[Sethia Soliman]

Great-grandmother’s secret to dealing with fussy toddlers: Doctor approved!​

Someone once said that being a mother is a full-time job and they weren’t kidding. Babies can be quite a handful! They are bound to throw tantrums during the most inconvenient times and leave a mess everywhere. But, it’s important for parents to know how to work their way around it because simply neglecting these issues will cause developmental delays in the long run.

A mum-of-two, Lydia, had shared her great-grandmother's odd advice on how to deal with toddler tantrums in just a few minutes. Lydia is the mother of two fussy boys, one that just started teething and the other who seems to be up to no good. She admitted that handling two cheeky boys had been ‘miserable’ lately.

Image Credit: parentingforbrain.com​

"My great grandmother was a very strong-willed Mexican woman and every single time she heard this baby cry or toddler have a tantrum she would say the same thing." she said in a Tiktok video.

"Mija! Put the baby in the bath or bring it outside!" She would yell at parents struggling to settle an upset child.

During a particularly rough day of unsuccessfully diffusing tantrums, Lydia recalled what her great-grandmother would say to parents in the same circumstance so she put it to the test. To her surprise, it actually worked!

She was so baffled that she decided to bring it up with her paediatrician. The doctor approved of the tactic and divulged the scientific reason behind why it works.

"It turns out that two major factors increase serotonin levels in babies, toddlers and anybody else - an increase in core body temperature and an increase in oxygen in your bloodstream." she explained the doctor’s reasoning.

"If you're having a bad day and your kids are a wreck, put the baby in the tub or put the baby outside!" She said as a conclusion to the video.

Users showed their gratitude for Lydia’s advice in the comments section, with many mentioning they have never heard and thought of doing this before.

"Those abuelitas surely knew their stuff!! Grateful for them and their wisdom!" one wrote.

"Such great advice! Love it!" another added.

One mum cheekily poked fun at the tip saying: "Works on mums too! I always feel better after a bath or a sit on the porch."

Do you have any tried and tested tips on how to deal with fussy babies? Share them in the comments below!

If you’re enjoying this article, you can read a similar one about fussy eaters by clicking here.

 

[Sherza]

We used to get down on the floor and throw a tangy with them. It showed them how silly they looked, and because they weren’t expecting us to do it, they would stop. I have even done it on the front lawn lol. I’m sure the neighbours enjoyed the entertainment

 

[Ricci]

My son only ever threw one tantrum, threw himself onto the floor in the middle of Woolies. I just stepped over him and carried on up the aisle. The volume of his yelling went down in direct relationship to how far I got away from him. By the time I was halfway down the aisle he was quiet and by the time I got to the end he was back at my side. Once he realised that I wasn't going to react he very quickly gave it up.

 

[Thecheesequeen]

That was my way of handling tantrums too. Tantrums need an audience.

 

[leanneh]

I agree with the practice of walking away. Trantrums are almost always about attention seeking. Mind you some modern parents just ignore their children on an almost permanent basis. I'm never sure why they had them in the first place.

 

[Jennie]

I agree with the practice of walking away. Trantrums are almost always about attention seeking. Mind you some modern parents just ignore their children on an almost permanent basis. I'm never sure why they had them in the first place.

Yes I agree, you need a license to drive a car or own a dog, but no test or license to have children.

 

[Jaclynn McKenzie]

My son only ever threw one tantrum, threw himself onto the floor in the middle of Woolies. I just stepped over him and carried on up the aisle. The volume of his yelling went down in direct relationship to how far I got away from him. By the time I was halfway down the aisle he was quiet and by the time I got to the end he was back at my side. Once he realised that I wasn't going to react he very quickly gave it up.

Yes that's very effective and I'll bet you never had a tantrum in public like that again. When my kids were young and if I was driving and they started playing up, I wouldn't say anything, but I'd quickly find the safest spot to pull over and I would sit there with no music on and tell them that we were staying there until they stop fighting. They would quickly stop. Of course this only works with older children who you can rationalise with.

 

[MotherGoose]

Whenever my little one behaved badly, I simply sent her to her room. Five minutes later I would peek in to check on her and inevitably, she was fast asleep on the bed. Bad behaviour is often tiredness.

 

[Phyll]

Yes that's very effective and I'll bet you never had a tantrum in public like that again. When my kids were young and if I was driving and they started playing up, I wouldn't say anything, but I'd quickly find the safest spot to pull over and I would sit there with no music on and tell them that we were staying there until they stop fighting. They would quickly stop. Of course this only works with older children who you can rationalise with.

I was fed up with my two eldest grandsons fighting & arguing in the car when i picked them up from school every day so one time when i picked them up i did the same thing but made them get out of the car & stand on the verge beside the car , they were so embarrassed, but it worked .

 

[PepeLePew]

I video taped my granddaughter chucking a wobbly and started playing it back to her. She was soooo embarrassed that she quit her tantrum on the spot and has never had another one while in my care

 

[PattyBlanch]

This worked for my older child. I use to drop her off at the bus stop early but was only allowed to pull up by the corner so other kids couldn't see me. One morning still in my nightie she kept sassing me on the drive. I threatened "one more word and I will pull up at the bus stop, get out of the car and do a dance". Not one more sound. She knows I would really do it.

 

[Possum Lover]

Whenever my little one behaved badly, I simply sent her to her room. Five minutes later I would peek in to check on her and inevitably, she was fast asleep on the bed. Bad behaviour is often tiredness.

I could not agree more. I never had a problem with my children throwing tantrums, but have too often seen children do this in shopping centres and have wondered if they have just had too much shopping, after all their little legs take so many more steps than we do. Rest glorious rest often the answer.

 

[joshram]

My son only ever threw one tantrum, threw himself onto the floor in the middle of Woolies. I just stepped over him and carried on up the aisle. The volume of his yelling went down in direct relationship to how far I got away from him. By the time I was halfway down the aisle he was quiet and by the time I got to the end he was back at my side. Once he realised that I wasn't going to react he very quickly gave it up.

Our youngest daughter also threw a tantrum once, on the floor of the pharmacy at the Children's hospital. I just walked away and she got up and followed me out. I think other parents thought I was being nasty to a sick child, but she was not the ill one.

 

[Alexander]

My son only ever threw one tantrum, threw himself onto the floor in the middle of Woolies. I just stepped over him and carried on up the aisle. The volume of his yelling went down in direct relationship to how far I got away from him. By the time I was halfway down the aisle he was quiet and by the time I got to the end he was back at my side. Once he realised that I wasn't going to react he very quickly gave it up.

I recall a visit to Tesco stores in Deptford, Kent, UK when mother was doing the shopping and father was looking after a possibly 4 year old boy. 4 year old boy wanted something off the shelf in the areas dads and boys go when mother is shopping in peace. Father said no so 4 year old threw a wobbly all over the floor screaming and yelling and father just stood there and watched. The answer was still no. It didn't take long for the screaming to stop and the desired item stayed on the shelf. My comment to dad was, "good for you" as I walked on.