16 month old schreeching tantrums

[Schreechingtantrums]

16 month old DS has hideous schreeching tantrums. Literally schreeching/screaming until his voice his hoarse.
They’ve just started in the last month, we never really had anything like this before now. There awful and can last ages. Twice tonight he’s nearly been asleep and woken up and really wanted my phone (I’ve not given it). He’s now been screaming/schreeching for 15 minutes.
He’s been unwell this week and been at the GP. Rest of the time he’s developmentally normal, hitting milestones. Usually a busy, active week thing.

Worried these aren’t normal. Especially the nearly being asleep and waking up.

It could just be something developmental. I think the stage where they start to see themselves as separate entities and with separate desires to you but don't have the language to communicate what they want/ how they feel can be very tricky!

Some suggestions:
Start noting when he does it in case there are any patterns that might indicate he is in pain or whatever.

If he is obviously wanting something that you don't want him to have, then try and frame it positively if at all possible and give him a choice so he feels he has some autonomy. Also name and empathise with emotions
So, you might say "I am sorry you are so cross and sad. Phones are for daytime not for night time. Would you like to cuddle teddy or bunny/Would you like me to sing you a song or read you a story while you snuggle down " It might not work immediately but in time it might.

Sometimes, whatever you do, you just have to keep on being calm and consistent!

What kind of illness has he had? If he has had anything like the streaming cold and cough I've got at the moment, he might be experiencing sinus pain when he lies down. ( Voice of experience as I spent last night taking paracetamol and codeine and trying to sleep propped up!)

I am sorry you are so cross and sad. Phones are for daytime not for night time. Would you like to cuddle teddy or bunny/Would you like me to sing you a song or read you a story while you snuggle down "

I don't know any 16 month olds that could understand or cope with that amount of language.

Hide the phone if you can, give him some calpol and some extra cuddles and try and ignore the tantrums. I'm sure he'll start feeling better soon