How to Help Your Todder Have Less Temper Tantrums

Are you a stressed out mama? Is your toddler throwing things and crying for the thousandth time today? If so, you are not alone. Toddlers (children aged from 1-3) have such big emotions, and they have such a hard time knowing how to express how they feel because their vocabulary is very limited. This tends to come out in frustration also known as the famous temper tantrums. My son is 15 months old right now, and he has recently started throwing things and slapping. Slapping himself in the head, slapping objects, and even slapping other people at times. It just started one day a few months ago, and it is mortifying… especially when he acts this way in front of other people. I’m going to share with you ten tips that helped my child have less little tantrums (slapping episodes). These tips will not fully stop a child from being fussy from time to time, but they sure will help you and your tiny tyke in the long run!

Listen to “Episode 9: Making The “Terrible Twos” Less Terrible” on Spreaker.

1. Have a daily routine. Keeping a child’s routine pretty consistent gives them a feeling of comfort and stability. If they feel out of sorts, they may act out. We took a family trip to the beach a few weeks ago, and by the end of the trip, my son was not having it! It was hard to get him to nap, and his whole sleep schedule was disrupted during the vacation. Once we got home, and he got back in his normal routine, he started acting like himself again.

2. Let them play hard! My son loves to play outdoors when the weather is nice. I let him get all of his energy out! If the weather keeps us indoors, I let him play in (destroy) his room. This helps my son by letting him explore, and being able to wander about is very important for keeping a toddler happy. I do understand that this results in a messy house on rainy and hot days, but having a happy child is priceless!

3. Give your toddler plenty of positive attention. Don’t wait for your toddler to get fussy before you give them any attention. This causes them to act out more often so they can the attention that they want. Instead, start your day with giving your child some undivided attention. Read with them, go for a walk, eat breakfast with them while talking to them, etc.

4. Listen to uplifting music and dance with your child whenever you get the chance! This is fun! Honestly, this point goes with #3! This will bring lots of silliness and giggles to everyone!

5. Cut back on any sugary treats and/or caffeine. I have noticed that my son gets more wound up anytime I give him anything with sugar. It just makes whatever he is feeling amplified times 10! So if he acts like this with sugar, caffeine is a no go for us. This is totally different from child to child though. I have definitely still been letting my son have a treat from time to time, but we now know our limits.

6. Along with having a schedule, don’t skip nap time. Oh my goodness.. I cannot stress this one enough. Nap time is necessary for the mama and the little one. It give you a break, AND it helps your child recharge. Win win!

7. Redirect bad actions with better ones! This may seem odd, but when my child started hitting, we showed him he could pet us or rub our arm nicely. Hey, it’s better than slapping, and it helps him fight the urge to slap. If he continues slapping, we discipline him as needed. This brings in to our next point..

8. Discipline consistently. I do not recommend popping your child on the hand if they are already showing signs of aggression. It’s almost like confirmation that it’s okay to hit. We do a small pop on the bottom though because he’s padded back there, and we put him into his playpen for 5 minutes each time he hits or throws things because it helps him cool down. I’m not saying my way is perfect at all because I am still figuring things out. Just do what helps your child. Every family has their own way of doing things. Also disciplinary methods change with age as well. What works for my 15 month old may not be right for a 3 year old.

9. Do not retaliate. If you are angry, put your child in a safe area and WALK AWAY. This keeps you from doing anything you will regret.

10. Keep yourself in check! Our children watch our every move which means that we need to watch our words and actions. Monkey see, monkey do!

I really hope that this is helpful to you. These things that I have shared have been lifesavers for me! I do not claim to know everything about toddlers (by a long shot), but I wrote this from my experience with my child. I can’t stress enough that every child responds differently to different things so you may need to add or take away from my list. Do what is best for your family. Until next week, stay safe and healthy. ❤️

Also, check out my podcast on this topic! 💙 https://www.spreaker.com/episode/46157770