New to the group and need advice, please:]

[olliesmommy2]

 Hello, my name is Tasha and i have one son, 20 months old. The last two months have been nuts. My son has been throwing crazy fits and i just dont feel like i am handling it well. I guess i just dont know how to respond to the fits. He will meltdown if you tell him no he cant have something, or take something away. I understand kids throw fits, but i explain to him why he cant have or do something, and then i can either ignore him, which makes me feel like crud. Or i can try to intervien, and get nowhere. I guess im just wanting to know how you deal with your little ones fits? And does it get better?

[Flaca43]

My little one has been having tantrums lately too. It gets frustrating, I know. I try to distract him. I also tell him he has to be a good boy or he can't have or do this or that. I don't know what else...I'm going to read the other Ladies suggestions too.

[smallfry3280]

ignoring it is the best thing to do- however i know i fail at this myself at times too lol... any attention you give them during a fit is going to encourage them to keep going.

[LilyBeansMom]

Ignoring it is the right thing to do, imo. Be confident in that and you will feel less like crud because you will know you are doing the best thing for him! You could also try timeouts (just a minute or two) to let him know he can't get away with it and there are consequences for bad behavior. I put my little one (18 months) in her playpen for a minute when she throws things. She is safe in there and I don't really have to leave the room - just ignore her. It helps. Honestly, a lot of the bad behavior at this age is just them testing their boundaries and consistent discipline is just what they're looking for believe it ot not. They need to understand the rules to feel safe. Good luck!

[sumannie]

Agreed!

[mommyof2kids306]

My son did that a lot but he grew out of it

[Tnoblin5]

I have gone through this with mine. Redirection worked for us. That and consistancy. Something can't be ok one minute and a big "no" the next. Don't get me wrong, they have thrown fits. I just tell them to let me know when they are done. They finally figure out it just don't work.

[mylilprincesses]

 ahh terrible twos coming on early.

i don't ignore them.. i let them know that you don't do that to get what you want..you ask.. and if you proceed to do it then you get a time out. its teaching them communication is best.

[mattsmate]

You might try reading the book Happiest Toddler on the Block. It gives great suggestions to try.

[othermom]

Put him in time out and ignore him so he can learn that throwing a fit does not get him anything or any attention. My youngest is horrible with this and at almsot 3 still throws fits some, but is so much better that she used to be. This is what we have had to do with her

[mustloveanimals]

I stand by to make sure my daughter doesn't hurt herself (or one of the dogs), but otherwise I let her fit take its course.When she is done she comes to me for a hug.

At that age, a long explanation of why you are doing something isn't helpful. They cannot process all that. When they start to fit or tantrum, they literally lose control, they are out of their minds. You can try to distract your son out of it, or you can just wait. Talking to him or intervening may make the fits worse and more frequent. I say just be around (but don't hover) to be sure they are safe, but let things take their course.