By Elizabeth Pantley
A baby’s first tantrum can take you by surprise. Your baby can really shock you by shrieking, stamping, hitting, or making his whole body go stiff. But don’t take it personally! You haven’t “caused” this. Baby tantrums aren’t about anything you’ve done wrong, and they aren’t really about temper, either – your baby isn’t old enough for that. The ways you’ll respond to your baby’s behaviour when he is older are different than how you should respond now.
Why babies have tantrums and what you can do about it
A baby tantrum is an abrupt and sudden loss of emotional control. Various factors bring tantrums on, and if you can identify the trigger, then you can help him calm down and perhaps even avoid the tantrum in the first place. Here are the common reasons and ways to solve the problem:
| Reason for tantrum | Possible solution |
| Overtiredness | Settle baby down to sleep; Provide quiet activity |
| Hunger | Give baby a snack or something to drink |
| Frustration | Help baby achieve his goal or remove the frustration; Use distraction |
| Fear/anxiety | Hold and cuddle baby; Remove baby from difficult situation |
| Inability to communicate | Try to figure out what he wants; Calmly encourage him to show you |
| Resisting change | Allow a few minutes for baby to make adjustment |
| Over stimulation | Move baby to a quiet place |
