How can I enforce gentle boundaries with a defiant two-year-old in public?

[NicholasH]

I'm a new parent trying to practice gentle parenting with my toddler, but I'm really struggling with setting and enforcing consistent boundaries without resorting to traditional time-outs or raising my voice, especially during public tantrums. The theory makes sense, but the practical application in the heat of the moment feels incredibly difficult. For parents further along this path, what specific phrases or de-escalation techniques have you found most effective for a defiant two-year-old? How do you handle situations where immediate safety is a concern, and how do you manage your own frustration and exhaustion while staying regulated enough to model the behavior you want to teach? I'm also curious about how you explain this approach to more traditional family members who see it as permissive.