Why toddlers have tantrums

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If your child has baby tantrums, it can be pretty frustrating for you as a parent. However, as a parent, you should not treat this behavior as a disaster, but you should teach them how to cope with various frustrations and anger issues they encounter in their day to day life.

Baby tantrums range from various behavior changes such as whining, kicking, hitting, screaming, and breath-holding. They are pretty common for children between the ages of 1 to 4 years. The frequency of these behavior manifestations is dependent on very many factors.

Remember that they are a normal part of the development and often happen when your kid is frustrated or upset. They may also occur when your kid is hungry, tired, or uncomfortable.

Why do Tantrums Occur?

Tantrums occur because your kid is experiencing various meltdowns. After all, they are not satisfied with their current situation. For instance, if your toddler can not get a toy or you refuse to grant something to them, they will get quite aggressive. It is essential to teach your kid how to deal with such frustrations.

Most tantrums occur during year two of life when the child is beginning to develop various language skills. Most kids at the age of two cannot effectively communicate what they want, need, or feel; thus, they may display aggressive behavior such as hitting their head, screaming, or holding their breath.

How can you Avoid Temper Tantrums?

There is no specific method to avoid temper tantrums as it can be pretty challenging to fulfill your toddler’s desires. However, there are some methods you can incorporate to encourage positive behavior and discourage an aggressive reaction.

Some of the practices you can adopt to prevent your child from manifesting baby tantrums primarily include:

Create a Consistent Routine

Ensure you have a consistent routine so that your child can know what to expect daily. Your child will display aggressive behavior because there is a change of routine or they are frustrated in their current environment. Try to stick to a specific way as much as possible. For example, schedule an exact time when your child should be in bed, take their meals, or play with their toys.

It is also imperative to ensure that your toddler is getting enough sleep and food. Remember, if your toddler is poorly fed or is periodically tired, they will manifest an aggressive behavior.

Avoid Various Tantrum Triggers

Your kid might develop a tantrum because they don’t adapt well to new environments. Others will manifest aggressive behavior if they can’t get what they want, such as a new toy. Remember that your kid exhibits baby tantrums because they are frustrated or they want to test their limits.

The first method to prevent temper tantrums is to ensure that you evade any possible triggers. For instance, you can avoid buying your kid an advanced toy that they cannot effectively operate. Also, if your kid often portrays such behavior in the supermarket when they spot a toy, you can avoid visiting the toy section.

Communicate with your Kid

Communication is very integral to encourage positive behavior from your toddler. For instance, you can communicate with your toddler and inform them of their daily routine. Most toddlers can understand what you are speaking to them, and they will be psychologically ready for their daily routine.

Ensure your Kid is occupied

If you want to run errands during the day, ensure that your kid is occupied. You can carry a toy or a meal to keep them entertained, especially in public places. If your kid is engaged, they will rarely portray any negative behavior.

Give your Kid Little Control

Ensure you are not a controlling parent; it is essential to ensure that your kids have a bit of control. You can allow them to select some things such as a toy or book. If your kid feels as if they have some form of control, they will rarely display some of the common aggressive behaviors such as whining, screaming, or holding their breath.

Distract the Toddler

It is important to distract your child if you note that they are frustrated. Please start a new activity when you note that they are frustrated with the current activity. Also, you can change the environment to keep them off from the frustrating environment.

What should you do During a Tantrum?

When your kid is already in a tantrum, it is essential to keep your cool and portray positive behavior. Ensure you don’t express anger or frustration, as it will make the tantrum worse. Your primary goal is to help your toddler to calm down.

The baby tantrums need to be handled depending on the situation of your kid. In some circumstances, you will be required to provide adequate comfort. If you note that your child is tired or hungry, give them a snack and allow them to rest. On the other hand, if a tantrum occurs because your child cannot have a specific object, distract them by removing them from the particular environment or giving them something else.

Kids that can harm others or themselves should be taken to another quiet and calm environment. Ensure that you don’t reward your child’s negative behavior, as it will prove that the aggressive behavior was effective.

Some of the tips you should incorporate during temper tantrums include:

· Stay calm- remember that if you get angry or shout at your child, it will worsen the situation. Ensure you talk to your child with a calm voice. Act deliberately and in a slow manner.

· Acknowledge their strong feelings- it is essential not to ignore their strong feelings. Address them in a calm yet compassionate manner and give your kid time to reset their negative emotions.

· Take charge when needed- in most instances, your kid will manifest this angry behavior because they want something that you can’t give them. It is essential to use your judgment in such cases, don’t give them everything they ask for as you will encourage negative behavior.

· Be consistent in your approach-ensure you are pretty compatible with your stand.

· Ignore the baby tantrums- you can pretend as if nothing is happening. However, some violent behaviors should not be ignored, such as hitting or knocking others. It would be best if you verbally discouraged such rogue behavior.

What should you do After a Tantrum?

After the tantrum, ensure you praise your child for being able to regain adequate control. Remember that your child can be pretty vulnerable after the aggressive behavior. When you note that your kid is calm and settled, reassure them with good words and hug them.

It is imperative to ensure that your kid gets enough sleep as tired kids can be pretty irritable and disagreeable. Remember that ensuring your kid is well fed and is sleeping enough will significantly reduce the incidences of temper tantrums.

When Should You Worry about the Toddlers Tantrums?

Baby tantrums are a part of child development, and in most instances, they are pretty normal. They often manifest at the age of two to four years when your child is still learning to be independent. These anger outbursts periods will tend to decrease when your child starts school. Above the age of four years, your kid can communicate verbally and express their frustrations.

Most baby tantrums last for an average of two to 15 minutes. But for the violent tantrums can last for more than 15 minutes. Anger outbursts that last for a prolonged period can be an indication of an underlying medical condition. If you note that your child has violent outbursts that last for an extended period, it is essential to consult your doctor.

Kids who have temper tantrums after the age of four years will need adequate learning to find ways to cope with their negative emotions. If tantrums start or continue even at the school-age, it could indicate an underlying learning problem or health problem.

In the following circumstances, it is essential to consult your doctor:

· Your child is manifesting violent outbursts even after the age of four years

· The baby tantrums are out of hand, and you can’t correctly control them

· Your child destroys things or is quite violent during the episodes and destroys property

· During the attack, your child holds their breath and faints during the process

· Your kid complains of a headache or is quite anxious during the outburst

Key Takeaway

Baby tantrums are a standard part of a child’s development. It is paramount to find ways of helping your child deal with such frustrations. For instance, you can ensure that your kid has a routine, is well fed, is sleeping enough, or is in a friendly environment.

Since most tantrums are pretty inevitable, it is essential to find an effective method of dealing with them. For instance, you can ensure you are calm or respond positively during the outbursts. If you note that the outburst lasts for a prolonged period or they are associated with very violent behavior, it is essential to consult a doctor.