Parents in our pediatric wellness program get more than just a trusted and experienced provider for their children, but access to our childhood wellness guidance resources online 24/7. As we combine the best of functional, conventional, Christian, and years of parenting without driving you to unnecessary fear, you get our guidance for parenting in this fallen world. Here we offer a sample of our wellness resources for ages Newborn through Five Years that accompanies your sleeping well at night knowing we will work with you to individualize your child’s health care.
Tantrums
Children will be children. They are learning about the world and learning about not getting what they want. As they experience life, there will be times that they do not understand why they can’t get what they want. As little humans with human natures, they will sometimes throw a fit, what we call a tantrum. This does not mean they are destined to be spoiled, just human like the rest of us. Our goals in responding should be the following: First, keep them safe from hurting themselves. Second, don’t take it personal. Third, over time help them to handle emotions more constructively. Finally, provide them a safe place to express emotions without shame.
Giving them room to breathe and get over the moment with you nearby- making sure they don’t hurt themselves allows them to learn that it’s going to be okay. Then give them a hug and find out what is upsetting them. As they are able to understand, help them to cope with the disappointments of life better. That may be a firm “no” and “mama said so”. That may be a “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” That may be a “Let’s try something different.” Regardless, help them learn to handle life without so many tantrums. The skill will serve them well in life.
How Functional Pediatrics Sees through a Different Lens
The world may look upon a young child throwing a tantrum from a variety of angles. Some see a child that must have bad parents who are to blame. Some see a child who is just learning to express themselves. Some wonder if the child has autism or some neurologic disorder. Some want to blame everything on sin, sin, and more sin. Some see it as another developmental stage that children must pass through with the parent’s guidance and boundaries.
In reality, it could be any or a combination of these underlying situations. As a parent, you may feel a little overwhelmed by other’s blame or your own guilt. You may feel unsure whether the tantrums are just a part of life or indicative of a deeper medical problem. We come along side you to provide some objective insight and practical guidance so you can discern what are the next steps in caring for the rare or the repeated tantrums that may rattle you during their toddler or older years. Whether you need some reassurance, or your child needs some medical testing, we can your trusted pediatric resource.
Blessings,
Dr. Potter and Lynn Day PA-C
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
