2 Year Old Tantrums Related to Diet?

Terrible twos have nothing to do with diet. It is 100% behavior. The best thing to do is not to tolerate the behavior in any way for it re-enforces the behavior. When they are having the tantrum, simply pick them up (wiggling and screaming and all) and put them down on the floor of their room and tell them "this screaming and yelling and kicking is not okay and you stay in this room until you are nice...then you can come out". I did this with my son when he was 2 and he never had another tantrum. K.

Sounds exactly like a two year old to me. Do your diet research, you may just find something, but don't let this get you down. He is two. This is a teeny tiny issue that he will outgrow. Recognize it as a stage of his life and deal with it calmly and matter-of-factly. Save your tears for when you will really need them - the teen years. Who watches him while you are at work/school? Perhaps it is a separation anxiety or caregiver issue? Just a thought. But the bottom line is, he is two. That age hasn't been dubbed "the terrible two's" for no reason. They aren't terrible in my book. I have grown kids, and the two's are a walk in the park compared to other ages. But to new moms, they can seem rough. Don't take his mood swings personally. Keep it all in perspective. He is still a baby. It is all easy stuff at this point. When he is 15 years old, out hours past his curfew and hasn't called, and you are out of your mind with worry and anxiety, you will long for the days you are living right now, you will wish he was still that adorable, fussy little two year old, safe and sound in his own home. :0)

During his twos, my son would go through a few weeks where he did really well and had good behavior and then he'd go through a few weeks where he had tantrums at the drop of a hat. What I have heard is that when their brain is making major advances the rest of them struggles to keep up and that is what accounts for the bad behavior. I don't know if that is accurate but it made me feel a lot better to think he was just making a big advance in his brain and I'd remind myself that it would pass in a few weeks and it always did. Hang in there.

P.

Hi. you gcan request from your doctor a specific test that checks for intolerance to gluten and other things for that matter. It just sounds like he is striving for independence not anything else but definately consult with your doctor. Gluten intollerance ususally looks a bit different. A swollen belly, thin legs that kind of thing. don't worry about every little thing. He is a kid and no matter how much you feel he understands what you say to him, he still is only 2. Their comprehension just isn't all there yet and it is all about him at this point. Good luck!

Hi K....

I dont know anything about diet but I do know this..your child is 2! Having a 2 year old myself I have learned that ALL 2 year olds act crazy, and irrational at times. I heard a woman who was pushing 4 kids around in the grocery store the other day say to another mom who's 2 year old was also having a tantrum in the store that "Age 2 sucks!" I couldnt help but laugh and I think they heard cause they turned and saw that I had a 2 year old and the three of us strangers sat and chatted in the isle of a grocery store chatting about 2 year olds just being 2 year olds. My daughter has been driving me nuts. Some days go by and she is the perfect little angel. She is also potty trained so her behavior translates to that as well. Like I said some days perfect, uses the potty like a pro...other days she acts as though she has LOST her mind, and also wont potty well.Honestly the easy answer is STOP loking for hidden meanings, you've got a 2 year old and there is a reason why the term terrible two's was coined. Stick to your disciplinary methods and let him know when he is not acting in an acceptable matter and we can all pray the two's go by VERY quickly..LOL> Good luck.

That's how toddlers typically act (yes, with some exceptions)! Tantrums are usually due to the fact that a toddler doesn't quite know how to express himself to others and that leads to an intense build-up of feelings of frustration and impatience. Put yourself in your child's shoes and try to "see" the situation from their viewpoint. Try to imagine how he might be feeling based on how he is expressing himself at the moment through his behavior. In other words, empathize with him. Then, recite to him how he must be feeling. Remember, all behavior is a form of communication. Think about it, you cannot NOT communicate something by how you are behaving in the moment. Usually, if you find the right feeling being expressed and communicate that to your child, the tantrum will begin to subside.

Also, know that some children need to "ride out the storm" once it begins as it is too difficult to turn back and regulate their emotion once it starts. Allow him to do that in a safe manner (i.e., don't allow him to break things, hit others, or destroy the room, but allow him to scream and cry) if that is what he needs. When he has calmed down, then empathize and reflect to him how he must have been feeling. Don't do it in the middle of a tantrum if he isn't listening. It'll probably just frustrate you and thus frustrate him more.

In addition, work on keeping calm yourself through his tantrum. Children aren't born knowing how to manage their emotions, they learn from us in how we manage our own emotions. If he can see you able to calm yourself down effectively and not lose control through yelling or spanking him (I'm not saying you do this, just an example), then he'll eventually learn to do so also. Know that children need multiple repititions to learn something, so don't become irritated that you need to repeat this pattern for the gazillionith time!

Good luck!
Sincerely,
S. M. Wolf, M.A.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Anaheim, CA

my kids have something called Celiac disease. It is an auto-imune disorder. If they eat Gluten (in wheat, barley, rye, and oats that have been contaminated by either of these) their bodies (specifically) their intestines are attacked.
It is definitely something that can attribute to moodiness and tantrums. It affects how your body absorbs the nutrients you eat. so, imagine how you feel when you haven't eaten, and then you have to do something (even if it is something you love to do).His brain could be starving for the needed nutrients that make rational thinking possible.
Dairy intolerance has the same sort of affect. If you are dairy intolerant, you may not have a reaction immediately. Your body gets a build up, thus causing your intestines to stop absorbing the nutrients and fats that you need to think.
Either of these can cause a loose, fatty stool. And both can affect their behaviors. But at the same time, HE IS TWO.

Hi K.,

It could very well be diet, and on the other hand, it could just be normal toddler-ness! The diet part you can try by doing elimination tests. When my daughter was breastfeeding, I went to La Leche League meetings. A woman there was having terrible trouble nursing. Her baby would fuss and wriggle so furiously she said it was like trying to wrestle a greased pig. The leader recommended doing elimination diets. The next month, the woman came back and reported that corn was the culprit! She tried eliminating wheat & dairy, with no improvement, but that once she eliminated eating corn/corn products the improvement was remarkable. The baby was calm, peaceful and nursed beautifully.

So I would suggest try eliminating different things from his diet - each for a week or two - and watch his behavior. Do some internet research - there are so many allergens. Wheat, dairy, corn, peanuts (or other nuts), certain fruits, etc. With corn, it's in everything: corn syrup in juice and candy, etc. Watch labels.

Sorry this is so long! Hope it helps.

People (children included ha ha ha) can be allergic to more than just food items, and reactions to allergens can exhibit in an endless kaliedescope of symptoms.

My suggestion to you is that you visit NAET.com, order and read the book "Say Good-Bye to Children's Allergies." If you want to do more research on the subject, you may also want to go to narfnet.org (Nambudripad Allergy Research Foundatin). There are now over 9000 NAET certified practitioners world wide. I go to Dr. David Karaba in Fullerton and absolutely love him. His phone number is ###-###-####. One of the wonderful things about NAET is that for children or the infirm, they can be treated through a surrogate, i.e., you. Here is the description paragraph from the book information.

"Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D.
Paperback-1st Edition 2000
350 pages, 8.5’ X 5.5’ X .75’
ISBN: ISBN: 0-###-###-####-8-4
In Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies, Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, will help you understand your child’s illness and will assist you in finding the right help to achieve better health for your child. This book will show you how certain commonly used products in your foods and environment can cause health problems in your child; how you can test your child in your privacy of your own home using the Nambudripad’s Testing Techniques described in the book. This book will educate you how your child’s health problems can relate to allergy, a traditionally under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed condition; and, how allergies can manifest into myriad symptoms that might seem unrelated. The author also provides remedies for mild conditions of common childhood ailments arising from allergies and how to find help in assisting your child find the right help for serious problems such as, asthma, hay-fever, common colds, sinus problems, milk allergy, peanut allergy, sugar allergy, hives, gastritis, vomiting, colic for newborns, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, bronchitis, drug reactions, and many other conditions. Dr. Nambudripad explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to pediatric problems and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from these allergies. The book is supported by NAET® practitioners’ testimonials and patients’ success stories."

I think there can be a strong tie between diet and behavior, but I'm not sure about gluten allergies. My own head strong 2yo is always more hyper/irritable after processed/sugary/ chemical-filled foods, so we try to avoid those things.
She has dairy allergies, but reacts with vomiting and lethargy, not bad behavior.
Sometimes, tho, two is just two. No matter how angelic they were before, this is when their little horns come out.

I'm not a doctor so I can't address the diet issue but the behavior you described sounds like 2 year old behavior. They are learning about their emotions and are frequently up and down on the scale. Be sure to validate his feelings by naming the emotion he's exhibiting. "I can see that you are feeling ______" That kind of thing. We started talking about what my daughter could do when she feels like _____. We did stretches, deep breathing, hugging a teddy bear/pillow/etc. and other techniques for her to learn she could control her emotions a little better. I also talk through my own emotions. "Wow, mommy is really frustrated right now so I'm going to try ___ to see if it helps me feel better." It's not a quick fix but he will begin to learn calming techniques. A friend of mine with older kids told me to think of the 2's and 3's as PMS without the vocabulary. Good luck!

Hi K.;

I have four children and two are adults. Two are teenagers, my second eldest son is like that since I divorce his dad. We have a join custody of sharing him back and forth between two houses. I was trying to be patient and understanding with him. The more he is growing up, the more the problem keep rising and having difficulty in school and behavioral. So finally, I talk to his pediatrician doctor and let him know about him. He suggested to do testing about him physchological analysis and we did it. They found out that he has a Bi-polar disorder. First they try to give him a medication, but my son refuse to do so. Until when he was on 7th grader, he ask me that he would like to live with his father in NY. So I spoke to him and told my son that if he's father is willing to support him, give him food,shelter and put him in school then he could ask his father to send his ticket to NY. Sometimes the trauma between the two parents are also the cause, but I don't know what happen between you and your partner. Please have his ped doctor to check on your son and request your doctor that you would like him to recommended to be analysis him. It is better to find out now before it's too late, then it will be difficult and harder. If you're worried about the food diet, as long as you feeing him his homemade foods and I think food is not the cause. They might have something than that. It is only a suggestion. Good luck and take care.

Rgds,

A.

Hi K.,
I don't have any answers but want to reassure you that my son used to do very similar things. His mood would flick like a switch and I was concerned about his mental state because there is a history of manic depression in both my and my husband's families. I spoke with his doctor and she said it was normal behavior and he would grow out of it. Sure enough, he did. He just didn't have the ability at such a young age to control his emotions. So much is new at that age and they are trying to learn and adapt to so much. And there are phases when everything seems great and then they become erratic again. My older son is now 6 and my younger one is 3. Now when my 3 year old goes wonky I have the reassurance that he will move beyond this phase. I think you're doing great. You're obviously a very caring and concerned mom. I'm not suggesting you don't explore things like diet - that can definitely affect a child's behavior, as can sleep. I just wanted to give you a little reassuring pat on the back. All the best, C.

He's 2. If he doesn't have any diet issues he could still throw tantrums. They are not reasonable little creatures when they're two. My brother and sister-in-law had the exact same thing happen with their two year old and the bath. He screamed about getting in and screamed about getting out. The correlation that does make a difference is tiredness. My son always had more tantrums when he was sleepy. Good luck! 4 is much easier!

Hi K. - I have three boys who went through the terrible twos. Hopefully that's all he's going through and it will pass. I do know that diet can be a factor in behavioral issues and am certain both any GI Tract issues and behavioral issues would be helped by a consistent diet of fruits, vegetables and healthy grains on a daily basis (as well as determining if there are any foods that are bothering him). If he's like most other kids it's extremely difficult to get them to eat enough fruits and especially vegetables. I highly recommend a children's gummie called Juice Plus that he will like and that will be like a nutritional seat belt for your son. You can learn more about what health professionals and the independent research say about it at http://www.juiceplus.com/+cc42230 or call the free info line at 800-942-1260. Good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how Juice Plus can help.

C.
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JUICE PLUS - The next best thing to eating your fruits and vegetables - 17 vine ripened fruits and vegetable in capsule/chewable form

K. -

I am a mother of 2, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. All I have to say is "welcome to the 2's." Some kids hit it at 18 months, some at 2 and others at 3. This is normal for them as they begin to establish their independence away from you. They will flip-flop back and forth between what they want and throw really big fits. Now, more than ever, he needs firm guidance, loving discipline and a regular routine that does not really change much. (My husband and I joke that they turn bi-polar at this age.)

As parents it would be so much easier if the fits could be affected by food they eat or whatever so that those things could change quickly, but, unfortunately, this is a phase they just have to grow out of.

Time outs have worked wonders with our son. He gets sent to time out only when it is really bad, i.e. a fit, and knows he can't come out until his fit is over. He tells me he is sorry and begs me to let him out, but, as I have stayed firm and have taken him back to his time out when he tries to get out, it really has worked. His fits last maybe about 1 to 2 minutes now, which is a miracle. He knows that when he is done with his fit that he will still have to do whatever it is and will do it, not happily, but will do it. (ie eat dinner, take a bath, go to sleep, etc.)

Good luck!

K.,

I wrote you a very long response about a week ago, but by the time i was done and tried to send it, the website just didn't take it, and it all got erased ! Oh well, to make a long story short, I am a mom of two who had a very difficult time with the kind of thing you are describing. My kids are now 18 and 21 years old ! But the book that was a life saver for me and you can still get it on amazon is: "Is This Your Child" by Doris Rapp, M.D. It's about "Discovering and Treating Unrecognized Allergies" in children. Read the testimonials on amazon about it, I think it will help you immensely!!! It helped me to recognize that this type of behavior in my son was due to an allergy to red dye no. 40 and yellow dye. As soon as I removed these artificial dye's from his diet, he stopped the weird behavior. Good Luck, and listen to your gut, even if the the western doctors tell you you are crazy :)

Dear K.,

I don't think that it is related to diet, but it may be useful to start a food journal just in case.

I think it is just a matter of being two years old and trying to control the environment or 'manage' his own life. My gr grandson used to do those very same things when he was about 1/1/2 years old to almost three. He was and is a very good boy and loves life and tries to figure things out. It is just one of those things that children do. My grandson started by struggling when we were changing his diapers and/or changing his clothes. One time I counted 5 times that I put his pants on, and he would pull one leg out while the other leg was going in. Of course I am his gr grandmother and I thought it was funny, but I can see that a mother or father would worry about what is causing him to do that. He will get over it. Just do not feel guilty, or make him feel embarrassed or guilty. Just get through it the best way that you can and all the talking in the world is not going to stop him right now. Kids cry, let him cry. It is not a horrible thing.

C. N.