My 18 mo old daughter is starting to throw tantrums. She falls on the floor, kicks her legs, holds her breath.....I have never encountered this...I don't want to let her have her way, but I think she is too little to understand. Any advice what to do? Will it pass? It's hard not to laugh at her!
2006-10-31 06:33:25 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Ignore them.
She is not too little to understand. Even as early as 14 months children know what they're doing when it comes to tantrums.
If she throws a fit just walk away and don't say anything. Any attention you give her during her tantrums is giving into her. She "wins" when you address the fact that she is throwing a fit. Even if she doesn't get what she wants, as long as she knows she's got your attention she's seeing that her tantrums work when it comes to getting what you want.
Just walk away and don't say anything. When she is done with her fit then you can go down to her level and ask her what she wants.
Eventually she'll get bored with her tantrums because she'll realize they don't get her attention or what she wants.
2006-10-31 06:36:16 · answer #1 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Good old temper tantrums! Yes they will go away. The best thing to do that seems to be the most effective approach is to walk away and ignore them. I do this with my two year old and my fifteen month old. As long as they are not where they will get hurt, I just walk away from them and don't look at them. Keep your head turned away from them. Getting angry, laughing, or even looking at them fuels the temper tantrum. My girls' temper tantrums usually only last a couple of minutes with this approach. The other option is if she is still in a crib, put her in her bed when she starts with the temper tantrum then walk out of the room and close the door. She'll get to the point that throwing temper tantrums only lands her in bed and she will stop because she doesn't want to be put in her bed. But like I said earlier, the most effective way I found was the ignore game because that's something you can do anywhere you go and she decides to throw a temper tantrum, even in the grocery store. Good luck. This will eventually pass, however it will get worse before it gets better, wait until the high pitched screaming kicks in. You both will get through this. Best wishes.
2006-10-31 14:51:10 · answer #2 · answered by masmalan2004 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably the best thing you can do is to tell her to stop, but just once. if she doesnt stop try to cuddle up with her and let her break free if she really doesnt want to be held. if she doesnt, just ignore her as everyone else has said for about 10-15 minutes. if she continues the tantrum past that long then there is a more serious issue she wants you to look at, and you should find out exactly what the problem is even if she cant tell you in words. most of the time with my 2 yr old shes either hungry, thirsty, or bad di-di.
2006-10-31 15:07:52 · answer #3 · answered by paladin69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, she's just looking for attention, however, she's a bit too young to realize this is NOT the way to get your attention (please don't laugh when she does this - it's like giving fuel to a fire).
This happened with my oldest son when he was a toddler. Him and I went to the grocery store one day; he wanted something, I said No, he immediately laid on the floor and began having a fit. I just looked at him and walked on down the aisle. After I disappeared from his site - he immediately stopped having his fit and came running to me. When he showed up next to me - I just looked at him and said "don't you ever try that again!" He looked at me and said "ok". It worked - he never tried it again, however, in this day and time it's harder to do this because you just don't know if someone will snatch them while they're laying on the floor and you not around.
Another thing which really worked great for me was to always make sure I was at his level when talking to him about his behavior. I sat him on my lap and let him know his behavior was inappropriate and I never wanted to see him do it again. He understood and stopped that behavior. He has 3 girls now and is the best father they could ever have. He, and his wife, learned long ago to nip everything in the bud and all 3 are a joy to be around. They do what you ask of them, they don't sass back, they do their chores, they do their homework and they would do anything in the world for you.
2006-10-31 14:53:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't show her any attention at all when she does it. It will pass as long as you don't let her get her way remember you are the parent. It will go on for a while but she will grow out of it unless to start being her doormat, in which case it won't stop til the day you die. Don't laugh at her because it will give her what she wants. if you have to just get up and leave the room even if she cries for a half our don't give in (it will be really hard) but don't or you will regret it. Be strong and firm because this is what they call the terrible two's
2006-10-31 14:46:20 · answer #5 · answered by Kyokit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter just started with her tantrums also. Sometimes it is hard not to laugh, but other times it is hard not to scream and yell! And believe me, she understands more than you think. If she's old enough to start the tantrums, then she's old enough to understand your actions. Whatever you do, do not give in, do not laugh and do not yell. Just ignore it and she will eventually think tantrums are boring when she realizes they don't help her get what she wants.
2006-10-31 15:02:57 · answer #6 · answered by ticktock 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My youngest is 20 months old and has started to do the same thing. They all seem to go through this and the best thing is to ignore and walk away. When they realize that she doesn't get attention for this she will eventually stop. They are stubborn at this age though and don't give up easily.
Just remember when they hold there breath they can even hold it long enough to pass out. They will not be hurt by this but don't be alarmed.
2006-10-31 14:39:58 · answer #7 · answered by schell_75 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When my son was little, I would whisper something in his ear during a tantrum....his curiosity got the better of him every time! He would stop throwing the tantrum and listen. When he was 4 or 5 years old, he threw himself on the floor in the grocery store and started throwing a tantrum..and I threw myself down right next to him and started throwing one too. He stopped immediately...and said "Mom, people are staring at you! Stop it!" I don't think he ever threw another tantrum in public again...he's 17 now.
2006-10-31 14:40:25 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We tell our one and a half year old that if you are whining or throwing a fit, the answer will ALWAYS be no. No execptions. So when he is flipping out, we just say "is that a fit?" and he stops because in the end, he just wants his way, and knows he won't get it like that.
Good luck, this too shall pass.
2006-10-31 14:37:26 · answer #9 · answered by Lady Scientist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even though it's hard not to laugh, don't. She does this because she gets attention, good or bad. When mine started doing that, I would just tell them that when they were ready to get up and talk about it, I'd listen. Then I walked away. They got the message that I wasn't going to pay attention to them screaming, and they stopped. Now, when it happened in a store, I just picked them up and left. That's always lovely. lol
2006-10-31 14:37:37 · answer #10 · answered by momof3 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋