My daughter's tantrums and diet

[Momma_92]

I have a 5 year old and 7 year old they both have ADHD. My 5 year has huge tantrums and gets frustrated easily and my 7 year just has some anger and alot of whining. What can I do to help with my 5 year olds outburst and anger they are constant over little things? I saw something about milk and foods,she wants chocolate milk every night for bed and you tell her no it's craziness? Help! I struggle with all of this and stress out so much with the constant tantrums and screaming,she even kicks and hits things.

[Cwhite86]

I can relate to you. My 6 year old on Adderall, has tantrums and anger outburst and yelling. We are still working on it, but it peaks his interest when we came up with a “safe word”. And he knows to stop and think. Like the word banana. When I see him frustrated and angry, I say “Banana”, and it helps him stop and think. I honestly haven’t done this in a few months and I think with being at home and missing his friends and teacher at school he is acting out more now than before the virus. So we will probably pick a new word and start it again.

(The online school has these social emotional videos I have him watch to help him understand his emotions and there is a song in there. “Stop, name feeling, calm down) it’s from secondstep.org lesson 16 and 13

I hope this helps and I want you to know you are not alone.

Cinny.

[Cjkchamp]

I encourage you to research broad spectrum micronutrients. There are two companies, True Hope and Hardy Nutritionals. They have helped my son with aggression and emotional dysregulation.

[CourtDS]

are they eating regular amounts at mealtime and snacks in between as well? My daughter’s appetite of course decreased with her stimulant medication. When she has had outbursts or gets cranky, afterwards when I retrace her eating steps and the last time she ate, it seems to always be related a drop in blood sugar. Maybe she ate but not enough, or maybe she didn’t have a snack between meals. My husband will have talks with her and explain “this is what hungry feels like.” Now that she’s 8 she’s understanding more that she does need to pause for a moment and have a snack to prevent an outburst. Even something small like a handful of peanuts, that’ll help her. It’s still a work in progress but that’s where her outbursts seem to come from.

[Elijah1]

Is it the specific food or is it the frustration with not getting what she wants? If the latter, then behavioral strategies (such as mentioned above) are an option.

[anirush]

Sometimes you have to pick your battles too. Even pediatricians say chocolate milk is better than no milk. Milk also helps you sleep. So a little bit at bedtime may not be a bad thing.

[Butterfly1967]

In the grand scheme of things and given all that you're dealing with, the chocolate milk will not hurt her. I'd give it to her. Like someone else said, chocolate milk is better than no milk at all.