Throwing Fits - Keokuk,IA

This is not early. My older two attempted fits at 18 months, but my youngest started at 6 months!!!! No matter, you can stop them with discipline fairly easily since they're new, or live with them for the next several years (as they get worse if you ignore them).
My oldest learned quickly not to throw them at home at 18 months, but around 2 1/2 she started throwing them in public ONLY. (she's no dummy) Finally I had to discipline her once in public so she knew the rules would be enforced there too and she stopped. Let me know if you want the discipline approach. It has saved my sanity home alone with 3 under 5 while husband travels constantly.

A book that helped me a lot is "The Happiest Toddler On The Block." It really helps in understanding toddlers and how to communicate with them. I also did sign language with my daughter starting at age 7mos. I would recommend it, even now, it's not too late. It sounds like your daughter is expressing frustration and doesn't know how else to communicate with you, so she is flipping out, VERY typical. I promise, when you learn to communicate with her on her level, the fits will be much, much less, and more controlled. You may be thinking that you don't have time to read a book, but it's a very easy read, and helped me and my daughter tremendously. I know it's frustrating, hang in there and good luck!

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Seems that transitions are tough for her. She can't communicate very well -but she may be one of these kids who likes to be where she is - whether it's at home or her car seat - and doesn't want o change locations. (Describes my husband!) While she may not be able to speak / communicate well she can understand much of what you say - so prepare her. Tell her something like: "we are going to get in the car and drive to grandma's house. When we get there we'll get out of the car and play with your toys at grandmas house. Do you think she'll have a snack for us? last time we went to grandmas's house we had chocolate milk and played with the baby dolls." Tell her "I know that when we get to grandma's house you will feel like crying or yelling - but I know that we can get out of the car and not cry or scream. I know you can do it! And if she has a fit - let her. Ignore the fit. She continues to do so becuase she know it gets your full attention. If you can leave her in the car in your mom's driveway do so until she calms down - don't go out of her field of vision - make sure she can see you greeting your mom. Glance over at her from time to time. Tell her when she's calmed down she can come out of the car. If you can't leave her in the car (maybe it's a parking lot of an apartment building) just sit quietly in the front seat of the car. Don't listen to music, don't engage in conversation with her. Tell her when she's calmed down you'll get out of the car - but until then you'll sit quietly in the car. Again, ignore her fit and don't make it fun for her. You may have to sit there for 5 - 10 minutes which will feel like an eternity - but it will be shorter the next time.
Also ask yourself if there's anything about these visits to other places that she finds upsetting? When you go to grandmas house or your friends house - is there nothing for her to do? Is grandmas house filled with trinkets that she's not allowed to touch - so she's constantly being reprimanded? Do you sit and chat with friends and she has nothing to keep her amused? If none of these things are true then she's just a kid who has trouble with transitions at this point in her life. Eventually she'll get to the point where she can think with expectancy and recall that being at grandma's is good.
My daughter was big on tantrums at this age - she had a few really long ones at home - one was 45+ mintues. I let her lay in the hallway and scream, toss & turn, kick the wall, etc. I would step over/around her and just let her go on. To me it sounds like she's a realy smart kid - that's the good news! My daughter is now 14 and has different kinds of "tantrums" - now we're hoping to get past this developemental stage in one piece!

Mom, I teach yound children and your daughter is likely frustrated or upset over something and can't verbalize it yet. Take her out of the environment she is in when she has her tantrums, even if you are in a store. Go outside wiht her and point out things in nature like trees, flowers etc to get her mind off the upset. You can even take her to the car and calmly talk to her and try to help her settle down, don't get upset yourself. She will sense this. THis will with time. Hugs to her.

Can you use imagination to make it more appealing to her? It only takes a sentence or two and they're all for it. For example, can you fly her like a fairy, or can she dance like a ballerina? Even a fun march step from you - or a hop will have her getting from car to place more fun. Maybe sing a song and don't really concentrate on where you are taking her.

Some kids like a simple list if you're going to the store. Like a grocery list with a picture of bananas and milk. She will look for that and then put it in the cart.

Can you have her "help" one of her dolls to get to the place you want?

In other words, approach it from a different angle. Instead of "we need to do this" which some kids respond with "no", try turning it into a simple game or fun thing. After a little practice it gets easier and kids are an easy audience - it doesn't take much for it to be appealing (even if you feel awkward about it, they go with it. )

For a broader amount of information on this, the book "Playful Parenting" is very good.

I feel your pain, My son is going to be one in two weeks and he has been throwing fits FOREVER! Everything is a chore from getting him in a high chair for dinner or lunch he throws himself and kicks me and then all of a sudden he acts like nothing every happened. CRAZY! Same thing with the car seat or a car ride sometimes. He is a very strong willed boy. The only thing I do is keep telling him no when he acts like this and continue to put him in whatever I need to put him in even if it takes 10 or 15 tries. Very frustrating to say the least but your not alone. My mother says she prays for me when he reaches his terrible two's. lol. Good Lord, I don't know if I'll make it.

ignoring my 2 yr old works. but with my oldest it didnt' I would ask him if he feels better and if he said no i would say please continue. maybe she needs a nap or is hungry when she does it. she will outgrow this I promise.