8 Month old Tantrums!!

[Aug2002Bride]

My 8 month old has started throwing a fit whenever we take something away from her, put her in her carseat, put her on her changing table, in her highchair etc. My DH thinks we need to do something about...but I think shes too young to understand...I mean she screams at the top of her lungs along with crying with big ol tears.. :confused:

What do you all think?

[Aug2002Bride]

bump!

[Allegra]

no clue! my eight month old has started throwing fits when I put her on the changing table - love to hear any ideas!
Allegra

[twinnyme]

My 6.5 month DD cries every time I put her on the changing table now. I think it's because I only use it now before I put her to bed - so she associates it with going to bed (though she goes to bed fine). I'm at a loss about it, too, but figure it's a good thing - meaning she's associating things. But I still avoid it - that's my solution! - I "trick" her by changing her on the floor instead now. She also was crying a little bit when I put her in her carseat the last few days but we just switched to the big-girl carseat last weekend so I think she's just getting used to the change. Sorry I can't be more help! Anyone else have any suggestions?

[Toonces]

That's very common behavior for her age. My DD is 9.5 months old and doing the same thing. I think it's just them exerting their feelings because they finally get how to do that, it's just they're being extreme about those feelings. I think it'll slowly get more middle of the road the older they get. You're right, she's too young to discipline. When my DD does things like that, I talk to her in a calm voice, tell her that she's okay, rub her back and kiss her head. She usually continues to whimper, but that subsides pretty quickly. I've also tried the diversion thing and that works well. For example, if she starts playing with a magazine and I'd rather she plays with a toy, I let her play with the mag for a few seconds, then talk excitedly to her about a toy and hand that over to her. 90% of the time she grabs the toy and forgets the magazine. Diaper changes are also a struggle and we've found that giving her a toy to play with seems to distract her. We change the toys up every few diaper changes b/c she gets bored with the same toy pretty quickly. HTH! :)

[kmmommy]

I'm not sure how great my advice will be, but I'll try. My DS has never been one to cry or throw fits. However, when he does we try to have something to distract him. We will talk or make funny faces or sing or even give him a toy he doesn't get to play with often. We have a couple little toys in the car or when we change his diaper we let him look at the remote or our cell phones.

It has really helped us b/c although he doesn't scream or cry he does wiggle A LOT!

Hope this helps!

[onomatopoeia]

Last month my son started to scream when we put him on the changing table. He also would violently roll around so we took the pad off, use the dresser space now and just change him on the floor. I tend to do what Kaeden's Mommy does while changing him - try to distract him w/ a song or a toy.

He def. is expressing himself more about what he wants. I just hope the screaming is a phase.

[Sidsou]

DS is 11 months now and has been doing the same sort of things especially when it comes to changing diapers time. We have the changing pad now on the floor - he squirmed so much it scared me to have it up high. The best thing for us has been to have some toys nearby or even little books to distract him. For awhile we even got this bear that sings "patty cake" and that would just mesmorize him - although now he's used to it. I think the best advice is just to stay calm - distract him with a toy/book or sing a silly song.

A friend of mine who's son is 14 months now is able to "reason" with him with the car seat and use the dog as an excuse - "we have to get in the car seat so we can go home and feed 'Fido'" and she says that works wonders.