https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:03:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1687231 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 09:14:41 +0000 erwoo 1687231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@beachbee: Sorry you had to go through that too. :( That was pretty much me too...screaming and kicking while I held him sideways trying to catch a cab in the rain. Glad she got over it pretty quickly though and was happy once you got home. My oldest threw tantrums before but it wasn't all the time like his little brother which is why it's been so stressful for me. And then my husband didn't travel at all so I had a break at night at least. Hope your experience with tantrums are less traumatic as mine. I do hear most girls are easier though. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1687210 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 08:46:29 +0000 erwoo 1687210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Seattlemom: Thanks for the reminder! I do remember those posts. See, this is why this board is so nice b/c there are people to remind me of posts I've forgotten about! :) Do enjoy the 12 months age. I have to say that I had more time to start discipline with my oldest earlier b/c he was the only child then. He was my only focus. It does get harder when you have two to juggle. I think that's part of the reason why he's so tough too. The other part is just personality. I sometimes feel like I should have stuck to my guns and started time out around the 18 month age rather than wait a few months later. It may have (or not, b/c I'll never know now! haha!) made a difference, I think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1687203 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 08:38:36 +0000 erwoo 1687203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: Yeah, it's really the only option when you are out in public. I've had to remove my oldest from restaurants a lot last year b/c he would cry so loud. He actually didn't like that we had to go outside to talk so he finally stopped. Whew! It could also be the youngest kid thing? But I knew when my youngest was an infant that he would be tough given that he used to throw drop-to-the-floor tantrums at least 10x a day! He got upset over every little thing. He's better now and I'm attributing the major tantrum at the bday party to him being sick last week. He's better now and actually didn't need me to feed him for lunch today and ate about 85% of his lunch all by himself. He hasn't done that in a long time. I was having nightmares of him asking me to feed him. He would call out for me all.day.long. I started to hear, "mommy" this or that even when he was sleeping! :O </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1687198 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 08:32:12 +0000 erwoo 1687198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumn865: Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1687197 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 08:32:00 +0000 erwoo 1687197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I wish it was that easy! He is THAT tough! He did it again tonight during his shower. Thankfully, I was able to get him to agree that he can play with his boat after we're done showering. Bathing both boys together is already crazy enough. I just didn't want any toys until they were both done and can play afterwards. It was almost a huge struggle again. I also have less patience these days so that doesn't help. :\ I do hope things turn around soon. He is feeling better today so that helps! And he's eating again. Yay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686657 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:25:25 +0000 beachbee 1686657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so sorry you had to go through this. no fun at all! my DD is only 19 months and we're just starting to see her tantrums. yesterday at a family member's high school graduation, DH had to carry her out kicking and screaming because she kept biting him. He told her to stop and if she didn't he would take her to the car. She did it a few more times, laughing after each one, so outside they went! Luckily it was pretty loud out there, so not everyone saw her, but poor DH was carrying her sideways as she was kicking and screaming. Once they got to the car she screamed for about 10 minutes, and then calmed down. When we got her out of the car at home she gave us both big hugs... not sure if that means she knows she did wrong, but it was very sweet. Not looking forward to more of these events! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686596 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 13:22:24 +0000 lady grey 1686596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This one too!</p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/03/16/how-to-prevent-tantrums-a-guide-to-the-5-triggers-and-2-stressors-that-cause-tantrums/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/03/16/how-to-prevent-tantrums-a-guide-to-the-5-triggers-and-2-stressors-that-cause-tantrums/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686592 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 13:18:41 +0000 lady grey 1686592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh this sounds so hard. My LO is only 12 mo so we haven't had to deal with this yet. So stressful! I know Mr. Bee already commented above, but you should also read his post:</p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/06/26/the-best-parenting-book-ive-ever-read/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/06/26/the-best-parenting-book-ive-ever-read/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686484 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 10:55:15 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1686484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So stressful!! My daughter has never been one to have big tantrums in public too (like your older DS), but I have a feeling my youngest will know how to dish it out. I have always told DD that if she cannot control herself then I will take her out to the car or curb, and she can continue on there.</p> <p>If DS ever throws an epic tantrum in public I will most definitely follow through with that, which is kind of like what you did - to just remove them completely from the situation! I think you made the right choice!</p> <p>Hugs! Tantrums are no fun and so exhausting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686445 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:53:04 +0000 autumn865 1686445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs for you we've all been there! I would have done the same thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686418 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:08:46 +0000 mrbee 1686418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erwoo: One thing that worked for us was to repeat his request back to him a few times. "You just want a yellow balloon, don't you?" That made a big difference for us, just so that he felt listened to!</p> <p>Sometimes I would also ask him, "How many yellow balloons do you want? One? Two? Three? ... Ten?" That would make him happy too, and also distract with counting. Once he was distracted, I was able to redirect him to something else.</p> <p>Tantrums can be so exhausting. Hope things turn around soon!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686399 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 08:47:57 +0000 erwoo 1686399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I remember that! I think a huge part is that he has a hard time communicating to me what he wants and when I get it wrong he gets even more upset. It's really a guessing game and I guess I just could not figure out what "yellow balloon" he was talking about today. I did come home and blow up a "blue" balloon for him and he ended up being happy. I did also offer a blue balloon at the party and he refused. *sigh* He's been a tough kid since birth, really. He knows what he wants and doesn't want and it takes a lot of convincing to get him to change his mind. It does happen, but I have to give a little for it to happen and I do it b/c I just don't want to hear him cry, again. For example, tonight, he wanted to read a book when I said it's bath time. He has been doing this all week and fighting me to go brush his teeth and shower. If I don't do it he'll just tantrum. So I did it but told him that we will go brush his teeth afterwards. He agreed and followed through tonight, but most times he'll find another excuse to not shower. I start to feel anxious when he starts to do that and I'm sure he senses it and it doesn't help. I hope and probably know it's just a phase, but it's a tough one! I don't remember my oldest being this tough at this age. Maybe around 4, but at least then he is able to communicate with me about his needs. It was other issues that i had to deal with with him but, again, it could be attributed to moving overseas. Thanks for listening or reading, btw! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686375 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 08:24:27 +0000 mrbee 1686375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erwoo: Our son used to tantrum a fair amount, until I changed tacks and started making a big show out of really listening to him. It really helped! Turned out that he just wanted me to listen to him... was a game changer!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686370 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 08:19:11 +0000 erwoo 1686370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Thanks! In the end it was the right thing to do. He was just not having it at the party anymore. He had a better evening and is now finally asleep. Whew! What a day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686307 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 06:21:34 +0000 mrbee 1686307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erwoo: I think you did the right thing! I would immediately leave where we were, and go home.</p> <p>So sorry for the stressful and awful experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-your-childs-public-tantrums#post-1686271 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 02:09:42 +0000 erwoo 1686271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got back from a 3-year-old pink swan birthday party at a restaurant that does pink swan birthday parties. Sounds fun, right? Well, not for my youngest (26 months). He didn't want to go in when we got there. I don't blame him. Everything was pink and there were tutus and crowns all over the place. Then finally when I was able to get him in he didn't want to eat lunch until I offered soup. He loves soup. Then we sat in the same spot while he ate soup with fried rice and watermelon for a very long time while all the other little girls (and two boys) played and did crafts. It looked like so much fun but my son just didn't want anything to do with it. I felt so anti-social and just stressed out in general. He was happy watching some Thomas the Train videos for a little bit. Finally, I was able to get him to leave his seat and wander around and then he got himself fixed on having a "yellow balloon." I gave him a "yellow balloon" and he didn't want it and kept yelling for a "yellow balloon!" Finally, I decided to leave. Oh, that's when the epic tantrum of his life happened. We had to leave. He screamed and struggled with me while I carried him out and he continued to scream "yellow balloon!" I had no idea where to go to catch a cab and then it started to rain. I brought an umbrella but, well, it's was nearly impossible to even get to my purse with him struggling in my arms. Finally, I got some shelter from the rain and hailed a taxi down. That poor taxi driver had no idea what was coming when he picked us up. I'm sure he saw that I had a kid kicking and screaming sideways in my arms. We got in and for the next 15 minutes (which seemed like FOREVER!) he kicked and screamed and cried. I started to cry with him. I was done. It's been a rough week with him being sick and then I noticed he was cutting a second molar yesterday and this is on top of my husband being gone for the last two weeks and won't be back until late tomorrow night. Then he has to go to work on Monday, of course. </p> <p>I know he's definitely going through the terrible twos. I didn't believe there was a terrible twos b/c my oldest didn't hit his until he turned three. Actually, I know a lot of kids who didn't hit their terrible year(s) until they were three. </p> <p>So back to my question, how do you handle your child when he/she goes through a tantrum in public? When I moved here I noticed that parents shush their kids and do anything they want to get their kids to keep quiet in public when they throw tantrums. I hang out with a lot of ex-pat moms and their kids and we try but we also just let them have at it to get over it or use distraction. That's how I am used to handling public tantrums. With my oldest, I will take him outside and he will stop; but with my youngest, he is impossible to soothe in public. He will drop to the floor like a noodle and just kick and scream. He's done this a few times in public, but today's was possibly the worst, ever. I was at a loss as to what to do. I tried everything. He will want something but once I give it to him he'll say he doesn't want it. I sort of thought that since I already went through the terrible years with my oldest that I would know how to handle my second. Boy was I so wrong! They are so different! I'm beyond exhausted mentally that I can't think about what I can do to help him tantrum in public. At home, I will just let him do his thing while I sit next to him. In public...it's nearly impossible these days... </p>