Toddler Tantrums- What are you doing?

[rebeccag428]

Really I'm just taking them as they come and hoping I don't go crazy in the process..
Sometimes I just look at my beautiful baby girl and think she's a complete nut case.

[JEMandtheHolograms]

There is this kid's book, Happy Hippo/Angry Duck by Sandra Boylen (sp?) that I read to Hads. It's more for myself to remind me that she is just learning and exploring all of these new emotions (frustration, contentment, amusement, whatever)and that it is probably a lot for her to process (in a good way and a bad way). I try and guide her as best I can and keep a level head. It's not easy--sometimes its annoying, upseting or comical. Or all three at the same time.

[klongoria11]

I'm trying to grin and bear it. They start from the moment I pick her up at the dc until she goes to bed. I chalk it up to her 1. trying to figure out life and 2. doing more activities in the toddler room now and she is just worn the f out.
She flips out if I put her in the car seat, she flips out if I don't carry her, she flips out if I try to put her in the highchair even though we are both rapidly signing "eat, eat". I try to talk her through everything, but she screams pretty loud, so I'm pretty sure she can't hear me. Then the dc teacher shows me pictures of her hugging the other children and grinning from ear to ear and I think, "Who is that kid?"

[leopardgurl831]

Right now we are trying to remove as many triggers as possible in our house. So if he is obsessed with a certain thing he can have we make it disappear so it isn't there the next time. Example the plunger eww!

We also try to be calm and sometimes ignore that he is throwing a fit. We don't want him to see us react and do anything for the reaction.

If he is trying to bit or hit we hold him so he can't and tell him that it isn't nice to do those things.

[klongoria11]

I think I read at this point they are starting to test their boundaries, so you have to stick to your guns and ignore the tantrums unless they are for a legit reason.
I'm the crazy lady who was having to explain in the dr.s office why we couldn't go out the door. "I UNDERSTAND you are frustrated, but we have to wait our turn. We can not open the door until the doctor comes to see you. Want to sing a song? How about Twinkle Twinkle? I realize you are upset. HEY, LOOK A BOOK!" Good thing the dr. was a young male who Cadence had to flirt with, she soon forgot we were shut up in a room. I'm sure all the nurses were in the hallway laughing at the ridiculous conversation I was having, essentially, with myself.

[ljgs1010]

We ignore/redirect/validate feelings/remove triggers, as appropriate.

Doesn't make them any easier to handle, though.

[tallblonde]

We are just starting with them and I fear for the future..day one of the wonder week over here too. It's definitely the worst after daycare, so I try to get him right from the car into the high chair and eat as quickly as possible. Even with that there's lots of redirecting involved.

Did anyone see Black-ish last night when the wife asked if the husband "toddlered" her when she tried to move him and he went limp and laid down? Episode wasn't that great, but it was worth it for that line.

[JEMandtheHolograms]

leopardgurl831
my kid is obessed with the toilet plunger, also. I just let it happen. #MOTY

[klongoria11]

Mine likes the vacuum, which is actually kind of nice.

[JoeLies]

I was just planning on drinking heavily for the next 3 years. Not enough?

[rztrumpet]

It depends on the situation.

She wanted puffs the other day, and we are working on using words/signs rather than just pointing and grunting. I held up the tube and asked her if she wanted "more" (she knows the sign) and signed it to her. She grunted, pointed, screamed, and finally walked away, then she turned around sulking walked over to me signing "more" so I gave it to her. She was annoyed, but I thought it was cute.

If she's hungry, bored, or tired, I try to appease her.

If she's being stubborn, I redirect or just ignore (as long as she's safe).

[klongoria11]

I equate my 1 year old to a 16 year old who wants to go to the school dance with Jimmy, but OMG Jimmy asked Stacey and not her and OMG Stacey isn't even pretty and OMG she needs an outrageously priced dress just to make her look so awesome that Jimmy is totally going to wish he asked her instead of Stacey, who OMG isn't even pretty!...yep...that's my daughter.

[leopardgurl831]

klongoria11 LM actually has his own Dyson! Yesterday he stole the mop from the cleaning lady. I wish I could upload a picture, it's so cute!

[cagoldi]

Wedding, A is always in nuclear meltdown mode these days. He has almost completely quit napping, so I attribute his pissy attitude to that, for the most part.

I'm reading Raising Your Spirited Child and thinking of joining a support group, seriously. This kid is so intense.

Other than that, I plan on drinking heavily once he goes to sleep. Because I'm desperate for wine after he screams nonstop for an hour. I'm also trying to talk Pete into letting my mom move in so I have more help. So far, that's not going well. : )

[untaggablekatie]

We haven't really had much in the way of tantrums yet... but this post makes me want to give all of you all of my wine and Scotch.

[LizInFL]

Jan 15, 2015 16:12:45 GMT -5 untaggablekatie said:

We haven't really had much in the way of tantrums yet... but this post makes me want to give all of you all of my wine and Scotch.

Ditto. The worst we've gotten so far is B crying when he doesn't get his way. Fortunately he's pretty good-natured and easy-ish to distract.

But we haven't hit this Wonder Week that everyone seems to be enjoying so much, so I'm sure we'll take a turn soon.

[cagoldi]

I just want you to know this is karma, too. I gave my mom a hard time and it's coming back around on me. And when I used to hear or see kids throwing tantrums out in public I thought, no, my kid will never do that.

WRONG. So, so, so wrong.

[calishove]

I don't really do anything when my kid has a tantrum. I just let him do his thing until he's done. I wear him 99% of the time in public and that helps.

[Cherhorowitz]

Ignore and drink.

[mamasoup030]

We get tantrums whenever the word no is used. Which is pretty often, she provokes it and smiles as she does the forbidden. Then flips when the inevitable "no you can't ..." Happens. I largely ignore it and she will stop. Lately she's been hitting herself during the tantrums, makes it difficult to ignore. I can't wait until I can drink again, I miss that resource for parenting!

[karadee]

It's been a rough couple days with tantrums. I ate a lot of ice cream last night. It helped.

[Guster]

I distract/redirect all day long-- it's exhausting.

[Guster]

When Josie is frustrated, when she can't say or sign what she wants – something to drink or eat or to do something, she (just in the last few days) will slap herself on the head. I've never seen her exhibit this behavior before, but I'm wondering if other mamas are seeing it, too.

It really just makes me so sad.

[Guster]

Thanks, Wedding. I guess were all in for a couple of really long weeks.

[JoeLies]

DH says no or stop a lot. He doesn't exactly understand the whole redirect concept.

So yeah, it's like having 2 kids.

[sjacques7]

We taught L to command the dogs to stop. He totally gets it and uses it. So when he's being bold I use it on him and it works (so far).

[housewifehair]

Food. We were shopping today and a stage 1 tantrum almost turned into a full blown pink panty melt down in a matter of seconds. I've never retrieved a container of Goldfish so fast in my life. Worked like a charm.