Hellobee Boards

I am the last one to offer advice- my 2.5 yo has been having epic tantrums. They were out of control when she had ear infections- so just pointing that out to make sure she's not sick? I've been trying to read some Janet Lansbury posts and bought her book but honestly, have a hard time even reading it on bad tantrum days. If there are specific triggers you can try something for it, like for us, coming upstairs and in the condo was a battle every time. I made a sticker chart where she gets a sticker for nicely climbing the stairs, taking off shoes and coat, and washing hands. It helps at least 50% of the time so that's something.

But a lot of them are just out of the blue or unavoidable (like I give her plenty of warning that we have to leave the park, but she still freaks out and I have to wrestle her into the stroller, with the baby in the carrier on my front). It sucks. It gives me hope that your older one never had tantrums- my younger is way more laid back already than my older one, maybe she also won't have so many tantrums when she's older.

Like others have mentioned, I tried to give her words to describe her feelings ("you're feeling frustrated because...."), and I also try to hold her close, and if I can, I get her to put her head on my shoulder, and I sing this silly song that I made up that helps calm her down (to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb, "Mama loves her Rosalie..." and then each verse is someone different, like daddy, our dogs, grandparents, daycare teachers, etc). That usually distracts her until she says she "feels better" and is "ready to play" again. It definitely does not always work though! One time recently nothing was helping, so I just said "do you just want to cry a little?" And she said "yes" so I just held her for a few minutes and that seemed to work, she just wanted to get her feelings out

Today she was throwing a tantrum on a public bus bc she'd thrown her paci on the ground (she wanted a different one, which I didn't have) and couldn't have it. She didn't want to hear the song at all, but stopped tantruming when we got off the bus--I think the fresh air distracted her. And then she was super happy when we got to daycare. So many BIG feelings at 2!

@lamariniere: ooh that's lucky--public tantrums are the worst! I gave up using the stroller to commute to daycare because she was tantruming the entire 20 minute walk, and we were getting a LOT of stares on the street. She wanted me to hold her, and I physically couldn't push the stroller with all our bags and carry her at the same time--I don't have that many arms, lol!

@Cherrybee: This is what we do, and it really really works. I also say "would you like a hug?" and he always says yes and immediately calms down. It helps me to be more calm too.

one thing that worked for us, was immediately walking out of the room when LO would start a tantrum and make sure she realizes she is being ignored. its an attention seeking thing and they quickly stop when they realize no one is paying attention

@lamariniere: How has it been going? Still lots of tantrums or have you found a strategy?

@lamariniere: Yay for progress! Glad things are getting better.