HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

My 14 month old throws fits whenever I try to put his jacket on to go out, change his diaper,putting on his clothes, pick him up to leave wherever we are, when he can't reach something...

It's been bad this past week It's not all the time but I will say it's most of the time. Is this normal? Is he testing DH and I with this fiesty behavior. He is teething really bad right now. I'm sure that doesn't help. Can you recommend anything, something for me to help calm him or should I ignore it? I do sometime put him in is crib and in less that 3 minutes he's calm.

Edit, I just want to add he doesn't hit back, bite or hit himself. He usually just cries really loud, turns red and grabs my legs. If he has something in his hands he will throw it.

Message edited 12/23/2008 9:06:59 PM.

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

My DS went through a HORRIBLE phast like that. I felt like he was testing me with every single thing we did. Getting dressed, diaper changes, getting in carseat etc.

What worked for us.....I was just really consistent about not giving him a reaction to the behavior. It seemed that once he realized he wasn't getting me worked up he would stop. I would talk normal, sing etc through his screaming and go abouy doing what I had to, even if it meant him kicking me through a diaper change.

Don't get me wrong - he still has some temper tantrums, but now we do time-outs and also I ingore him when he starts getting bad and he usually stops. Like today - he threw himself on the floor and cried when I wouldn't let him run on the couch and when I walked away into the kitchen he just stopped crying and went about playing.

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

My DS started throwing tantrums as well around the 14 mo area, and unfortunately they haven't gone away (DS is 19 mos). But they are much easier to manage. I found that as long as my DS is not harming himself or others, I just let him get over it (ignore him) and then go back to him to finish, it seems to help and they have subsided for the most part but he still has his days!!!

So get a tough skin ,hopefully it won't, but it could be a long ride!!!

Good luck!!!!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

I am in the same fast sinking boat. But the reason he is doing it is because of teething. Once the teeth are feeling better he will be back to the same old little boy as before. Mine had a terrible fever last night I ended up in the ER with him last night and didn't get home until 8 from 12:30 the night before. Good LUCK!!!!!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

My son was the same way -- he was hitting me really hard too. The only thing that worked for me was to step away from him and give myself some space. I wouldn't put him in his crib just because you don't want him to associate that as a "bad place" KWIM?

It is a phase that def. passes though. My DS now - instead of hitting me all the time - throws himself on the ground. I prefer this over personally - at least I'm not getting hurt

I try to look at it as - he has no words to communicate with us right now and this is really the only way he get let us know that he's upset. It is sooooo frustrating though so I feel your pain!

I will be starting time-outs at 18 months though (next week) - that should be interesting!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

YES!!!!

For us, it started at 13 mts and went until 15 mts.

Time outs worked for us, and now, at almost 21 mts, he certainly has his doozies, but they are fewer and farther between!!!!

VERY normal!!!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

Yep, same here, DS is 15months and maybe it started two months ago. I just ignore it. At home I leave him where he is and walk away, and let him cry. Eventually he stops.

Diaper changes, eh, depending on his mood can go good or bad, I always give him something to play with during them.

Things around the house got much better w/time...he got used to me saying no to certain things and doesn't throw the tantrum anymore...or he will just cry a little bit.

Lately its happening more in public or new places he wants to explore...like when he wants to walk around and we don't let him go where he wants, he has a fit...cries, throws himself on the floor...its so frustrating b/c I can't leave him on the floor in a public place! I just deal w/it when we're out, try to hold him tight or try to remove him from whatever I don't want him doing. Its really difficult!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

Im in the same boat right now, and trying to come up with a plan of action. I want to put him someplace safe and walk away for a few minutes, so I was htinking of setting the pack n play up just so he wont associate his crib with anything bad. I;ll ket ya know if anything works...oh, and i have a bITER!!!

Re: HELP: 14 month old throwing temper tantrums

Oh - I should tell you - the ONLY thing that worked (and still does) for diaper changes is putting on the TV - anything on Noggin will keep his attention for the time I need!