17 month old temper tantrums and crying - arghhhhh!

[1500mmania]

I have a gorgeous 17 month old but he is driving me insane. He is at the childminders in the day that he loves and he always seems so happy when I pick him up. As soon as I get home though the crying starts massive temper tantrums - he doesn't want to take his jacket or shoes off, he doesn't want to sit in the highchair, he doesn't want to eat the food - cry cry cry, temper tantrums, throwing things, more crying.

I try walking away and ignoring him but he just follows me round clingy at my legs crying or pulling me by the arm into another room. It is so draining.

Eventually I convinced him to calm down by sitting him on my knee and watching tv for 5 mins. I then got his fav meal (mac cheese) and put it at his height and when he showed interest I told him he had to sit in the highchair which he did.

I know the tantrums are going to start again soon though as he has started to go off bathtime. His stubbornness is driving me insane.

Is this normal? How do you manage it? I really don't want to encourage these tantrums but sometimes it is like a red mist takes over and he gets himself so het up that it is impossible to calm him down.

HELP!!!!

[Whirliwig72]

Having this ATM with ds2 who is also 17 months. My approach is to be sympathetic to the fact he's going through major changes right now but be firm also. If he is being a bit of a sod I tell him firmly no and tell him he's being unreasonable (not that he understands all that i'm saying but it makes me feel better). I also walk off and leave him to his strop as long as he's in a safe place. I try not to acknowledge it with attention.

Good luck I know it can be mighty wearing indeed

[Whirliwig72]

Oh also just to add the fact he's having strops with you and not the childminder is a massive compliment to you that he feels secure and confident to express these scary new feelings knowing you are there to pick up the pieces afterwards