16 month old temper tantrums - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

bap104 · 01-15-2008, 10:31 AM

My 16 month old is starting to throw "real" temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. I used to be able to just distract him with a toy or something but now nothing works. He just keeps banging his head on the floor (usually carpet but not always), screams and cries. He gets aggresive during these tantrums too by throwing toys and when I try to pick him up he pulls my hair and kicks me. Sometimes these last for 15 minutes before he calms down. I called his dr. but haven't heard back yet, should I be concerned? Other than this he is an angel. Thanks.

dream77 · 01-15-2008, 10:56 AM

If it makes you feel better ..
My 13 month old is doing the same..
She stands and falls back without breaking her fall and I hear a BIG BANG with her head hitting the floor.
She does this when she doesn't get what she expects, when she doesn't get what she wants and alot of these times I can't even figure out what she wants

mcr285 · 01-15-2008, 01:26 PM

the easiest (and sometimes hardest) way to correct this behavior, is not react at all and walk away. go do something else where you can see him, but act like you are not at all interested in what he is doing, because what you're doing is way more interesting than his temper tantrum. once he sees you're not reacting to his tantrum, AND that you've moved on to something else, he'll quit doing it. my now two year old started throwing these kinds of tantrums at around 9 months old. i was sooooo worried she was going to get hurt i would grab her and talk to her soothingly and try so hard to calm her down.... this only got her going more and she'd scream more and longer. it wasn't until she was around a year old or more that i realized i needed to completely ignore her screaming. she didn't quit the tantrums immediately, but they got shorter and shorter and now she almost never has a tantrum ever.

bap104 · 01-15-2008, 02:45 PM

Glad to know it's not just my child...thanks for the advice.

jukaam · 01-16-2008, 05:23 AM

Yes my 16month old girl loves to throw tantrums for mom! One of her favourites is that she doesn't want me in the kitchen, the whole time I'm in the kitchen she is screaming bloody murder and pulling my legs. I have been ignoring her for the most part, but last night aweful! How long do these things last?