Tantrums

[1 year old]

My son is just 13 months and seems to have about 3-4 tantrums a day.  Basically, if he's climbing up furniture and I stop him he completely freaks out.  Or if I take him to the park and after about 45 minutes I decide it's time to go we have another screaming fit.

There are times when I think I'd better not take him to the park 'cause I just haven't got the energy to deal with all the screaming.

Is he too young to be having tantrums?

I really don't know how to stop it.  When the screaming starts I try my best to ignore it and not to give him attention.  It kind of works, but he still seems to be doing this everyday.  Will it stop?

I thought this all started when they were two.

If anyone has some good advice I'd greatly appreciate it.

[rd]

your child is testing you and he knows he is getting his way. Just ignore him when he throws his tantrums. He knows it's not going to work so he will eventually stop doing it. talk to him before you bring him to the playground and tell him when it's time to go home there will be no bargaining - he will get it. You must put a stop to this now or it gets worse.

[99]

and do remember at this age they do understand simple instructions and sentences, so try and talk to him so he understands what is about to happen.  'We will go home soon', from the park, or 'only sit on the chair, no climbing' etc etc but yes agree with pp stick to the rules and baby will get it.  may take a couple of weeks or couple of days for each rule.  also they say to try the 'positive' when setting rules, ie instead of just saying 'no throwing food' as they hear the word 'no', instead try something like 'put the food in your mouth, not on the floor'.   good luck.  have similar age, wants to climb on lounge but stand up, could fall on marble.  After about 10 times of having to go to him and sit him firmly on the lounge and say 'sit on the lounge, no standing', it's finally worked.

[notice]

I always give my 2 year old lots of advance notice to avoid tantrums. Example in the playground, I will tell her, this will be her last slide before we go home. She will then dawdle for unbelievably long time but will get going once she finish her slide. Same situation, she loves climbing stairs, just tell her before she even gets near the steps that it is a NO. She will look at me defiantly and before she can start screaming, walk away to a safe distance. If she really attempts to climb, I will come and bring her away and say "No" again. After a few times, she gets the idea.

[viewpoint]

Look at it from his point of view; he's probably only recently started to walk, and now he can get to places he couldn't before, but you keep stopping him!
Take the time to explain patiently to him, even if you don't think he understands. Kids do understand a lot more than you think. Just because they can't express themselves properly yet, doesn't mean that it's not going in (my son surprises me  a lot of the time.); but it's also frustrating for them, because they can't let you know what they want - end result? Tantrum.
So, as other posters have said, let him know in time what you're planning. Explain (as simply as possible, but without being patronising) that something might be dangerous, and he should wait for you to help him, and WHY.
Try baby sign language, and watch Supernanny, whenever it's on.

[viewpoint]

ps - that's to prevent tantrums. If you've done all you can, and he still throws a tantrum, then he's more than likely attention seeking, and then you should ignore him (as someone else said), in order to discourage further tantrums.

[Mum23]

And ultimately remember that they do grow out of it eventually.

My older children were absolutely hideous from 12 months - 3 years with throw-down screaming temper tantrums, and other charming little traits.  Despite my using every trick in the book - I am an early childhood teacher so my bag of tricks is quite large! - I finally realised that the magic trick is age.  

They all will, eventually, calm down and become reasonable.

But, some kids ARE tougher than others, just like some pregnancies and births are more difficult than others so don't beat yourself out if JoJo's failproof method fails... Just keep on plugging on...
 
Good luck, try and be consistent in whatever method you choose, and just remember that this too will pass.

(And I have a feral 15 month old so I feel your pain...)

[me too]

I have a 14 month old who is doing just the same.  Really wasn't expecting the terrible 2's to start until later but he has a 2 year old sibling he seems to be learning from.  Some of it will be attention seeking and boundary testing, the advice the others have given is good and the same as I would give and am trying to do myself.  I would add that if he is tired or hungry then he's more likely to throw a temper fit too.  Just wanted to let you know there are others out there who's sweet little babes have morphed into terror's.