How to Deal With a Toddler Tantrum and Vomiting
Toddlers, children between 1 to 3 years old, have limited verbal skills to handle anger. A tantrum is not a planned behavior for attention, it is uncontrolled anger. A toddler may become so angry he holds his breath, screams or cries until he vomits. Dealing with toddler tantrums requires management to avoid them and steps for dealing with them once they occur.
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
- Baby wipes or wet wash cloth
- Change of clothes
- Plastic bag (optional)
Instructions
Management
Write down the times you can remember your child having tantrums and the events that were going on. Note events like overstimulation, boredom, not being able to do something she wanted to do, or if she needed sleep, rest or food. If you are not sure of what happened, watch two or three tantrums to find out. Note what your child does immediately before the tantrum begins, such as getting louder, stomping a foot, an angry expression or even tears. Avoid situations that commonly trigger a tantrum. If most tantrums are around nap or eating time, feed your child or put him down for a nap before going shopping or to play dates. If frustration with doing things is a trigger, work on helping him learn those skills when he is rested, not hungry and is not excited. When you see signs a tantrum is about to occur, distract your child by doing something fun such as singing a song or pointing out something interesting. Practice calming tools when your child is not upset. Teach your child to use a ̶0;calm voice̶1; to ask for things. Demonstrate saying ̶0;I̵7;m angry̶1; and model behaviors like counting to 10, taking deep breaths or walking off the frustration. Tantrum
During a tantrum, make sure your child is safe and not endangering others. If you need to take your child into a safe area, do it quickly without raising your voice while telling your child you are taking her to a safe area. If your child tries to hurt herself or others, or attempts to go somewhere dangerous, it may be necessary to gently hold her still. Do not talk to her except to say you will let her go when she is calm. Ignore the behavior, even vomiting, as long as your child is safe. Dr. William Sears, pediatrician and author, says if your child̵7;s tantrum is from frustration, you may tell him you will help him when he is calm. When the tantrum has stopped, calmly ask your child if she would like you to help her clean up, put on fresh clothes and rinse her mouth. It is important that your response is matter-of-fact and neither angry nor comforting so you are not rewarding the behavior. Suggest a soothing activity such as a bath, story or watching a movie.
