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you might want to check out the book "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" -- I am reading it now, just started it! At this age you are wasting your time with time-outs, dont bother! I think all you can really do at this age is walk away from her when she throws a tantrum or if she hits, to gently hold her hands and say, "No that hurts Mommy" or "be gentle" and show her how you want her to touch. Also, redirect redirect redirect! Find a book to read, try and get her focus off of whatever she is screaming about.

Good advice from melissa. Also, don't put so much pressure on yourself. This is not the only time in her life to "form" her to be a good person. Trust me, there's sooo much time to do that! LOL! She's just learning that she has an impact on her world. That she can cause things to happen. Don't reward the behavior that you don't want her to do. Even putting her in her pack and play can be a form of a reward because it's attention from you (even if it's negative attention, it's still attention). Ignore it. Even if it's in the middle of the grocery store, walk off and leave her in the floor. (Stay within sight of course). Explain to her that you can't hear her when she acts like that, and if she wants something, she has to ask you in a nice manner. Also, sort of track her behavior. You might find that she's acting up when she's hungry or sleepy, or just out of her routine. They are so sensitive! I'm sure you are doing a great job! :O} Good luck!!!

Hi jennyr, both melissa g and CyndiG gave great answers. My dd who is now 15months started throwing tantrums about 1 1/2 months ago. I did the ignoring thing and the tantrums have gone away alot! My dd would mostly throw a tantrum when an activitiy was over, so now I make sure to say good bye to whatever we are doing (the verbal good bye seems to help a lot and makes her understand that the activity is all over) and really follow throu on that the activity is over. For example, she still cries when we leave the park, but I put her in the stroller and we leave, because I don't want her to think that just because she is crying I will change my mind and "give her 5 more minutes" (which otherwise would turn into 30 minutes...). So what I find to be really important is for me to be consistent, not to give in when she is crying, and to say the verbal good byes to activities or toys that she is playing with (at playgroups they had out toys and then they collect them when a new activity is going to happen, and my dd was having a hard time again to return the toy - the words good bye helped!). Good luck to you.

my ds is 17 months old as well and most of the time he is the sweetest happest little guy but when he gets mad he does the same thing he will take his arm and in a sweeping motion try to knock things over and he also hits I stop him and tell him no!! no hitting mommy and I tell him that is not nice and then I either ignor him or try and get him focused on something else but this is a stage and it is normal just something they go thru I really don't think you need to worry about your dd being a spoiled bratt or anything cause it seems to me that as long as you realize this is not the way it should be and you are trying to correct her then she will get out of that phase it is the parents that do nothing and let their child misbehave all the time those are the ones that end up with spoiled bratt kids nobody wants around!!

i know this was said in the very first response but redirection is your best bet...instead of using time out, get her to focus her attention on another item/aspect...when she hits, give her something she can hit on ex:a drum pots and pans etc, something that makes her able to release that tension other than on another indivdual, and simply explain to her that hitting other people hurts and that she can hit the drum set or even one of those inflatable punching bags, that really works well, honestly redirection is definitly the key, it might take some patience but will completely form those good values. good luck with everything!!

Thanks ladies for all the advice. I have tried the refocusing thing and it works sort of. I will try to ignore it too. Thanks again. It all had been very helpful!

My son tries to throw a fit here and there. I just walk away and ignore him and he stops. If he gets p__sed and throws himself on the floor I walk into the other room and he stops the minute he cant see me.

I pick my DD up and hold her in my lap while she throws her temper tantrums; I kiss her repeatedly, and hug her, and tell her that I know she's upset/frustrated because of xyz reason; it takes a few minutes and a LOT of patience, but she ultimately calms down and I'm able to help her resolve whatever issue it is she's having. IMO, tantrums are going to happen; so, my approach is to predict what will cause them and prevent the circ_mstances if I can, and then try to help my DD get through them once they've started; right now, it's the only way she knows to express her feelings...so I try to verbalize what I think she's feeling, so that she will learn the words and ultimately be able to verbalize it for herself and eliminate the "need" for tantrums. A lot of times, the tantrums happen because she's overstimulated...so we take a "time in" together, where we cuddle on the couch, she nurses a bit, and we just take a break together from whatever she was doing when she had the tantrum. It definitely helps. Plus, it gives me quality cuddle time with my little bear!