Are tantrums normal in a child aged 10 to 20 months?
Applies to age: 10–24 months
In short
Tantrums usually start around 18 months of age and are very common in young children. When a child can talk more, they have tantrums less often.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Tantrums usually start around 18 months of age and are very common in young children.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Temper tantrums usually start at around 18 months and are very common in toddlers.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Hitting and biting are also common.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Hitting and biting are common, too.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- One reason is that young children want to express themselves, but find it difficult.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
One reason for this is toddlers want to express themselves, but find it difficult.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- The child feels frustrated, and the frustration comes out as a tantrum.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
They feel frustrated, and the frustration comes out as a tantrum.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- When a child can talk more, they have tantrums less often.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Once a child can talk more, they're less likely to have tantrums.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- At age 4, tantrums are much less common.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
By the age of 4, tantrums are far less common.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- If a child's behavior seriously worries the parent, it is worth talking to a doctor about it.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If you're seriously concerned about your child's behaviour, talk to your health visitor or GP.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
See a doctor
- It is worth talking to a specialist about whatever worried the parent, and using the advice of a midwife, a nurse or a pediatrician.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Warto jednak skonsultować ze specjalistą to, co Cię zaniepokoiło i korzystać z rad położnej, pielęgniarki czy pediatry.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.