Have you ever had the special moment with your darling toddler when you are shopping at the store and he throws a temper tantrum or a toddler fit? If you have had the opportunity to experience such a thing, you know how embarrassing, maddening, and frustrating it can be. Here are three tips to stop those unwanted toddler fits in public.

Most often, toddler fits or temper tantrums begin when the child wants something that he can't have we will refer to the toddler as a "he" but this is just as likely to happen to a "she". Parents will even be strong the first couple of times the child asks for the specific item, saying something clever like "No, not today" or "It's too much money" or "You have plenty of toys at home". Then, moments later, when the child goes into their fit or tantrum, the parent, feeling embarrassed for their child's behavior, caves and says "Okay, okay, enough already!" Saying "yes" to the child in this state only reinforces their behavior, and you can bet that this will happen again and again, everywhere you go.

Instead, parents need to just say "no" in the very beginning and stick to it, even if the child throws a fit or a tantrum. If the child's behavior becomes unmanageable or embarrassing or disruptive to others, parents need to remove the child from the store and return to the car, the restroom, or some other quiet place where the parent can reason with the child, even if that means leaving a cart full of groceries at the store. It may be very difficult to do the first several times, but with practice, parents can be in control of this type of situation. Saying NO and not giving in puts you as the parent in control. The moment you give in and say yes, the child is in control.

You may have to start carefully planning your outings around your child's naptime. In the early years as a child grows and develops, it is critical that they get the proper amount of sleep time everyday. Not only is naptime good for their growth and development, it is also good for their mood and well-being. Do not plan doctor's appointments, shopping, or other outings during their regularly scheduled naptime. A tired toddler is much more prone to throwing a tantrum in public than a not-so-tired toddler.

Rewarding toddlers for good behavior can help them to behave better in public. The reward does not have to be lavish; it can simply be a favorite treat or small toy rewarded to them at the end of an outing. The child must have a thorough explanation beforehand on what kind of reward will be given, what they must do to earn the reward, and what will happen if they don't behave in public to earn the reward. This may also take awhile for toddlers to learn, but like everything else, practice makes perfect.