How do you deal with meltdowns?

DD is most of the time very good, but when she does have a tantrum it is beyond anything I can control. It can go up to 45 min. If I ignore her she follows me and tries grabbing on to me, if I engage her and try to calm her she runs away. Today this happened and she was thrashing around like a maniac crying and screaming I was at my wits and wanted to run out in the middle of the street and scream lol. I recently became a Sahm and my dd is 2.5 yrs old and I have a almost 4 month old. This is a new parenting stage for me and just looking for feedback how others cope.

Message edited 6/29/2015 11:11:52 PM.

How do you deal with meltdowns?

My son is older, but some things that have worked are telling him to take a deep breath, or telling him I can't hear him when he whines/cries/yells. He has his moments, but this helps!

How do you deal with meltdowns?

My DD is 2. I try distraction like making her stuffed animals talk or become real (I'll do anything!) or if it's a bad one from something she didn't get or do I'll ignore it.. Watch her but ignore the behavior

Re: How do you deal with meltdowns?

I literally just walk away and ignore it.

I stay calm to the point of ridiculous - like it's not even happening. He will go to do something, I will say no for whatever reason, he will throw himself on the ground - thrash, cry, scream - typical tantrum stuff. I say, "alright, work it out" and walk away.

Obviously, this is if I CAN walk away -- if we are in a parking lot lol I can't do that.

But at home or if I can - I just ignore it.

As time goes on, he now only "flips out" for like ten seconds because he knows from repetition that he's not getting anything out of me...

Then, when there is no reaction, he calms down. Once he is somewhat calm, I come back and get down at his level and explain to him WHY he can't do something -- like "you cannot grab a knife because it is sharp and dangerous, if you'd like you are more than welcome to play with a spoon or a cup... That is safer, but those are your choices, playing with sharp objects is unacceptable".

Then he's like alright and I praise him, "good decision! What a good boy you are, thank you for making the right decision!"

That's that.

If it is something more severe -- like before a tantrum say he swats at me or something... then it's "calm down corner" time (time out).

Then after that we have the same discussion.

Rinse, repeat. Consistency is key.

It's not easy!

Message edited 6/30/2015 2:18:20 PM.

How do you deal with meltdowns?

I ignore it. If it goes on too long I tell him he will get a time out if he doesn't stop. That usually stops if because he HATES time outs.

Re: How do you deal with meltdowns?

I just can't ignore tantrums. It hurts my body to. I tell him to cut it out or he's going in his room. He never stops on my st request so then I just pick him up & put him in his room, close the door & tell him he can come out when he's calm. He gets himself together & when he comes back out it's like a new kid.

Re: How do you deal with meltdowns?

How do you deal with meltdowns?

I usually try to ignore tantrums, or I try to redirect her attention to something else. DH has had luck recently with being silly and talking with a funny voice or making funny sounds to get her to start laughing and forget why she was crying.

How do you deal with meltdowns?

I try to ignore the tantrum at first...but if it goes on for long enough sometimes my DD just needs a hug. (Like 10+ mins)
Toddlers can't control their emotions and I think sometimes they get so out of their minds they don't know how to calm themselves down. A hug usually does the trick!