My 8 month old already has tantrums - is it me?

Havva - posted on 09/25/2011

My 8months old daughter like to scream alot she dont cry she screams,she can be sitting in her high chair and just sream i dont know if this is normal or not but as looking at some of these comments they are helping,she also arches her back at time when putting her in her car seat.

Jennifer - posted on 03/14/2010

Hi everyone.
Thank you so much to all the Moms who have posted their responses here. After reading all of your posts I feel so much better and I'm glad to see that so many of you do as well. This post has been hugely successful in finding support to those of us wondering "have I been a bad parent or is something wrong with my child?". Keep up the excellent posting ladies I thank you so much!

Dawn - posted on 03/14/2010

Yep, my son does too. When this happens I pick him up and put him into his crib. Then I walk out of his room. When I come back I always ask him if he is ready to be nice to Mommy, It always seem to work .

Declan - posted on 03/14/2010

our son started havinmg tantrums when he was 5months old he would hit people if he wasnt happy and throw his toys at you, but we just ignored it and its calmed down alot in the last 4 months and he isnt that bad anymore he stil lhas his fits and paddys but not as much and not as bad anymore

Tiffany - posted on 03/14/2010

i am so glad i logged in to read this! my son has been the sweetest baby in the world! i recently lost my job and now im home all the time so everyone is telling me hes spoiled now. i am so glad it is his age and not from having his mommy home all the time that he has started to show this temper! i dont remember my daughter doing this but wow you you should see my sweet little baby turn in to an angry little man...lol glad its not just me !

Cindy - posted on 03/12/2010

My 8month old daughters like that. Wipe her face after her dinner and she paddys, or getting her in her pram! Wow, thats getting harder. Lol. I think its rather time for a sleep :)

Adrienne - posted on 03/12/2010

My son recently started doing the same thing. I think it is just because he cant say that he isnt comfortable or doesnt want to do whatever it is that he is doing at the time he starts squirming. He also bangs on the walls if he is close enough to one I think it is normal right now.

Bridie - posted on 03/11/2010

Oh thank god!!! I have a 9 month old boy who is doing exactly the same as everyone else's boy by the sounds of it. I was sure it was me doing something wrong.
I was so relieved to read the responses. Some good suggestions on how to deal with it too awesome thanks

Kalle - posted on 03/11/2010

i think it's totally normal for babies to have their little tantrums, at any age, but i find when my daughter is arching her back and screaming like that it's usually because she's constipated from teething.

Renae - posted on 03/11/2010

that soo sounds like my 8 month old daughter izzabel she has tantrums if myself or her 2 and a half year old brother takes something off her shell screems at the top of her lungs she will also arch her back when i put her into her car seat i thought it was just my daughter who done it but its good to know im not alone my son never used to do this at an early age but once he hit 1yr old he started. people i have talked to say that kids that start tantrums etc from an early age seem to grow out of it and are not as bad at the terrible 2's and ohers who dont have tantrums till there older are worse at the terrible 2 hope this helps renae

Charity - posted on 03/10/2010

Its good to know that my baby isnt the only one either. He'll stomp and scream and/or flail around if I take something away or wont give something to him. I have just either ignored him or redirected. Though, I have recently started looking directly at him and in a firm voice say "No, that is not OK"- of course he has to have his eyes open for it to work and it does depend on the instance, but it has worked.

Olivia - posted on 03/09/2010

I'm also glad you asked this. My son will be 9 months the 17th, and when he gets tired, or just fussy in general, he'll bang toys together, squeal loudly[not like a cry, just a high pitched noise that is irritating!] he'll even smack my hands which is weird, because i'm attempting the "positive Reinforcement" thing, as difficult as it is. His tantrums are usually resolved with a different toy, or just attention in general... but ignoring it usually leads to a nap.

Elisha - posted on 03/09/2010

My son balls up his fists and makes a grrrr noise. I spoke to my doctor about it when I had an appointment as she advised me that bubs are at the age when they are starting to work out what they like and don't like or want something. So if they don't get what they want, they have a mini tantrum. My son really only does it when he is tired so I know when its nap time.

V - posted on 03/05/2010

My son does the same thing. I think he is just coping his father (a 40 year old who throws tantrums). I usually end up putting him down for a nap, if he has been feed and changed (I am talking about my son) My husband well I just leave the room and take my son with me.

Kristy - posted on 03/01/2010

I think she's probably just frustrated with something...like her teething, wet diaper, etc. however my 8 mo old does "whine"/cry when I take something away from her or something like that...wouldn't call it a tantrum, though. good luck!

Sarah - posted on 03/01/2010

Yes, it does start this early, and no, you shouldn't ignore those behaviors. Children her age comprehend more than "the experts" give them credit for.

Heather - posted on 02/28/2010

Not really because my 8 month old son is starting to have them too. He arches his back and starts to flail his arms and hit and scratch. My mom says that it's the only way they can express themselves or try to tell you what's wrong. It's very frustrating because 1) You can't understand them and 2) you can't really discipline them so you kinda have to ride it out until they can tell you something. Dont worry ypou're not alone...=)

Mayueth - posted on 02/27/2010

Omgosh my lil one had started to have tantrums too! She also arches her back and squirms when she doesnt get her way. I think it's just a stage (atlleast i hope it is)...Right now her daddy and I think it's funny because we thinks she way to small to have tantrums. But I have noticed that she has more tantrums when she's sleepy.

Eve - posted on 02/26/2010

Yep my 9 month old daughter has started these tantrums in the last week she only happy when shes picked up and rocks her body and kicks and screams when I put her down so have started to ignore it now I know thats all she wants, very frustrating though! She use to be such an angel! But I think shes starting to get bored more easily not crawling yet and probably frustrated!

Anisa - posted on 02/26/2010

I dont feel alone anymore. With my son, almost 9 months old and doing all of the above but also to include changing his nappy, never lets me do it, I dread nappy changing time. Oh and not to forget the tantrum at the end of his bath time. I wonder how long this phase will last.

Jenny - posted on 02/26/2010

Our doctor told me that early tantrums are a sign of intelligence.

Stacie - posted on 02/26/2010

Dont feel bad my son is almost 9 months and he does the same thing. When you move him away from something or take something away he throws himself back and screams and cries. After a few minutes he stops and goes back to playing.

Carolyn - posted on 02/25/2010

Nap time!!! :) Laila does this when she's sleepy... also, at this age, Laila wants to control her environment a little more, she wants to crawl around and explore and get out her energy while learning at the same time. If not, she is pissed and cranky bc she's bored! Constructive/ safe freedom and timing car rides and such around her schedule helps a lot to keep her content. We have to be careful not to rush babies around as they get older because they are human beings too with needs, not as moveable as before!! :)



But I agree, she gets upset when I take something (unsafe) away from her... but if I replace it first, she doesn't even notice...



When I have to move her from someplace (like trying to crawl to the toilet) she gets upset only because she is trying to explore but I try to redirect her attention to something safe and sanitary.. haha



They are ultra curious right now, not bad, even if they know what no means, their curiosity and drive to learn is overpowering at this age, so we have to redirect their attention so that they stay stimulated. Their brains are literally growing so so so fast right now. Learning is so important, learning through play and interaction with others.

Jane - posted on 02/25/2010

I'm so glad you posted this now I don't feel like it's just my little girl! My daughter is 8.5 months and if I take something away from her because she shoudln't be playing with it for example throws herself down and screams and screams, if I give it back to her, she stops immediately!

Tracey - posted on 02/25/2010

Have we noticed a pattern here? The responses are all for moms of boys!

Tracey - posted on 02/25/2010

Mine is doing the same thing. I usually just look at him, say, "Are you done yet?" and let him cry. I don't acknowledge it. It doesn't last very long. He usually stops and goes onto the next thing to play with.

Kendra - posted on 02/25/2010

This too will pass. I have a 2 year old and with all the things I learned from him, its making the transition a little easier with my almost 9 month old daughter. Her screams are a little different, but everytime I look at her with a funny face and she just laughs, this is how I know she is trying to get attention. its definetly hard to ignore, but be strong mama, as I already said. This will pass.

Nikki - posted on 02/24/2010

My son went from lil Angel to lil Terror.... but we still love him to death..... he throws things, screams, hits me , cries at the top of his lungs, holds his fists and screams, he is one angry lil boy sometimes and is so frustrated if he can't figure something out or if we stop him from doing things he shoudnt be doing, or take away something from him... I am worried he will be a trouble toddler... we just hope this is just a phase

Bridget - posted on 02/24/2010

Hi Jennifer, you are certainly not alone! My little one now 8.5 months started doing this when he was 7 months old. He throws himself backwards, throws things at me (including food), screams, you name it. I wouldn't be too concerned about it as others have said they now know how to get our attention and I agree if you ignore it they tend to stop or it is definately time for a sleep! Check your carseat though - when my little one tends to do this in the car it is time to move the straps up a notch as he grows so quickly that the straps are pulling from behind his shoulders causing him to hunch forward a little - I cannot believe we are already on the last notches of our carseat!!!

Brittney - posted on 02/24/2010

My 8 month old does the same thing! She squeezes her hands as tight as she can and screams a high pitch fake cry. I ignore her and she eventually stops, then I will pick her up. I noticed the more I ignore it the less she is doing it. It's frustrating thats for sure!

Christina - posted on 02/22/2010

My son does the same thing. He has even started to hit when he's mad. I think its normal at this age because they're finally realizing other ways to get attention. Sometimes with my son, his tantrums are a sign that he's ready for a nap.. Hope this helps momma..