Temper temper

neludelu

My 17 month old son just started this new fun phase of throwing a screaming fit every morning and every night. The fits last anywhere between 15 mins to an hour. He just stands and screams, cries and sometimes arches his back whilekicking. Is this normal tantrum behavior? Nothing helps calm him down. 

Stankonia2014

Ignore, ignore, ignore. 

DD3 went through this phase too and I always laughed because it was before the dreaded 'terrible twos'. 

MrsCaliRN

Did you mean to post this here? Just checking since we are June '17 mammas here.

Since I have an 18 month old and am posting anyways, this sounds like he's having a tantrum and tantrums, at this age, usually mean there's something they want but can't communicate. With my son, I am sure to use a calm voice and planned ignoring if he's in a safe space so he knows acting out will get him nowhere. Baby signing, encouraging him to point at what he wants, offering options and modeling a calm body are also helpful. The fact that he's doing it at regular times makes me wonder if you could try to intercept the tantrums by distracting him with toys, physical contact, breastfeeding (if you happen to still do that). 

Good luck! My DS started tantrums at 17 months, too, and the pediatrician said it is the Terrible Twos. Ugh!

neludelu said:

My 17 month old son just started this new fun phase of throwing a screaming fit every morning and every night. The fits last anywhere between 15 mins to an hour. He just stands and screams, cries and sometimes arches his back whilekicking. Is this normal tantrum behavior? Nothing helps calm him down. 

Edited to remove an unwarranted "QFP" description

neludelu

I did mean to post it here. I'm also a June 17 mom,  I posted because I know a lot of you have little's around the same age as mine. @MrsCaliRN what does your QFP mean here? :-) in another post I saw a few versions of what it could mean.

MrsCaliRN

Gotcha! I didn't think to post toddler questions on this board, but it kind of makes sense since our BMB is slow these days. Quoted so my original response makes contextual sense. Does "QFP" mean something more than "I'm just quoting this right quick for future readers"? 

neludelu

I've learned it can mean quit f**ing playing, quit f**ing posting and quoting for future purposes

silliegirlie143

DD turned 2 back in November and the whinnnnnning.... UGH!!!!! Some day I just cannot with her. I find distractions still usually work. I also tell her "Mommy does not understand whining. Try again and use your words." That sometimes works. You can even substitute screaming, hitting, yelling, etc for whining since the sentiment is the same.

If all else fails, I tell her that I think she needs a break. I place her in her room with her sleeping blankie, dim the lights, and shut the door. She calms within a couple minutes in there alone.

MrsCaliRN

neludelu said:

I've learned it can mean quit f**ing playing, quit f**ing posting and quoting for future purposes

Ew, no, defiently didn't mean those first two, more like the "quoting for future purposes." Updated my post to remove the QFP. Thanks for schoolin' me, @neludelu

Edited because I posted too quickly

Elyse1384

FWIF In my Nov15 BMB, I posted questions aimed at STMs for Qs regarding my M14 son.  I found it super helpful to get insights from others in the same spot (pregnant, but also dealing with older kids at home)

DS went through a phase like that.  I "ignored" it.  I tried to get him to understand that I couldn't help him if I couldn't understand him.  I couldn't understand him if he was screaming, crying and flailing about.  It took consistency, but eventually worked.  He is ordinarily such a sweet, mild mannered boy so it really caught me off guard when it started happening!  I swear some days though... I felt like I was living with the antichrist.

abmommy15

I have a 17 month old and this sounds like typical tantrum behaviour.  They are getting to a point where they know what they want but can't communicate it to us which frustrates them and then it's tantrum city.  I will usually try to guess and ask him if he wants certain things but if I can't figure it out then it's re-direct and ignore.  

fionalouise007

@neludelu were you AUG15? I recognise your username. My daughter (AUG15) is doing the same thing, I ignore her or play her out of it e.g. She's learnt sad/happy so I say "are you sad? boo hoo" and pretend to cry and then say "what happens after sad? HAPPY!" and put my arms in the air and say "yayyyy!" and laugh. It works with her anyway. She usually then picks herself up and finds something else to do or looks at me like I have three heads and plays with our dog. Haha. Only thing is the tantrums have brought on her clumsiness so sometimes she'll throw herself in a fake tantrum and actually hurt herself which I then deal with normally. The up/down moods I just ignore as I don't want her to learn that she can manipulate her environment with such episodes! Haha. Good luck!

neludelu

fionalouise007 said:

@neludelu were you AUG15? I recognise your username. My daughter (AUG15) is doing the same thing, I ignore her or play her out of it e.g. She's learnt sad/happy so I say "are you sad? boo hoo" and pretend to cry and then say "what happens after sad? HAPPY!" and put my arms in the air and say "yayyyy!" and laugh. It works with her anyway. She usually then picks herself up and finds something else to do or looks at me like I have three heads and plays with our dog. Haha. Only thing is the tantrums have brought on her clumsiness so sometimes she'll throw herself in a fake tantrum and actually hurt herself which I then deal with normally. The up/down moods I just ignore as I don't want her to learn that she can manipulate her environment with such episodes! Haha. Good luck!

I was in Aug15! Good to see you!