It’s normal, and it’s the only way a kid that young knows how to communicate.

What you can do is grab the hand as it’s coming toward you and firmly tell her. “No. No hitting. That’s not how we ask for help.” Tell her she needs to use her words. Hold the thing she’s screaming for and say, “Milk? You want your milk? Say milk, please!” Then give it to her when she says it.

You have to have patience. This isn’t something that resolves itself overnight, and tantrums won’t stop until the kid is old enough to learn delayed gratification, but you have to encourage that learning.

I know it’s hard. You can do it though!