1St Time Mom Needs Help Understanding 19 Month Old Son!

OK, this may sound simplistic, but does he have a train set? My son was very close to that age when he started his "train phase" and is now 3 and it is still going strong. He will play trains for hours at a time! You can always take him to a friend's home that has one or even just a Barnes and Noble kids area to try it out and see if he has any interest. I don't know what I (or he) would do without it! I guess it is just a matter of finding that one special activity or toy that he loves. But yes, you are hitting prime tantrum time anyway. Be strong. It is just a phase. As for snacks, I do three meals a day and a small snack twice a day - if he asks, but my son rarely asks - because he is usually too busy in the play room with his precious trains - so I can't help you there.

Hey C.! I feel your pain! I have one boy who's now 26 months and another boy who's 9 months. When my first (Spencer) was about 17 months he started into a phase that sounds a lot like the one you're going thru. I was very pregnant and I became so exasperated that I drug Spencer to the doctor and got a full work up done on him. I told the doctor, "I'm about to have another baby and I can't even come close to handling this one yet!" He was a ball of energy and threw tantrums several times a day. It was just a phase and by the time the baby was born (a month later) he was out of it.
Let me tell you, with my boys if they are wanting to snack often, they are about to do a lot of growing. I let them snack if they want, but it has to be fairly nutritous. When they are in this phase, I keep string cheese, yogurt, and fruit on hand. Also, I'll cook several chicken breasts and when they want to snack I'll pull one out and make a little "quesadilla" with a corn tortilla, chicken and cheese.
If you are letting him snack on sugary snacks, that could explain why he's having a burst of energy followed by a tantrum. If he snacks on healthy foods, then I'd just chalk it all up to a phase or growing. Also, never underestimate the power of an over-tired toddler! Make sure he naps good every day.
All these phases pass. Don't feel like you're doomed to a crazy child forever. He'll chill out soon. They just do these things. I'm no expert, but I have just recently been where you are.
Good luck, and if you'd like to get together sometime, personal message me and I'll give you my number. We have a great park right down the road, and I like to let my toddler run all the way there and play, then run all the way back. Then he takes a really good nap~!

This may sound crazy, but one thing that helps with my 20-mo-old is putting her to work! She wants to imitate whatever the big folks are doing. She can say the word "help" when she needs it, and is THRILLED when I ask her for help! She also has a very short attention span for toys, coloring, etc. The other night, when she was getting cranky, I announced that I needed her help to put away her too-small clothes--she ran to her room, and loaded up the bin for me! She also loves to put away groceries, put toppings on pizzas, wash veggies, put away laundry....I think she's just interested in learning how to do what I'm doing, but it keeps her entertained, and I get more done! You will, admitedly, need to allow more time to do things, and compromise a bit on quality--the shirts aren't always perfectly folded when they make it into the drawer, but when DH gets home, DD will want to go show him how SHE put his shirts away! GL!

There's a great book, Slow and Steady Get Me Ready, which offers a different developmentally appropriate activity every week from birth to kindergarten. Some are easier, more obvious than others. Gives you a new "game" to play or skill to develop every week.

We have designated snack times. I've heard of some who let their kids have open access to those things that they want them to eat more of anyway, in most cases, fresh veggies and some fruits, or maybe milk or cubed grilled chicken. Whatever they need more of, is really healthy and won't "spoil" their dinner! For instance, you could keep blueberries and carrot sticks on the bottom shelf of the fridge and he can help himself. Maybe with the caveat that the fridge is "closed" an hour before mealtimes or something.

Also, as tantrums begin, Love & Logic is a great resource for getting on the same page as your spouse in terms of discipline.