HELP mother of all trantrums today

[knat]

My nearly 2 yr old has had tantrum after tantrum today. It starts when she gets taken way from something she's doing or wants. For instance we went to feed the ducks and decided she didn't want to go when it was time to go and my dh ended up carrying her through the town centre with her screaming atthe top of her lungs. She's a nightmare in the pushchair as she bangs her legs and head as well as screaming and crying. At home when she does this I firstly tell her she's not to headbang/hit etc and then if she carries on i place her on the sofa to calm down. She normaly comes to me in tears but says sorry and kisses and is ok. It's usually brought on when she's taken away from an activity she wants to carry on doing or if she can't have something etc. Although she's always been ok with this or been easily distracted up until a couple of weeks ago. Any idea how to cope when out and about and also at home as they seem to be escalating. Also what about the headbanging and hiting - she doesn't seem to care what she bangs her head against - tonight it was the radiator (not on!). Help - what was supposed to be a nice family day has turned out to be anightmare.

Hi I am going through the same at the moment. My dd is 2next month and the "terrible 2's" have certainly hit us. What I have found to sometimes work when we are out is bribeary bad I know but it has calming effects. Or I try the "did you see that doggy/birdy etc?" and then get her attention that way. It does seem to work 9 times out of 10. She is going through a biting herself stage as well and hitting herself I hope this has helped a bit keep me posted xx

thanks amy. I've found that if she's hitting or head banging, kicking etc if I tell her once and then ignore the behaviour she stops a lot quicker. Distraction isn't always working and i too have tried bribery but if it' a certain level of tantrum it won't work. Definitely noticed some improvement in the length of tantrum in using the above method. Today in the park we had the same scenario of leaving the ducks in which she kicked and screamed i picked her up and carried her with her facing outwards and just ignored and she stopped much quicker. Let's hope she learns. I can put up with the screaming it's the headbanging i really don't like. She's always done it to some degree and the it goes away i just wish it would go way for good!

Tell me about it I hate her having tempers. I know it doesn't help and I hate hearing it but just keep telling yourself its a phase its a phase. Where are you? Just a question do you ake her to any groups?

do you tell her what is going to happen before you do it?

ie, when at the park do you say "we're going to geed one more duck and then it's time to go home" ?
that way she KNOWS what is going to happen and it isn't like you just suddenly tear her away from what she is doing.

Sure you've probably already tried this, but do you give her cues to let her know you're about to leave/change your activity. eg. We're going home in 5 mins to have dinner (or wherever)? That way she knows whats coming rather than just stopping something without warning?

oooh, startingtobehalloweenylover - great minds think alike!!

i have tried telling her that we're about to change activity but I found this just made her grumpy and start the tantrum then!!!

~Amy I'm in the Midlands and I take her to a creepy crawly class (which is like tumbletots) and jo jingles music class weekly. I did try her with a playgroup but she didn't seem to get much out of at the time although I am thinking about startin this again.

Just remembered to say, she's just in the stages of dropping her daytime sleep andobviusly the trantrums have become worse since then. She's still very tired but under no circumstances will she go to sleep in the day. I have moved her bedtime earlier and if appropriate i let her sleep in a bit later so she makes the sleep time up but i think she's still adjusting to the lack of nap in the day. I'm hoping that this may be a cause as to the extent of and frequency of the tantrum?!!!!!

i would think that was the cause, she'll gradually adjust, hopefully.

tiredness is the main cause of all tantrums in our house, and that goes for me, dh, dd and ds!