How To Handle Toddler Tantrums? But first, you need to know that Tantrums for toddlers is OK. It’s how they express their frustrations over something, specially for toddlers who have a hard time speaking. Sometimes we think it is our fault or that they are doing it to stress us out. I must tell you that they don’t. They are not showing tantrums to intentionally hurt us. It’s a natural reaction for their age.
How to handle a tantrums? here’s a video of our baby showing tantrums and how I handled it:
How To Handle Toddler Tantrums
How To Handle Toddler Tantrums: 5 Simple Ways:
1. Keep a cool head. That’s number 1 rule. Do not over think and over analyze the situation. You have to know that your toddler does not know how tired you are to listen to you right away. Learn to keep cool and listen to what he or she is trying to say.
2. Give him a choice or distract him
Here is an example about giving them a choice: a toddler who does not want to take a bath, ask them if they want to play after taking a bath or before taking a bath. In that case, they would that you are not forcing them but is giving them a choice.
Do not ask why he is crying. At the height of their emotions, sometimes they even forgot the very reason whey it all started. Instead of asking them why they are crying or asking them to stop crying, distract them. Ask them a few questions that interests them.
3. Do not punish and this is most important during the time the toddler is showing tantrums. As mentioned, a toddler tantrums is very natural and it is something that cannot be controlled by the toddler itself. Do not punish the child for something that he cannot control.
How to prevent toddler tantrums?
Is there really a way to prevent a tantrums before it even happen? There are some ways if you would just open your eyes and try to understand your toddler’s needs. Ask yourself too what makes you unhappy sometimes? Some of the basics that may lead to frustration are hunger and tiredness.
Kids are very prone to throwing tantrums when they are hungry or tired and when both are present, you would expect a cry marathon. Work on a schedule to balance their 3 basic needs, food, rest, and sleep.
Toddler Tantrums: When To Worry
Toddler tantrums but is there a time to worry? Actually, there are cases that a tantrum is no longer normal and needs professional intervention. Here are some signs on when to worry:
- Self injury. There are times that the child would attempt themselves but if this is happening more often when they show tantrums, you might want to brought this up with your pedia.
- Hurting the mom or the caregiver. Although it happens sometimes, specially when they want something that you won’t give, it is a red flag if it is happening 90% of the time.
- Very often and long tantrums. Tantrums usually last for 5-10 minutes but if it lasts 30 minutes and up and is always the case, that’s a red flag too. A child may cry out for an hour but the next tantrums usually last for just 5 minutes. If your child usual tantrums lasts for more than 30 minutes most of the times, discuss it with your pedia so they can refer you to a child psychologist.
More red flags can be are posted at WebMD.
