Normal Behavior for a Toddler?

B is 15 months old.


She gets very frustrated very easily. Her frustration is expressed through tantrums, crying (like tears and everything), throwing things, screaming, and very rarely, hitting.

She gets frustrated with EVERYTHING. Books, toys, me, drawers, blankets, food, cups, literally everything has pissed her off at one point or another. It's almost like she can't handle too many things at once. I understand that toddlers get overwhelmed, but I feel like maybe she gets too overwhelmed too easily and doesn't know how to express it?

How can I show her acceptable ways to show how she is feeling? She signs and we're working on feelings right now, so I'm trying to have her sign when she is mad at something, but when she's mad she just wants to throw her fit   I will admit that I have gotten pissed at something in her presence and not shown proper way to handle it, so I'm trying to work on it.

Like right now, she is in her crib so I could get a breather. She hasn't cried the entire 10 minutes she's been in the crib. If I were to have left her in the room with the baby gate up (fully childproofed room), she would be crying over something that made her mad.

This has gotten to the point where my closet is filled with all the toys that consistently frustrate her. I have no floor space in my closet anymore. I have every single one of her books and every battery operated toy hidden away from her because she can't seem to play with them without getting irritated.

How do I handle this? I get angry that she is constantly throwing tantrums and find myself wanting to scream at her. I know that won't fix anything so I walk away from her, but that makes her even more angry.

UGH. When does this stop? Is this normal?

My daughter has a little book (school made it for her) and it has pictures and says something like when I'm mad i can tell mommy I'm mad, go read a book, go to my room, sit on the couch. I may not hit, bite, scream etc. We read it to her daily when she's not mad. She's learned to say "I'm mad" and walk away to her room or whatever. Takes time but just start giving LO ideas on what to do. 15mon is young but not to young to start instilling good behaviors.

How is she with food allergies? I would say tantrums are normal for a 15 month old but where she is getting frustrated with every thing it may be something more. My daughter would tantrum at that age but more for things not because of things.

I think this is normal for many kids that don't know how to express their feelings. I think it's just important for you to show her what calm looks like. With my boys i would gently hold their arms and quietly ( with a very serious face and my incharge mommy tone) just say " No sir" when they started to get frustrated and act out. This is obviously a different attitude and tone than they normally heard so it would catch their attention. Then I would calmly put the toy down or put it away and get another one. But what I realized is that my calm, quiet attitude eventually rubbed off on them. When they would get frustrated they started to make a serious face instead of yelling. When I saw this face then I acknowledged it and did what I could to change the situation. Eventually they understood that when they made that face I helped them which eased their frustration.

Quoting *J*:" My daughter has a little book (school made it for her) and it has pictures and says something like when ... [snip!] ... Takes time but just start giving LO ideas on what to do. 15mon is young but not to young to start instilling good behaviors."

Oh I really like that idea. She LOVES books, but like I said she gets very frustrated with them. I will have to whip something up.

Quoting OmegaDucks!:" How is she with food allergies? I would say tantrums are normal for a 15 month old but where she is getting ... [snip!] ... with every thing it may be something more. My daughter would tantrum at that age but more for things not because of things."

She hasn't shown any allergic reactions to anything. She doesn't get juice unless she's constipated (which is rare and last resort) and we don't eat a lot of processed foods.

Quoting Kaleighshaleigh:" I think this is normal for many kids that don't know how to express their feelings. I think it's just ... [snip!] ... to change the situation. Eventually they understood that when they made that face I helped them which eased their frustration."

Aw lol that is cute   I've tried being gentle and serious with her, telling her it's not ok to throw a fit for whatever reason. I'm constantly telling her that I can't understand her when she cries/whines and that she needs to tell or show me what is wrong, but I don't think she's caught on yet.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:</b>" Aw lol that is cute   I've tried being gentle and serious with her, telling her it's not ok to throw ... [snip!] ... her when she cries/whines and that she needs to tell or show me what is wrong, but I don't think she's caught on yet. "</blockquote>




Mine weren't big talkers at that age maybe that is part f her problem. She doesn't know the words to express herself. I wonder if the books will help her.

Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:" She hasn't shown any allergic reactions to anything. She doesn't get juice unless she's constipated (which is rare and last resort) and we don't eat a lot of processed foods."

I can't have milk so when I eat a lot of things with dairy in them I tend to get short tempered. But if you're certain its not something she is eating you could try the book idea, like the other poster suggested. Kids really do respond to those things. My daughter was in love with her Kai Lan books and she learned better ways of dealing with her frustration.

Quoting Kaleighshaleigh:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:</b>" Aw lol that is cute   I've tried ... [snip!] ... that age maybe that is part f her problem. She doesn't know the words to express herself. I wonder if the books will help her."

Yeah she doesn't say many words, but she can sign quite a few to get her point across. I'm hoping this phase will pass soon because it's totally wearing me out lol

Quoting OmegaDucks!:" I can't have milk so when I eat a lot of things with dairy in them I tend to get short tempered. But ... [snip!] ... to those things. My daughter was in love with her Kai Lan books and she learned better ways of dealing with her frustration."

I guess it wouldn't hurt to try an elimination diet for her. I'm willing to try anything at this point because she has such a short fuse.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:</b>" Yeah she doesn't say many words, but she can sign quite a few to get her point across. I'm hoping this phase will pass soon because it's totally wearing me out lol"</blockquote>




We've all been there. It will pass.  

Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:" I guess it wouldn't hurt to try an elimination diet for her. I'm willing to try anything at this point because she has such a short fuse."

I wish you luck. Tantrums are no fun.

Quoting Kaleighshaleigh:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mother of Broccoli.:</b>" Yeah she doesn't say many words, ... [snip!] ... phase will pass soon because it's totally wearing me out lol"</blockquote> We've all been there. It will pass.  "

Thanks  

Quoting OmegaDucks!:" I wish you luck. Tantrums are no fun."

Thank you   They are NO fun at all lol