Even with all the parenting books and blogs on the planet, raiding children still does not come with an extensive manual. That’s why there are more learning and trial and error than having one way of doing things right. Even despite doing your best, your child will not always turn out the way you pictured when you held them when they were a few hours old. One of those instanced is when your child is moody for what appears to be no apparent reason.

If you haven’t tried these tips yet, do and see if they help with your grumpy child.

Breathe; mood swings are not limited to adults

We’ve been in that state where our moods are off, and we are uncertain why. Children are similar. Their reason for the bad attitude is they are unable to express their feelings. It is that they are fighting frustrations or disappointment. Therefore, though they are young, consider treating them as you would a friend, with the intention of hearing them out and not further punishing them for their emotions. Equally, your keeping that in mind will prevent you from having an outburst, especially if the grumpiness has gone on for a while.

Think of events leading up to the tantrum

If you have a toddler, it is unlikely they fully understand their emotions. That makes it perhaps near impossible for them to express what triggered them in the first place. As the parent, you are then tasked with thinking back to the point before the mood swings. What happened before the emotional change took place? The good thing is because they are young, the list is short. It could be hunger, fatigue, feeling they are not getting attention, they have been forced to do something they don’t want, or they got into trouble and were corrected. It could, however, be something more complex; the awareness that there is voluntary disclosure or arguments between their parents.

Have the conversation after the tantrum ends

Psychologists say one of the markers of a healthy child is self-soothing. Once you know what their trigger was, don’t run to coddle them. Instead, let them work out their emotions. The mood swings might last a while, but they will eventually work their way out of it. Once they do, have a conversation then. Otherwise, let your child know what you cannot talk to them when they are in a bad mood. Keep your voice down to avoid worsening their mood. It signals to them you have noticed, but it is up to them to make the mental and emotional switch.

Wrap up

Knowing what triggered your child makes you have an easier time handling them. You will know if to feed them, have them take a nap or if they need hugs. Even when you have much going on, extra attention means you’ll have a lot fewer breakdowns trying to figure your child out.