Answer from "THE EXPERTS" at babycenter.com
A Google search for: 40 minute toddler tantrum
Returned this: How do I handle my toddler's tantrums, which just go on and on?
Lucky you: You have what's known as an "intense" or "spirited" child. She doesn't calm down not because she doesn't want to, but because she's unable to. When less spirited children cry, their bodies start pumping out the hormone serotonin (nature's Prozac), which has a calming effect. Not your daughter, though.
Studies of kids prone to crying jags show that the most effective strategy is to gently calm and soothe them with hugs, kisses, and rocking at the first sign of distress — before they're too far gone to be consoled. So when a malfunctioning toy or any of the myriad other toddler triggers looks set to spark a tantrum, don't even let your child get started — once she does, stress hormones will flood her system and there won't be enough serotonin to balance them out. Instead, offer her a good solid hug and a word of sympathy, and then whip out another plaything to divert her attention.
Also try to involve your daughter in daily activities that will boost her serotonin levels, such as vigorous play (jumping and running) and listening to music. That way, when she gets worked up (it's impossible to head off every potential upset, after all), she'll have a reserve of serotonin to help her cope with life's travails.
And this:
It's not bad enough that they are trying to pass off this answer as legit but they have to insult me by delivering BS to me with smiling faces. This upsets me more than a little bit because this is what I look like right now:
I won't drag out the dirty details but it truly was 40 minutes and I really did think I was going to have a nervous breakdown and/or a child with serious developmental problems who would never grow up to know how to love another human being and would jump up and down with a red face for hours on end instead.
In my work, shovelling out incorrect answers with a smile on your face lands you a big fat fine. I think this is worthy of such punnishment, or at least they should have to buy me a margarita for having to be subjected to such a stupid answer from stupid smiling fake doctors.
Gah.
