Thursday 21 June 2012

Oscar Worthy Tantrums


The week just gone has been exhausting. We had a glorious couple of days staycation in the Cotswolds then a baby free weekend at a wedding in Liverpool. However, on returning home trouble really started. Our once polite twenty-one month old little girl has turned into the most demanding, tantrumy madam you have ever come across.
I think this behaviour has gradually crept up on us over the last couple of weeks from a combination of doting grandparents bowing to her every command and mummy and daddy trying to maintain a quiet, chilled out last few weeks of holiday.
Honey could seriously win an Oscar with her tantrums, they are like none I have ever heard before, and happen approximately every 10 minutes, no exaggeration. If she doesn't get her own way straight away, like mummy or daddy going where she wants or giving her exactly what she wants, she screams and screams and screams. I mean proper face going red and blotchy then choking screaming. It is not only embarrassing, especially when in public, but exhausting and gives me a headache instantly. If I try and pick her up she kicks my tummy (not ideal at eight months pregnant), and anything else I try bar giving in to her demands just leads to an even louder scream. I have tried controlled crying, which worked a treat when she was a baby and never went over 10 minutes but now she gets herself so worked up the crying gets worse.
Today we went on a really short walk which resulted in her screaming every couple of metres as all she wanted to do was walk in the middle of the road. So she would get down, lie on the floor screaming, when we tried to put her in the Bugaboo it only resulted in more screaming. Needless to say it was the most un-relaxing walk I have ever been on.

So, this week is all about mummy being strict, not giving into demands and riding the storm for the week to see how she goes. I will keep you updated, wish me luck!

Do you have tantrums galore in your house? If you have found the secret to making them stop please do share!

5 comments:

  1. Oh how I feel for you! I think sometimes you just have to let them have a bad day... or week... I'm not saying give her an inch, but just let her have a holler, and try not to let it get to you. So often I feel like the best I can do is protect mine from other people's judgements, because really what toddler has not just melted into tears once or twice. Stop staring, move on, this is so not a free show! It is such a tough age trying to grab hold of independence and knowing you still need your mummy.

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    1. so true, tutting nosey women do not help matters and certainly don't make the tantrums stop! xxx

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  2. We are exactly at the same place as you, a twenty one month old little diva who throws herself around and screams at the top of her voice when she can't get her own way, being on a plane for four hours while we flew to Cyprus last week proved very stressful and exhausting!!! We just make sure we are both firm with her and back each other up when dealing with a melt down, we have started to give her mini time outs away from a situation only for like a minute which helps her to calm down and also asked her to start saying sorry and give kisses when she hurts someone deliberately which she is starting to understand now this also see her making a change inher behaviour. I really do feel for you, it must be hard dealing with the meltdowns and having your baby bump too, hopefully it will pass soon for you! X

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    1. oh its such hard work isn't it? A plane journey must have been hell!! xxx

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  3. It amazes me how much they can change in an instant!it is just exhausting isn't it? Burton has started this new one (I may blog about it soon) where he keeps screaming until he is practically hyper ventilating and foaming at the mouth and then can't really remember why he is screaming after about 20 mins!! I don't really have any advice other than try to stay calm I guess.....which is nigh on impossible sometimes., xx

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