Ratty 20 month old nightmare

[LauLau15]

Hello all, i am new to this site and looking for a little reassurance i guess!
My little boy has turned into a ratty, miserable, screaming mess. he has recently been ill and still suffering alittle but the tantrums have started, i tried to wait the tantrum out but he started to throw things, hit me and would scream for ages, now i put him in his playpen until he has calmed down, but how long should i keep him in there for, somtimes he goes on for 15-30 mins, how long is long enough? sometimes i feel i am running around after him to stop him getting in a mood and that he rules this house, i am desperate for it not to be that way, i play with him, we go out lots, he naps in the day (but wakes up SCREAMING)another story, goes to sleep at night ok too just miserable in the day and moans all day long, is this normal??? he's nearly 2.

how many teeth does he have? sorry if stating the obvious here but this sounds like molars.

also, is he starting to talk? frustration levels are high at this age.

He has alot of front teeth, bottom and top but now that you mention it, his cheeks have been flushed the past 2 days. yes he's very frustrated trying to talk, looks me in the eye and tries bless him, i do get most of what he wants. i guess he's annoyed-teeth and cant talk!

I find it's when two things happen at once. Teeth or frustration, they can deal with. Both at the same time and you get that horrible whining noise

Have you tried teething powders? they work really well for DS. Also, do you do any baby signing?

It could be molars. My dd was good as gold for about 2 months then turned into a devil throwing constant temper tantrums, moaning, hitting me and screaming. She is a good talker so didnt & is mobile so didnt think it could be frustarted nor did she look like she was teething then after 2 days of this she came down with a cold and is also now teething the molars. You just have to ride it out. dd is 17 months and goes in time out for 1 min & 30 secs ( for her age ) and even if still crying after that time is up which she usually always is we still get her out and give her a hug and explain to her why she was put in the time out

also, neurofen. if you try neurofen and they calm down, you know it's likely teeth. if they don't, it's likely tantrum

Helpful parenting skills: drug, if it doesn't work, it's something else

Ok thank you all for your helpful messages i will try to work out if its teeth or tantrums, hopefully he will improve soon