18 month old tantrums

[Wigowoman]

I didn’t think we’d reach this stage yet!! My 18 month old tantrums are constant at the moment. Could someone please advise what I can do in this situation? This is an example of this morning
Asked him to go upstairs to get dressed with me, DS follows happily. Both brush teeth in bathroom - he gives me the toothbrush back then starts screaming he wants the toothpaste, I say no sorry and walk away. Cue screaming/hitting/throwing self on floor.
He goes into his room and plays with toys and I get dressed hair etc. Then starts screaming that he wants to go downstairs, normally I would just hurry and get ready but i needed to strip the beds etc so I take my time. He screams/hits/throws himself on the floor constantly until going downstairs.

When he tantrums I always calmly explain what we’re doing/why I’m saying no etc.

Am I missing something/ doing something wrong?
Had a big cry out of sight this morning because I don’t think I’m doing something quite right.

Please help ☹️

Hopeful bump

He’s only 18 months. I think your approach is too sophisticated and isn’t age appropriate. It’s a good idea to get into the swing of explaining why you are saying no for the future, but until they are more verbal themselves and understand reasoning better, distraction and redirection are probably better options.

If the lid was firmly on, is there any reason he couldn’t have had the toothpaste? If there was a reason, I’d go for distraction +++ as opposed to walking away and expecting him to understand. ‘Sorry sweetheart you can’t have the toothpaste right now but LOOK at all these amazing bath toys, can you help me put them away?’ for example.

Stripping the bedding would 100% be something I do during nap time. Jobs done with DC awake are easy things I can stop and start as required and that they can ‘help’ with. E.g. loading or unloading the washing machine or sweeping the floor.

It’s an exhausting age - a constant dance of distracting them from one thing to another to prevent the meltdowns.