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Baby
Tantrums
By
Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle
Baby Care
Learn
about it
A baby’s first tantrum can take you by surprise. Your
baby can really shock you by shrieking, stamping, hitting,
or making his whole body go stiff. But don’t take it
personally; baby tantrums aren’t about anything you’ve
done wrong, and they aren’t really about temper, either
– your baby isn’t old enough for that. The ways
you’ll respond to your baby’s behavior when he
is older are different than how you should respond now.
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Why
babies have tantrums and what you can do about it
A
baby tantrum is an abrupt and sudden loss of emotional control.
Various factors bring tantrums on, and if you can identify
the trigger, then you can help him calm down — and perhaps
even avoid the tantrum in the first place. Here are the common
reasons and ways to solve the problem:
| Reason
for tantrum |
Possible
solution |
| Overtiredness |
Settle
baby down to sleep; Provide quiet activity |
| Hunger |
Give
baby a snack or something to drink |
| Frustration |
Help
baby achieve his goal or remove the frustration; Use
distraction |
| Fear/anxiety |
Hold
and cuddle baby; Remove baby from difficult situation |
| Inability
to communicate |
Try
to figure out what he wants; Calmly encourage him to
show you |
| Resisting
change |
Allow
a few minutes for baby to make adjustment |
| Over
stimulation |
Move
baby to a quiet place |
How
to prevent baby tantrums
Often,
you can prevent a baby from losing control of his emotions
if you prevent the situations that lead up to this. Here are
some things to keep in mind:
- When
baby is tired, put him down for a nap or to sleep.
-
Feed your baby frequently. Babies have small tummies and
need regular nourishment.
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Give your baby toys that are geared to his age and ability
level.
-
Warn your baby before changing activities (“One
more swing, then we’re going home”).
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Be patient when putting your baby in an unfamiliar environment
or when introducing him to new people.
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Help your baby learn new skills (such as climbing stairs
or working puzzles).
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Keep your expectations realistic; don’t expect more
than your baby is capable of.
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As much as possible, keep a regular and predictable schedule.
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When your baby is overly emotional, keep yourself as calm
as possible.
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Use a soothing tone of voice and gentle touch to help
your baby calm down. He can’t do it on his own,
he needs your help.
This
article is an excerpt from Gentle
Baby Care
by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
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