10 Month Old Shrieking - Help!

D.,
Both of my daughter's have done this. Although my oldest has only started since her sister does it. My girls are 25 months and 12 months. They do it back and forth like they are talking to each other but it is very annoying and it is usually when they are done and getting bored. What I have started doing is cleaning up my oldest daughter and letting her go play in the living room while I finish cleaning up dinner and get ready for bath time. It does seem to work.
Hope the shrieking ends soon for you!
Good luck!
J.

Our daughter started attention getting beheviors at dinner around that time too. She had plenty of attention and seeking out the neg. kind. When she started, we turned her high chair away from the table. When she stopped, we turned it back. It only took a few times and it stopped. We were consistent ....every time. She did it again a few more times and we followed through. She knew we meant it.

s

hate to tell you, but this one will probably just have to fade away. My twins did the same thing. Right now he's just getting that he has control of that voice and can make people react, so he's doing just that. You can ignore it, or try whispering when he shrieks. In the meantime, especially if you know when he does it, get yourself some soft foam earplugs. Hang in there, this too will pass.

It sounds like he is just experimenting with his voice... a very important part of development. I let my daughter do it as long as it is not in an inappropriate place. I don't give her positive reinforcement for it, just ignore it.

If she does it in a public place where people want peace and quiet I will ask her to stop and if she doesn't I remove her from the situation and explain that it is not OK to do here because it might bother people but that she can do it later in the car, outside, or at home.

Hi D.,

It sounds like your baby likes to hear his own voice. My daughter does this as well and we just talk back to her when she does it. It's their way of learning the capabilities of their voices. You can sing with him or maybe make another silly sound and try to see if he will imitate you. I know it can be annoying but I don't think he'll do this for too long.

My daughter was a shrieker as well. I just figured it was the first step in her own way to talking so I would just matter of factly talk back to her saying things like: "Oh, yes the peas are good aren't they." or just comment on whatever was going on like we were having a normal conversation. She got the hint in time.

It is attention seeking but it also that age where they learn what they can do with their voice, so it excites them.
I would also just talk to him about it..like tell him I know it's very exciting but not so loud. And in time it will pass....he's just excited he has discovered something new!