HOME

BOOKMARK

NEWSLETTER

Join our newsletter to receive news of offers and discounts

Search

AS FEATURED IN...


Lucy Siegle On Eithical Living: Sunday March 5, 2006 The Observer

Weight Watchers®.co.uk. Now with an online plan.

Navigation


Parening Books

Search Now:
Amazon Logo


Triumphing Over Tantrums


Before you had kids you probably witnessed an out of control child having a temper tantrum at the store. More than likely you thought or said, "If that was my child, I would ______". Well now here you are with children of your own dealing with these exact situations. Temper tantrums are a normal part of life with toddlers and preschoolers. Almost all young children have tantrums occasionally. If handled appropriately, most children outgrow this stage by four or five.

Some children have severe tantrums and may get so upset that they vomit or hold their breath until they pass out. Although this can be extremely upsetting to the parent, the child will generally recover quickly and completely. If your child is fainting or vomiting from tantrums, you may want to consult your pediatrician to check for any other health concerns.

How you handle tantrums will have a direct impact on the frequency and intensity of the tantrums. Here are some tips on preventing tantrums and how to respond to them.

Make sure your child is not over-tired. If she is cranky or tired put her down for a nap or try doing some quiet time. You can lay down in the bed and read a book or play soothing music to help her relax.

Be consistent with your rules. If she has a tantrum and you give in to her demands, she will try this again. The more consistent you are, the more she will learn that tantrums don't work.

When you ask your child to do something, try asking nicely first. "Mommy needs some help picking up the toys" usually goes over better than "get in here and pick up this mess!"

Don't use bribery. Does she really deserve a cookie for going to bed on time or not misbehaving at the grocery store? By doing this you will only encourage her to break the rules to get a treat.

Don't react to her by yelling at her to be quiet. This will probably only upset her more. Sometimes in the midst of an outburst it is hard for a child to regain composure. Help her to calm down by giving her some quiet time in her room. Offer her a cup of water to help her relax if she is hyperventilating.

Sometimes children have tantrums because they want your attention. Look at the situation. Have you been watching tv, reading a book, or talking on the phone? If your child hasn't had much "mommy time", she may be trying to tell you something. Once she has calmed down from her tantrum, try setting some time aside just for her.

If you are in a public place, remove the child from the situation if you can. Go to the car or the restroom until she calms down.

When to call the doctor.

If you are concerned that your child's tantrums are extreme or more frequent than they should be, call your pediatrician for help. If your child injures herself or others, destroys property, has frequent nightmares, regresses in potty training, faints, has stomach aches or anxiety attacks consult your doctor.

About The Author

Patty Hone is a wife and mommy to three kids. She is also co-owner of Justmommies.com. Justmommies is an online community of moms sharing the joys and struggles of motherhood. Message boards, chats, articles, parenting, pregnancy info and more. http://www.justmommies.com.

email@justmommies.com


MORE RESOURCES:

TB scare brings babies, parents to Kaiser
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 10 hours ago
As local and state public health officials investigate the possible tuberculosis exposure of nearly 1000 babies from a Kaiser Permanente nurse, ...
No TB cases found following Kaiser exposure abc7news.com
all 2 news articles


ABC News

Warning on bassinets after 2 babies are strangled
Newsday, NY - 11 hours ago
Babies R Us said it had carried the bassinets but immediately removed them yesterday after the CPSC alert. Consumers can call the CPSC hotline at ...
Popular bassinet linked to at least 2 babies' deaths Chicago Tribune
Popular Bassinet Blamed For Deaths Of 2 Babies WCBS-TV New York
Bassinets Blamed In Babies' Deaths KETV.com
WHAS 11.com (subscription) - WTVW
all 765 news articles


Bellevue's Heelarious gives babies their own high heels
Bellevue Reporter, WA - 1 hour ago
By LINDSAY LARIN Along with babies first blanket, first haircut, and first tooth, comes a new cherished keepsake. A Bellevue-based company, Heelarious, ...


BBC News

Women Await DNA Results After Babies Mixed Up at Hospital
FOXNews - 1 hour ago
Two South African mothers are awaiting DNA results after their newborn baby girls were mixed up at the hospital Sunday, and one died, BBC News reported ...
Babies mix-up, mom shocked Sowetan
Mothers' anguish over baby mix-up BBC News
Dreadful act by clinic Sowetan
all 5 news articles


Daily Mail

Fewer than two-thirds of babies are registered 'white British'
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
Fewer than two-thirds of newborn babies are registered as "white British", new figures show. By Martin Beckford The first-ever breakdown of births by ...
More than a third of babies born in England and Wales are non-white Daily Mail
Disturbed by anti-Welsh reader letters WalesOnline
all 5 news articles


Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us opens
The Coloradoan, CO - 6 hours ago
"What I'm going to appreciate the most is the Babies 'R' Us because we had to drive to Westminster before." The store, which celebrates its grand opening ...
Toys R Us/Babies R Us prepares for Friday grand opening The Coloradoan
all 2 news articles


dBTechno

Epsom Salt Compound Magnesium Sulfate May reduce Cerebral Palsy in ...
Best Syndication, CA - 19 hours ago
They reported that there wasn’t any increase in having a baby that was stillborn. The researchers note that while magnesium sulfate looks like a promising ...
Magnesium Sulfate May Lower Cerebral Palsy Risk In Preterm Babies InjuryBoard.com
Epsom salts protect against cerebral palsy risk: study CBC.ca
Epsom salts may protect against cerebral palsy Globe and Mail
AHN - ABC News
all 78 news articles


Malaysia Star

Aug 31 always memorable for Merdeka babies
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 11 hours ago
By GLADYS TAY JOHOR BARU: For Yong Siew Chu, the country’s independence day has always been a public holiday to celebrate her birthday with family members ...


India Journal

EUR CENSUS UPDATE: More babies is why there will soon be twice as ...
Eurweb.com, CA - Aug 28, 2008
In fact, Hispanic females are the only group countering a national trend of women having fewer and fewer babies. One result is that in about 34 years, ...
Nielsen finds audiences are aging Variety
Minorities in US to Become Majority by 2042: Report India Journal
all 4 news articles


WNCT

Kaiser: SF worker may have exposed babies to TB
The Associated Press - Aug 26, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kaiser Permanente is telling 960 mothers that they and their babies may have been exposed to a San Francisco maternity ward worker ...
960 babies in TB scare at Kaiser in SF San Francisco Chronicle
SF Kaiser Patients To Be Tested For Possible TB Exposure NBC 11.com
all 236 news articles

babies - Google News