Few parents escape the embarrassment of their child having a tantrum at the supermarket checkout or on the floor of a restaurant.

It's one of those no-win situations when the tut-tutting public focus on you and your child. So, what is it that turns your cute toddler or three-year-old into a raging spitfire who can't be reasoned or even pleaded with? The answer, to a great extent, is linked to your child's developmental stage, with a few add-on factors such as tiredness and hunger.

Let's begin by looking at development. The chances are that if your child is having serious tantrums, they will be somewhere between the ages of 18 months and just over three years. (Don't panic if your child is older - we'll look at tantrums in older children next month.)

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