temper

My 22 month old has a very bad temper if he does not get his
way he will bite or drop to the ground and bang his head on the
floor I have two other children who are older and they never
did this.  What can i do and is this normal please  help don't know
what to do.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Mary,

Your child is displaying a form of tantrum behavior which requires intervention by you.

Many tantrums are non-destructive in nature - i.e., they may be loud, noisy and disruptive, but they do no harm to anyone and, as much as posssible, should simply be ignored.

Other tantrums are destructive in nature - i.e., they involve physical aggression. Such children should be physically restrained until they calm down. The best methods of restraint are: (a) laying the child down on a bed and holding him still until he is calm; or (b) sitting the child in an adult-size chair and wrapping your arms around the child from behind the chair. You can also hold the child in your lap as you sit and hold him still, but be careful you don't get butted by his head.

Such restraint must be accomplished with significant self-control and discipline, keeping as calm as possible and keeping your own anger under control so you don't harm your child. It's a taxing experience.

[lisa]

I will be interested in what the doctor has to say as I have a 23 month-old who doees the same.  As with your kids, my older two never did this.  Personally, I feel that some people are just more temperamental than others.  Some people handle stress and frustration better than others.  I think it's a predisposition you're born with.  But, like I said, this is just my opinion and I am interested in what the doctor has to say.

[Diane]

My 19 month son did the same thing, but his older brother never did.  It's temperamental, and he was doing it more for attention.  When he started to bang his head, instead of running to him and trying to console/control the behavior, I moved him to the carpet and let him continue where he couldn't hurt himself.  I would put his blankie next to him and calmly wait it out.  He stopped doing it on his own,about a month or two later, I think when he realized it wasn't getting him anywhere.  It is a little disturbing to witness, though.