Child's tantrum. How to calm your baby down

Wachanga’s psychologist recommends how to deal with difficult situations and maintain the right relationship with the child.

When the baby just cries, it means simple discomfort for others. But when it is a real hysteria, it’s stress for everyone, while parents often experience a sense of shame. Among other things, during a tantrum, the child can harm himself or others.

Frequent tantrums are characteristic of the "One Year Crisis". They talk less about it than about the "Crisis of 3 Years", but this period is very significant for the emotional development of the baby. It often happens that at the age of about a year, the baby "seems to have been replaced" – mood, preferences, behavior change.

A child under 3 years old during a crisis does not need to constantly communicate with other children (some kids show aggression during this period), but a regular change of scenery, walks are necessary. It is important to prepare for stressful situations.

You need to have several ways to stop tantrums "in stock", since there can be a large number of reasons for these tantrums. If they do not work, you need to take the child away from the situation and the people around him.

• Always take water with you wherever you go with your child.
• Take different toys so that the baby can be distracted and interacted with their help with other children.
• Teach your child to feed the birds and take some bread with you for walks – this activity can distract when a tantrum begins.
• If the baby is already screaming and does not react to your actions and attempts to calm them down, step back – "Bye-bye, mom is leaving. Will you come with me?" It is extremely important for a small child to feel that you are near.
• If during a tantrum the child fights and tries to beat you, put them on the floor or chair and say in a calm voice: "Are you arguing with me? But I love you so much."

Try to talk to the child as often as possible, ask what he thinks and what he wants, teach him to change and share toys with other children, support and regret if the baby hurt a friend, fell, was offended by someone. And try not to beat them up if they get dirty – just hug.

Crying after separation

During a crisis of one to two years, toddlers often give their parents "checks." When a loved one leaves home for a while, the child has time to get bored. No matter how long you've been gone, your child will want to make sure you're not going anywhere else. Therefore, they can persistently demand your attention, and if they do not receive it, they can throw a tantrum.

The anxiety of the child in such a situation can be reduced at least a little by being with them after coming. If they continue to follow you "tail", you can entrust them with several "important things". For example, wipe the table in the kitchen or lay dishes.

Crying outside the door

When the child appears, you have almost no time for yourself. Most moms in the first year or two do not have enough time for a bath, beauty treatments, entertainment and hobbies. And when you go missing in the bathroom, the baby can lose you and cry at the door. Remember: at this moment they are not crying out of harmfulness – they feel fear.

Try to talk to your child through the door, try to calm them down with familiar songs. Hearing your calm voice, the baby is likely to forget about anxiety. If there is a partner or loved one at home, ask to occupy the baby with games.

Mood swings

Stubbornness and frequent mood swings really frighten parents, because the baby can fall to the floor with a scream and knock their feet, hands and even head. At this point, you want to stop it immediately and (often) punish the child for this behavior. But remember that the child suffers from such changes that occur to them, they are also sensitive to the mood of others, so the best way to calm a crying child is to calm down yourself.

Distinguish between "special," revealing tantrums that a child may roll up to get something they want from you. Such emotions should be reacted neutrally, while controlling the actions of the crumbs.

If the tantrum happened due to the fact that the child is overexcited or overworked, excessively disturbed by something, you should not leave them alone with this condition, otherwise they will calm down for a very long time. You need your peace of mind and enough attention. It is important for the child to be able to lean on you to get out of the tantrum. Try to protect the child from a state of deep hysteria, when they hiccup and breathe heavily – this is harmful to both mental and physical health.

Put a pillow full of dry herbs next to them, talk to them quietly and calmly, hug them, stroke them, turn on calm music. In other words, express understanding and sympathy and help to get out of a difficult state.

Be attentive to your baby!