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What Causes Severe Mood Swings In A Child?
Posted on
Sun, 1 Oct 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 1 Oct 2017
Answered on
Wed, 25 Oct 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : Dear Doctor,
My boy is turning 3 years old in one month time . Recently his mood swings are very bad and unpredictable. He can be good all day and suddenly make ridiculous demand and burst into crying and yelling even when we gave in.
Classic example in the morning . He woke up in the morning as usual, my Wife will prepare a bottle of formula as a routine when he wakes up in the morning . Out of a sudden he said he wants mummy to pour all the milk out of the bottle because he wants to see the process which he missed !!! We gave in and that did not stop . He simply try n manipulate mummy and whatever he wants just doesn't make sense ! He doesn't let mummy brush teeth the next moment and was yelling m screaming uncontrollably!!! Then he don let us close the door the next moment and that lasted 30 minutes but felt like 2 hours. We tried to ignore him and make sure he don't injured himself while the tantrums are at the peak . We try and talk senses to him but that escalated to any issue that he suddenly don't like !!!
Nothing works !!! And it get worse lately.
Especially in the morning when he wake up or before going to sleep . Otherwise he is active , learn fast n generally well behaved
Please advise me what can I do
My boy is turning 3 years old in one month time . Recently his mood swings are very bad and unpredictable. He can be good all day and suddenly make ridiculous demand and burst into crying and yelling even when we gave in.
Classic example in the morning . He woke up in the morning as usual, my Wife will prepare a bottle of formula as a routine when he wakes up in the morning . Out of a sudden he said he wants mummy to pour all the milk out of the bottle because he wants to see the process which he missed !!! We gave in and that did not stop . He simply try n manipulate mummy and whatever he wants just doesn't make sense ! He doesn't let mummy brush teeth the next moment and was yelling m screaming uncontrollably!!! Then he don let us close the door the next moment and that lasted 30 minutes but felt like 2 hours. We tried to ignore him and make sure he don't injured himself while the tantrums are at the peak . We try and talk senses to him but that escalated to any issue that he suddenly don't like !!!
Nothing works !!! And it get worse lately.
Especially in the morning when he wake up or before going to sleep . Otherwise he is active , learn fast n generally well behaved
Please advise me what can I do
Brief Answer:
These are temper tantrums, suggestions given
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I have gone through the question completely. These are definitely temper tantrums and one good positive thing which you have mentioned is that he is otherwise active in other times and activity learning well.
Tantrums may happen when kids are tired, hungry (which is the case in your kid as he does it in the morning times usually before he is being fed and this is when the kids are usually hungry after over night sleep and they do not realise that also), or uncomfortable; or because they can't get something (for example, an object or a parent) to do what they want. Learning to deal with frustration is a skill that children gain over time.
Tantrums are common during the second year of life, a time when language skills are starting to develop. Because toddlers can't yet say what they want, feel, or need, a frustrating experience may cause a tantrum. As language skills improve, tantrums tend to decrease.
This is what you can do to avoid or prevent tantrums -
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
7. Know your child's limits
8. The young brain is a constant learner, so you should not give in to what he wants, if that is not appropriate for him, even though he screams and cries a lot. If you start bending for his demands when he screams, then his brain will automatically know that he can get what he wants when he does that. That is what exactly which is to be avoided.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
These are temper tantrums, suggestions given
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I have gone through the question completely. These are definitely temper tantrums and one good positive thing which you have mentioned is that he is otherwise active in other times and activity learning well.
Tantrums may happen when kids are tired, hungry (which is the case in your kid as he does it in the morning times usually before he is being fed and this is when the kids are usually hungry after over night sleep and they do not realise that also), or uncomfortable; or because they can't get something (for example, an object or a parent) to do what they want. Learning to deal with frustration is a skill that children gain over time.
Tantrums are common during the second year of life, a time when language skills are starting to develop. Because toddlers can't yet say what they want, feel, or need, a frustrating experience may cause a tantrum. As language skills improve, tantrums tend to decrease.
This is what you can do to avoid or prevent tantrums -
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
7. Know your child's limits
8. The young brain is a constant learner, so you should not give in to what he wants, if that is not appropriate for him, even though he screams and cries a lot. If you start bending for his demands when he screams, then his brain will automatically know that he can get what he wants when he does that. That is what exactly which is to be avoided.
Regards – Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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