BF and toddler tantrums

[sweetnitanitro]

Afternoon all

DD is 17 months old now and is starting to assert herself rather a lot She's my first child and although I knew it was inevitable I'm not really sure what the best way to deal with her tantrums is. I am still feeding on demand and she feeds a lot for comfort and it's a good way to calm her down if she hurts herself.

Today though, she threw a huge wobbly because I wouldn't let her go and play in the garden (it was chucking it down) and within seconds she was red-faced and covered in snot. I decided to ignore it and she calmed down after a couple of minutes- is this the best way to deal with it? I felt really bad because she was so angry and upset but I'm worried about sticking her on the boob if she's upset just because I won't let her get her own way.

More background stuff- she still doesn't eat much solid food and I'm not planning on weaning her off BF any time soon.

Any words of wisdom? TIA

I think you did exactly the right thing ignoring the tantrum. Ignore the bad and praise the good, as the old addage goes. If you think she may hurt herself when she's kicking off just qietly lift her and put her somewhere safer. As you say its all about asserting control of her environment/life. She's going to learn that your in charge and not her and she'll be much happier for knowing that!
By the way as your continuing the bf for the forseeable future are you a member of a bf support group? I have found the La Leche League to be brilliant. Lots of mums feeding toddlers and also tandom feeding with two children of different ages. Would be worth checking out there web site and finding a local group to you.

Thanks bumbums This toddler tantruming is going to take some getting used to

There aren't any support groups close to me, I live in the sticks, but there are a couple within a half hour drive. I haven't had any major problems with BF luckily and I'm very stubborn (must be where DD gets it from!) about feeding her in public and continuing until DD and I are ready to stop. It would be nice to meet others IRL that are feeding toddlers though. I might pester my local sure start centre to start a BF group.