Uncontrollable Tantrums - Columbia,IL

Could he be tired? Do they happen more towards the end of the day? I he getting enough sleep at night? Has he recently dropped his nap or reduced the number of hours he's sleeping per day?

Or, maybe stressed? Have their been any recent changes or disruptions to his routine?

I haven't had personal experience, but these are the first two things that came to mind while reading your post...

ETA: Or maybe acting out for attention? Has his sister required more attention from you lately?

Again, ETA: Have you tried giving him warning about what is going to happen by telling him the next 2 or 3 steps and then repeating as you complete a step?

For example, saving washing/rinsing his hair until the LAST thing before you pull the plug to drain the water, and 5 minutes before you wash his hair let him know, "Okay, in 5 minutes, I am going to wash your hair, then I am going to rinse out the bubbles, then I need you to (or I am going to) pull the plug to let the water out." Then repeat the next steps after you shampoo his hair, then remind him what you were going to do after the rinse. Maybe he feels like you are springing it on him? And by using the activities as a "time line" for him, it could make it easier for him to understand what is going on now, and what will happen next (since time is still kind of an abstract concept at 3).

It could also be some combination of these, surprised when tired after a long day. Or, disruption in his perceived routine on a day when his sister requires more attention...

Good luck! Hope something suggested here helps!

you don't mention if he's been sick, but my son (who is 2 1/2) also rarely has tantrums, but he has been on several antibiotics in the last few months, and i have noticed a HUGE increase in these insane, irrational, crazy tantrums. it's like he's not even in there, and it's SO frustrating. i told my mom i would be seriously worried about behavioral issues if i didn't know he was on the antibiotic - it only happens when he's been on them for several days (he's had three ear infections in two months, so three rounds of antibiotics, each one stronger than the last). once he's off the antibiotics he's my little angel again. but i know the kind of fits you're talking about. we had one night where it was literally one long fit, starting towards the end of dinner because he was done eating but didn't want to get down, then on to the bath (just like your son, i let the water out and apparently wasn't "supposed" to), and a handful of other things...i finally told him (once we got everything "done" for the night) that he could stay in his room until he was ready to be nice. he stayed in there twenty or thirty minutes, laying in his bed. calmed down and then came out and was fine. i think there's a difference between this type of fit, and something you'd discipline them for with like a time out. stick to your guns and if he gets hysterical like that just give him a quiet place to be alone and calm down. my son, at least, is always willing to go to his room when this happens, it's like he knows something is up. normally he hates being in another room from us. anyway...that's how we have dealt with it. i hope he gets better soon, it's so hard when they're just completely irrational like that, and with another baby i can't imagine. good luck!

My twins were like that and 9/10 times, it was because they were melting down. To minimize those tantrums, I would have a timer on for any activity they were doing. Pretty soon, all my kids were conditioned to the sound of the timer. I'd say something like, "ok, when the bell rings, it will be time to eat, TV off, ok?" I would make sure that I got an answer from everyone before I continued whatever it was I was doing. Or else, I'll say, "when the bell rings, it's bedtime." We always had a routine for bed and nap times; story telling or lullabies.

Good luck.

I've been there too with my 2.5 & 4 yr old boys in the last year-- my Ped and I chatted and she said it was probably an iron deficency(sp?) after we talked about their eating habits(very random and not much meat)- so we started on the Flinstone's with 100% iron (the dark purple bottle is the right one-the others dont cover all the bases) and it has made an incredible difference- at this toddler age iron is a major issue and if they aren't getting enough in their diet it needs to come from a vitamin- might be worth a try- I have only had a great experience since starting!! (ps- takes about 3 weeks for the iron stores to build up so wait it out!)