Are 11mos supposed to have tantrums?!

[DalmationStripe]

I never had this with my DD until she was a lot older. My 11month old DS has full on tantrums if, for example, I take something off him or pick him up when he's doing something he's not supposed to. He will scream, throw himself to the floor, launch himself backwards and repeatedly bang his head against the wall/floor, which makes him cry even more. He has such a temper! Is this normal at such a young age? This started at least a month ago and is getting worse.

I don't know if they're 'supposed' to, but it's not uncommon. DC4 started at about 7 months. I hoped it meant he was getting it out of the way early, sadly not .

Did they get worse as he got older? That's what I'm most worried about. DD is now nearly 3 but DS already beats her hands down tantrum wise.

My 12 month old is the same! Her sister (4) was never like this at this age either.

Ds had his first full blown, lay out flat on the floor, pummelling it with little fists & toes at 11 months. It was cos he'd eaten all the raisins in the cup & there were none left!

My DS has been doing this from around 7 months too...definitely by 9 months. He's 13 months now and does have them but we've been doing baby signing with him since around 9 months and it's really helped. This morning he started screaming because he'd finished his breakfast and I told him that wasn't ok and he should use his signs. He instantly grinned and signed 'more' to me. DD never really had them in the same way (but at 2 is starting to) and we started signing with her at 13 months - she is more placid by nature but the signing helped enormously as all key needs could be signed for I.e. More, food, drink, nap etc. I followed the Sing & Sign DVD (they also run classes).

DD1 never really liked BFing and was mix fed from a couple of weeks old.

By 5 months she threw far more spectacular tantrums if I tried to BF her than she ever did as a toddler.

Don't know if normal, but mine does this too. He's a pro at throwing himself backwards in a dramatic rage if we tell him not to touch something or take something away.

I'm keen to start signing so hoping that might help.

I thought I'm the only one with a child that has tantrum moments this young. My son is 10 month and when we tell him he can't have it (because it is dirty, not recommendable for babies etc) he starts kicking and screaming. Some days when I tell no you can't he listens. I noticed he his pretty bad when he is tired or had a busy day (shopping, messing up his nap times)

Can you tell me more about the signing?

Stupid question - how do you get a baby to understand an abstract concept like 'more' in order to attach a sign to it?

God the human mind is amazing - that we understand anything abstract at all is insane when you think about it. #deepthought

I just gave a bit of food at a time and said 'more?' each time doing the sign - as they reach out for it I hand it over and say 'that's right, MORE' and do the sign again. DH and I often do deliberate role play in front of them too I.e. He will ask me for more and sign it and I'll hand it over saying 'here's some more, well done for signing Daddy...'. I then progressed to taking their own hands and making the sign every time I gave more and asking them to sign it. Persist, persist, praise like crazy when then do it....

Once they realise they can communicate that way they are SO much happier and meal time whining goes right down.

Ah I see. Thanks for explaining. I'll give that a go with DS and see if it helps.