Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

What the Heck!


I do NOT appreciate her highness throwing an absolute FIT and screaming when I take more than 2secs to refill her sippy cup or get her snack or get the blanket or basically serve her in a quick enough manner.

I love her dearly but OMG whats the big deal? She tosses her head back and screams. She's not hurt, its not like she's hungry, she's just cranky.

I do NOT speed up for her, I am just so amazed she gets this way. Give her whatever she's waiting for and its like a light switch is turned off. I hate to say it, but I feel she is running US. I almost feel like NOT refilling her cup to prove that I am NOT her slave. Or at least to not reward her behavior but that can't be right... ugh. I mean she has to drink and eat and stuff...

Ok, its not ALL the time, so yes I am grateful. I love her and I think she's wonderful and I'm glad she's only like this once or twice a day and generally NOT in public.

She's 16m

Is this the beginning of the end of her calm days and the start of terrible twos?

Is there anything I can do to discourage this ridiculous behavior?

I'm just not used to her crying at all. She only cries if she's hurt or super hungry (like in the car before I get home or to our destination). This tantrum stuff is really out of the norm for us.

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

my dd just started this also.. she is 12m.

when she does this for food or seomthing i just give it to her but if she gets upset about a toy or something and she doesn't get her way i just let her ride it out. i tell her this isnt acceptable and just let her have her fit and ignore her.

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

roni, if this is what im in store for then maybe it will slow up baby #2

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

I've read a lot about kids throwing tempor tantrums and thank god... jacen isn't bad. He doesn't throw himself on the floor, bang his head or otherwise.

But YES he IS rather impatient. This may sound cheesy, but what often works is i count. I hold up my fingers and i go... 1... 1 1/2.... 2... 2 1/2... you get the point. Once i hit 3... i give him what he wants. Obviously if i need to buy myself more time, i throw in 2 3/4's, etc. He knows that when i hold up a finger and count, he stops yelling and screetching because he knows the end is in sight and not too far away.

Otherwise i try my best to distract him.

But boy when 5pm hits and he's ready to eat... he starts pulling his high chair and whining. If i don't have his food ready... watch out! He definitely did not get that from me.

ETA: jacen is 18 months.

Message edited 1/4/2010 8:10:09 PM.

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

It's normal, and I hate to say it, but it will probably get worse before it gets better. DS started these around 13 months, and for him, initially it was over going back in the house from outside. Which he still does now at 25 months, but given the cold weather, he doesn't put up such a fuss over going inside lately.

Of course you still need to give her food. Just keep telling her you are getting it for her, if it's dinner she is waiting for maybe give her a couple goldfish or something small to tide her over. Distract, distract, distract. Remind her again that you are getting juice, food, etc. If she's really off the wall, let her have the tantrum and ignore her as best you can--the tantrum will run its course and she will calm down.

Tantrums get worse if you yell at them or seem anxious about their behavior, so really do your best to stay cool (it's hard I know). When you are telling her you are getting her food, get on her level, I think this helps sometimes. Speak quietly also, sometimes they quiet down just to hear what you are saying. Sometimes I whisper any old nonsense when DS is upset.

Good luck! They do get a little easier to handle with time.

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

My DS is 16 months and just started throwing his head back when he gets really upset. I get so worried that hes going to hurt himself.

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

DS is 15 months and has a lot of fits. we are the parents everyone stares at. It's embarassing. DH and I took him to macys this weekend. He wound up throwing himself on the floor having a screaming fit, my poor DH was out of breath by the time we got to the check out line. He is def. running the show and I don't know where to begin to stop it!

Re: Mommys of 15-18mo .. or BTDT Moms.. Tantrums

DD started this behavior at about 16 months....throwing herself back...now at 17 almost 18 months its getting like that with toys basically anything she wants that she can't have/or have to wait for I basically talk to her stern and let her calm down sometimes I distract or I just ignore if you don't yes they will run your household and no way I am going to let a child run my house. My DD was also an early talker so now with all of this she has attitude...i think its the beginnings of the terrible two's..she has not done it in public yet