16 month old temper tantrums

[pearshape]

dd2 is 16 months old and is very strong willed. It's becoming very difficult to take her anywhere. She screams when in her buggy/ car seat, anywhere she is confined. I can understand she just wants to toddle around but sometimes that's just impossible. It's really hard work going out with her, even a walk around town with her in her buggy has her constantly screaming. I end up passing her all sorts of food to keep her quiet (not the answer, i know). We're off to majorca in a few weeks and i'm starting to dread it. How will we cope around the pool or on the beach or in the evenings when out for meal etc? I've tried giving her things to keep her occupied but she just ends up throwing them on the floor in a temper. If anyone's had a similar toddler and has any advice I would be very grateful

My eldest started doing that at the around the same time and hated having his nappy changed, going in his car seat, in the pushchair. There isnt really an answer except try to keep calm and distract them. I would give him something to hold like the nappy cream or my keys which usually worked. They do grow out of it though.
Its hard work though!!

thanks powder 28, can anyone else give me any more tips or advice please???

Snap!!

We just laugh and get on with it. And we try to keep in mind (and through gritted teeth)that it's best to ignore, ignore and ignore (oh and keep calm!)

And hopefully ds will grow out of it in time.

Our 18 month old DD is quite similar. Very easily bored, and when she is, all hell breaks loose.

The only solution I have found so far is to tire her out before I need to put her in her pram to run errands, shop for groceries, etc. If we are in the house, I get her dancing, climbing up and down the stairs, picking up things from the floor repeatedly, etc. If we are outside, I set her loose on the playground. THEN I put her in the pram and do what I need to do. It works :-) She just sits in her pram like a little doll after all that exhaustion...

I'm reviving this thread rather than start a similar new one. (Hi Pearshape)

Our 17m ds is a great kid but willful doesn't even come close. Mainly with me (and dh), for example: dropped him off at Mil's this morning so I can come home and do some work ( - in a minute of course) and before I left he was having a right full-on paddywhack until I finally gave in and stuck a boob in his direction which served to pacify. But after 5 mins I decided he wasn't really interested in milk and I really needed to be leaving so handed him over to Grandma. He was wailing like a banshee (all noise, few tears) so I just left knowing that 2 mins later he would be fine. Before I'd driven home (5 mins) I'd received the MMS from Mil showing him playing angelically with Tess (his toy dog).

All the reading I've done about child rearing and I'm still confused about how I'm supposed to react! Ignore? Respond? Believe me, distraction was NOT cutting it today, Mil agreed and that normally works for her, but I guess not when I'm around.

Fed up with knowing there's a little time bomb ticking away when I go anywhere. Mil traipses him all over the place with few problems and we're moving 200+ miles away soon so I really need to know how to manage this...

Any progress for you, pearshape? Don't mean to take over your thread, thought it would be better than starting a new one.

Turns out I'm not reviving this thread at all

Come on MNers, before you tuck into your first glass of alcho-relief and turn to the chat threads, give a novice some advice...!

Bugger it then, I'll get my own glass of alcho-phew and retire. You obviously all have little darlings. Grrr.

No, no come back we don't!
My DS1 was just like this - I wouldn't even go on holiday with him at this age.
Have you considered Cranial Osteopathy?

pearshape, where are you going in Majorca? If it's one of those all-inclusive places, or somewhere where there are loads of people around, you'll probably find that your dd2 has the time of her life. She obviously doesn't like being constrained (few of us do), so try to let her run free as much as possible. The sea air, all the excitement, etc, will wear her out. It is a problem with toddlers. Mine is 2.5 now, but all my beers went flat on a recent holiday just running after him all the time. It's important to know that your situation is not at all unusual. You're not raising a problem child, just a high-spirited one who could one day change the world! Reality check about the holiday, though. You won't be able to close your eyes and sunbathe, and going out for a meal will, perhaps be difficult. Do it in the evenings when she's worn out with all the fresh air. Lunch times are a nightmare!

LOL, thanks chocface x

Well, today we went out to a lovely, busy local park (weather! love it) with a friend and he was positively angelic. It really is mostly when it's me & him that things get tricky. It all makes me wonder what I need to do to keep things a bit calmer generally. I am a bit of a worrier/stresser and some people reckon that kids pick up on this - could that be it?

I expect he's normal... but a little impatient while he learns what's what in the world. It's me who needs more skills! I just feel worn down sometimes. I want to provide him with all the activity and stimuli he needs, but he's so BUSY that's A LOT of activity! Phew.

Hope you are faring better pearshape!