Can 4 month old babies have tantrums?

[tammac77]

Hi,

I'm a new mum with a 4 month old boy. Lately he's been having what can only be described as tantrums - though I feel he's too young for this kind of deliberate tantrum.

When I try to put his clothes on or change a nappy, when he drops a toy or even when I move him from one position on my lap to another he will start getting upset. He goes from happy to angry in about 1 second!
I'm worried because when he's having these "tantrums" he sometimes lashes out at me, pulling my hair, kicking, pinching my neck and face and even scratching. I know he is not trying to hurt me - he is too young to understand that kind of cause and effect, but what do I do? Do I put him down and ignore the tantrum? Will picking him up only encourage the behaviour?

I think he's been teething - excessive dribbling, fingers in mouth, rosy cheeks etc-could this be causing the problem?

Every time it happens I check to see what could be causing it - I ask myself is he hungry? tired? wet? in pain? sick? Usually it is none of these things and I have found if I turn my back on him he sometime stops, but if I go over to him he starts up again. Am I wrong to think this is attention seeking? Isn't he too young? Please help!!

Tamara:smiliedance:

[V8]

Well i'd personally be feeling it was linked to teething, my DS does this too sometimes and he is 5 months old, he has cut two teeth already, so it is possible your little one might be teething. If it gets to the point where he is angry try and put him down see if he stops, it is hard when they are so little and you don't know what is causing it. If you are very concerned see your health nurse, they are usually great with things like that.

[limlib]

I think at 4 months he is too young to be trying to manipulate you with tantrums. Teething can upset him - it sounds like he has the signs. From my Mothers Group I found each baby reacted differently - some had very extreme reactions others nothing. My son has just started to tantrum but he is 15 months.

If you can see no apparent cause and you are still worried why not give your local health centre a ring and talk to the nurse?

[sharvs]

My DS is 4 months and chucks tantys at the same time every day. He has a tantrum everytime we put him in the car, although he is over it within 2 minutes and everynight after a bath, we can put his nappy & singlet on but as soon as we start his pj's he chucks a wobbly. Maybe it is teething related, but I'd definately call them tantrums

[veve]

JAck is almost 5 months - and yes .. he throws tantrums - as soon as his head hits that change table...

for a few days a toy solve the problem... but then he hit himself with the toy and now he wont take it :rolleyes: so we compromised and I try to dress him as fast as I can while he is sitting up ... I guess he feels his is still central to the world when sitting up :D

I think at that age they are just learning the power of communication (physical and verbal) - I know that Jack will now stop whinging when I enter the room (communication achieved) - so your bubs is probably just cranky till you 'fix' the problem .. unfortuately that could just be that he is tired... Jack is really loud when tired lately...

just chant 'its just a phase.. its just a phase' - it works for me :rolleyes: ( oh .. and Jack has almost 1 and 1/2 teeth.... so that doesn't help)

xx

[jessgray]

my DS is almost 1 and he started throwing tantrums over bedtimes at 4/5 months old. now he is fine with his bedtime the tantrums are over bath time :laughing:

[tammac77]

Thanks everyone for your posts. After 2 days of no tantrums, I noticed a tooth coming through this morning. Quite early and therefore unexpected, though I already thought he was having teething symptoms.

It's good to know mine isn't the only baby who expresses himself through very loud and angry protests (ie tantrums!)

Thanks.

Tamara