WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Ryan has such a temper lately...

If he dosent get what he wants, at the pace that he wants it... he screams, cries, throws himself back, and spits (rasberries) until I give in...


This can be anything from me not getting the spoon in his mouth fast enough to me not picking up the toy he through on the floor fast enough...

For instance... today we were in walmart.... Ryan wanted my cell phone.... well I wouldnt give it to him... He started flipping out so bad in the store... until I gave it to him- needless to say- my phone has so much drool in it.... its not broke!


I know with an older child... you'd talk them through it, and stand your ground... but there is no reasoning with an ALMOST 8 month old...

Is this just a phase? Please dont tell me its a taste of whats to come??? IS there anything I can do? And how much worse am I making it- when I give in?

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

It's definitely a taste of what's coming if you continue to give in.

At this age, you should try distraction. Instead of your cell give him a toy. If he throws something on the ground, DON'T give it to him - or he's going to keep doing it. If you're not going fast enough, talk to him while you're feeding him.

The worst thing you can do is give in - it just teaches him that he has to scream, cry, throw himself back & spit to get what he wants.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

A lot of the bratiness comes from not being able to verbalize what he wants. Seriously, let him scream & just say No - that is unless you want to play Fetch with him all night or get a dog?

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

pre toddler tantrums...the fun begins. Talia is showing signs of this too - even though she might not understand me - I stay calm and explain to her why she can't have something, then I give her something else as a trade off. It usually works!

I think no matter how crazed they get, if you stay calm then it gives you an advantage.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Marissa -- I could have written that post myself!

I had to get a new cell phone last week because it was completely fried from the drool. The scream was phsycadelic from her sucking on my phone and none of the numbers worked! Thank goodness they replaced it for free because it had other problems since I bought it anyway.

I try to distract her with other things, and sometimes it works, many times it doesn't. I'm hoping it's just a phase!!

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

I go through this with my 2 year old. If she doesn't get what she wants,she cries and has a fit. I've been distracting her lately and it works. For example: She was crying because I wouldn't let her dive off the couch so I asked her " Do you see the mailman coming yet? Look out the front door and tell me if you see his white truck?" And she went to the door and stopped crying.
Try it. Try different things until you get to something that works. I know its so hard when they act up like that. My daughter sings so loud when we go food shopping sometimes that I get so embarrassed.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Dont worry I'm sure it will pass....hopefully!
Julia does this to when I take a toy away from her or when she is crawling around the house and wants to put something in her mouth she found on the floor, she will flip out when I take it out of her hand. I just tell her NO, and explain to her that she can't put things in her mouth from the floor ( like she really understands me-lol) but a few seconds later she gets over it. I'm sure all babies go through this at some point. Just dont give in or he will think he can do this all the time!

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

I agree with others - try distraction. Try to pack your diaper bag with toys that he hasnt seen in a while so he isnt bored with it. I usually have a bunch of toys in the truck specifically for this purpose. In stores and such it usually always works.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

We also keep 1-2 toys in the diaper bag that are ONLY diaper bag toys -- and then usually take 1-2 out with us and throw it in the carseat with us. This way, if need be, we can break out the diaperbag only toys that she doesn't see very often.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Ok here's my take on it:

Tantrums from 6mos-15 mos can be handled generally by distraction. It's your baby's way of getting your attention & testing your limits - and to get you to communicate with him/her.

15 mos-3 years - tantrums are generally over their lack of communication skills. They are angry because they don't know how to express themselves. You can help your toddler by giving them words to use - since they don't know them yet. Things like "I'm not happy." "Are you sad?" "Do you want juce? Say Mommy I want juice."

If someone can tell me how to handle tantrums for 4 & up, that would be great.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

I have to agree with Barbara. he is looking for a reaction and you may be setting up a bad precedent to give in to him. I know how hard it must be but you should distract him. But whatever you do show him that he is not in control. I think at 8 mos they can understand certain concepts like No, Mommy, Daddy, etc. Good Luck!

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

Personally, I don't think you are making it worse when you give in. He is just a baby and it is his job to be curious about everything and to explore. He is communicating with you (yay thats development!), and you are showing that you understand and care by being responsive -- either by giving him the object if it is safe or providing an alternative if he is interested is something inappropriate.

Re: WHAT AN ATTITUDE

You should definitely try distracting him from what he wants. If you keep giving in, things will get worse. Babies that age are too young for true discipline, but you have to teach them early that no means no, because if no only sometimes means know, they will throw tantrums and misbehave until you give in.