18 month old concerns! Please help

[Coleyne26]

Hi folks

Currently we have a 18 month old who up to now we feel is developing okay her age.
Shes walking, she responds to her name, shes maybe 4-5 words . She understands what you ask her to do etc.

However lately shes becoming extremely difficult to manage her meltdowns specifically when shes not getting her way.
Like for example currently we are on holiday in tenerife and shes wanting to walk which is fine albeit very slow etc. When you pick her up or try put her in the buggy its like THE biggest meltdown youve ever seen and then she really struggles to come back down from this meltdown and only clings to Mum which is hard!

Does this behaviour seem normal??

Thanks

That seems very normal to me! Have you heard of the terrible twos? They have major tantrums - sounds like she's hit them a little early, but otherwise very normal. It's a developmental stage where they realise they can assert their will but have no reasonable concept of their surroundings etc

Thank you yeah ive of them haha. But it feels like its constant lately and as soon as you stop her from doing something she likes and enjoys its the end of the world to her and we can't bring her meltdowns back down. It can go on for well over 30mins 🤦‍♂️ is that normal???

I'd still say normal. They're not really old enough to rationalise things at that age, so I think the best method I found to stop the meltdowns is distraction.

Ie my toddler was screaming and hiding behind a sofa when we were out - she wouldn't stop screaming about not wanting to go somewhere, so I calmly asked her if she'd ever seen a river as her baby sister hadn't - so could she have a lookout and spot them so she can teach her baby sibling. She suddenly got excited about teaching the baby something and leapt up.

Or you can even shout something like "omg wow a doggy! Can you see the doggy? Wow" and then generally stop. But I found toddlers can't really be reasoned with when they tantrum, only distracted.

Agree that distraction is usually the way to go. And being a bit disregulated on holiday is totally normal for small kids. If she’s still tantruming for over 15 mins wheb you get home then it might be worth filling in the Social & Emotional Ages & Stages and seeing how she scores