How to deal with a baby with a bad temper?

Question

A friend of mine has a baby who is 18 Months old and he has such a bad temper that when he can not get his way he bashes his head on the walls and floor. The Home visiting nurse has said to the parents it's quite common and is a way of releasing tension for babies, but I'm sure he does it too often. Has anyone else experienced this and how can the baby bee weaned off of this stage. (It looks so painful to watch)

Answer 1

Ive been there and I think its more commoj in boys because both my boys have gone through it. The best way I tackled it was with my 'destraction method'.

It sounds mad but I used to try anything to get him to think about anything other than having a tantrum about not getting his own way. It takes time and patience and a lot of it. I would see a pattern with him and all I did was break the cycle, do things at a different time.

If he got in a mood, I would gently take his hand and grab a toy from his toy box and get him to sit down while I sat behind him. That way If he did want to try and bang his head I would stop it before it started.

It is very tiring when all they want to do is play up but believe me you gotta show him who's boss and reward his good behaviour at the same time. He will understand what you are saying, and it will take time but you will get there with persistence..

Good luck

Answer 2

That is true - it is a stage that alot of babies go thru at that age. I believe the best thing is to ignore the tantrum. Be firm in the beginning to the child to stop what he is doing and when he doesn't then there is the "time out" thing. Put him in a place that is a designated "time out" spot, like in the corner or in a room close by. Don't let him come out of that area until he stops crying, etc. It's kinda scary at first but it eventually works.

Remember, young kids are very smart. They know what they are doing and if they can make you think that they are hurt just for attention or to get their way they will try it. If they get away with it then they have succeeded and will keep it up. Plus, if he really bumps his head hard it won't happen too often after that. Good Luck to your friend!

Answer 3

There is no such thing as a bad tempered baby. He sounds like my brother, who is autistic and who has epilepsy. He may have a headache, and he may be uncomfortable. Do not let a Home Visiting nurse do the job of a doctor. My brother responded to music, to stimulus such as baths and water play, and nowadays you can get a chair that is rythmical to lull him to sleep (or a sort of sleepy stupor when he is tired) Keep on his case with the medical people - dont let them put you off! Good luck and get some mother's help from your family friends and neighbours - dont do this alone!

Answer 4

You can't wean a baby off a stage, it just takes time. At 18 months old a toddler isn't able to adequately express their frustrations so they find other ways to express it. In this case it is head banging.

Curious though why your friend's child has a home visiting nurse. Does the child have another medical problem that he is being treated for?

Answer 5

Why is there a home visiting nurse? Yes, it can be common for young toddlers to bump their heads into the walls or onto the floors. Not bash, but bump. Is this child without some structure or discipline? Then it's the parents' deal. But, if there is some actual chance of the child being autistic, then they need to take him in to be diagnosed and start learning how to deal with this new path in life.

Also, I taught my daughter sign language (ASL) even though she is hearing. That is a GREAT way to eliminate a lot of stress, because even though the child can't effectively communicate his/her needs verbally, s/he can do it manually. Worked well for us:-) Good luck to your friend

Answer 6

Hi there,
If that baby starts doing stupid thing like this then action is needed: Right there is an option: first when he starts his bad temper try to wrap him in a small towel and then with some cling film so he doesn't move, second step is to sit him back on a couch and hold him still so he doesn't hurt himself. And until he becomes calm then release him, warn him that it will be repeated if he starts again. It should be a treason why he is doing this could be he wants sth and he gets it that way!! it depends!!!! Simple as that! Try it and believe me it will work

Answer 7

Yeah it's common, it's called "The terrible twos" Happens in toddlers a lot. It's not so much as a release of tension as it is a way of getting attention, and getting their way. The more attention you give to the child by making it a major issue the longer it will take for the child to break themself of the habit. By showing that that type of inappropriate behavior gets no attention the child will learn that it is futile and give up.

Answer 8

Try distracting him with the a story this should take his mind off of it this way he'll think whats the point of doing this. If this doesn't work take him from the area in which he is taking his tantrum & place him on the bottom step and tell him time out this normally works as he soon realises that he is being told that he can't have it all his way. all you can do is try and see. good luck.

Answer 9

My son has a very bad temper too, but he doesn't bash his head or anything. I know someone who has a son about my son's age and he bashes his head too. I don't think that anything is necessarily wrong at the age, they just don't know how to handle anger or how to express their anger. I don't really know if they can be weaned from it or not. they are really too young to understand alternative ways to express themselves.

Answer 10

My daughter use to do it. And shes not autistic. I use to have to just move her with out saying anything. Would sometimes have to do it 2 or 3 times. Then distract her with something else. The more she gives attention to it the more he will do it. He will grow out of it when hes able to verbally communicate his feelings more.