Top tantrum prevention/coping tactics!

[Treesandbees]

Please give me your top tips/coping strategies for tantrums. We've got a 21mo DS whose just turned into a little monster! From 18mo he had the old 'meltdown' but normally when he was tired or hungry so relatively easy to predict/mitigate. But now everything seems to be a trigger...putting on shoes/getting dressed/nappy changes/meal times/bath time etc etc. it's starting to really drain me as nothing is easy or enjoyable anymore! I'm also 6mo pregnant so freaking out about having 2 of them to deal with !

Sorry no advice but stay calm and when ready give a cuddle to help dc calm down. I had to wait for a certain point in the tantrum as too early would result in my own injury. They very better as they learn to communicate and it is a stage that passes. Dtds are now 3.5. They rarely have tantrums now but this morning dd2 was tired and had a complete strop because her shadow was following her and I apparently needed to cut it off. I ended up trying distraction techniques and being glad we weren't in a hurry.

Watching with interest... My DD is a nightmare at 21 months just now. Just moved house and I'm unpacking in the midst of tantrums because she wants to climb the stairs. Ignoring her is the only option just now so I'm seeing how that goes over the next few days. I'll let you know how it goes!

Ooh, I follow Andrea Nair on facebook and she's done a lot of stuff recently about tantrums which I really liked.

What to do about tantrums

How to prevent a tantrum from escalating

What to do if it doesn't work

• There are more in the series but they are more for older toddlers/preschoolers.

Thanks for the messages and links. Will definitely have a read as need a strategy!! Hope unpacking goes ok Lindsay!

Watching with interest as my almost 21 month old doesnt throw tantrums but instead goes floppy when I'm trying to get her ready in a rush. We almost missed a flight yesterday because of it! Going to read these Andrea Nair links.

those links were fantastic Bertie.

With dd she usually switches over from rage to futility really quickly. she pretty much immediately wants to be cuddled and comforted even if she is mad at me for taking something away or stopping her from doing something, but she is only 18mo so there is plenty of time for that to change.

We had a bad day yesterday. I was that woman with the screaming child 4 times at a shopping centre yesterday. I think it was all a bit much for her.

Andrea Nair is really great. I wonder if we could have a webchat with her, hmmm.... :)

Just read the links, they are really good. I think I need to start being a bit more organised and then stop being really frantic when I realise it's time to go and I've just been faffing around :-)

Maybe "warning" her what you're going to do next might help a little?