Does anybody think that their child has tantrums because of frustration? I think ATM we are having a lot because Jacob's not talking and can't communicate what he wants and I don't understand what's he trying to tell me IYKWIM?

We are having multiple tantrums a day.....and by that I mean full on ones! He will throw himself on the floor, hit himself in the head with his hands or throw toys/books, cry, yell, scream....you name it.

Distraction is still the best tool but every time I try to distract him, what has worked previously, no longer works! So I'm darting around the room (or outside or wherever we are) trying to distract him with something, stupidly thinking that a book/song/toy/game/chasings etc which distracted him the last time, would have the same effect this time........

And there's only so much distracting I can do during meal times......

The other problem I'm having is that I'm trying to remain calm during all of this and to speak to him calmly when it's happening. I always try telling him that Mummy doesn't know what he needs and he needs to quieten down so that we can work out what he wants. Thing is, how on earth can he possibly HEAR me over all the hullabaloo he's making? I can barely hear myself speak! On top of that, sometimes I think he freaks himself out and forgets why he's having a tantie? Sometimes it just seems to go on endlessly and gets worse and worse and worse and he doesn't seem to know what it is that he wants and he gets thoroughly inconsolable!!

I think he's also at the age where he is developing funny little 'quirks'. The other week I had cut up a piece of toast into 4 squares and put 2 of the squares on the tray of his highchair. Well Jacob totally cracked it. He kept pointing to the other 2 pieces that I had left on the plate and so of course I kept pointing back at what he had on his high chair and telling him that he already had his toast! But what it turned out to be, was that he wanted all 4 bits of toast on his tray right away. He wouldn't eat until all 4 bits were there! LOL

Anyway....some suggestions would be good. Do I continue to try and talk to him calmly in the midst of these horrendously loud and theatrical tantrums, all the while explaining to him why he can't have/do X and then trying to distract him? He's such a determined little critter, just like me LOL Do you think it's frustration and me not understanding what he wants (I've mentioned previously that some of these tanties certainly do stem from hunger, tiredness, thirst etc).