6 month old throwing "FITS"???

Question

My 6 month old has started this new thing where when he gets mad he holds his breath and starts pushing against anything in his way. His whole face turns red and he holds his breath until he can't anymore, then he takes a breath and continues to do this until he gets what he wants. Is this normal?? Has anyone else had a baby do this? Is it too early to do anything as far as disiplining him? Im not going to spank him too hard or anything but, how about a slap on the hand?? I dont know how to get him to stop. Is it a faze? Its crazy...

Answer 1

You've gotten some really good input here. I agree that spanking or slapping his hand is absolutely the wrong way to go.

I just wanted to add that there is a really good article on Baby Center about appropriate discipline for each age group:

Answer 2

He is way, way to young for any type of punishment at all!!

I would simply say "be nice" to him.

Before my friends daughter I would say no a baby cannot have fits, but she did. She was around the same age, and had been fed and changed and would turn red in the face scream and her fist would be doubled and shaking she was so angry and as soon as you took her out of her car seat or pick her up she would stop and be happy, put her back and immediately started again. She is now 7 so it was not anything medical or it would have turned up by now. But it is still to young for even a hand slap. Ignore the behavior if you are sure there is nothing else wrong, patience, patience and more patience is all you can do at that point.
Her daughter is a red head by the way, and her temper fits!

Answer 3

First things first, you dont hit infants. a slap on the hand is likely to upset him more and compound your problem. A baby that young doesnt throw fits for no reason there is something missing in the equation. i have worked with children going on 10 years and infants for 5. It is totally normal. A baby can not look at you and say "hey mom, i dont feel good." or "i really need..." crying and fits is a way of communicating and the older an infant gets the more they realize what they want and or need and get frustrated with not being able to get it. I taught my daughter some basic sign language for the words more and drink please and so on when she was 5 months old it took a few weeks but once she caught on life was a lot quieter in my house. As for stopping the cycle of fit throwing, that is hard. but not impossible. find something that he likes and reserve it for when the fit is over praise him and love him up extra at the end of a fit. positive praise works form birth on.

Answer 4

My daughter is 6 months old, when she's mad she slams her arms and legs down - actually makes me laugh. Your son seems very smart for doing what he's doing - very clever in fact - I don't think it's too early to discipline him, when I tell my daughter no, she stops what she's doing, looks at me and gives me a big smile. At that age they know if they're doing something wrong. Take his little hand, give it a little slap and tell him no, he'll understand and eventually will stop. This is just one of the phases they go through, I remember with my son (who is almost 5 yrs old) telling him no about 50 times a day and slapping his little hand a lot - we never spanked him just slapped his hand and it got the point across. With any bad behavior you want to try and deal with it in the beginning so it hopefully will not continue. Good luck.

Answer 5

It really is to early to start disciplining him - he isn't going to understand the situation. Slapping, hitting, spanking - NEVER! That just makes things worth, and sends the wrong message. Would you like to be slapped when your upset?

When he throws his fits - let him. He will do it and do it and do it, as long as it takes. He knows eventually you will give in because you are tired of hearing him.

Don't give in! Ever! Eventually, he will realize the tactic doesn't work and he'll find some other way to get what he wants.

My disclaimer to the above: First and formost - Always make sure that that his needs are met, and that he is not upset because he is hungry or his diaper needs to be changed.

Answer 6

All babies go through phases when they hold their breathe because of anger or throw things. I would say to try and not give in but make sure that he is breathing. He is testing the waters pretty early but you have to let him know that he is not going to always get what he wants.

If it continues to happen and gets worse then just speak with your doctor about it.

Answer 7

Be proud that your 6 month old is intelligent enough to see that this behavior gets Mom's attention. Slapping on the hand will only cause him to get more frustrated and elevate the situation. Try not reacting at all and going about your business until he calms down. Your baby is smart, he'll catch on right away.

Answer 8

well, personally i would not use any form of spanking as a way to deal with. he traumatized you so you traumatize him even worse. hard or not. anyways, i've never used that method for dealing with my son. seeing as though he's only 6 months old i would bring him to a doctor. giving in wont' help cause it shows him that works to get what he wants. same as a kid 2 years old throwing a temper tantrum, parents give in the child learns thats what works so they keep doing it.

Answer 9

My son is 6 months old and does this too. I would'nt give in to him but instead distract him with something else like a favorite toy. You can also do something like clap your hands. This works for my son. As far as dicipline goes... it is way to early. They won't understand at this age. All a smack would do is install mistrust in you as his main caregiver. He looks to you for love and support at this age. Any kind of hurtful touch will harm that bond. Good luck!

Answer 10

Don't give in. You'll only be encouraging the behavior. When he learns that throwing these fits won't get him anything (except out of breath), he'll eventually stop.