When we tell my 11 month old; ''NO'' when he's touching something he's not supposed to, he's throwing himself back and arching his back and scooting backwards in this position. He's already hit his head a couple of times,but we've stopped him a couple of times as well. My mother in law takes care of him when we are working and she says he's doing this with her as well. I don't know how to prevent him from doing this, anybody go through this as well?
It could be that he doesn't understand and/or doesn't like the answer.
I was told to "re-direct" my son's attention to a better, safer toy or activity.
It was a lot more work but worked!
Seems to me he'll stop when he's tired of bumping his head. I don't know how you would make him stop.
Haha, oh yes, sometimes the tantrums start REALLY early! He might be still a little young to understand what "No" means, so that is why he is fighting you on it. All he knows is what he wants to do, and you keep stopping him. He doesnt understand WHY your doing it.
Just keep saying, No sweetie, we dont do that, you'll hit your head etc. and as he grows, he will start to understand what you are talking about and trying to teach.
When he is in an area that you dont want him to be in, or doing something he shouldn't then pick him up and put him in a different area and give him something to distract himself with. And when he and if he goes back to the No, No area then again pick him up and put him elsewhere. He will start to learn quicker that he is not supposed to be over there. Just be consistent with him.
Distract, distract, distract!
Good luck hun!
Yep, he wants to do it his way. Instead of constant no, let him bump his head a few more times.. he will understand. It will "knock some understanding into him"..
Use redirection when possible and also do not over react when he does hit his head, instead say "Uh Oh".. And stay calm..
This is very normal.
Our DS started "tantrums" early too. The ped said we should say a stern no, move him away from the off limits item, and redirect. If he pitched a tantrum, the ped recommended moving him to a spot where he wasn't a danger to himself, and then seemingly ignoring him, all the while watching him out of the corner of our eye. She said the tantrums would stop if we didn't give him an audience. She said it was imperative that we ignore tantrums at home and in public so he doesn't get the notion that he is subject to a different, perhaps more liberal set of rules when outside of the house.
He's 16 months now, and tantrums on occassion, but has gotten the idea that certain things are off limits, i.e. the t.v., the remote, the radiators. You'll be amazed at how much they can catch onto.
Be persistent, good luck to you and yours.
F. B.
LOL, you've got a strong-willed, feisty one on your hands! Have fun~!
Ditto Laurie.
Remove, redirect, distract.
Remove him from where he is, redirect his attention to something else immediately, distract him from the thing he wanted.
It's typical for this to happen and typical for it to start by 11 months; I'm not sure why you're concered that he's doing it "already." He will continue to do it for a long time to come; it takes not months but years for kids to learn self-control and the skills to listen to "no."
Find a good book on child development stages at your bookstore or library. It will help you get a handle on what to expect at different ages and stages. Don't expect this phase to pass quickly and do realize that punishment at this age (and for some time to come) will not work; he will not associate your punishment with his own actions. It's a long time (three, four or older with some kids) before children can make the association: "I did X and mom punished me; if I do X again this time, she will punish me so I had better not do it." That level of reasoning is a long, long way off, so just remove, redirect and distract.
My 3yr old girl, started that at 6months. but neither of my other 2 kids did that. she is by far my most strong willed, stubborn child. as they get older, you have to find a discipline that works for your child. when we started times outs, she would just go to sleep, but taking a toy away for "x" amount of time or days (depending on the age) works for her. The discipline method that works on each child within the same family can be so different. you just have to keep trying and with a strong willed child, NEVER give in to a tantrum. I think there was a 6 month period where I was pregnant and my husband traveling all the time...I gave in to her sometimes because i was so tired some days. I think it took over a year of not giving in to her to break the habit. and we had many rough days, where i felt like a failure.
Discipline fits now to save your sanity for the next few years. Kids can learn instantly not to do this. When he BEGINS it, you say, "No fits", when he begins to proceed "POP" on the butt (no anger). Be consistent. Soon, he'll stop the tantrum in it's tracks on a warning. If you distract, redirect, ignore, he'll learn to escalate this behavior and it will continue for years. I nipped it right away in all three of my kids and none of them have ever thrown fits.
Our 14 month son started throwing fits at around the same age. He rather dislikes being told what to do we've learned. Too bad for him I say. Our guy stomps around and screams at full volume when he tantrums. Like others have said ignore the tantrums, stick to your guns, and try distracting your little one if possible. Sometimes I can move my son away from the no situation and provide an alternative. Other times he won't have any part of the distraction and goes right back to the no situation. For every situation he gets better about hearing no/being redirected, he finds another one to replace it. Last week he was raiding the refrigerator and over the weekend he stopped doing that only to start opening to cat food bin. It's always something but consistency is the best remedy. Good luck.
