Tantrums in 17 month old

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

Have just been reading another thread but didn't want to take it over.

My son is 17 months old, he has been having tantrums for a while now when he can't get his own way for example he wants to open and slam the kitchen drawers or if I take something off him. He throws himself down and bangs his head on the floor, it seems like he does it on purpose if it doesn't hurt the first time he does it again. If he's sat at the table and I try to stop him throwing food he will clear the table, throwing his cup and anything else he can get his hands on.

It's escalated a bit in the past few days and he has been using both hands to slap himself on the side of the head or if I am holding him he really yanks my hair. Over the weekend I was at my mum's and over something tiny e went and stood at the wall and was banging his head against it.

He is generally the most lovely sunny natured boy but behaves like this at the drop of a hat recently. I know the tantrums are because he can't express his needs and wants but is his behaviour normal? A couple of people have jokingly said he seems very defiant and wilful and he has always been very independent in terms of wanting to feed himself, so do you think this is just his personality or is it purely a developmental phase?

You've just described my dd, who also hits me if she hurts herself. I'm not concerned that she's not normal, just concerned if she's like this now, what in earth will the terrible twos bring!

That is my worry too. I know tantrums are normal, but just wanted to get an idea of the spectrum. He doesn't give me a chance, just chucks himself at the floor if he even thinks I'm saying no.

I'm convinced he's doing the head banging on purpose. If his head touches the floor quite softly he looks at me while he does it again then just wails. I seem to spend my days gently lowering him to the floor mid tantrum, catching his head before he thumps it on the floor or attempting to catch him when he chucks himself back.

He also doesn't like it if he thinks somebody is laughing at him, I doing know if that's related.

My ds is only 13 months and is starting to tantrum a bit. The main source of his frustration is his shape sorter. He can only "sort" the circle,the rest are too hard. It gets launched across the room most days and he cries if I take it away or try to help. He's also started making this growling noise if he can't do something or have something he wants. I'm hoping it's a phase he'll grow out of. He has been described as "mustard" by his grandma! He really is a very good natured, laid back baby generally so I too am worrying about the terrible twos. I always imagined that laid back, easier babies would be laid back toddlers. Hopelessly naive????

Haha the shape sorter thing is familiar. He is like that with his toys too but he doesn't like being shown how to do it. He has a tantrum if he can't do it and one if I dare to try to show him.

He was never a laid back baby NickyEds he used to scream the place down every time we had to dress him, change him, bathe him. But he is so happy the rest of the time, bringing toys over to me with a huge smile, running round and hiding. The tantrums are increasing on a daily basis though.

My 15 month old dd is starting to tantrum too.
This is what I've started to do:-
Give her lots of time and attention in the morning on nursery and non nursery days, this investment may pay off for rest of the day as my dd may not be so tantrummy
Give her warning about something about to happen eg we are going to put your coat on in 2 mins
Try to keep to regular routines as possible eg bedtime meal and nap times
Be consistent. If you say no to something follow through and don't give in even though she's having a tantrum and doesn't like it. By giving in I'd be reinforcing the tantrum
I've started to offer choice - do you want to wear red top or yellow jumper?

We will see if it works!
Maybe you could try some of these?
Good luck!

I didn't know if 13 months was just too little for that kind of thing Chickz??? Most of the time he just looks at me as if I'm nuts if I try and explain anything to him!! We do have a really regular sleeping and eating routine though. I didn't really plan to (I'm a SAHM so no real need for one)but ds seems to be all for routine and he does get grumpy if we're late for naps/snacks etc.
I can already feel myself "giving in" a lot though, which is something I never thought I'd do. Our DVD remote is currently having the slobber dried out of it on the radiator because I let him have it to avoid a tantrum. I bet the bloody subtitles are stuck on again.

He might be a bit too early but the more you talk to him the more he should understand and over time he should get it.
Good luck.

My ds is approaching 17 months and I could have written your post ijust I'm getting disapproving tuts and head shakes from grandparents at the moment to boot. Total meltdown if he can't do/have/slam/break/hit things, complete with whacking his face on the sofa cushions! When he gets frustrated with something he gurns and grits his teeth so hard his little head shakes

Even worse he's started to sink his teeth into my shoulder when I pick him up if he's upset

I've had a few 'is this really normal' moments too

I know cakebaby and he is so melodramatic I can't help but smile at him which makes it worse.

I was at soft play twice through the week and both times I felt like all I did was lay out a mid-tantrum child on the thankfully soft surface. He just falls backwards and I am spending my life at the moment chasing him around so he doesn't hit his head on anything.

This helped me! hurrahforgin.com/2015/01/22/change/