21 Month Old Is Shreiking/yelling

Your little one is discovering language! He understands that when he "speaks", people listen! Now might be the time to introduce the concept of "inside voice" versus "outside voice"... try whispering to him while in the stores... make it into a game, or find a great place where it is "legal" to shout, or experiment with sound at home: yell into a box, a paper bag, a metal bowl, whatever to see how it echoes. At the same time you might validate to him how fun it is to use a big voice in a big (and echoing!) store, but that people in the store don't like those noises (although I am certain that people are smiling when he yells... that part is hard to fix). You could always go with logical consequences: If you continue to yell we will have to leave the store... then DO it! Messes up your shopping plans, but when done consistently makes a clear point. Another way is to go shopping without him, then talk to him about how you missed his company, but not the yelling. Good luck!

My daughter and son did the same things - really found most effective is to ignore it. Or you can just leave the store or put them in time out. But I found it was an attention thing so ignoring is best.Good luck.

Jenn Smith
http://jennsmith.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

hi A.,
my son went thru the same stage at around the same age. I also tried the same tactics as you. nothing worked. luckily it turned out to be just a phase and he got over it within about a month. you might also try whispering in his ear telling him if he wants to scream to do it in a whisper. that worked sometimes for us and he usually got a kick out of it so it at least distracted him from screaming. hope this helps.

My 19 month old son does the same thing. I am sure if there is any glass around it will shatter. I have tried telling him to stop and ignoring it, both unsuccessful. I also have a 7 month old daughter who stares at him when he does this. I am afraid she will think this is funny and do the same when she is older.

I don't think there's any SURE FIRE way of making them stop screaming completely but what works for me is to say over + over again in a serious, stern voice - "NO screaming" after each time that my daughter does it. (I actually am inclined to laugh about it each time cuz I KNOW that's she's doing it to test my patience.....and part of me thinks that it's cute).......but I try hard not to encourage her by even smiling at all.

That AND ignoring her - like u said - they're doing it to get attention.....

Good Luck!

Hi A. - I so do not miss those days! My son used to scream so loud and so often I took to shopping in convience stores just so I could get in and out quicker. Once, I even had a cute little old lady scream at me to get my son to shut up. I was so embarrassed. But grabbing milk and eggs at the local Cumberland Farms really wasn't cutting it so I had to think of something to keep him busy while I was at the store. I brought lots of snacks that he could hold - Cheerios and raisins together usually worked. And we made up a game to play while there. I asked him to help me find the items on my list that I knew he knew what they looked like - like milk, bananas, crackers - and grabbed the rest of the stuff while I sailed up and down the aisles. Eventually, he became more interested in helping me find stuff then screaming. Hope this helps - if it doesn't, I am sorry - just keep your head down and plow through those aisles as fast as you can! Because eventually the screaming will stop. Good luck - A.