Sudden 2-hour tantrums every day!

missfire

My son is 4 and for the past 5 or 6 days, he has been having a huge tantrum every day. He will start by asking me for something that I say No to, or doing something that I ask him to stop doing. Then he starts ordering me around in this very angry voice - "Peanut butter sandwich RIGHT NOW, Mama! I said, RIGHT NOW!" I usually respond by asking him to say please or use an inside voice, etc., and then he just freaks out and starts screaming or throwing things, etc. I've been taking him to time-out in his bedroom right away, because he has two younger siblings who don't need to be in harm's way, but this usually makes him escalate even more. It's generally at least an hour, sometimes more, before he calms down enough to talk to us at all or come back downstairs, and then he just snaps out of it like nothing happened. 

This is really scaring me to be happening so out-of-the-blue. It looks like the kind of tantrums my friend's son with Aspergers has. My son has had a cold this week, but I can't think of anything else that has been different or stressful at all. He had about 3 pieces of candy on Halloween, but none since then, so it doesn't seem like it would have been sugar causing it.

Does this sound familiar to anyone, either the type of tantrums or the sudden change? I'd love some help! Thanks!

AmandaP678

Is he sleeping ok at night? Does he seem more tired than usual? Does he go to school? Maybe there is something different there?

Could just be a phase too.

Have you tried the first this then this. Time outs rarely work here. I typically let Tim throw his however long tantrum and ignore the best I can without feeding into it. I just keep putting him in room when he gets out and calmly say once, "you can come out when your done."

LoveEeyore

Sleep, growth spurt, phase... every age brings a new phase.  We've gone through some doozies. 

I think removing him from any type of response is perfect.  It is what I would do for my kids, it is what I would do with a child with autism/aspergers.  It is not so much Time out as a punishment, but complete removal from any sort of inadvertant reinforcement of the behavior- your little ones laughing, you getting aggravated, or concerned when he hits his head thrashing about....

It very well could be a stage.  It's a developmental concern, in my opinion, when they don't outgrow it with consistent "treatment" and when it starts crossing into all environments.

Frankly, when my kids get bossy, I look them and say sweetly  "Mommy..." and they will adjust and repeat the request better.  My oldest, nearly 5, doesn't get that courtesy- I simply say no and walk away because she knows better, but seriously I don't recall needing to do that in sometime.

AmandaP678

I also use the word break instead of time out. Time out to me is too negative sounding.

KathrynMD

have you tried asking him in a calm moment why he's getting upset?

ldcoffel

Sounds similar to my DD, almost 4. She asks for a Popsicle, candy, soda before bed. She knows I will say no. She has meltdowns. Hers are more emotional than violent. I'm pretty confident, it's a phase.

If you are worried, you could get him screened through your school district, or head start. I would just stay strong for a few more weeks

missfire

Thank you all! I'll try to bear with it for a few more weeks before I start worrying.

Princess_Lily

Coming off of some major tantrums myself - and the stomach bug

DS wasn't sleeping as much as he should've, which caused behavior issues.  He gets up at 5a, wouldn't nap, and sleep at 7p.  Made for a grumpy kid.  Yesterday, I made a visual schedule for him.  After lunchtime we have a nice soothing bath, get in comfy clothes, read a story or two...and I lie down with him in bed.  Walla!  Naptime for 1.5hours!

Also, when your LO gets bossy like that, IGNORE!  Answer one time, and then ignore...he/she knows if he/she screams enough you will give in.  If he starts to get aggressive with the screaming, you warn him to calm down and if not put him in timeout!

Idahomama

My 3 year old has had a tantrum like that maybe 5 times total.  He has had what I think are the normal fit throwing more but the kind you are describing just a few.  It is scary because I can't really communicate with him at that point and when it's over it's like something snapped and he doesn't even remember it happening.  

I spoke to his pediatrician about it who is a developmental specialist.  He has some sensory issues and she thinks he is having "sensory overload".  She said for me to basically ignore him and keep him safe.  She said it is pointless to try and reason with him in those moments.  After his brain has calmed down then talk about what happened.  He doesn't show signs of asperger's at this point just sensory issues.