How do i get my 18 month old to stop throwing tantrums...they get worse every week?

User - posted on 03/20/2009

IGNORE THEM!!! if he sees he gets attention by doing them they will get worse!!! so walk away and he will learn that u wont give in

Heather - posted on 03/15/2009

i agree with ignoring them. i have three kids and have learned to do it easily. my youngest is 18 months too and i walk away and give him no attention if he's throwing a tantrum. they will learn that throwing tantrums is how they get what they want.

Stephanie - posted on 03/13/2009

Our son is 19mo and he started throwing those huge tantrums too over ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! What we do is tell him to go to his room (which he knows we mean it). He'll go in there for maybe 10 minutes and either fall asleep because the tantrum exhausted him or he'll come out all sweet sounding saying hiiii because he knows acting badly will just get him sent back. Granted he still has tantrums but at least he cools down every time we do this and its consistent between both his father and I.

Mandie - posted on 03/12/2009

Mine is 15 months old and has horrible ones. I set up his pack and play in his room and set him in there for a minute or two and let him throw it and get mad. Then I go in there and explain to him that he cannot do that and he has to be nice to mommy. And if he is done he can come out. I also really try to work with him on "asking" for what he wants...that is what ours are mostly about. When I go back in his room to get him he stops crying right away and seems to understand that if he wants to come out and join the fam he has to be nice. I have been doing this for maybe a month, and he is really catching one. He knows when I say if you dont stop you will get a time out and half the time it works. Even though they are little and you may think that they dont understand. We underestimate them. Use your words like you would with the other kdis. It works for mine. I think he wants to be like one of the rest and it seems to make a difference when I try to talk to him that way and try to get him to verbalize on his feelings.....even though they might not sound like what we say...he is trying. HTH

Terri-lynn - posted on 03/12/2009

well dont pay any attention to them. they are only looking for a reaction from you. when my 16 month old does it i dont look at her or talk to her and i wil just step over her. it lasts for about 10 minutes then she just goes and plays again and i will join her.

Shannon - posted on 03/12/2009

Get the book or video "Happiest Toddler on the Block" - it works miracles! Dr. Karp is the author, I believe (Harvey is possibly his first name?).

18-24 months is tough, they cannot express themselves well so they overreact negatively. Happiest Toddler really helps you to communicate, let them know you understand them.

Apart from that - One thing that really worked for my son was we told him it was OK to be mad but not OK to hit people. Then make exaggerated "Mad" face and ask if he is mad. He started telling us he was mad and making a fist when he was frustrated or angry instead of throwing a tantrum - it was one way to express his emotion.

Around 25 months his vocab expanded and his understanding of emotions and reasoning grew so much that his behavior just got so much better, like a different person. Just to give you hope that this phase doesn't last!

Chasa - posted on 03/12/2009

just ignore it...ive also hear of acting like it yourself and they usually dont like that reaction lol not sure if that works though

Pam - posted on 03/12/2009

I found being constant works. My daughter is very strong willed. Starting when she was 15 months I would put her in short time outs. I would sit her at the end of our hall (so I could still keep and eye on her) I would tell her I didn't like her behavior and she had to sit there until she was calm. Then after a few min I would talk to her. She eventually grasped the concept negative behavior = negative consequences. If she came out I would sit her back in time out. I would use time outs for all negative behavior.

Valerie - posted on 03/12/2009

Like everyone said, ignore the bad behavior. But it is equally important like Heather said that you teach other ways to communicate why they are upset. Also, when they are telling you what you need in productive ways that you respond quickly so they understand that telling you what they need instead of screaming is more effective. :)

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

123 magic also is a good book to read 

Rene' - posted on 03/12/2009

The best thing you can do is ignore the behavior and after the tantrum is done act as if it never happened. Read the book Love and Logic it has a lot of great suggestions.

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

Tantrums are normal  in kids...The one thing i did was ignored them thats a childs way of  trying to get what they want.  just remember not too back down. ignore the tantrum make sure that if theres another child in the home that they are not in and danger of being harmed from the tantrum (hit, toys thrown at,ect) and let it ride. when the tantrum is done make sure too show that your not mad at the child and give them a hug and kiss tell them you love them.  then once everything is calm down try talking to him/her  in simple words asking  what made him/her so upset or mad and why that always opens line of communication with your child and helps strengthen your bond with your child.

Desiree - posted on 03/12/2009

First you have to realize that 18 months is probably where the BIG challenges start. When my son turned 18 months it was like he turned into a whole other person. I wasn't sure how to deal but I did the best that I could. Now that he's 3, looking back.....well, I can see that I didn't do the best job at "teaching" him how to handle himself. My advice to you would be to ignore, ignore, ignore. It's hard but the more you react and give them attention for behaving badly the more they'll do it.  Unless their harming themselves, leave them alone. Walk into another room or take them out of the situation and walk away.