4 Tips for Dealing with Baby Tantrums
Experiencing a tantrum from your baby can be incredibly confronting. In all likelihood, you will not be ready for the screaming, shrieking, stiffening, hitting, kicking and writhing that you may see and it is possible that you will not see this reaction coming from whatever it is that has upset your baby.
Knowing how to respond to a baby or child’s tantrum is not always easy, but here we provide you with a range of tips and strategies for dealing with this behaviour.
#1: It isn’t you
Possibly the most important thing to keep in mind when your baby is having a tantrum is that the tantrum is not necessarily a reaction to you. Just as importantly, your child’s behaviour is not necessarily an indication that they have a bad temper. Because your child is probably too young to really show a bad temper, the ways that you react when they are an infant, will be quite different to how you may react when they are older.
#2: Understand tantrums
Knowing that tantrums are a response to a loss of emotional control can help you to understand why your baby has reacted in the way they have. It can be useful to think of a tantrum as part of your baby’s learning; this loss of emotional control is likely to be sudden and abrupt, but your child is learning a lot about their situation and circumstances.
#3: Identify triggers
While they aren’t always immediately obvious, knowing what has triggered your baby’s tantrum is helpful as you can perhaps then remove these catalysts to prevent future outbursts for the same reason. Also, an appreciation of what has triggered your little one’s tantrum can also give you ideas on how to calm them down.
#4: Try to prevent tantrums in the first place
Understanding a little about tantrums and what has set your child off in the first place can be helpful information for avoiding future tantrums. While there are sometimes no quick fixes or sure-fire solutions, some of the best ways for maintaining calm and preventing upset include:
- Baby massage: The benefits of baby massage are many and varied. The power of touch is incredible and baby massage has been shown to strengthen the bonds between parent and child. Strokes delivered with the assistance of baby massage oilcan help both child and parent to enjoy a state of calm and enhanced well-being.
- Sleep: Babies are more likely to tantrum if they are overtired and have had insufficient sleep. When your baby displays signs of tiredness, put him or her down for a nap before they pass the point of tiredness and become inconsolable.
- Feeding: Similarly, well-fed babies that are nourished frequently tend to be more content and less likely to tantrum. Babies of course have very small stomachs and therefore need to be fed often.
- Play: Ensuring that your baby has access to age-appropriate toys and activities can also make significant difference. When your baby is able to play with the toys that they have, a tantrum out of frustration is less likely to occur.
- Remain calm: If you are able to stay calm and unflustered, it is likely that this will transmit to your baby. Be patient and as relaxed as possible – many new parents speak of their sense that the baby picks up on their own levels of anxiety and distress.
It can be shocking and distressing to witness your baby having a tantrum. While tantrums are part of learning and growing up for lots of children, the aforementioned strategies are likely to be helpful in preventing and responding to your baby’s tantrums.