Mommies Magazine

Avoiding Toddler Tantrums

Posted on 18. Feb, 2008 by The Mommy Circle in Life As A Mom

The terrible twos . . . Public toddler meltdowns can make even the most dignified parent red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground.

Here are a few tip to help in avoiding toddler tantrums:

Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the main reason for a tantrum. Keep in mind, this happens to us adults too when we are tired, we easily get frustrated so, how much more so for your two year old.

Keep Sugar Levels Stable - Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make him irritable and tired. Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.

Give Them Time - Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to set off a tantrum. Let him try to be independent as he wants and give him the extra time he’ll need.

Put it Away – Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have. Put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight for a toddler usually means out of mind, which is a great way of avoiding tantrums.

Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.

Hope these little tips help out with your two year difficult stage and make it easier on everyone involved.

Tags: avoid tantrums, avoid toddler tantrums, tantrums, tips for avoiding toddler tantrums, toddler tantrums, toddlers