Normal Tantrums?? - Gilbert,AZ

This is normal but doesn't have to be. You should discipline and train her, it will help. Good luck! =)

Dr Ames (she wrote tons of books in the 70s) has a theory to explain why the half years (1.5, 2.5,3.5, 4.5) are the hardest.

We just got through 2.5. It was hard. And yes, my daughter had a few days of throwing herself around like that. We ignored her. I just left the room and told her that when she was calm she could come out of her bedroom.

Now that I think back on it, when she was 18 months she had a total meltdown in a similar fashion because a piece of cheese broke. Their poor little brains just can't handle all the rapid growth sometimes.

If she continued to do this after you have made a real effort to ignore, then go to the Dr. I also suggest requiring a "normal voice" before you will "listen" to her. If she gets "hyper," send her to her room until she can talk normally.

Mine do and i learned if i just walk away and ignore them they stop within 5 minuted. good luck..

Does she do this every time she wakes up?
My daughter was like that.

In her case, the reason was:
1) she is not a morning person. Never was.
2) she is still tired and sleepy, hence not waking up well.
3) She just did not like, being interacted with, right away, upon waking. My sister was like that too. And to a certain extent, me too. My Mom was a Morning person, and all active/talkative/perky in the morning, I couldn't stand it. It was like nails on a chalkboard. She thought everyone, woke up like her. Nope.

Your daughter, still sounds tired.
Leave her be.
Don't interfere or interact with her. Just tell her calmly, "When you feel better I'll be in the kitchen.." or something like that.

And, make sure she NAPS.
Over-tired kids, get like that.
Being over-tired, actually makes them sleep worse, wake worse, and they do not get a good sleep.

My daughter grew out of it. BUT, she HATED being interacted with upon waking, in the morning or after naps.
Its just the way she was.
So we didn't do that.
We 'knew' her.

My friend's daughter was like that too.
Woke up grumpy. NOT a morning person either.

Your child is normal.

Hi T.!

While I can't answer your question as to whether or not your child's behavior is "normal", I can tell you that you are not alone! My baby girl is not yet 2 and I've been experiencing tantrums like the one that you described more lately. In fact, Monday night I was a wreck because I couldn't get her to calm down for about an hour. Once I was finally able to get a hold of her (she hits and kicks too) I cuddled her close to me with her blankie and finally after about 20 minutes of struggling, she finally accepted it and cuddled back.

I'll be honest, I don't buy the discipline theory completely. I know that in my household, there is plenty of discipline and yet I am experiencing the same thing. I feel that my baby girl just has big emotions and no way to express them all. She's been a "spirited" little thing since the moment she was born!

Feel free to send me a message if you just need someone to lean on! :)

I would consult her pediatrician-it sounds a little over-the-top.

Yeah it is normal. Best thing to do is nothing. Walk away and let her have her tantrum. Good luck.

My daughter just recently turned two and has been doing this for months. I don't know what is wrong and her pediatrician has just said to let her cry it out, which I have always been against. So I just go to her and comfort her. As time is going by, she is letting me touch her and pick her up and she's no longer hitting or kicking. Good luck!

Is she still asleep when she has them in the morning? What you describe sounds exactly like the night terrors my daughter has, she has been having them since 14 months old. She is 4 now and if she has a regular tantrum during the day it does have a lot of the same mannerisms as the night terrors during the night. She gets them when she is overtired. If you think that's what it is, send me a message and I can tell you what has worked for us.

Tantrums for a 2 1/2 year old is normal, but doesn't have to be. My Child's Ready is a free education and developmental service for Gilbert residence, sponsored by First Things First Arizona. Call and we can set you up with one of our parent educators who will work with you and your child to find a solution. http://www.childcrisis.org/M./
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My kids always had a reason for hteir tantrums...and they never lasted that long. Call your doctor about this.

I would not say it is normal.

With that being said, my middle child, a boy age 5 now...was like this as a youngster. It was horrible because you are aware that they are really upset but there is nothing you can do to make them feel better. Eventually my son grew out of it...but he is still what I would call a 'moody' guy. I think (as well as my hubby) that he just has a more difficult time processing his emotions...overly tired, frustration, anger, etc. then our other kids do. Does that make sense?

I hardly ever just left him alone and made him work thru it himself...I mean he did work thru it himself but I always stayed by him trying to reassure him that things were OK.

My son did this at that age so I believe it is normal. I think it depends on the child - every child has such a different personality. He was super hard at 3 and half too. The tantrums were even worse! 5 and a half was also a hard age for him. He is a super smart and can be completely delightful but he can also be very strong willed! We once talked to a child therapist about him to see if there was something wrong with him but after the therapist asking us a million questions he told us that our son is just classified as a bright, spirited, stubborn child who always is testing the limits. We have learned a LOT on how to parent him over the years! He's almost 7 now and he just gets better and more mature each year. (Knock on wood!) For these types of tantrums I would put her in her room and tell her she is going to have some alone time to calm down and just walk away. Don't give her any attention for it. Good luck!!!

temper tantrums are normal but hers doesnt sound normal look for something else such as ear infection

Wow. I have to say that I would NOT have thought it was normal, but having read some of the responses you have received already, perhaps my family is just really blessed? My kids never did anything like that upon waking. Ever.

My daughter wakes smiley and sweet and cuddly, and always has. She is 9.

My son is SOOOOO not a morning person and is very much a HEAVY sleeper (always has been) and he is in his late Tween years (will be 13 this summer) and even he, in all his morning moodiness, doesn't do what you described with your daughter. When he was smaller he was maybe a little grumpy when he first woke up... but that was about it. Like me. I LOVE sleeping in... and it takes me a little while to want to be social when I get up, but I am not mean or physical or aggressive in any way. Just don't expect me to carry my end of a conversation for about 15 minutes or so.

<<hugs>>

Don't allow the tantrums and it won't escalate to this level.
www.backtobasicsdiscipline.com