Tantrums at less than two

[Scootergrrrl]

DS, who's 20 months, has started having the most ENORMOUS tantrums if he doesn't get his own way - so much so that our neighbour came round this morning to see if everything was ok (I'd told him he couldn't have a chocolate biscuit for breakfast )
Amid much screaming, wailing and gnashing of teeth, I ignored and ignored until the storm passed after about half an hour.
So the questions are: how long will this go on for, is ignoring him the right thing to do (I tried comforting him but he threw himself back on the floor and continued screaming) and how can I make it less unpleasant to witness, both for me and 4-year-old DD?
Oh, and is 8am too early for gin?

I think pretty much distraction is the only thing really.

If its an awful one you could enlist dd's help. Do something bizarre and surprising like running around the room beeping to each other or pretenfing to be frogs, or try simultaneously chucking yourselves on the floor and joining in! Might shock them out of tantrum into giggles. Works occasionally

Agree with Slur

Distract/ignore/walk away

(I am not going to tell you that they can carry on to age 5 and beyond)

Yep, ignoring them is what works for me when my 18 month DD gets really bad and resorts to headbanging the floor or even trying to swipe my face.

This is usually because I tell her to 'hold on a minute' whilst I get something done or the big 'NO'.

I tend to distract her with her fave toy or something if I feel it isn't a full blown tantrum. I can totally sympathise with you..little darlings they sure aren't when they don't get their way!