How to get a 15mth old to not take a temper tantrum everytime he wants something??

Question

my son is 15mths old, and he fusses and gets difficult to handle anytime he wants something and anytime he gets frustrated. it makes it hard to differentiate between when he wants something and when he's just upset over something. He goes limp and won't stand up when he's upset and screams or cries alot. he'll even cry at you when you tell him not to do something. I can't tell when he wants a drink or snack or if he's just tired and cranky anymore. how do you deal with a baby who's turning into a toddler faster than you can keep up with? It drives me crazy, because I know he's overdoing it, because he used to ask for baba's and would show obvious behaviour when he was ready for nap...e.g. say bedbed or grab his favourite stuffy and bring it to me and cuddle on my lap. He seems to have decided that even the smallest thing is worthy of a temper tantrum. I used to know when it was just that, because he'd freak and sprawl on the floor without getting up..but now he does that for everything

Answer 1

If my son throws a fit for no reason I put him in his room and shut the door, I don't give into it.  I realized that he acts up more with his dad around also, when we go shopping he is just fine with me, but we all were out shopping the other day and his dad had to take him out of the store because he started acting bad.

Does your son get what he wants when he is with his dad?  Could that be a reason to why he is acting like this?

I say try to ignore him or put him in his room when he has a temper hopefully it will help.

Answer 2

My 3 kids have ADHD and one counselling group which I got aide from recommended a fantastic book.  I can't remember the title, but I do remember something specific that might help you.

Paraphrase:  There are 4 ways kids act to try to get what they want.  Tantrums, asking over and over again, trying to bargain with you, and whining/crying.  Does your child tend to use one of these methods more than the others? ... I'm sorry to say that isn't good.  That means that method is usually successful for them!

/end paraphrase

I laughed when they phrased it like that and tricked me into realizing why my kids asked over and over again.  My hubby and I get frustrated and eventually give in.

The way to stop his temper tantrums are to ignore them, and stop letting them "work" for him.  He doesn't get what he wants to try to end his tantrum, he only gets it after he had ended it (or not at all if your original response which caused the tantrum was "No".)

Good luck!

Answer 3

I feel your frustration, and I sympathize.  

I have two of my own and that is exactly what children do at 15 mos.

It could be hard on him with separating from daddy, too, and that can make him anxious.  He doesn't understand yet.

Just be consistent.  I always told my kids when they threw a tantrum for a glass of juice that they had to ask nice.  Or if they were screaming and the whole floor thing, I found that walking away into the other room would help my sanity.  I tell them that when they were ready to ask nice I would help them.

By all means, don't give in to the tantrum.  It will only get worse if you do.  You're the mommy and what you say goes.  Sometimes talking works, but they are just finding their voice and testing you at this age.  They don't understand why they do it, they just want what they want.

Keep up the good work.  It will be OK if you stay consistent with whatever method you use.

Try the following websites.  They have some methods that may help as well.

Answer 4

http://www.parenting.com

http://www.childpsychology.com

http://www.preschooler.com

                          good  luck,. bye,.,

Answer 5

How do you react when he throws the tantrums?  Do you try and figure out what he wants, hadnign him things, talking to him, consoling him?  Giving him what he wants?  If so, that is why he is continuing.  If you stop that behavior, he will stop his.  When he acts like that, tell him you can't understand him when he acts like this and when he calms down he can come ask you again.  Then walk away from him and ignore him.  Or take him into his room.  You will have to do this over and over again for him to get the picture.  You need to make it clear that this behavior is NOT acceptable and you will not play along with it.

Answer 6

Well a few things... Kids just go through this stage- it matters how mom and dad deal with it....

My son who is now 4 - when he was transitioning someone told me to talk to him like a little boy and not a baby anymore.  Treat him the same way.  For example - don't say baba or bedbed, because that is baby talk.  A

And if he asks for a baba - tell him it is a cup or a sippy.  Then if he throws himself around - just tell him one time sternly - "tell mommy what you want and stop crying" and when he doesn't - just ignore him.  They only do it for attention anyway.  When they don't get a rise out of you - they will stop doing it.

If you argue with him or try to pick him up he will still do it anyway...And you will be showing him the attention he wants from you - no matter if it is negative or positive..

So my advice - just ignore it.... It will take a while and you have to stay consistent but that is the best advice that was given to me....

Answer 7

A pacifier dipped in a little whiskey.  Unless he's a mean drunk, then no.

Answer 8

Temper tantrums should be ignored.  My son went through some thing like this for about 2 weeks, drove me NUTS!!  I am not one to jump around to figure out what he wants.  If he wants to throw himself on the floor screaming, then so be it.  I would just sit there and do nothing, not even look at him.  My mom kept telling me this is the start of the terrible 2's.  He's 17 months!

He doesn't do it any more.

Don't react to the negative behavior, he will get the picture.