Help with Screeching 6 Month Old

Hi,

I think all babies go through the screeching phase, but I wouldn't ignore it if it is too much. They are very smart, they understand, just repeatedly tell him that is not appropriate. My friend gave in to the screeching for things at a young age and has had a very hard time breaking her daughter from screeching when she wants something. I explained to my son that I understand that he wants something but he cannot screech in order to get it, and now he doesn't. It is also a good time to start baby sign. He won't be able to do it for several months but he will begin to recognize when you do the signs and it will give him a nonverbal tool to use as he gets older. Good Luck

Totally normal and it is part of them learning to communicate. Just respond calmly but do not ignore him, it is his first verbal communication. My daughter did it and just loved hearing herself make noise! :) Don't worry, it will pass and soon be words, non stop chatter, hee hee.
Just whisper back to him when he does it and say "what is it you need" or "mommy's right here"....hang in there.

I have five children, and all have gone through the screech phase. My youngest is currently enthused with it. With my first it was very frustrating, but we soon realized it was her only way of telling us she wanted something. Usually it was when she wanted more food or attention. The sign for "more" was a life saver. When she screamed we would respond with a soft voice,"more?" just one word, and then help her hands do the sign for more. Once she finished the sign we would reward her with more of whatever she wanted. After repeatedly responding in that way for about two weeks, she learned the sign for more and stopped screaming and would just make the appropriate sign. The same method worked with other one worded demands of hers like Mama, Dada, play..... It worked for all of our kids. Some were faster at catching on than others, and it wasn't always easy, and was definitely frustrating sometimes, but whatever method you decided to use in helping him communitcate just hang in there he'll figure it out!:0)

I am SO sorry! I HATE that phase. I've had 3 screechers so far. My first started it about a year old seemingly just for fun. She would do it just to see what reaction she could get. It was excruciatingly painful for us, but we learned to just ignore her when she would do it, and overly praise her or act happy and proud when she wouldn't do it. She grew out of it rather quickly. It only lasted a couple of months.

My twins both started the screeching at about 7-8 months old. They would do it for every reason. Just for fun, when they were upset, tired, or just for no reason at all. They did it every day multiple times a day. Unfortunately, the ignoring didn't work with them because it wasn't always for no reason. We ended up just softly saying "No." when they were done screeching for the first screech or two, then just ignoring them when they would do it for the reaction. They still haven't completely grown out of the phase yet (they're 1 1/2 now) but they don't do it nearly as often. Usually only when one of them does something to really bother the other one.

My 6 month old might be starting that phase now too. But she only does it when she gets upset. It's no fun at all, but I haven't figured out a cure for it yet. Sometimes, I just put them in another room (as long as the screeching isn't a result of some need they truly have) to give them some time alone with their own voice. Good luck with yours. Find what he responds best to and stick to it!

Hi C., it seems your little boy sreeches when he is excited and or happy?. I can suggest that when he does that, place 'your first finger on your own mouth and make a shush sound. This way, your son after a time of doing this will relate your shush motion in responce to his screech. And he might stop. I wish you all the best.
Rena.

My daughter, who is two now, also went through a screeching stage. I tried to ignore it, but sometimes she just screeched louder! So, I would put my finger gently on her lips and when she stopped screeching for a moment, I said "can you say ma ma ma..." We turned it into a game and eventually, she would make more postive sounds when she wanted our attention. Now, I also have a six month old boy and right off the bat we have tried to get him to "say" ma ma or da da. Works like a charm, especially when they think you are playing with them!

Your baby is old enough to start getting frustrated about not being able to communicate. Maybe teaching him Babysigns would reduce his frustration level and screeching. This helped a lot with my little ones. The book is "Baby Signs".

I am interested myself, all of mine were and are screechers, of course my older kids encourage it cause they find it funny....brats :). I will be checking back haven't because i havent found a "cure".

Try talking to him at a whisper when he screeches. This shows him by example that we can talk quietly and he may quiet down to hear you or know he has your attention????