Help - Grizzly, tanty-ing, crying 1yo

DS is probably teething, possibly getting over a virus and has a runny nose and cough. No fever and my doc assures us 'nothing is wrong'. But he's driving me insane with his general grizzliness, which very quickly turns into full-blown tears and then throwing himself down on the floor if he doesn't get what he wants.
How do I deal with this behaviour? I know he's tired and feeling pretty blah. But, it's a constant merry-go-round of him reaching for stuff, then if he doesn't get it (e.g. the kettle or a knife or a glass) a big cry/grizzle fest that can last up to an hour (they'll sometimes only stop if he gets so worn out he falls asleep in our arms). Or he'll scream and scream if DH or I leave the room or have to put him down for a second, like to go to the loo, even if he's still right there next to us. What do I DO?
And how do I deal with the tanties when he is better? The info from the chn says to 'ignore' (or try 'time out' but he's too young for that yet, isn't he?) - how do you ignore a screaming child clinging to your legs or lying on you and screaming at the top of his lungs? I feel like a mean parent! Help!

Does feeding him help? It often works with my DS - he gets really whingy, crying etc if he's hungry. Realised this around 10 months or so.

MadB - Sometimes yes, often no. The best solution is to velcro him to us all day but it's just not feasable all the time and seems to be making things worse in that we can put him down less now than we used to be able to. He's generally a clingy baby who's quick to cry at the best of times. I think it's just worse atm cos both DH and myself are also sick. Add to that the helplessness a parent feels when they can't make things better with a magic bullet and the fact that it's all new for us and you have a guilt-ridden, lost mummy! Oh, and have I mentioned his sleep is fine, we can put him down in his cot with not a worry at all? Ta for replying!

Aw, you're all sick! I hope you're all better soon - I'm sure that will help a lot

i could have written that post myself!!! My DD is 1 (in 2 days OMG!) and has been exactly like you have said for the last 3/4 weeks - it's like switch went off and she became a toddler!!! She has been teething and sick with a cold which hasn't helped, but in general she has just been really sooky and wanting cuddles all the time. What has helped i find is food (she is worse when she is hungry) and if she is crying because i have put her down to play and then walked away, i find that if i take the time to sit with her for a few minutes looking at her books or toys she soon gets sick of me and will go off and play on her own. If worse comes to worse, ABC2 for Kids goes on so i can at least do the dishes!!! she loves Thomas the tank (help me!!!) hahaha

Good Luck - remember it all passes (thats what gets me through!)

your baby is sick i think giving them what they need is very important when they are unwell.. once he is better he will go back to normal. 1or 2 weeks isn't long (i know its hard)
I hope you all get better soon with some TLC for you all

MumtoA - Nice to know I'm not alone! If only I could get that far away - sitting with DS and playing together would be a big improvement. I'm talking, needs to be cuddled with BOTH arms, his legs and arms wrapped around me, head against me and facing inwards. Less than this means cries and grizzles. God forbid I put him down and walked away, not even 1m! DS loves Toybox and the song at the end of Thomas, but I can't leave the room so no dishes for me!

Glorious - I know he's sick, but he isn't much less clingy when he's not sick. Maybe I can sit next to him (touching) instead of cuddling, but that's it. I can't get up to pee, do dishes, prep dinner, answer the phone etc etc, even if I take him with me he still grizzles the whole time. It's hard to be told it's all 'normal'.

o JLeigh! i didn't realise it was to that extent :( i don't even know what else to suggest. just wanted to say that i hope he gets a little easier in the next few weeks - it can be very draining. xoxo

I think DD started being like that when she was about 1 too. I couldn't stand her, really got so sick of her. She was just ALWAYS doing things that required me to stop her, just like what you were sayign about reaching for knives etc. SO frustrating, she was aconstantly screaming and crying and I have so little patience, I used to just lie on on the floor covering my ears.. then she would attack me with her claws and i'd just curl up in foetal position.
Certainly not what you should do! Now she is a few months older and I think i've become desensitized to her screaming. When she gets all angry like taht for a silly reason I completely ignore her. Sometimes I go into my bedroom and shut the door! I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but when I do it she stops crying not long after, even ends up playing happily by herself.
There's a few threads on here about dealing with tantrums, people had some really good advice and techniques.
Hope you find a solution soon, I know how annoying it is when they just won't let go of your legs..