Temper Tamtrums and "No"

I think we may have the same kid! We handle the tantrums by just walking away and have found that he won't hurt himself and doesn't like to perform without an audience. By not feeding into the tantrum, it deflates pretty quickly.

As far as the "no", I've found the same devilish grin on his face as he continues to do what I told him to stop doing. I remove his hand from whatever he shouldn't be playing in (usually the dog food storage container)with a firm, "NO" and redirect him to another activity or a toy that he can do - like a ball or puzzle.

I've found he gets into things and gives me the grin when I'm in the middle of something so it's an indicator that I need to stop what I'm doing for a minute and give him some attention. Of course with a pot boiling over on the stove, and the timer on the oven going off, this isn't always easy - but it's his way of saying, "mom, pay attention to me for a minute."

Honestly, my daughter did the same thing at that age. I talked to her pedi and asked him if he thought it was to young to start time outs. He told me no. So I did. I would put her on the step and got down to her level told her in VERY simple terms what she did wrong and told her she was in time out and I will get her when she can get up. The first 3 or 4 times she had time out I would have to keep bringing her back to the spot. I didn't keep her there for a whole minute just for her to calm down which usually took her a few seconds once she was on the time out step and knew I wasn't going to listen to it. Now she is 20 months and when she hits, says no with attitude or has a tantrum cuz she wants something her brothers have she gets put on the time out step and told what she did wrong and stays there for the 1 minute and I go tell her why she was put there, she will say sorry and give me hugs and loves and it is done and overwith and we are back to playing and having fun.

I am so glad you posted this! I just took my 12 month old to the pediatrician today, because my son has been constantly throwing tantrums over nothing. He turns it on and off like a faucet AND arches his back! She told me that if we are at a play group or the library to take him out and put him in the car- if we are at home, ignore him, don't make eye contact until he is done. She said talking to him will feed into it. I know it is so frustrating- people stare at me like I am a freak mother when my son is having a tantrum!

My 16 month old son does the SAME exact thing and has been for a while. He listens much better to no from my husband than from me. I have heard the best is just to ignore tantrum behavior, which I admit I do have trouble with some times. Usually I have to try not to laugh if it is over nothing big. I hate when he hurts himself though. I try to sit him in the living room by the couch to minimize damage to his head when he throws himself around. And then turn around and watch TV or clean up or whatever and try not to give in to what he wants (if its not dangerous of course). Good luck I hope our boys don't get worse before they get better :)