8 Month Old Temper Tantrums

You didn't create a brat, he's just trying to tell you that he doesn't want to do what you want. Just ignore it. If he doesn't want to sit, leave him laying on the floor and walk away. This is how he learns to sit himself up and move. If he doesn't want to sit in his carseat, buckle him in anyway and ignore the screaming until it stops, then talk to him. It's not really a tantrum, he just doesn't have words yet and it's the only way he can tell you he's unhappy with what you are doing. You "create a brat" by giving in and showing him that screaming and crying will get him what he wants.

My youngest daughter started tantrumming at 6 months! (older two started older). We actually use a discipline system for infants and toddlers (controversial but worked like a charm for my older two and prevented any trace of terrible twos-they've never had tantrums)-let me know if you want the book. I procrastinated until 8 months, but she was getting very tantrummy so I started at 8 months. The real sign she was ready was when she started shrieking when I stopped to talk too long to someone at the gym while holding her. She was fine and cheery and then decided she didn't want me to keep talking. When I didn't submit to her shrieks she started screaming and whacking me in the face and I had to excuse myself from the conversation. We began work that day when we got home.
She just turned one and has improved dramatically. Now she'll just shriek once to let me know she doesn't approve of something and give me "the eye" and if I say, "No!" she doesn't continue the fit. If I ignore, she does. but I never do. :) I don't want the habit to form. The key is catching the very onset with a consequence and never letting it slide, so they never start the habit. It will be much harder later if you ignore.

He's J. voicing his frustration he seems smart, I would teach him some sign language if hes not talking so he can communicate, thats what we did with our daughter, and she was speaking in short sentences by 9 months. Also its important they crawl it actually helps with something in their brain, I read it somewhere you could probably google it, so I would encourage him ro crawl, maybe also make it fun to get in his seat, put kid music in the car, I wouldn't like to have to sit in a place not talk, not be entertained for a whole ride so I'm sure a baby feels the same way.

Our dr told us that the 9 month mark is a huge transition period. Boy was he right! They are at the age where they are really alert and want to be involved in everything, but aren't really mobile enough to get to what they want. I bet that is why he freaks out when you stop "walking" with him. Because he knows he can't just go and get something w/o you.

He cannot communicate yet, so him screaming and arching is the way that he lets you know he is frustrated. Not fun, I know!

The hardest period of time I have had with my son so far was 9-14 months. He is only 2...so I don't have a lot of experience!

When he starts crawling and walking I think you will see a that he will start freaking out about different things - he will be into EVERYTHING, so he will get very upset when you try to take away the phone/remote/electrical plug/etc.

You haven't created a brat, he is just trying to communicate his frustrations and that is the only way he can do it at this point. Just be consistent - put him in the carseat and booster seat for dinner even if he is wigging out. He has to know that he won't control the situation.

Good luck!

My 9 month old has been doing this for 2 months now. It's a normal response to being told no. We usually just say " you go ahead and get mad" set him down and sort of turn our backs to him until he settles then find something for him to do. We've also had some luck with handing him something to do like a toy right as we put him in the seat so his attention is elsewhere. Good luck:)

Hi, Jo:
Just some information for you:
Babies need to crawl. Do you notice how babies crawl? One side of the body moves and then the other side moves. This is necessary to provide pathways and connections to both sides of the brain. Have you heard about people having brain injury and they get them to go back through the stages by crawling?

Find ways to make a game to get him to crawl. Find out how long you need to do that. Good luck. D.

It sounds like he is doing things a bit younger, and I know of kids that were doing this about 1 year, so I don't think this is abnormal. The way to deal with it is to ignore it. Right now he is getting a rise out of you. Just walk away and tell him to let you know when he is done. You can also ask him periodically if he is done with his tantrum. Same in the car. Just wait, don't react or interact. Sit quietly and look away. The "walking" thing is normal. My son did this for quite some time before really walking and only truly crawled after he walked. They do need to learn to crawl, but I'm not sure if it matters what order it is in.

THis might be stretching it a bit, but I wonder if there is a GI issue? I really don't think an 8 month old has a "tantrum" but maybe he's just uncomfortable sitting? Does he sleep normally? And you did not create a bad habit! Some kids are mobile earlier than others. Mine didn't walk til 15 and 16 months!