Infant Tantrums?
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Anonymous
| My 8-month-old is definitely throwing little tantrums where out of nowhere she’ll be unhappy, whine loudly and start kicking and flailing her arms. She’s a really happy baby otherwise but I’m a little nervous about what’s to come if she’s exhibiting this random behavior so early. I also don’t know how to handle it as she obviously doesn’t understand me, I just feel like I have to give in and do backflips to figure out what she’s upset about. Anyone else had this problem with your infant? How did you handle it/what did it mean for the toddler years? FTM here! |
Anonymous
| Just redirect or give a snack. That sounds developmentally appropriate. |
Anonymous
| Both my kids got really grouchy at around 8 months. I chalked it up to them wanting to moves and explore but not being able to crawl or walk yet. They would stop as soon as I was carrying them around. |
Anonymous
| My first was chill but my second was like this at that age. I’d just sit with her through the tantrums and offer a hug if she wanted. She’s 1.5 now and definitely has a temper but it’s short. You don’t have to solve their frustration, just be there. |
Anonymous
| Infants have exactly one way to communicate that they are unhappy about something: they cry. Your infant is not having a tantrum, and you are not "giving in" by figuring out what she needs and providing it. She might be frustrated, which is developmentally appropriate and what motivates babies to learn new skills. |
Anonymous
| Your 8 month old isn't having a tantrum, it's so sad that you're already thinking this way. Perhaps you need to take a parenting class or get some counseling. |
Anonymous
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A tantrum is when a kid has a fit because their will is being thwarted. That's not what's happening here. Your baby is upset about something and is expressing unhappiness. You don't have to "do backflips" you just need to be attentive and responsive to her.
I would definitely recommend reading some books about baby and toddler behavior. |
Anonymous
| OP some recommendations for books that might be helpful are Elevating Child care or No Bad Kids by Janet lansbury. Could help with some tools and info on how babies/toddler communicate their needs and how to respond. Can be really helpful! |
Anonymous
| I never read the book, but Janet Lansbury has stuff online and a podcast. I found those helpful to reframe what my kid was doing/experiencing and how to respond. I would also look into baby sign language. We only used about 5, but it was enough to allow him to communicate his needs before he was able to say words. |
Anonymous
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Lol. This is funny.
That's not a tantrum, that's just an infant acting like an infant. I predict you're going to have a long road ahead of you if this has you miffed. |
Anonymous
| I would recommend some baby sign language. We started around 8 mos and by 10 mos by DD could sign about 8-10 different things. Cut down on a lot of normal baby frustrations. |
Anonymous
Works for humans throughout the lifecycle! |
jsmith123
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+1 for No Bad Kids. I credit this book with loving the toddler years instead of hating them. |
Anonymous
| lol this is funny, she's just an infant acting like an infant. she's 8 months. what do you expect her to tell you what's going on with her or understand what you tell her? like someone mentioned, you probably should look into parent counseling. just pick her up and comfort her. |
Anonymous
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You have a VIP baby
Put her on a schedule so you know she's not hungry/tired/etc. Make her a "yes" space with gross motor activity options. Figure out how you can get her outdoors plenty. Accept the fact you're not going to have much of a life for a while. https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/high-need-baby |