temper tantrums, in my 16 month old..what to do??

Question

My son flings himself on the floor when doesnt get his way and screams, when i say no he will squak really loud , sometimes pulls my hair, and he ignores me alot now to...never did it before..and at dinner its so hard to eat a calm meal cuz he screams the whole meal.....its gettin bad ..is this a normal stage they go threw ??? and what to do to teach him not to?

his tantrums make me laugh..( he gets even more mad i dont mean to though ...they are just so silly,) but the dinner yowling..can make my head spin..but tonight i did take him out of his high chair and placed him on the ground and let him yell it out there

Answer 1

Yes, it is a normal stage. At the dinner table firmly tell him NO - if he continues set him down away from the table and tell him that only good attitiues are allowed at the dinner table.
Try to redirect his attention at this age. If he is throwing a tantrum, make sure that he is safe and not going to fall into or onto or off of anything and then try not to give him attention -positive or negative.
When my oldest (now 4) would have a tantrum -flailing himself around. I would gently lay him on the carpet in the middle of the living room and walk away ( I could still hear and see him, I knew he was safe, but I would not give into the tantrum)
My 14 1/2 month old twins haven't gotten too bad yet - they throw a tantrum every now and again and I do my best not to give it attention. If I do say something it is either a firm NO or I try to get their attention on to something else.- It is important to tell him NO when he hurts you or someone else- you could say No Hair! And gently take his hand away from your hair and set him down on the floor.

HTH - and remember - this too shall pass


Sarah

Answer 2

When my kids were little I had a tantrum spot- the playpen. No toys were in there, only some blankets, and if we were at home and they had a tantrum or misbehaved and did not respond to no, that is where I put them. It was a safe spot, I could ignore the tantrum by walking away and yet they had a comfy place to lay until they settled down. Screaming was not allowed at the table, nor was throwing food ( I allowed them to feed themselves at 16 months)
I would never put them in their beds if they misbehaved because I did not want to associate their sleep space as a punishment site.
In public, I would walk away to where I could see them, but they couldn't see me (and only if I was only a few feet away). If that was not possible, I left the cart, dinner table or wherever and we went to the car until the tantrum was over.

I did not yell or scold them during a tantrum, I simply told them no or this is not allowed in a calm voice. I also said, when you are done crying, tell me, so you can come back to what we were doing.
Good luck to you, and it does get better! Just be consistent in how you handle this so the child learns the consequences and also learns to trust what you say.

Answer 3

My son is 18 months, and has just started this too. Infact, we had our very first 'public' temper tantrum at Target the other day. As a few people have already said, I found the best way to deal with the tantrums, is to ignore them. When he has his little fits, the more I try to comfort him, or ask him what he wants, the more aggravated he gets! If I just leave him alone, after a few minutes of screaming, he will calm himself down, and come over for a hug. I pick him up, give him a kiss, and redirect his attention to something else... and suddenly the thing that caused the meltdown is forgotten!

When it happens in public, it can be a bit embarrassing, but the best thing you can do is to remain calm, and look as though youre still in control... even if you feel youre about to rip your hair out! I dont pay attention to other people, or the disaproving looks you'll sometimes get from apparent childless people- its easy for them to give a dirty look to the mother of a child who is screaming and throwing themselves on the floor... but I'd like to see how they would deal with it!

Answer 4

Make sure his tantrums aren't rewarded ever. He has a want that isn't being satisfied and he is out of control. He needs to understand that his behavior will not get him what he wants but instead will get him a minor punishment.
At his age the punishment might be put in a crib or playpen until he regains control. Not a time limit punishment but once he is in control his life can resume.
If you ever even one time give him what he wants he will learn to persist and the tantrum can last much longer.

Answer 5

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RE:
temper tantrums, in my 16 month old..what to do??
My son flings himself on the floor when doesnt get his way and screams, when i say no he will squak really loud , sometimes pulls my hair, and he ignores me alot now to...never did it before..and at dinner its so hard to eat a calm meal cuz he screams the whole meal.....its gettin bad ..is this a...

Answer 6

Wow at 16 months? Yours started earlier than mine. After his 2nd birthday, people said he'd start and I didn't believe them. Two months later it was as if someone traded my good boy for this boy kicking and screaming on the floor. Maintain low tones in everything you say to him during these times. I made it through months of this. "I know you're angry, sometimes you don't get what you want." Scream, cry, yell...
"Do you want to be a good boy or a bad boy?" Scream, cry, yell... "I'll ask you again later, when you can talk in a normal voice." He eventually learned all the screaming wouldn't work no matter how loud. Phew. You'll be fine. More importantly, your son will be fine too.

Answer 7

I have lots of experience with children and behaviors...I'm a Elementary Special Education teacher and have worked with children with behaviors for many years. Simplest/ most applicable advice? Reward good behavior (praise, special time with mom and/or dad, extra book at bed time) and IGNORE the negative behavior (never show any distress, don't talk to them until it's over, say NO when he pulls your hair, say no when you need to and who cares if he squawks, time out...etc). Start now or it will get worse, I'm sure! And sometimes it will get worse before it gets better...kids like to test the limits - and sometimes up the ante! Just remember, you are the adult, you are in charge and your child can't not control you!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

It's normal. They are realizing that they can somewhat voice their opinions so when they're ticked off, they let you know. My daughter is the same age and does alot of the same things your son does. At dinner if she's not allowed to feed herself and drink her own drink she wont eat it. she wont even let you hand it to her to put in her own mouth. she's in an independent phase . She bites, screams, kicks, hits , smacks. makes a scene in public places alot. And it's not for attention because Im always home with her and her older sister and they place fairly well together. Each have their own toys and get plenty of time with me and my husband. I dunno, I just hope she grows out of it. For now. Im forever telling her no, dont do that. Dont go in there. put that down and smacking her hands when she hits and pulls hair. Yes.. I smack her hands.. thumbs down if you want.

Answer 9

It is a normal stage, mine does the same thing. all you can do is grin and bear it and tell him no...or try and distract him with something else.

Answer 10

uh lets see that means he's uh 1 yr and 4 months so heres wat u do unless u want a male paris hilton: when you say no to him 3 times and he keeps on grab his wrist or something and look him right in the eye and say it one more time. if he screams after this or the first no then say: i told u no now stop it. if he keeps on the send him to the corner for like 10 min. i fhe refuses then its time for a spanking. have a set punishment for certain things say: if he disobeys you after u send him to the corner then he get a spanking. or if he hits or bites or pulls your hair etc. then he gets spanked and goes to bed immediatly or early. set down rules with your husband so there is no leanacy, if there is any change in rules at a place you frequently go to then he will suck up to the ppl with the dif rules.... or act like a complete brat. if he breaks toys or throws them then u pick them up and say that its yours now. and dont give it back until he behaves. if he messes with things and u tell him no repeatedly then he will be sent to the corner(if disobeys then spanking) when he does behave then talk nicely to him and maybe give him a toy back. or say thank you for being so good i love you soo much and hug him. if the bad behavior returns then u know the drill. when he screams at dinner then calmly look at him and tell him to stop or go to bed. if he continues then take him out of his highchair and put him in bed. and make sure his room/crib stays clean so he wont be playing with toys all night . i also suggest that u give him a bland room for the time being. that means that u give him a blanket and pillow of the same color. his curtains if he has a window should be a color that blocks light but will be neutral at the same time, i suggest that u take toys out of his room or keep them where he cant get them at night. no electronic toys/devices in there period. keep his bed away from the window. after u put him to bed then turn out the light (keep bed away from light switch too) and walk out shut the door. if he comes out then tell him to go back to bed now. if he pitches a fit then grab his wrist and walk quickly back to his room and repeat the bed process if he makes u drag him then drag him or walk fast enough that he has to walk. allow no mean or inappropriate language from him. this should be punished by no dessert or the corner.