Temper Tantrum in a 1 year old?

August 3rd, 2009 by admin

Hi everyone, is it normal for a 1 year old to have a full on temper tantrum? Mine truly does seem to have them lately a lot. And yes, it absolutely IS a tantrum. How do you handle a tantrum in a baby that young? I want to nip it in the bud before he gets older. Thanks for your help.

My one year old is trying this too. I usually just ignore him. Sometimes that stops the tantrum. But if that doesn’t work, I get his attention on something else like one of his favorite toys.

Category: temper tantrum :

8 Responses

  1. Amy Says:

    Yes, it’s normal for temper tantrums that young. It’s the child’s way of trying to figure out how to express their feelings. I try redirection or waiting for them to calm down before addressing them.
    References :

  2. Mamabear Says:

    My one year old is trying this too. I usually just ignore him. Sometimes that stops the tantrum. But if that doesn’t work, I get his attention on something else like one of his favorite toys.
    References :

  3. AstaraRose24F Says:

    my son was a born natural temper tantrum thrower. The best way to deal with it is not to let it affect you… no matter WHERE you are. Step aside…let them throw the tantrum and ignore your child. Try to redirect their attention after a few minutes, if that doesnt work I usually sit him in his crib until he calms down. Do NOT give in…or you will be dealing with it forever…lol and Yes its perfectly normal..at One they really cant tell you WHY they need something so badly so the tantrum gets thrown because they arent getting what they want EXACTLY.
    References :

  4. Dylan's Mommy<3 4.24.08 Says:

    If you look up temper tantrum in the dictionary - you will see my 15 month old. He started having them at 7 months. Seriously. I got him over them and figured out what would work best - and before I knew it, that sweet, loveable, patient, understanding little boy turned into a MONSTER overnight. LOL. Literally.

    We’ve moved twice in a short amount of time, plus he just got his shots - and he’s been having major tantrums. I told him no he can’t touch the night light thats plugged in because he takes it out of the socket and obviously the next step is putting his finger in the outlet. So i moved him away. he went back and I moved him away again and told him he’s going to get a time out… so he bit me… HARD>

    I was like seriously?! He’s been screaming and having a meltdown over EVERYTHING. He doesnt even know what he wants. I feel so bad for him because he is so young and has gone through so much lately, so it’s hard to get upset with him… but then again you don’t want to allow the behavior… so what to do?

    Is your little one getting his molars? Dylan has all 4 now, but that’s when the tantrums really picked up. It hurts them so bad - and they get so frustrated bc theyre hurting and cant communicate it. Try to talk with him. Find a way to let him know you understand. take him outside. walk away from the situation. Divert his attention elsewhere. Maybe he’s getting bored too. If you keep him a busy and active, it will hopefully keep his mind off of whatever is bothering him (like his molars)… and I’m not sure if you get any help with childcare or if you’re a SAHM, but if you’re with him 24/7.. try getting a break, even for a few hours. You may both need some space. :)

    Good luck. Y ou’ll get through this!! Just let him know you understand, but that you are still in charge. Like if he wants something he cant have, say I understand you want ____, but you can’t play with that (you will get hurt)…. Let’s play with this (____similar object____) instead.
    References :

  5. marshfield_meme Says:

    My mom cured my little brother and in turn I cured each of my children and grandchildren this way: As soon as you are certain it is a tantrum, get about 4 oz of ice water in a cup. throw the ice water in the child’s face. walk away.

    It usually works the first time.

    After that the child stops as soon as they see you going to the kitchen to get the water.
    References :

  6. buterflytme Says:

    it is very normal but don’t ever ingore him he is trying to tell you something remember at a young age they don’t have all the words to tell you.

    When he is having one let him have it than get down to his leave and say
    " is there something you are trying to tell me" alway keeping a very calm tone

    " can you show me what you would like"

    if he wants something and he can’t have it at that time
    than say
    "remember that for…….."
    " its just about tea time, would you like to help me "

    always give him a reason for your action and you need to remain calm
    but also even adults have tantrums when they don’t get what they want
    References :

  7. jena Says:

    Yep it is normal. What I do for my my son is make sure he is in a safe place, like his room on carpet, then I walk away. When he calms down I come back. I don’t give in because it teaches him to keep doing it because it is how he gets what he wants
    References :

  8. ? Says:

    Yes, tantrums do happen at that age. In my experiencing as a mom of 3 and an early childhood professional (speech pathologist), "terrible twos" actually happen from about 14 months to about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years.

    So suggestions for a 1 y.o are pretty much the same as for a 2 y.o - maybe even LESS talk, shorter verbal expalnations, more visual signals (e.g. gestre for "No), not go into a lengthy speech about why not and what to do etc…)

    Temper tantrums are common, occurring in about 80% of children ages 1 to 4. About 20% of 2-year-olds and 10% of 4-year-olds have daily temper tantrums.1
    Why do children have temper tantrums?

    A tantrum is a normal and expected response when something interferes with a young child’s attempt to gain independence or to master a skill. For example, a temper tantrum may be triggered when a child becomes frustrated while trying to button a shirt or is told it is time for bed when he or she wants to stay up longer.

    Some children are more likely to have temper tantrums than other children. Factors that contribute to a child’s tendency to have tantrums include fatigue, the child’s age and stage of development, temperament, stress in the child’s environment, and whether other behavioral, developmental, or health conditions are present (such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] or autism). Also, a child may be more likely to have temper tantrums if parents react too strongly to difficult behavior or give in to the child’s demands.
    How do I deal with temper tantrums?

    Ignoring the tantrum behavior and helping a young child learn how to handle and express anger and frustration are usually effective ways to deal with the behavior. Also, paying attention to what triggers tantrums can help you act before a child’s emotions escalate beyond the point where he or she can control them.

    If your child continues to have frequent temper tantrums after age 3, you may need to use time-outs. A time-out removes the child from the situation, allows him or her time to calm down, and teaches the child that having a temper tantrum is not acceptable behavior. Time-out works best for children who understand why it is being used.

    Surviving the tantrum
    The most important things to remember when your child is in the throes of a tantrum are:
    a) Don’t punish the child.
    b) Don’t reward the child.
    c) Stay calm and ignore the behavior to the extent possible.
    d) Keep the child safe.
    e) Isolate the child if possible.
    f) Don’t let the disapproval of other people affect your response to the tantrum.

    When your child throws a tantrum, she is essentially out of control. You must make sure that you stay firmly in control. Punishing the child for throwing a tantrum, by yelling or spanking for example, makes the tantrum worse in the short term and prolongs the behavior in the long term. Trying to stop the tantrum by giving in to the child’s demands is even worse. This is the way to teach a child to use tantrums for manipulation, and will cause the behavior to continue indefinitely, even into adulthood.
    At Home
    When the child throws a tantrum at home, calmly carry her to a place where she can be left safely by herself, such as a crib or a playpen. Then leave the room, shut the door, and don’t go back until she calms down. When the child is calm, have a talk with her about her behavior. If you don’t feel safe leaving the child alone, stay with her, but don’t respond to the tantrum in any way. Don’t even make eye contact.

    In Public
    If the child throws a tantrum in public, carry him out of the public area if possible, and take him to a place where you can have some privacy. The best place to take him is to the car, where he can be buckled into his car seat. Then you stand near the car or sit in the car and wait it out without reacting to the tantrum. When the tantrum subsides, talk to the child about his behavior, and then return to your activities.
    Sometimes it won’t be possible for you to escape from the public place easily. For example, if you are in a commercial jet and the child throws a tantrum while you are coming in for a landing (as my daughter once did), you are basically stuck where you are. Likewise, you may find it hard to escape if you are standing in a long check-out line at the grocery store with a cart full of groceries. Under such circumstances, all you can do is grit your teeth and hang on. Ignore the screaming child. Ignore the glares and snide remarks of the people around you. Keep your cool. (Anyway, a screaming child in a check-out line speeds it up, so your child is actually doing everyone a favor.) Once you are able to make your escape, talk to the child about his behavior.

    Here are suggestions

    http://www.heptune.com/tantrum.html

    http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html

    http://children.webmd.com/tc/temper-tantrums-topic-overview
    References :

What do you think about?

Attention: Please don't Spam.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments