How do you deal with tantrums which result in LO hurting themselves?

[tryingtobemarrypoppins2]

For example, DS 2 years 3 months climbed onto window sill to watch daddy out the window today, wouldn't get down after 2 warnings so I physically took him down, kicking and screaming, he arched his back and ended up hitting his head I felt terrible etc.....this happens every day it seems! Yesterday I had to pin him down to brush teeth.

How do you deal with this if/when it happens?

Perhaps next time try distraction rather than making him get down? (wish I could practice what I preach, I'm always telling ds off and dealing with the probably avoidable meltdown afterward!) like get on the floor with a toy and start driving it around or something, my little boy can't resist that kind of thing and would have forgotten about daddy instantly.

Obviously there are many times when a tantrum is unavoidable though. If you think he's going to hurt himself on something, perhaps put him somewhere soft like the sofa and sit down too so he can't roll off? Ignore as much as possible too, without an audience there's not much point in 90% of tantrums!

Hiya, Ah! Back-arching! I sympathise! I've got had 2 of mine do this. The only option I could see was to use a bean bag.

Sometimes you need to say no, thats all there is to it! I refuse to be held hostage by a tantrumming toddler, my toddlers Knew that I couldn't control him when he back arched and thats why they did it! Once I started using a bean bag to lay them on they couldn't hurt themselves and I stopped stressing so much. After a short while it wasn't working for them and they did it less, hope this helps.

Bean bag is a great idea! Would have to sadly come everywhere at the moment though!

marypoppins, I know what you mean! I resorted to holding them in public to prevent them hurting themselves, being able to bean bag them at home so that they could get their anger under control by themeselves meant that in a fairly short amount of time, I could use distraction techniques / gentle firmness, when we were out and stay in control of the situation. It won't last forever, take care

Thank-you KickArseQueen great advice xx
MadamDeathstare LOL send the hat around