Throwing tantrums at 9 months?!

So yesterday, I thought I was going to completely lose it :crazy: !! Gage started doing this thing where he would scream bloody murder for no apparent reason- not crying, just all-out mad! I'm thinking it's because he didn't nap very well, but wow- he'd always just get fussy & maybe cry in the past. Anyone else ever deal with this? How do I make it stop?! Please don't tell me it's just a phase & he'll grow out of it! I'm afraid my neighbors (we live in an apartment) are going to call the authorities on me!!

 

My oldest son starting tantruming at 10 months, and I hate to tell you, but it didn't end for a few YEARS! He was speech delayed and I believe a lot of it was b/c he was frustrated. It was very tough dealing with the tantrums, but stay TOUGH! Since it was just the first one for you, maybe it was just a bad day or a fluke. Hang in there Momma!

 

from kidsgrowth.com: By two months of age, most babies know what they want, and will get upset and scream if they can not have their way. This is upsetting to all parents but it would be best not to think of this behavior a "temper tantrum." It is simply the normal reaction when a baby is frustrated when they do not get what they want.

Your baby will gradually outgrow this behavior if you don't expect too much of her at this young age. At this age, comfort her until she feels better, and, if possible, interest her in an alternative adventure. Your caring response to her tears will help her learn that while she cannot always have the thing she wants, she can always count on your love and kindness.

 

If I only knew what "thing" he wants!! :wacko:

 

It is horrible isn't it!! Sam is the king of tantrum throwers. He get's so frustrated with the smallest things. For example he just started learning how to walk behind his walker toy, and when it runs into the couch and stops he flings his head back and fall to his knees and wails!!! I think a lot of it is just his temperment. There isn't much I can do, just try to stay calm myself, which I tell you at times is very tough, and redirect and reassure him. I don't even know if that is the right thing to do, but eventually I hope that he gets the idea that he doesn't have to scream and loose it when he is frustrated.

 

Yeah, my Jonah does this and he's only 7.5 months old! :blink: He screams bloody murder over EVERYTHING. But, he also "talks" really loud too. DH and I are making a concerted effort to talk with our inside voice when we talk to him. My DH has a bad habit of encouraging him with very loud talking. I do agree it's just a temperment thing. I try to redirect him but sometimes that just doesn't work. Unfortunately, it's like the boy who cried wolf. I can never tell if something is really wrong, or he's just peeved because he dropped his toy, kwim? Hopefully they will grow out of this quickly!!

Shannon

 

Yeah Sophie started doing that at nine months too. She would start screaming, go bright red then her hands and arms would get thrown about like she was raging mad, Jack just kind of looks at her to say are you mad?!! I call her my little madam because of her tantrums x

 

Seamus started around 6 months. He would get his body all tense and then scream so loud. It often made Nicholas cry. I did tell my neighbors that if they ever heard anything, to know I was not doing anything to him!!!!!!!!!!!

I did a few posts on this myself. My fear was that this was a sign for the future...that if he had temper tantrums when he was older then I would know that it was inate (is that the right word??).

I am glad to say the past month and a half have been awesome. He is the sweetest thing and does not scream anymore. SOmetimes he still tenses up if he wants something and isnt getting it fast enough but the screaming isnt an issue anymore.

As far as what to do, I dont know. It is so easy to yell "no sreaming". I did that at first but then thought about it. He is hearing me 'yell' now. So I began to just talk softly to him. I am positive it is nothing I did to stop his screaming!! He just grew out of it. I just hope he has left it behind forever!