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How to handle: Whining, Fits at 9 Months

SaraLouiseBride08SaraLouiseBride08
in Austin Babies

Tuesday, we were at lunch and there was a family there with SIX children. Each one was perfectly behaved. Two adults, six kids, not a french fry dropped to the floor or a loud voice heard.

At our table, it was three adults and Olivia.

She was in a bad mood, which is rare for her. She was arching her back and screaming anytime she wasn't happy for even a moment. If we gave her a piece of food she didn't want, she'd scream and through it to the ground. She knocked the sippy cup out of my hand because I tried to give it to her when she actually wanteda piece of chicken.

This has been going on for a week now. Very loud, very vocal when she's not happy.

My question is ... at this age, is there something I should be doing? I know this is a normal phase for her to be going through, I just don't know how or if I should be reacting.

In other words ... is it too early to start teaching and showing her how to act? Am I raising an uncomtrollable child by doing nothing, or is the time for teaching these things not until she's older?

And I'd also take book and web page recomendations for this age and older. I have "Happiest Toddler on the Block" at home that I guess I should get crackin' on ...

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Re: How to handle: Whining, Fits at 9 Months

  • rssnlvrrssnlvr

    I don't know if this is the "right" approach or not, but at that age, we didn't really do a lot of disciplining. We'd redirect, talk in a quiet, calm tone, etc. If she got really worked up, we'd remove her from the situation until she calmed down.

    That's the only way she knows how to express herself right now. I tried to remember that it's got to be hard to want something (or not want something) and not be able to communicate that to others.

    I bet the six perfectly behaved kids (1) weren't 8 months old, and (2) aren't always perfectly behaved. 

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  • ACRACR

    I found 8 months-a year to be a challenging time. DS knew what he wanted, but wasn't vocal or mobile enough to always get it. That lead to a lot of frustration on his part. Usually we just did our best to anticipate what he wanted and to redirect him if he was getting upset. It passes, though. Once she is better at expressing herself, it will get a lot better, I suspect.

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  • EmerEmer member
    imagerssnlvr:

    I don't know if this is the "right" approach or not, but at that age, we didn't really do a lot of disciplining. We'd redirect, talk in a quiet, calm tone, etc. If she got really worked up, we'd remove her from the situation until she calmed down.

    That's the only way she knows how to express herself right now. I tried to remember that it's got to be hard to want something (or not want something) and not be able to communicate that to others.

    I bet the six perfectly behaved kids (1) weren't 8 months old, and (2) aren't always perfectly behaved. 

    I completely agree.

    Our kids started signing around that age and it was a HUGE help.  There were still times they couldn't get their point across and sometimes they were just too tired/hungry/cranky to be in whatever situation, but I absolutely recommending signing to help them communicate. 

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  • amyliisaamyliisa

    A wise Nestie (can't even remember who) told me when DS went thru this at 9mo, that they are at an age where they know what they want, but don't know how to communicate it to you, so they get very frustrated.  I recommend sign, sign, sign to her.  Learn the basic signs for Milk, Eat, Drink, Play, Sleep, and any others that you may feel would be good to know at this point.

    It took a couple weeks, but we signed just about everything as we said it at this age, and DS picked up the signs pretty quick and started using them and the tantrums subsided considerably.  GL!

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  • SaraLouiseBride08SaraLouiseBride08

    Sorry to post and run yesterday. And thanks, y'all. I guess I felt the pressure of beign in public, like everyone was looking at me thinking, "Look at her just letting that child run wild." Mother pressure, I guess!

    My husband always tells her, "It's a nice life, being a baby!" and I do disagree. I can't imagine being in their world! I think there's probably a reason we don't remember Wink We had forgotten about sign language. After reading your responses, I got it back out last night and now the whole family is going to start using it.

     Thanks again!

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