How do you deal with your 15month old's tantrums?

Question

My son does NOT like the word "No".... He will either laugh at me, or get upset and lay down on the floor to cry, or if he gets even more upset, he'll flail his arm, tryin to smack me. And this happens over Anything, especially in the last month he's been wanting to go outside all day every day, he'll grab me by the finger and pull, if i don't get up, the tantrum starts and doesn't stop untill he gets his way or gets distracted ( which only happens for a minute, then he gets back to his original goal ). I work full time, and during the evenings sometimes i simply cannot spend the time with him outside, he needs his dinner made and his laundry done, or when its raining i can;t take him out, but he's too young to understand WHY mommy doesn't "want" to play with him where HE wants to play.

So how did you deal with your toddler's tantrums?

Answer 1

We can usually avoid tantrums by telling our little girl what to expect beforehand.  For example, we'll tell her "one more time down the slide" or "can you share this cookie with mommy?" so that she knows what to expect, rather than having her be surprised and angry.

Aside from that, you might want to start some sort of routine with him.  Maybe you could take him outside at the same time every day for only 10 minutes, and then tell him when there's one minute left.  He might not totally understand, but he'll probably remember that "one minute left" comes right before you go back inside.

Answer 2

Some parents dont believe in spanking and it didnt work for my daughter she wouldnt flinch or cry, just roll her eyes at me. I found that spanking her hand actually worked better....for a while.

Now when she starts throwing a fit I tell her that she's making me mad and if she doesnt stop she is going in time out. She hates time out because she sits on her bed with no tv or toys.

Its hard because they dont understand why they cant have something, especially if its right there in front of them. I just stay firm and if she does thrown a fit I pick her up and put her on her bed.

Answer 3

There is a lot of good advice being offered from your post.

I think his favorite time with you is outside because you are not distracted from him, kids see things we don't and he enjoys your time together.   I would agree that giving him a half hour per day routine is not asking for too much.  Make yourself a nice cup of hot tea or a cold drink and enjoy your son's playful time.  When my daughter was a tot, I'd let her share my chores, if I was washing dishes, I let her rinse.  When I was doing laundry I let her help fold and sort clothes.  I also had a drawer in my kitchen that was hers, I'd put a few healthy treats in there and some odds and ends that occupied her while I was cooking.  These conditions help them feel close to you and they get a broader understanding of your chores.

My daughter rarely had a tantrum, only if I didn't get her naps in for some reason or she was hungry and she was a nibbler so I had healthy treats stashed everywhere.

Good Luck To You

Answer 4

I usually put things in order so they understand what to expect so they know that going outside or playing with their toys at that time isn't an option. For example,  "First mommy's going to clean up, then we are going to eat dinner, and then take a bath." Don't add anything in there that might make them confused, like "If you behave you can go outside" because he may ignore everything else you've just said and just want to go outside. Also, I know it can be hard to do sometimes, but don't let him take control of you. He's smart enough to know that when throwing a fit he's eventually going to get what he wants. 15 months is a good age for timeouts and maybe a light smack on the hand. My daughter has outstanding fits. She could go on for hours. What I do is let her sit in her timeout spot and scream. If she's still screaming in 10 minutes I go in there and ask if she's done and ready to come back out and play. I make her say sorry to mommy, and if she is done screaming, she goes back to what she was doing. I never give in to her tantrums and she's learned that she cannot get what she wants without manners, and scraming doesn't help. If you're in public when this happens, just take him to the car and come back another time if he doesn't mellow out. It may mean you don't get your groceries that you needed, but your kid needs to be trained not given a toy for bad behavior, and you can always come back.

Answer 5

my lil guys is 19 months...honestly... i do my best to ignore them. He asks me and i tell him not right now. No has never worked for him. smacking his hands makes him laugh... spanking him only works for 2 seconds. and time out... haha those are a time for planning the next touble making adenture! so... basically... i try my best to ignore them. I say no one time and if he asks again i ignore the asking! pretend you dont hear him. he will give up.

When he throws himself to the floor you can turn around and make it so you cant see him, or walk to another room so you dont have to watch. the hitting, i have never had to deal with that. When my lil guys gets upset easily like this... i figure it is time for him to be in his bed... and he goes to bed. he only acts up when he is tired.

good luck.

Answer 6

well one when he throws himself on the floor, u tell him to get up or u make him stand up, that type of behavior is not ok. he is only 15 months, but hes old enough to understand sitting down so when he does trow a fit and he doesnt get off the floor sit him in a spot on the florr and dont let him move for at least 1 minute. he may be young, but a couple times of this and he will get that when u say no or stop throwing a fit that if he doesnt stop that he will have to sit in time out. u cant give in to what he wants bc he will get worse. and then ull be stuck with a toddler that doesnt listen and throws fits. he understands a lot more then u think. he knows that if i throws a fit long enough h**l get what he wants, and he needs to learn when he doesnt listen, he will be punished. its tuff, but he will get it even if it takes a little time. bad habbits are hard to break- good luck

Answer 7

I don't have much advice because my son does the exact same things! Right now I am reading "The No-Cry Discipline Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. I think its a great book and its given me a lot of ideas on how to handle my son. I'm also trying to read a few others so I can get as many ideas as possible.

Answer 8

I am assuming you don't have anyone helping you with things if you still have to make dinner and do laundry. I would take 4 nights a week and just go have fun with him use the other 3 to get everything set up for the days you will be spending most of your time with him.