3 Year Old Tantrums - What Will You Be Expecting

Dealing with tantrums is an emotional rollercoaster for parents and children alike. They are exhausting, stressful, frustrating and can easily put a strain on a household. While they are difficult to manage, it’s not impossible to make it easier. In this article, you will learn various techniques and prevention methods to help you better deal with your 3 year old’s tantrums.

Tantrums are a normal part of a kids’ developmental stages. They often occur when they are hungry, sleepy, tired or sometimes because they can’t get what they want. However, it’s not the same for every child as some have them more frequently than others.

Because emotions are complex to process at a toddler’s age, they will express themselves through tantrums. Tantrums are typically characterized by screaming, yelling, anger, crying and sometimes stomping or throwing things. While they are never easy to deal with it’s always important to understand the cause and have patience towards your child. They too, are having a hard time and are afraid as emotions are new to them as well as expressing them in a healthy way.

Often, toddlers will awake from a nap in an icky mood. While it’s definitely unpleasant to deal with, it’s normal and will likely happen again. Thankfully, there are ways to relieve the grumpiness after they wake up from their naps. Here are a few tips on how to do so.

As adults, we have experienced how difficult it is to wake up from a nap that’s too long. Upon opening your eyes you feel as is your eyelids are extremely heavy and you simply want to roll back over to sleep. The same can affect a toddler if they sleep for a little too long. They simply won’t want to wake up after being in such a deep slumber which can lead to grogginess. That said, do not wake your child less than his usual naptime, the brain develops and stores what they have learned while they napped. Thus, as a good measure, it has been noted that a 12 month old baby (and above) takes about 1-2 naps a day, each 1.5-2 hours long. Otherwise, they may experience major difficulties waking up without agitation or frustration.

We burn calories while we sleep and of course the same goes for toddlers. This causes quite an appetite which of course can make anyone grouchy. Having an already prepared snack before your toddler wakes can help to rid them of any irritation. Also, having a delicious treat upon waking can help them look forward to waking up helping ease them into a better mood instantly.

Sometimes toddlers can be sensitive to lights and sounds upon waking up which can be a little overwhelming. If you hear your child waking up wait a minute or two before going into the room. This will give them a change to come to and gather themselves before seeing bright lights and hearing noise. You can also help them wake up by gently rubbing their back and speaking to them gently.

Stuffed animals are are seen as a symbol of comfort for children. Toddlers often sleep with stuffed animals as it helps to send them off into dreamland. However, they can also be used to help in waking them up. If your little one is having a hard time waking up you can grab their toy from beside them, and put it back in their arms. Or you can hold them and gently show them their stuffed animal as a means of comforting and easing them awake.

It may not be so easy for every nap but try to create a window of time for when your child wakes up. It may take a second for everything to smooth out and therefore you may have to plan around that time period. Just ensure to take into account how much time it will take to wake them up and prepare them for whatever may come after their nap.

An excessive amount of screen time has been proven to cause adults to lose sleep while affecting weight and various areas of health. According to studies, too much screen time can result in behavior issues a well as health problems in toddlers. Apart from this, it can be hard to wind their brains down before bed after they have watched anything on TV or a tablet. It’s best to set a cut off time in order to help calm their minds before heading off to sleep.

If your child is overactive and wide awake during the night, this could lead to tantrums as they want to instead run about and play instead of sleep. In this case it’s best to change their nap time routine. Simply ensure they take a nap at an earlier time in the day. This way there is a large window in which they spend the day playing and going about normal activities. By the time bed time arrives they will have tired themselves out from the earlier part of the day. This will help them drift to sleep with no problem.

It’s hard for toddlers or kids in general to sleep when they aren’t feeling well. Running high fevers or simply not feeling well can and will keep them up and bring about feelings of frustration for them. Be sure to check their temperature if you get any signs they may be under the weather.

According to Whattoexpect.com, 3% of toddlers and children suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when breathing is stopped for a short time due to the airways being blocked. This can cause snoring as well as a stuffy nose, which can keep your toddler up at night. Simply discuss with their pediatrician if you suspect they may have sleep apnea.

One way to help your child relax at bedtime is through deep breathing. This technique is simple and very effective in helping your little one calm down for bed. As you both are in a seated position, simply hug them and start breathing deeply. Continue doing so until you see they are starting to get relaxed and begin to fall asleep.

An hour before their bedtime utilize the wind down hour to help them relax before sleeping. During this time you should cut off TV’s and all screens (tablets, phones, etc.) This hour is also ideal to read books and spend more quality time before they get into bed. This can easily set them into a nice, calm mood which will help them fall off to sleep.

Staying consistent with their bedtime routines can aid in them falling off to sleep tantrum-free. Studies have shown when kids stick with a routine each night it helps their bodies wind down, by triggering the release of the sleep hormone, melatonin. This hormone helps to regulate sleep patterns and cycles. Ensure the routine is one that’s easy and simple enough to stick to each night while also helping your child to feel comfortable and calm before bed.

This is something that does require a fair amount of thought and consideration. It’s vital to choose a good bedtime as it has an effect on everyone’s sleep, not just your little one. Be sure to keep in mind your overall schedules from day-to day when figuring out a good bedtime for your toddler.

This includes the proper amount of sleep they need, the time they wake the next morning, and activities that take place before bed (dinner, reading, bath, family time, etc.) Doing so will help everything fall into place in an organized manner and run smoothly before they have to sleep.

No sugar can help you to avoid tantrums and hyperactivity. Sugar has been proven to keep kids awake, and if they are awake they will have endless energy. Be sure to say no to any sweets before bed or create a cut off time during the day. This is great as it will ensure it’s well digested in their system once bedtime rolls around.

An excellent way to deal and prevent tantrums, pay attention to when and where they take place. Are they at the store on the toy aisle or checkout line? Do they happen in the mornings when it’s time to brush teeth? By paying close attention you can tweak the areas of cause and prevent future tantrums.

Toddlers are kids at the end of the day, and kids are balls of energy chock full of adventure and excitement. Don’t sweat the small stuff and get upset over everything they do that you may not approve of. If they want to get dressed in crazy colors, let them wear it for a bit. They are kids and they are only that small once in their lives. It’s best to only give energy towards the bigger things they do.

This can’t be stressed enough. The importance of staying calm during a child’s tantrum is paramount. Two heated tempers never ends in good results and as their parent, they are watching everything you do. Instead of yelling back remain firm in your expectations and actions. Send them to time out and pull them aside for a talk. Never lose your cool with your little one because they model everything they see you do, and this can and will only lead to worse behavior.

In the end tantrums are all apart of growth and development. Although extremely frustrating and stressful, they aren’t the end of the world. Your little one needs you so it’s best to be patient and remain firm but kind with your approaches. Discipline their character and not every mistake they might make.