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What do I do when my 20 month old throws a tantrum?

Author

Olivia Carter

Published Mar 13, 2026

What do I do when my 20 month old throws a tantrum?

Here are some ideas for handling tantrums when they happen:
  1. Stay calm (or pretend to!). Take a moment for yourself if you need to.
  2. Acknowledge your child's strong feelings.
  3. Wait out the tantrum.
  4. Take charge when you need to.
  5. Be consistent and calm in your approach.

Furthermore, are tantrums normal in a 20 month old?

Toddler temper tantrums usually begin in children at 12 to 18 months old, when toddlers start becoming mobile but don't yet have the language skills to express their needs. 19 month old tantrums and 20 month old tantrums are also very common.

Subsequently, question is, why does my 20 month old get so angry? Toddler can become angry when they encounter a challenge, are unable to communicate wants, or are deprived of a basic need. Some common triggers for angry outbursts or tantrums may include: being unable to communicate needs or emotions. playing with a toy or doing an activity that is hard to figure out.

Similarly, you may ask, how do you discipline a toddler who throws a tantrum?

Here are some ideas that may help:

  1. Give plenty of positive attention.
  2. Try to give toddlers some control over little things.
  3. Keep off-limits objects out of sight and out of reach.
  4. Distract your child.
  5. Help kids learn new skills and succeed.
  6. Consider the request carefully when your child wants something.

Should you ignore toddler tantrums?

Paying Attention to a Tantrum

Attention reinforces behavior, even when it's negative attention. Ignoring is the best strategy to make a tantrum stop. Avert your eyes, pretend you can't hear the screaming, and walk away if you have to, but make sure you don't provide your child with any type of attention.

How do you calm a tantrum?

Here are some ideas for handling tantrums when they happen:
  1. Stay calm (or pretend to!). Take a moment for yourself if you need to.
  2. Acknowledge your child's strong feelings.
  3. Wait out the tantrum.
  4. Take charge when you need to.
  5. Be consistent and calm in your approach.

What can I teach my 20 month old?

The Best Learning Activities for a 20-month-old Baby
  • Smear the Colours. Smear the colours is a great way to develop your little one's motor skills.
  • Find It For Me.
  • Help Me Out.
  • Take Your Baby Out.
  • Match the Following.
  • Prepare a Stew.
  • Fun With Flowers.
  • Play With Pasta.

When should I worry about toddler tantrums?

If temper tantrums are more severe, lasting longer periods of time, and occurring multiple times per day and/or occurring in a child older than 5 on a regular basis, then it may be time to talk to your pediatrician or get a psychologist involved to help support the family.

What should you not do during tantrums?

  • DON'T invalidate your toddler's perspective or emotions.
  • DON'T tell your child how to feel.
  • DON'T lie to your child to head off a tantrum.
  • DON'T say that your child's behavior is making you sad.
  • DON'T take tantrums — and the things your child says before or during them — personally.
  • DON'T use sarcasm.

How do you discipline a one year old baby?

Four steps towards discipline and better child behaviour
  1. Decide on family rules. A good place to start is with 4-5 family rules.
  2. Be a role model for the behaviour you expect. Children learn by watching what you do.
  3. Praise your child for good behaviour.
  4. Set clear limits and consequences.

Can Terrible Twos start 18 months?

The terrible twos generally begin anywhere from 18 to 30 months of age, and, despite what the name implies, can last well into the third year of life. While tantrums can certainly still happen after your child turns 3, they often become less frequent by then.

How do I deal with an 18 month old tantrum?

Toddler tantrum tips
  1. Find out why the tantrum is happening.
  2. Understand and accept your child's anger.
  3. Find a distraction.
  4. Wait for it to stop.
  5. Don't change your mind.
  6. Be prepared when you're out shopping.
  7. Try holding your child firmly until the tantrum passes.

How do I get my 2 year old to stop hitting and throwing things?

Anger Essential Reads
  1. Use your words. Help your child learn to use words instead of hitting.
  2. Walk away. Teach your child to walk away when they feel someone is treating them badly.
  3. Go to your quiet corner.
  4. Get physical.
  5. Breathe out the nasties.
  6. Ask for help.

How long should a toddler tantrum last?

Tantrums usually last between two and 15 minutes. Violent tantrums that last longer than 15 minutes may be a sign of a more serious problem.

How do I stop my child from screaming for no reason?

What to do about it:
  1. Control the general volume in your house.
  2. Turn on the tunes.
  3. Lower your voice.
  4. Teach the concept of an "inside voice" and an "outside voice." Give a demonstration and examples of where and when they can be used ("You use your inside voice in the house and your outside voice in the backyard").

How do I get my 20 month old to stop screaming?

If your toddler is screaming because she's happy, try not to comment or criticize. But if it's really getting to you, ask her to use her "indoor voice." And lower your voice so she'll have to quiet down to hear you. Make a game out of it.

How do you discipline a 21 month old?

Tell him what you want rather than what you don't. For instance, say "Touch the kitty gently," instead of "Don't hit the kitty!" Or, "Please sit down," instead of "Don't stand up in your chair." Make some simple rules. Establish a few household rules, communicate them to your child, and enforce them consistently.

How well should a 20 month old talk?

A typical 20-month-old has a spoken vocabulary of about 12-15 words, though many children have far more. But even if your child isn't talking in simple sentences yet, she likely understands many more words than she can say.

What do you do with a 20 month old all day?

Activities for your 20 month old toddler
  • Nature stew. Skills Developed.
  • Floral fun. Skills Developed.
  • Potato Stamping. Skills Developed.
  • Flying obstacle course. Skills Developed.
  • Playing with balls. Balls, balls and more balls!
  • Finger paint. Skills Developed.
  • Cup hide and seek. Skills Developed.
  • Sorting game. Skills Developed.

Is there a developmental leap at 22 months?

Your 22-month-old might be kicking a ball, walking backwards and perhaps even balancing on one foot while holding onto a sturdy chair or wall. Soon, they might be able to pedal a tricycle. Speech. They're probably saying 50 words or as many as 100.

Should you yell at your toddler?

New research suggests that yelling at kids can be just as harmful as hitting them; in the two-year study, effects from harsh physical and verbal discipline were found to be frighteningly similar. A child who is yelled at is more likely to exhibit problem behavior, thereby eliciting more yelling.

When do tantrums peak?

Tantrums typically peak between the ages of 18–36 months. This is when parents and teachers are likely to see an escalation in the frequency, intensity, and/or duration of tantrums.

How do you deal with gentle parenting tantrums?

Supporting the Tantruming Child
  1. Stay present, stay calm, stay listening.
  2. A child will not be able to listen well or rationalize your adult logic in the heat of a tantrum – listen empathetically, offer soothing words.
  3. Sometimes giving language to the feelings may help your child identify what's happening.

Should you walk away from a tantrum?

Don't walk away.

You don't want your kid to feel abandoned when they're upset, regardless of how irrational they're being. Try simply standing by them calmly when they freak out for bit.

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What do I do when my 20 month old throws a tantrum?