Handling tantrums in infants...

Ive NEVER come across this problem with ds in 11 years..and my dd is giving me h e l l at 11 months..

So seriously, i used to honestly think it was a sign of poor parenting when i saw a toddler hit their mother, or throw a tantrum in public, until i had my own lil nightmare of a tantrum thrower this past year..

But i feel like this is the start of TERRIBLE things..Melania is EXCELLENTLY behaved 90% of the time..when that 10% hits though, i literally wanna leave her wherever we are lol..
She stamps her feet, HITS ME, hits her toy, hits herself..and grunts to tell me shes mad...i can see this is TOTALLY just her trying to show some frustration, and shes never even seen anyone hit, so i wanna say its natural instinct..because it obviously isnt a "learned" behavior..
but what could be going on??? Shes only 11 months old..how do i handle this at this age??
Any advice would be appreciated!!

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

Is she talking?
I know Lily had a hard time before she really started talking when she would get frustrated and couldn't express herself.
I don't know if it's exactly a tantrum....because it's not like they're doing it to get their way...it's more like they're doing it because it's their only form of communication.
I would try to talk her through it to see what she wants, and get her to understand there are other ways of expressing herself.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

My dd is almost 13 mths and has been doing this too. Hits us, hits away her sippy, food, etc if she does not want it. I think it's probably just normal. I just say "that's not nice or NO!"

Who knows if I am doing the right thing? I am not worried about it yet t hough. Just know you are not alone.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

My DD (11.5months) throws herself back and shouts when I try to have her do something she doesn't want to do (like sit down in the crib, or play on the floor, etc when she wants me to hold her). I've learned that if I ignore it she stops after a few seconds. I don't want to give into it because I don't want her to learn if she acts this way she will get her way.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

the "tantrum" definately doesnt last long..and usually she forgets shes even mad after a minute or so..but in that one minute, i cannot believe how angry she gets,,
i had no idea this kind of behavior was kind of "bred" into them..we dont fight, or yell, or hit..and my son is old enough where he doesnt antagonize her, so i had no idea she would even learn to pick this behavior up, kwim??

Thanks for your replies so far ladies, please keep em coming!!!

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

Chels is doing the same thing, she doesn't hit me, but will hit her cup food away get angry and throw food or her toys etc...it lasts not long but it def is an anger management momement

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

must be something in the water. DS as of late is pulling this. ME personally I leave him where he is and ignore him. He hasn't done this in public, just home. He arches his back, and lays on the floor all purple in the face screaming. He is 11 m onths too and Im at a loss as to what to do.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

I'm joining the club...lol my DS is 14.5 months old and he started this at 10-11months old (estimate) throwing himself on the floor, arching his back etc. at first, I would not know what to do...but now I ignore him and it lasts less than a minute. I walk away and he quickly forgets what he was mad about....it's funny to watch how quickly he comes out of it but I don't let him know that. So, it sounds like it is a typical behavior. At times he screams and turns red....as if he wants to say something....then he smiles after......like I said I enjoy watching him evolve in all different ways...but I do take matters serious when is necessary. He doesn't talk yet so he is trying to express himself and ways that he knows how.

Message edited 12/19/2009 9:29:27 AM.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

DS is only 8 months old & has started this recently (does this mean I'm really in for it in the toddler years?). Usually it happens when he tries to get something he shouldn't have & I move it away. He arches his back & throws himself backwards on the floor or whatever he's sitting on & screams & kicks. I ususally ignore it for a few seconds until he starts to calm a little & then I distract him with another toy.

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

Re: Handling tantrums in infants...

So glad you posted this. 9m DS just started the back arching, kicking and screaming. He usually does this when he was playing with something and I take him away to change his diaper or if I am holding him and put him down when he wants to keep being held. I try to calm him down by picking him up or distract him with a toy.

I've heard and read that babies this age are too young to know how to annoy you and it is best to cater to them so that they trust you. When they are older (~18m), they learn to know right and wrong a little so I plan to start trying to discipline DS then.