How long does a tantrum last?

**Minky** · 14-03-2007, 06:13pm

Had a bit of a mare just before tea

.

Lulah (despite being told no) filled up her wee watering can and went out to the garden to fill the big watering can.

I took it off her and told her it was tea time, and no more.

WELL!

Cue at least 10 minutes (seemed like an hour) of screaming, tears, and repeating "I want my watering can".

I tried distraction etc etc but no doing. I had to put the TV on

to stop her.

She ate her tea fine (very hungry) but it just seemed to go on FOREVER.

I have no idea what is normal.

Can you help?

Thanks

Minky

**katkinn** · 14-03-2007, 06:21pm

Don't know but I'm soooooooooo feeling your pain

H has gone from being an utter angel to having moments at being the toddler from hell. 99% of the time I cope (I think

) really well with it but feck me 1% of the time I lose it. (normally when it comes to eating which you are soooooooooooo lucky it's a problem you don't have

)

who knows how long they can last - sometimes with H it can crescendo from something ie not wanting to get dressed, to then not wanting to wear x to then not wanting to put her boots on etc etc etc etc

They're 2.

I've given up trying to understand her!!!!!

My only consolation is that it can't last forever (although there will obviously be as hideous a phase next

)

natacha · 14-03-2007, 06:45pm

In my experience (and believe me ds has given me more tantrum experience than I'd like

) it goes on longer in direct relation to how tired they are. So a 'teatime' tantrum will probably last a lot longer than a 'breakfast' tantrum...

The good news is though that it wears them out so much they fall asleep really quickly

**janiebaby** · 14-03-2007, 06:48pm

erm , she's just like her mum , FEISTY , at least she will be able to look after herself in the playground at school

**ChelseaHarvey** · 14-03-2007, 07:57pm

Ages sometimes 20 mins + it drives me mad and feels like longer & nothing i seem to do will stop him, i just have to ignore it & wait it out sometime

**Adelelee** · 14-03-2007, 07:58pm

Oh god, forever in this house. Miss E screamed, cried and shouted for over 30 mins the other day because I would not let her have a pen

She can strop for England, so 10 mins is good in our house

**Azana** · 14-03-2007, 08:00pm

Oh they can go on quite a while can't they. Sounds normal - and sometimes when they are tired there guess it just has to run its course...

**Chell** · 14-03-2007, 10:35pm

I took DS on a preschool trip to London. He had a tantrum that lasted from about 12 - 5pm!!!!! No joke, I kept my cool till about 2.30pm then ended up in tears. I was mortified.

**Muppetgal** · 14-03-2007, 10:37pm

My husband can have tantrums that last all day!!

**Franny** · 15-03-2007, 11:45am

I agree that the long ones are usually down to tiredness and I've given up trying to reason, ignore, distract. All these methods make matter worse, IME.

R sometimes has tantrum after tantrum lasting seconds each. I've had this in the town when trying to steer her away from various childlike distractions such as toy shops, ride on noddy's, McDonalds etc, etc.