[survey77777]

So, um...wow. Today GG had his first tantrum. I know he's a little behind the curve on this one, but wow. Seriously wow!
He is honestly the happiest, most joyful and friendly baby I have ever known.
Today that all changed.
At Costco he was testing out one of the ride in trucks. We'd had a crazy day and I was a bad customer and let him ride around the store in it for a bit. He was happy, everyone was happy. Then he got out and I picked him up to take him over to look at something. He screamed so loudly by my ear that it still hurts many hours later. An insane, angry scream of disapproval. His eyes squinted so tightly shut as he looked completely rageful. He lost his shoulders and tried to get all wiggly noodle on me. My reaction...I just burst out laughing. People were staring from aisles away and I couldn't stop laughing.

I'm sure they all think I'm the worst mother ever, and I'm ok with that.

So how do you handle public tantrums?

The best part is my mom was buying him one of the cars for her house here and the insanity continues when he has to leave it alone for 2 minutes at the house as well.
Tell me of your tantrums and your best parenting advice in dealing with them.

[Linzie]

I laugh too when Xander throws one of his fits over not getting what he wants. It's just so pitiful. He acts like it's the end of his world. It usually over something like, mommy said no to a cookie, no to something he should not have at his age, and it's bedtime.

He has thrown a few tantrums in public. One day at Walmart I bent down to get something from a bottom shelf, i raise back up and he was mauling my bread. I took it away real fast and told him no sir. He screamed so loud people started peeking around the next aisle! I had to keep myself from giggling. I ignored his tantrum and went on shopping. I know people thought I was abusing my child, but he calmed down after a few minutes and pouted the rest of the trip. Toddlers throw tantrums. There's not a lot you CAN do about it. I am not here to make everyone happy or comfortable. I feel bad for it happening in a public place but there is not a lot you can do in some situations. *shrug*

[momoftwins]

Lol....wanna hear something funny?? Say yes. We had the EXACT same thing happen last Monday at Costco in that stupid truck! Lol. He was totally obsessed with that thing and freaked out in his stroller until I let him out to go try out the truck! He absolutely loved that thing, so I let him play for probably 10 minutes or so. Then it came time to go, so I said "Come on, Mase". I got nothing. At that point I realized that this was not going to end well! I pried him out (which was ridiculously hard) and boy was he ever mad! Full on, throw himself down on the floor, screaming his brains out, tantrum....in the middle of Costco! And my reaction was exactly the same as yours! I think toddler tantrums are hilarious. I try so hard to not let them see me laughing, but it's SO hard to squelch that and keep a straight face!

[lunarmagic]

I agree, they are pretty hysterical! Kate stomps her feet and cries big tears and screaming hysterics. and, yes, usually over something like "No, you cannot have mommy's phone." Generally it's at home that she does it, because that's when she's bored and trying to get into things, and I just let her get it out, I'll give her a hug and say, "are you upset? I'm sorry you're upset" - but she still doesn't get whatever it is.

She hasn't had a full tantrum in public yet, I don't think. I get mini ones, like when I made her sit in the cart yesterday at the grocery store when she kept trying to climb out - but those are usually just sobbing or a single shriek of anger, easily ignored.

[sodagirl]

AB throws herself on the floor (often intentionally hitting her head) and sobs. I laugh. I can't help it. I also hug her and *try to tell her I'm sorry she is so sad that I need her to wear a sweater -- but I don't think she can understand through the giggles.
The thing she does that bothers me is hitting herself in the face/head when she's frustrated. W T H? That one freaks me out in public too.

[-erin-]

aww, sometimes it is funny.

Juliet hasn't gone all out crazy in public yet, but we were at a friends house a week ago and I was letting her play in their dog crate. Eventually she was just slamming the door open and shut so I said it was time to stop playing there, and she got mad. So I just let her lower gently to the floor (instead of slamming herself back) and let her scream for a minute and apologized to my friend who was trying to have a conversation with her other friend. Juliet was over it in a minute. That's how I deal with it now... just let her scream it out and forget about it.