13 months & temper tantrums

Re: 13 months & temper tantrums

• mben1119 member

  May 2013

  It gets better. Ds is down to one or 2 a day.

  

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• LolaBelle515 member

  May 2013

  Thanks first poster, that's helpful! 

   

  I should add details: they only last 30-60 seconds. The rest of the time, he's a happy toddler.  He's been an alert/active/emotional baby from the day he was born...but I didn't expect this type of frequency or so soon! 

   
  

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• yepyepsms member

  May 2013

  My son is a month younger than yours, but he is just as you described. My DH and I are commenting a lot lately about "what happened to our happy baby?".  He started this crabby and tantrum phase about 2-3 weeks ago and doesn't seem to be slowing down. No suggestions, nothing much is working for us...even got him checked out at the doc, have tried earlier and later bedtimes, etc. and nada.  Many of my mommy friends have said "normal" and i posted something similar a couple of weeks ago on the 9-12 month board and I got a lot of responses that other moms were going through the same. Hugs....it really stinks somedays!!

   

  

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• foreverapartofme member

  May 2013

  Well the good news is baby is right on track! (At least that is what my pediatrician told me!)  Tantrums at that age are normal and developmentally appropriate.  My LO tantrums whenever something blocks her from doing/getting what she wants.  I usually just move her to a desired, safe place without feeding into the tantrum. As you know tantrums are hard to ignore.  Once she is calm, I redirect her.  I've noticed that ignoring the tantrums have made the tantrums decrease in duration and frequency.  We are down to 30 seconds and under tantrums!

   Good luck!

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• oliversmommy32912 member

  May 2013

  Sounds like DS. He throws probably a dozen mini fits a day. They range from being mad that I took the remote to being mad the cat walked away. Toddlers have trouble controlling their emotions. I would be peeved if someone took the remote away from me, too. Most of the time I try to acknowledge his feelings out loud. I say something like "Oh man, it so sad when the kitty walks away, but she doesn't want to play right now. How about we play with books instead?" and I redirect his attention elsewhere.

  

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• fryrat member

  May 2013

  I really have been trying to make eye contact, and really let her know that I am calm, I love her, and I think we should do "this", as in whatever activity I am redirecting her to. She feeds off of my mood and behavior just like the dog does, so I take it one step at a time, keep breathing slowly, and do not let myself get upset when she starts to cry/scream/kick.

  You may want to try looking for natural transitions, like when he's playing and all around the room, if he comes up to you, say, "oh, would you like me to change your diaper?" and do it. It may not be on your schedule, but it will start to make that association to tell you when it's time to potty. Dual purpose! When he's doing something you don't want him to, I would go up to the light switch with him, and turn it on or off, say something like good morning/nite nite, and then end the game with it on or off depending on if you need it on. With the gate, I would lift him over it a couple times, like he's jumping up so high! then end with a twirl up in the air in circles, and land someplace away from it. The idea is that he's going to those things because he wants to show you how big he is and what he can do. You show interest, then turn his attention to you. Once you have his attention, you can direct him to another activity and engage him there. It's play, play, play, instead of no, no, no.
  

  For my little man...I only knew you in my heart. D&C 3/1/11 EDD 9/8/11

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• LolaBelle515 member

  May 2013

  fryrat:

  
  

  You may want to try looking for natural transitions, like when he's playing and all around the room, if he comes up to you, say, "oh, would you like me to change your diaper?" and do it. It may not be on your schedule, but it will start to make that association to tell you when it's time to potty. Dual purpose! When he's doing something you don't want him to, I would go up to the light switch with him, and turn it on or off, say something like good morning/nite nite, and then end the game with it on or off depending on if you need it on. With the gate, I would lift him over it a couple times, like he's jumping up so high! then end with a twirl up in the air in circles, and land someplace away from it. The idea is that he's going to those things because he wants to show you how big he is and what he can do. You show interest, then turn his attention to you. Once you have his attention, you can direct him to another activity and engage him there. It's play, play, play, instead of no, no, no.
  

   

  Thank you, everyone, for reassuring me that this is normal.  I definitely feel better.
  

   

  The advice above is particularly helpful--I'll definitely be trying the "flying around the gate" idea!
  
  

   
  

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