At 16 months, it's tough because they usually don't have the language skills to tell you what they want so a lot of tantrums are just due to frustration. Like a lot of the others have said, try to work out what is causing the tantrum. If it's because he can't do something, get down to his level and help him to do what he wants to do. I find with our DD1, at that age, if it was because she wasn't getting her own way, I would just walk away from her and say "let me know when you're finished". If things escalated, I would put her in her room and close the gate but not the door. I found that at 16 months, if I shut the door, it would just scare her, so shutting the gate was enough. It's all a matter of trial and error. The biggest thing is to be consistent and to stay calm. Once he gets a little older, the tantrums do tend to become more extreme (sorry to say that but they usually do!) but it's easier to deal with them because they understand so much and can communicate what the problem is (usually). You can also explain to them why you are putting them in their room or whatever and they understand really well. The high pitched screaming isn't fun either. I ignore it at home and if we are out, I shush her. I have been told they grow out of it but who knows!? Good luck with it all. It really is trial and error with kids as they are all so different!!