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Charlie has started doing this. So now in the evenings, I take him out of the house and tire him out with loads of walking. We go on "pumpkin hunts", where we walk by houses and shout "pumpkin!!!" if we see one. He immediately forgets what he was just fixated on.

If he throws a fit, I try distraction first and then if that doesn't work, I take him outside immediately if I can. It's helped a ton, and cut down on tantrums overall.

Good luck with your cute little demon!!

My DD is only 7 months so we have a little bit of time before we reach that dreaded stage. There has to be a better method
Than just letting them cry it out. I'm starting to realize
That CIO just doesn't work for some babies, like my nephew. If we let him CIO, he will just continue to cry and cry and it only
Gets worse.

I like mr.bees method I guess we just have to continuously get creative.

My daughter will be two next week and I use the Mr. Bee method. Not necessarily going outside, but distracting with something TOTALLY different. For example, my daughter is obsessed with fruit roll-ups right now, and I'm fine with letting her have one, but then she always wants another and throws a fit. There's no use in mild distractions (like offering her another snack instead) I have to take her to do something completely different, like play outside, go to the playroom, give her a bath, or watch a favorite movie. It's that complete change of environment and interaction that calms her. And if you think about it, adults do the same thing- when we're stressed or upset, we get out of the situation and calm down somewhere else.

Did you notice that it got worse when he got an ear infection? I've noticed that the amount of whining/crying/tantrums immediately increases if DD is not feeling well or teething. We've had days and even weeks where she acts like this and I think, "Where did my sweet baby go?" before she finally gets over whatever it is that is bothering her and starts acting normal again.

When DD has these times, we use a few different methods. First, we try to identify her emotion and explain the situation (e.g. "It seems that you are angry at mommy because she took you off the couch. We only sit on the couch.")

Then, we'll ask if she needs a hug or wants to cuddle with one of her stuffed animals. Remember that tantrums are hard on kids, too, because they literally cannot control of their emotions. Furstration, anger, sadness, etc... can be overwhelming for them and they need your guidance to teach them how to deal with these emotions. Sometimes, DD just needs a hug (from us or her big bear) and that's all it takes to calm her down.

If she's still crying after this, we'll use distraction and completely leave the area. I'll say something like "DD, I'm going to go into the kitchen and give the dogs a treat. When you're calmed down, you can come help me!" And then I walk away. When she stops crying and calms down, I'll follow up by reminding her about whatever started the tantrum (e.g. we can only sit on the couches) and a big hug and then we do whatever activity I previsouly mentioned.

I've also noticed that if DD is starting to get whiney, I need to switch her activity to something more interesting. If she's bored, she'll get into these whiny/tantrum-throwing cycles where it seems like she's a disaster until bedtime. If I notice she's starting to throw tantrums about everything, we go do something completely different (outside is really popular, or moving to the window to watch the birds, if it's too cold outside). That usually helps bring her out of it, for a while, anyway.

Last thing, if you notice he's throwing tantrums specifically about certain activities/items (e.g. bedtime or eating dinner), try to make a routine out of it. Something like: Dinner - First we set the table (he helps). Then, we wash our hands. Then we sit in our chairs around the table and say a prayer. Next, we eat our food. When everybody is done, we say "all done" and we get out of our chairs. Finally, we take all the dirty dishes off the table and put them on the counter (he helps).

Every night you use the exact same routine, and for the first few nights, keep explaining the steps and the order throughout dinner. After a few nights, you can ask him what comes next ("Ok, we set the table. Now what do we do?"). It will be tough at first, and then should get easier and easier, as he learns what to expect and becomes an active participant in the activity. We've done this with DD for bedtime (using the same bedtime routine since she was a newborn) and now she'll actually tell us when she's ready for bed. She knows the routine because it's the exact same every night, and she can actually tell us (or show us) what comes next. She's taken ownership in it, so she doesn't feel like we're pushing her do something when she doesn't want to.

ETA: Geez, I didn't mean to write a book!

I take Charlie lots of places, but my rule now is to always be somewhere where I could potentially leave within 10 seconds. So if something happens, I can just grab Cha Cha and flee the building and totally change his environment. That means he doesn't have any power over me.

I swear, before he would somehow sense when I was weak and pounce by throwing a tantrum!

I dunno if tantrums are personality based... Charlie throws the exact same tantrums! Since I stopped taking him to the grocery store though, it's gone down by so much that it's crazy (in a good way). Also if he throws them at home, I do that trick from above where I just grab him and go outside. So far, so good... although I'm sure he's planning a counterattack soon!

@dorytina - what time do you eat dinner and put him to bed? Do you think maybe dinner time could be too late?

I'll say from my experience its a phase. I have 3 kids- 4, 2 & 1
all are quite small in size 3%-5%, but my husband and I are not big people so I dont have much expectations as long as I know they are eating and healthy.
My oldest would throw tantrums during dinner because he didn't want to eat or didnt like what he was offered and before bed and most of the time he would throw up from them. But I realized before he threw up he made a face as if he was making himself throw up, he knew that we would feel bad for him and baby him afterwards. So i tried someones advice, its kinda harsh, give him a bucket and tell him if you need to throw up throw up in here, and if you throw up on the floor you gotta clean it up. Our Daycare actually says that to them too. He never threw up again.

My 2 yr old went through the same thing and is still going through it, but shes a lot better now. Its a power struggle at two , its about what they want and what they can get. Their teachers at day care tell me that they always participate and have good days and are happy kids but I never see that when I get home from work. Are you a SAHM?

My kids are better when we're on vacation or i'm home with them, there are a lot of factors to the tantrums.

A lot of times when they start to cry or throw a tantrum at home I tell them to take a time out for themselves, it will be better than if mommy gets mad or upset and puts you in a time out. So then they usually walk away and whimper a lil and come back fine.

every child is different, dont give up. At 2 its very hard for them to express themselves

@dorytina - let us know if the book helps. I have read The Happiest Baby on the Block and that did help a little in the newborn days. My daughter has also been going a bit nuts lately and I need some survival tips, too!!

Btw, I have followed your blog but have been what they call a lurker, I guess? Lol. Glad to be "chatting" with you here. RJ is such a cutie...hard to imagine the demon side coming out but it's the same with my LO.