around and slams her head on the floor and kicks her feet like a crazy child. And sometimes we bite and hit. So yes I have my hands full with her fits and we have a couple a day. I have gone from crying to laughing about them. The Doctors say there really is nothing to do. In fact the more attention you show them the more they are going to do it. If I am in public I do try the redirection point just to try to calm her down. But other people will get over it. The second you leave they are done with the fits you are the one that you need to be worried about. Try to keep a cool head and do not allow yourself to get upset. I know this is going to sound stupid but think of a song that always makes you laugh and when the fit starts walk over the child go into the next room the whole time singing the stupid little song to yourself. You may feel a little crazy but it will make things a little easier on you. And never forget these things will pass. Just sometimes not fast enough.

Sharon - posted on 02/14/2010

OMG. YES!!!! My son started throwing tantrums at 12 mths. He is the worst when he wants something he can't have. He screams and throws himself on the floor. The first couple of times he did it, I laughed because I knew what he was doing. I had to tell myself to not give him any kind of reaction. I tell him "come find mommy when you are done" and I walk away. He usually stops pretty quickly without an audience. He is pretty stubborn and basic redirection does not fool him.

My mother in law tells me that my hubby used to throw tantrums and hold his breath until he passed out. I guess I know where my son gets his temperment from. LOL!

Misty - posted on 02/14/2010

Great advise mummys thankyou, great hearing everyones stories are almost identical. I have been ignoring them at home, some times i walk out of the room (just stand out of sight) and as soon as he realizes Im not there he completely stops,looking around for me. He even sometimes starts when im in sight again which its hard not to laugh. He is certainly learning there are boundaries and limitations as to what he can do and once in a while decides to test them, wether its full blown tanty pants or one finger seeing how close its allowed to get to my pot plant or remotes. We havent had another full blown public one, he does them a bit at his swimming lesson though, but I think its because he is tired and had enough. I think teething, tiredness, and hunger might be a slight contributing factor to some of the home ones as well. Nappy changing and drying/dressing after bath time too has become a bit more challenging. I remember those days when I could give him a massage for 15 mins before getting in pjamies! I think those days are out the window. Love the stories/advise! thanks again.

Lauren - posted on 02/10/2010

My son has been throwing tantrums for the past few months.. he's 14 months now. When I tell him he's not allowed the TV remote, or our mobile phone, or when I get him out the bath.. changing his nappy has become a struggle too...... he throws his head right back and goes stiff, I can't actually move him.. so I leave him, and ignore him. He soon snaps out of it when he realises that it doesn't get my attention and doesn't get him what he wants.... when I say no, I mean no! x

Vanessa - posted on 02/09/2010

Hannah will cross her arms and put her head against a wall and sulk, turn her head to stare at whomever dared to say 'no' and then turn back to the wall and sulk again. That's as close as she's come to a 'tantrum'...so far.



Honestly, just stick to your guns. If you give in to the tantrum all they'll learn is that if they throw a fit they get what they want. Even in public. The last thing you want him to learn is that he can do whatever he wants in public. If he's throwing a fit in public try to find a quiet spot to go sit (a bench, a public bathroom..etc) and let the tantrum run it's course.



The more you ignore the behaviour the less likely they are to use it. It's not getting them what they want, and it's not getting them attention.



Stay strong mama =) It's a phase that will pass eventually.



---mama of 3 boys/1 girl---

Suzanne - posted on 02/08/2010

OH AND AS FOR REMOTE I FOUND AN OLD ONE A THATS HERS. THEY ONLY WANT YOUR THINGS LIKE REMOTE, MOBILE ECT COZ THEY SEE YOU USING THEM...

Suzanne - posted on 02/08/2010

MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN HAVING TANTRUMS SINCE ABOUT 10 MONTHS, NOW 13 MONTHS. I THINK IT IS PARTIALLY FRUSTRATION AND SOME OF IT IS THEM TESTING BOUNDARIES AND RULES. IF I SAY NO TO SOMETHING AND SHE DESIDES TO HAVE A FIT I SAY NO WITH A STERN VOICE THEN IF SHE CONTINUES I IGNORE HER, MOST OF THE TIME SHE GETS ON WITH IT FOR A WHILE THEN NORMALLY GETS FED UP WITH MY LACK OF ATTENTION TO HER AND STOPS. IT'S HARD WHEN UR OUT COZ PEOPLE DO LOOK AT YOU, I TOOK HER OUT ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE SHE STARTED AND CONTINUED FOR 45 MINS, I JUST KEPT GOING PEOPLE LOOKED AND I JUST SMIRKED AT THE STUCK UP WOMEN ESPECIALLY THAT LOOK AT YOU AS IF TO SAY M Y CHILD NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WENT FOR A COFFEE AND A LADY AT A NEAR BY TABLE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE, AS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BITTEN HER HEAD OFF. DON'T LET IT BOTHER YOU, OR TURN AROUND TO THEM AND SAY LIKE TO SEE YOU DO BETTER.... GOOD LUCK...

Tara - posted on 02/08/2010

God yeah.,...................Makes me laugh to be honest that they can get so worked up over nothing normally

Mandy - posted on 02/04/2010

oh yes only this past couple weeks screams rolls all over floor bangs is head holds is breath at times l just scoop him up and cuddle him he soon calms down its probly the wrong way to do it but if any body has any tips or advice l would be gratful thanks

Alison - posted on 02/03/2010

hi ya, believe me its not just boys its girls 2! lucy born dec 08 is throwing herself back, pulls my hair, n as got a high pitch scream whens she dow get what she wants x

Tricia - posted on 02/02/2010

I totally agree! Liam is shocking when he doesn't get his own way with a few things..it's not an every day thing, but boy can he put em up!! LOL

Lindsey - posted on 02/02/2010

My lovely son begins with arching the back, throwing his head back as hard as he can, turning bright red, and letting out a ear piercing scream. He then lands on the ground and starts banging his feet and screaming. It is such a lovely sight. I have started ignoring him and when he finishes I get him involved with a new activity. My mom also reminds me I did not act like this and constantly remarks at how difficult he will be one day!! ugh!!!

Casey - posted on 02/02/2010

I will tell my little one I understand he is frustrated he can't have what he wants and I am sorry but he can't have it. If he gets very shrill I tell him NO in a stern voice, but not yelling at him or anything, just non-negotiable. I have not really had him throw a full tilt freak out in public because he never gets anything out of it at home either. I will give him options, like "play with your blocks for a while" or "do you want to get a drink of water?" to distract him, but if he insists on his way I just go on mine, and he stops within two minutes. He has three older brothers, and I can guarantee based on experience you can never give in to fits or you set yourself up for more and more. My older ones know that if they get mouthy or carryon like that they get a NO even if it would have been OK because of that kind of behavior, so they never really try it.

Holly - posted on 02/02/2010

I really thought I was the only one that this was happening to. My son goes CRAZY if he does not get what he wants. I told my husband that perhaps we are not disapling him enough, letting him get away with anything. If I tell my son 'no', he throws his hands in the air, screams and then falls to the floor kicking his legs. My husband for a while was going over to console him - I finally convinced him to leave him alone and the tantrums don't last long at all. If I don't acknowledge him being upset, it usually goes away rather quickly.

Alexandria - posted on 02/01/2010

My baby girl started doing that about 2 months ago. It started off slow, but gradually got worse. Though when she starts doing that I just continue with what I am doing and normally it lasts about 3 more minutes before she gives up. There are times where that doesnt work though, at those times I tell her no and set her down in her high chair so she can not throw herself around anymore and end up hurting herself, and between those two things it seems to have been fairly effective. Hoping this phase will pass soon.

Sarah - posted on 02/01/2010

My son has just started the same thing, about a couple of weeks of weeks ago. I can't believe the acting that starts them off. When I say no or don't touch and he doesn't like it he puts his hand to his face and cries and then tries again, after the second time he is told no, he goes into meltdown and starts the high pitch screaming. I am still working out what to do, so thanks for posting the question and thanks to all the mums for their insight.

Elizabeth - posted on 02/01/2010

Yes my son has started to do this about 2 months ago. I have learned that with my son it is best if I just ignore him. When I do this he seems to not care as much. I know we don't like it when people look at us like we can't control our child but I am sure most of them have had children do the same thing. I would also suggest just changing topics...when Alex is made because I won't let him have the remote I take it and then move him to a new area and start playing with something I know he loves. He is a very good child and I believe a lot of it is that at one they don't have the verbal skills to just tell us how the feel. Good Luck but know you aren't the only one! :)

Tarolyn - posted on 01/30/2010

Yep. I just ignore or re-direct her attention. They are very short-lived.

Sarah - posted on 01/30/2010

My Daughter Ella has started to do this within the last month also, i just let her carry on an ignore her as i feel if i was to give her attention she would soon realise that having a tantrum = mummys attention and i'd rather her learn that i'll give her attention to positive behaviour children an babies are VERY clever and only takes a short time to pick up on things. Also depending how the tantrum came about i feel alot of it is them expressing there feelings as they can't say how there feeling or what they want so thats the only way they know how to express to mummy an daddy, when my daughter is a bit older if she whinges an wines at me i will ask her to speak to me rarther then winge in a babyish way.

Katie - posted on 01/30/2010

Umm...I have read some of the responses, and one has shocked me. I do not believe that hitting your child really solves anything. If you are not have results with one method, there are always other ways of handling things. For example, take them completely away from the situation and distract their attention. Hitting your child is what our parents did to us when we were little. Times have changed, so has methods of parenting. Fear should never equal respect. So teach your child valuable lessons by cause and effect. Not if you touch it you will get a spanking. Thanks

Katie - posted on 01/30/2010

Haha!! YES!! Haley started throwing fits when she started walking...which was when she was 9 months old!! I just laugh and keep my spirits up because I know that I am a very stubborn person and I just figure she gets it from both her father and myself. I wouldn't really let it get to you. At least your child isn't cussing at you in public!! That would be horrible, and my worst fear. All you can do is to try to keep your calm and remember that your life revolvs around theirs. Even though you need to go to the grocery store or to pay bills, do it at times when they are the happiest. I do that with Haley and she seems to be a perfect angel. Plus, she loves to watch people, so I think I am blessed in that respect. Keep your head up chick!! I feel that babies sense fear and disappointment better than anyone, so if you seem upset or frustrated, they will act out on that alone!! Hope it gets better for you.

Jill - posted on 01/30/2010

My daughter has been throwing fits lately, but only at home so far, I asked at day-care if she was doing it there and he said not yet. She drops to her knees throws her arms up and screams, then she drops on her tummy and rolls around, or gets up on her arms and pushes herself around the room backwards, all the while screaming and crying :( I have noticed alot of the times is when she is tired and doesn't get what she wants. When we go to the store, if she doesn't get what she wants she will cry, but hasn't had a full blown fit yet.

Angel - posted on 01/29/2010

My son has already found his screaming voice...you know, the one they use to say "look at me, give me that, I want out etc etc", it's really hard to concentrate sometimes. The sad thing is that he'll even use the high-pitched scream when he's happy. Other than that, he has already started throwing himself or toys when his daddy tells him no. My older two didn't act this way at all...I find myself lost at what to do because I know he is still too early to understand that it's not appropriate behavior.

Lydia - posted on 01/29/2010

heheh...yup. I did it to my parents and my daughter has shown the signs for doing it to me. Only thing I can offer is to ignore them while they tantrum...put him on the floor just keep doing what you need to do and dont pay them any attention. If you arent comfortable with that then you can try distracting them by offering them something else that quiets them down. Actually both techniques have their time and place - but its a judgement call as to which is more appropriate on which occassion. Ignore everyone else - he is only a child and is still learning the social ettiquette - they have already learned the rules of social behaviour are big enough to deal with it - its not always possible to just leave and take them home out of the public eye. Just be consistant in your message of 'this is innapropriate behaviour' and they will hopefully learn that nothing good comes from having a paddy!

Tasha - posted on 01/29/2010

My daughter just started within the last month. If I have an idea why she's having a tantrum I try to address it. Like "I know you want to push the blinking on/off switch on my computer but you cannot touch it". So far I getting 50/50 results. Although when she goes whole hog and starts flopping on the floor, I don't acknowledge it. I will ignore her and go back to what I was doing, or leave the room if possible. When she realizes that I have left or that it isn't getting a reaction out of me she stops. When she's done I always comfort her, if she wants it. It seems to be improving, but it may be too early to tell.

Christi - posted on 01/28/2010

my son has started that and i simply give him a good smack on the rump and it comes to a screeching halt. he does it every now and then but i can usually look and him and tell him no, but otherwise he gets a good swat.

Michie - posted on 01/27/2010

Juli's tantrum is amazing, you cannot believe that she was born just a year ago. When she does not get what she wants, she starts her little strategies, still if she does not get what she wants, screaming starts, then the throwing and then she makes the scene. We were once on a full packed plane when she through it and oh my, i felt sorry for the gentleman sitting next to us.

When this happens, and I have only been successful outside yet but, have been told that it is the best way, is distraction. I consulted a childcare advisor about this and she said that unless it involves danger, distraction is the best, if it involves danger, say "NO, because " the reason"" firmly with eye contact.She also said that it is a phase so be relaxed about it as the more you get tense, the more they will find it amusing!!

But, really it is not fun to distract outside, it's finally your turn in the looooooong line and at that precise moment, they start it, so you step out and take them around saying, "owwww look at that nice slice of salmon" or, shaking a box of tictac worrying about the parking meter, where i am located now, a second past the hour, they charge you for the whole hour with no if and or buts and the baby smile does not do miracles......