A 3 1/2 month old with a temper??

Question

My son is exactly 3 1/2 months old today. Lately (I'd say about the last 2 weeks or so) he's been exhibiting signs of having a bad temper! I can't believe this. I'll give you examples....sometimes when he fusses we would try and give him his paci...this worked up until about 3 months and then if you would try, he would instantly scream (not cry scream, I mean short, high-pitched screams and he'd knock your hand with the paci away from his face) so I took all the paci's away and he's not using them anymore. Ok, another example, he has a car seat toy that attaches to the bars of his carseat. Earlier tonight we were driving and he was in the back smacking the toy around and he started angry whining. I took it down and instantly he was better. One more example...he LOVES to stand on your lap. If he really wants to do it and you sit him back down (after like 5 minutes of him standing) he'll start the angry whining again and get really mad until you stand him up, then he's all better

Is this an indicator he's gonna have a bad temper?? These little fits he's doing are funny, but I can tell it's part ofhis personality....is this normal or bad or what? He's a pretty serious baby if you ask me and he does smile a lot, but also has a deeper side to him you can tell...what's up with this?

Answer 1

He looks like a very happy baby! He's probably just experimenting with his voice [and enjoying the reaction he gets out of you and daddy! :]
Landon is a very happy baby .. smiles and laughs out loud [constantly] but once in a while when he's bored in his swing [or bouncer] and he thinks we aren't giving him any attention - he'll SCREAM at the top of his lungs! and once in a while when I'm holding him he'll go from smiling, to sticking his lip out as far as it'll go .. and start crying! for absolutely NO reason! like someone just completely hurt his feelings.
Tonight I was on the phone with my mom and holding him in my lap and I said something to her and he just started cracking up! like he understood what I said! [which of course he doesnt] but it was really funny to watch! my mom could even hear him laughing over the phone and she started laughing!
It sounds like we have very verbal sons! that have no problem expressing themselves!
Sounds like Jackson is just getting his own personality .. just wait until he can talk! I bet he's gonna have A LOT to say! :]

Answer 2

No it's not really a temper. My baby was like that too. Do you think he might have colic? My baby was very colicky. Anyway, he's two now and still has to have certain things a certain way, like he wants dada to get him out of his car seat not mama and he screams and cries if I try to get him out of the car seat. Either he has colic, or it's his personality, or just another stage he's going through, or all of the above. I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as he's generally happy. They'll go through so many stages. I have a twelve year old also. It seems like when one thing ends, here comes another. Just be there for him and support him in his strong personality. But when he's older and it comes to putting himself in danger, you need to be consistent, put your foot down and discipline accordingly. Consistency is the key. Don't say no, and then give in and say yes. Awww he sounds too cute!!! Good Luck!! ps I didn't even think of what someone else said.....he can't talk so that's just his way of expressing himself.

Answer 3

I don't mean to offend you but are you kidding? My son is the same age and he does not want a paci, his reaction is like we are trying to kill him. He is always trying to stand on our laps these days and he cries for only God knows what sometimes. These are babies! They are not exhibiting undesirable behaviors yet. Do you have any other children? Trust me, in a few years this will seem like a walk in the park comparatively. I hope you are not suggesting that your little guy is already manipulating you. This is not possible. I am a little too distressed by your question now so I will stop the ranting. To answer your question, NO!! this is not indicative of a bad temper.

Answer 4

Parenting....isn't it fun? Wish they came with instructions. Anyway, your son could be experiencing and expressing several things.

1. babies go through growth spurts at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 weeks and 6 months, almost to the day. The paci thing may be that he wanted/need something more so he refused it because it wasn't satisfying anymore.

2. carseat toy. Something about it probably frustrated him; maybe it didn't react the way he wanted it to, etc. When you removed it, it took away the reminder of what was bothering him. (out of sight, out of mind)

3. standing up, sitting down, getting fussy. He likes what he likes. If he is sitting and wants to stand, he has learned that if he fusses or cries, you'll pick him up and stand him up in your lap again.

A lot of these actions are your son finding out how you will "react". Kind of a learning situation for him and a training situation for you. Is there anyway around it? No, not really, just have to press through it. Will it last forever, nah. He'll get board and move on to something else equally annoying for you.

Is it part of his personality? Only if you let it. Right now, he doesn't understand "manipulation" but as he gets older, he
WILL try you. If he finds that if acting a certain way will get you to respond to him in a way he wants, then he will continue. He's WAY too young for this to become a problem right now, but as he gets older, 1 1/2-2 years or so, you may begin to see a pattern. If you do then you need to correct it at that time.

Your job right now is to meet your son's needs and give him as much love and attention as you can then give him more. You also know your son better than anyone else in the world. Go with what your heart tells you. There's a reason they call it "mother's intuition".

In closing if I may, I'd like to refer you to an author and Dr. that was an incredible help to me with my babies. His name is Dr. William Sears. His wife, Martha does some co-authoring with him sometimes, too.

Check your local library for titles which include:

"The Baby Book"
"25 Things Every New Mother Should Know"
"Father's First Steps"
"The Baby Sleep Book"
"The Discipline Book"
"The Fussy Baby Book"

Plus many, many more.

He also has a website you may find helpful in the future:
www.askdrsears.com

There are also many, many more parenting styles and parenting help books by other authors out there. The main thing is that you find what works for you and your baby. OH and by the way, babies are as different as adults: what works with this child may not work with your next child. Just go with your heart!


Hope I answered more questions instead of creating more.

Best of luck with your little one.


>Gretchen

Answer 5

Since he is only 31/2 months old and he cant talk yet, he has figured out how to get what he wants.Every time he has that reaction he knows it works, its completely normal and no its not a sign that he will have a temper when he is older.

Answer 6

Only 3 months old and you are all excited and analyzing. Dont go over board. Take it easy. Remember he is only 3 months. It is genetic remember, and if you have a bad temper he will too.

Answer 7

He knows what he wants, and he wants it now. Some babies are very demanding, and can get very focused on something, so when it's not going the way they think it should, they will say so. I would just keep meeting his needs as much as you can, and possibly try a transition strategy, like singing a song everytime things are going to change, so he can recognize that a transition is about to happen. My guess is, he will need a very structured routine throughout his childhood to feel comfortable. My 11 year old is the exact same way. Good luck!

Answer 8

Children at any age will show signs of having a little tizzy as I call it, my granddaughter has hers and I say ok when you're done having your tizzy then we can get back to more fun things, though she's 31/2 years old, I find that works because she knows I'm not going to pay attention to her screaming and yelling I just walk away. Sometimes I find it's better to ignore their little fits because if you give him his way now he will demand it alot later on. Children are young in age but believe me their smarter than we all think. I wouldn't always give him his way when he has his "tizzy" even though he can't talk he can understand no. You do not want this to grow and grow as he gets older, then he'll know how to get whatever he wants. God bless him, he's already showing signs of how smart he is.

Answer 9

I think my son came out with a bad temper! We joked about it, but he would throw these fits at about 2 months. And he does have a temper now!! We have learned to reign it in, but its a struggle.

But my children are Indian and Irish, so I kind of expected it! LOL

Answer 10

It's an indicator that if you keep giving him his way when he has a baby tantrum that he's going to learn to do it more to get what he wants. I'm sure the internet as well as bookstore (even baby/kid magazines) address such things.

If he learns the tantrum doesn't get what he wants, he'll soon tire of this. When he grows up, the world won't give him everything he wants or treat grownup tantrums well, so it's your duty to be the parent and not let a little munchkin's will rule over yours. You have to set boundaries and let him know who the parents is. You might have to figure a way to give him time out, etc. It's not easy in general to discipline a child. Some people believe in spanking with a hand, that's up to you. I was spanked by a wooden board and horse whip and I did what my parents wanted, but that was a bit too often and extreme for petty things, so now I have problems as a grownup, especially with authority figures.

But if hit by a hand when i really deserve it, no big deal, as long as explanation and love is generally always there.