My 10 1/2 month daughter just started screaming at the top of her lungs. For no reason, and any reason. It is definitely getting to me and I don't know what to do.. It is non stop. I dont want to ignore her in case something is wrong, but for the first time ever she is getting under my skin. It's been going on 3 days now, today being the worst. I dont think anything is wrong cause once she gets something she wants she is fine for a few minutes. And then it starts again. It came out of no where and I'm not sure if this is normal or not. If anyone has any advice please do share.
We just came back from the dr and she said there is no ear infection. Looks like she is just teething
This is the age they discover how to scream, it will pass shortly. Try screaming with her and then whisper. Get softer and then gradually louder. Take this opportunity to teach her her first opposite (loud and quiet) You will have a easier time of it and she might like the whisper better once she discovers it.
It is not "normal" for a happy, healthy child to just start screaming out of the blue. If you give her something she wants, it might just be a brief distraction from whatever is really bothering her. Call her doctor and see if they can give you some tips to try before having to take her to them for tests.
It sounds like the terrible twos come early. You have to start dealing with the screaming, because if all you do is to give in to what she wants, she will scream and act like a power-hungry person all her life. You have to teach her that there are better ways to ask for what she wants, and that screaming is not the right way to ask. She also has to learn that she can't get everything. This is a necessary stage in her growth. Remember that she has limited communication skills and small vocabulary. Be patient, because her ability to remember is limited, and she will have to be shown what to do right many, many times before it sinks in.
Get some good books on suriving the terrible twos, and get some moral support.
Peace,
Syl
Well, if she is ok after you rescue her, then it's her way to get attention. You can put your hands over your ears and tell her "Ouch!" and then walk away. Return after 5 seconds and show her how her behavior makes you feel. Be real about it. Screaming sucks. But this is all she knows, so you must teach her the correct way to communicate. And it's not by screaming at you.
My oldest got into screaming and I finally lay down on the floor in his room and started to cry...I was so at the end of my rope...He immediately calmed down and came over to me offering solace. He stopped the screaming fits.
And we both moved on. So will you, dear.
Earplugs. I'm not even kidding. You will still hear her, but it takes the shrill out of the scream and makes is surprisingly less irritating.
My son did the same thing around that age, he just learned that he could do it. I just smiled and said shhhh. He did it for a while and then got bored because I did not make a big deal out of it.
You need to take her to a doctor to make sure she does not have an ear infection. If this has just started make sure nothing is medically wrong with her. It's worth it to know for sure, you can deal with the situation from there.
It is behavioral. She got a rise out of you, and now she knows how to get things. Ignore it, do not even look in her direction and for sure do not give her anything until she is calm. If you give her something while she is screaming and crying you have reinforced the behavior.
Teething? Talk to her Dr., but you might try Motrin. It could also be an ear-infection.
You may wish to have her checked by a physician to make sure nothing is physically wrong that's causing her discomfort.
Is she screaming or is she crying? If she is crying and you think she is in pain, sick, hurt, etc… then take her to the doctor ASAP. If she is screaming, you react, she gets what she wants and then the pattern starts all over again, then she is a normal healthy child. She is loving the sound of her voice and learning how to manipulate you. Kids are BRILLIANT and master manipulators. I wouldn’t ignore the screams, just in case she is experiencing some kind of distress, but once you assess that she is not in any distress, minimize your reaction, don’t give her what she wants and walk away. Trust me; she will realize that it stopped working and move on to something else. Good Luck!
Ok, there is always a reason- I always start with YokaReader.com for behavior, and then to WestonPrice Foundation for possible under lying cause- there is always a reason, just takes a little detectivce work- you can do this,I promise you there is a reason.
And really take more B Vits than usual for yourself to help you while this is being sorted out.
best, k
