Temper Tantrum Baby

[sharlan]

My 11 mo can be the sweetest thing alive. She can also throw humungous fits. This AM I tried to feed her breakfast and she kept hitting my arm, sending the food flying. I tried to give her a bottle, sent the bottle flying. I tried to change her diaper, but couldn't even get the diaper untaped. Nothing would stop the screaming. It wasn't a hurt or need scream, but a mad, angry scream

I gave up and put her to bed. She screamed for 5 solid minutes, my limit, before she went to sleep. She's been out for an hour now.

How would you handle this?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

It sounds like something is wrong internally and she is trying to tell you in the only way she knows how to. Could she be experiencing reflux or something?

[cheerfuldom]

Is she on a good sleep routine? If she is exhausted and over stimulated, she isnt going to be cooperative about anything.

[sharlan]

Nothing is wrong.

She was happy as a clam until I placed her in the high chair for breakfast. She did not want to sit in the high chair. When she gets mad, she throws a huge fit.

She's on a good schedule here. Eats breakfast at 8:30, nap from 10 - 12:00 or 12:30, lunch, bottle at 2:30, and nap at 3 or 3:30 until 4:30 or 5.

[cheerfuldom]

If there is nothing wrong as far as illness or lack of sleep, then you just have a really stubborn child that is starting the "terrible twos" early. Some kids start up the testing and screaming very early on.

If she is acting crazy in the high chair, the meal is over. She wont starve waiting till the next one and I certainly dont let any of the kids, no matter how young, hit or throw food. Same with bottles. just calmly put it away and try later. For diaper changes, I just wait for them to calm down at the changing table. Show no reaction and lay her down over and over and tell her to "lay down" in a calm voice till she gets it. It could take 15 minutes or more for one change but eventually she will learn that diaper changes are not optional.

If it is not nap time, i wouldnt put her in her bed if she is freaking out because you will get off schedule and she may associate the bed with punishment/separation. i would have another safe place to put her in and just let her go at it until she calms and is ready to continue the day. just stay calm and patient and wait this stage out. it could be a few weeks or even a few months.

[grandmom]

The moment she hits you or the spoon, take off her bib, wash her hands and put her on the floor. Put the food out of sight.

After she's calmed down, ask if she wants to eat as you put her back in the high chair.

After the 3rd time at the same meal, the meal is done. She can eat at the next meal.

As for the diaper, be strong, if it needs to be changed, change it.

She's just testing your limits to see what you are going to do. Now is the time to establish who the adult in the room is.

Good luck.

[Lyss]

My 11 mo can be the sweetest thing alive. She can also throw humungous fits. This AM I tried to feed her breakfast and she kept hitting my arm, sending the food flying. I tried to give her a bottle, sent the bottle flying. I tried to change her diaper, but couldn't even get the diaper untaped. Nothing would stop the screaming. It wasn't a hurt or need scream, but a mad, angry scream

I gave up and put her to bed. She screamed for 5 solid minutes, my limit, before she went to sleep. She's been out for an hour now.

How would you handle this?

So I think we have the same child! :: My DD (10 1/2 months) has started to to this very same thing. She also started these screaming fits, (its more of a high pitched screech) when she wants something and isn't getting it

If she is acting crazy in the high chair, the meal is over. She wont starve waiting till the next one and I certainly dont let any of the kids, no matter how young, hit or throw food. Same with bottles. just calmly put it away and try later.

For diaper changes, I just wait for them to calm down at the changing table. Show no reaction and lay her down over and over and tell her to "lay down" in a calm voice till she gets it. It could take 15 minutes or more for one change but eventually she will learn that diaper changes are not optional.

If it is not nap time, i wouldn't put her in her bed if she is freaking out because you will get off schedule and she may associate the bed with punishment/separation. i would have another safe place to put her in and just let her go at it until she calms and is ready to continue the day. just stay calm and patient and wait this stage out. it could be a few weeks or even a few months.

The moment she hits you or the spoon, take off her bib, wash her hands and put her on the floor. Put the food out of sight.

After she's calmed down, ask if she wants to eat as you put her back in the high chair.

After the 3rd time at the same meal, the meal is done. She can eat at the next meal.

As for the diaper, be strong, if it needs to be changed, change it.

She's just testing your limits to see what you are going to do. Now is the time to establish who the adult in the room is.

Good luck.

I agree with both of these! As soon as she starts with the throwing or hitting she's done, I try again once she's calmed down but if it goes on again we're done.

It's really hard to ignore the screeching but I do my best, I certainly do not want to reinforce that behavior!