Big feelings and tantrums
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My son has been doing this since about 18th months. He doesn't have many words and it seems like anything sets him off with multiple tantrums a day. He also likes to bang his head on things when the tantrums begin. I try to do water play when the tantrums start as I was told cold water helps calm the body down. Our speech therapist also said that compressions on their arms might also help regulate them. Give yourself lots of grace and remember that this is just part of the toddler phase (I keep telling myself this).
We are in the same stage it seems! The only thing that’s worked for me so far is to just be patient….”no” and “you can’t have/do that” are typically what triggers my son’s tantrums - although the tantrums he throws when I have to leave him with a sitter so I can work are by far the worst — it’s so hard to walk away when he’s just so upset. Sometimes it takes 20-30 minutes of distraction for him to switch gears and calm down. If the situation allows for it, I do try to comfort him through his tantrums, in my head this reinforces that I will listen to him while he’s expressing his feelings. I hate when he cries - I didn’t realize how much it would stir up crappy feelings about the emotional (un?)availability and (im?)maturity of the adults around me when I was very young.
Yep, welcome to the toddler phase
Yes!!!! So glad to hear I’m not alone! I think she is experiencing new things and is having a harder time regulating. I’ve taught her to “blow out the candles” with me. I put a finger up and we both do deep slow breaths to blow out the pretend candle.