Anonymous wrote:I know tantrums are developmentally normal but it seems like for the last several months, my almost 3 year tantrums have been getting worst. They are very intense and occur almost daily, sometimes several times a day. The triggers varies but usually it is when he doesn't get what he wants like not being able to wear his favorite car shirt (when they are dirty), us brushing his teeth, not getting what he wants to eat at dinner (we always give him a safe food), removing him from the dining chair when he starts to jump etc. We try to validate his feelings, never punish but still show clear boundaries and try not give him into his demands. We have a new baby on the way in 3 months. If it's this bad now, I can't even imagine how terrible it will be when the baby gets here. I was also put on bedrest recently for a high risk pregnancy and not able to do as much with him and he has been super clingy and only wants me to do everything. It's so exhausting! Does it get better? He does well in public and at daycare around other people with no issues so it seems like it's something my husband and I are doing wrong.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the replies! Makes me feel better that this is pretty normal for his age. I'll try the suggestions and try to be consistent, give natural consequences, teach him some coping skills and let him have his big feelings without trying to rationalize it. My husband tends to do the latter and tries to find some logic during his tantrums to try to fix it, which only makes him even more frustrated when it doesn't work. What has worked for him in the past to calm him down during a tantrum is going to his crib. Not as a time out as we sit in the room with him but it's his safe space and he actually used to ask for his crib when he gets upset. We recently transitioned to a twin bed so we no longer have that option.