My toddler is 21 months old and I am getting increasingly worried about his behaviour which has been steadily getting worse for the last few months.
When he is in a good mood, he is sociable, giggly, snuggly and affectionate. He doesn't speak recognisable words at the moment but understands loads and babbles conversations with us with intonation / inflection etc. He is confident when out and about and interested in new things.
When he is in a bad mood, he is impossible.
He has tantrums that are so bad it seems that he completely loses control of himself. He bangs his head on the floor or on objects close to him, seems like he seeks them out in anger to bang his head and then cries because it hurts. He thrashes around and hits his body against things and screams and shouts. He even does this in his cot during night wakings. He is also violent towards us, pulls hair, scratches, pinches, slaps and kicks and headbutts us. He also slaps other children.
The violence can also be to get attention or if he can't make himself immediately understood.
We have tried everything from ignoring it to physically restraining him and stopping him from hitting his head and hitting us. He understands 'no' and 'stop' but understandably completely ignores us when he is having a tantrum.
He can have a tantrum countless times per day and for any reason - not being allowed to do something or a parent not following him immediately for example.
It is really hard, I feel like I am a failure and that he just doesn't like me - he has made my cry a few times hurting me and sometimes he doesn't seem to care at all, other times he will go and get toys and give them to me if I am upset.
Is this normal for a toddler? Should I be discussing this with a GP?
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Behaviour/development
Tantrums, temper and violence
3 replies
Isitnormalfor · 14/04/2017 19:43
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