Screamer

Unfortunately, I don't have any advice on the screaming, but my 6-month old daughter was doing that in her crib and it was like nails on a chalkboard for me. What you're doing (going outside before you lose it) is just what you need to be doing - good job mom! I think it's just a phase she's going through and will grow out of it. However, since she's almost 11 months old, you can be teaching her "no" when she does it. She's old enough to start understanding when something is not acceptible. You don't have to do anything, other than say NO in a stern voice so she knows that mommy doesn't like it. I hope that helps!

Good luck!

That's what you call a "bad Habit". We had some nephews that did that and they could clear a room fast. If the playpen is in her bedroom, I'd keep putting her in there and shut the door behind you. Even though she's ten months, you can tell her why she's going in the playpen and she'll figure it out after a few episodes. Wait outside the door, and when she's stopped, go in with a smile and let her out.

This is a problem you want to nip in the the bud. It won't be long before she's doing it in the grocery or in a restaurant.

God bless!

Ha, my 11 month old does this too, especially when I turn around and walk away from her.

I have figured out that distracting her is the only way I can prevent this...although it isn't 100% preventable. But I have found that life is nicer if I can prevent her from freaking out on me so that's what I focus on more than anything else.

Here is what has worked for me to have the smallest number of outbursts possible:
1. Thing checklist-diaper's clean, baby's been fed recently, has it been more than 4 hours since her last nap? We rarely have the outbursts if all these bases are covered.
2. Watching her for signs-when baby is getting sleepy, I get one very small warning which is a swipe with each arm across the eyes. If I don't settle down with a bottle to start the sleep phase, then she explodes and is inconsolable.
3. Busy-ness-my baby is a nosy inquisitive kid...and if I haven't set her up with a variety of things to do, she goes haywire. I always try to have a good 2 or three things for her to do...a push button noisy toy and a basket with a variety of toys in it for her to "re-discover". If she's busy and the thing checklist has been satisfied, I can get some stuff done. But if she starts to get bored, I get a couple of small whimpers before she has an all out tantrum. So again, I watch closely for clues.

I guess the best advice I can come up with would be to try to notice what's going on in the environment and what baby is doing when she starts screaming-maybe adjust things from there. When you step outside to get away, write down what happened and then after a couple of days, go back and look it over and see if there's a pattern there. If you are unable to ID the cause you might want to take it to your ped, maybe they could help?

You are not alone though, some babies are screamers and I have one too!

Do exactly what you just said you do. Go outside and let her scream it out. Ignore it. If you give in she will know that is hwe way to get your attention. If it does not get your attention then she will do something else in time. Are they little blessing that some times you would like to let them have it??? I had a three year old in my Day Care who screamed a lot. time out did not work either. Miserable for us all. Last day she was here she cried an hour and we had just given her a birthday party and celebrated her move so she would remember us. It was over nothing. A customer came to pick up his baby and just rolled his eyes. Hard to deal with but stay on it. God Bless and I will say a prayer for your man. G. W

Dont Scream anyone, Mine will be 2 in December, and it is not any better. She does not cry either, she gives the blood curdling screams for "everything". Yes, I absolutely hate going to stores anymore due to the fact that she has realized that when she screams she gets everyones attention. Negative or not, she is getting attention and loves it. In the stores, I just walk away from the basket (yes she has the belt on)and tell her bye bye until she gets worried that I am not coming back and really starts to cry, so when I get back to her I tell her NO more screaming or I will go bye bye and sometimes it works. I know it sounds mean but she would scream the whole time and it makes me a nervous wreck.
Now, I have read that is has alot to do with thier Personality. As I am very loud, silly, outgoing, and the clown of a gathering, I think she will be the same way.
My first daughter was so quiet and such a shy child. This one is driving us crazy. Her Dr. says when she does this, just put her in a safe place, walk away, and leave her sitting or standing there. Do not respond verbally other than to say no screaming, and put them somewhere safe. Does it work?? NO!!! Almost Nothing works.....
The worse part about our tantrums is that not only did she scream but she would throw herself into things, and hit and bite herself. Luckily these days she realizes that all of the self destruction hurts, so we don't experience much of that anymore, but the yelling is still an issue. Lately we have all been under the weather so I have requested some kind of antibiotic for the tantrumatic germ and unfortunately, they still have not invented one.
THEY DO SAY, they will grow out of it and I am learning some bad habits are dropping off, so it is a little true. But, as is stands right now, the screamer is still a screamer!!!!!!! I definately know how you feel. Good Luck to us all, Hehe..............
N.
PS, the Stern No, doesn't work for me. Screaming No, doesn't work, throwing blood curling tantrums myself, doesn't work, spats on the diaper, doesn't work, Time out, nothing.....Anyone have any other suggestions???

Wow sounds so familiar, what I have learned from my 14 month old opera singer, is that they do it because the see your reaction. you usually jump or take care of what she needs right away right. well now she knows that crying won't do it but screaming get your immediate attention. Well at least thats what i have learned from my son. I try to ignore it to a certain extent, but what else can ya do when your eardrums feel like they are going to explode. Hope that helps. GOOD LUCK!

First look at the physical things.

Have her pediatrician look at her ears.

1. Make sure they are not infected and there is no heavy wax buildup.

2. Also look at her sinus. Make sure there is no infection there either. If he/she tells you they cannot see a babies sinus because it is so small...go to another doctor. One that knows what he/she is doing. Mine could look at my kid and see when there was inflamation. A friends dr told her they were tiny and he was having trouble seeing inflamation so he did a scan and sure enough they were very inflamed. So it can be done. ;-)

3. Check other possible things your dr may suggest such as urinary infection. Seems unlikely in a baby, but it does happen--more so with girls.

4. Have the pediatrician check her from head to toe for ANYTHING!

4. If needed get her ears checked thoroughly by a pediatric ENT- ear nose and throat doctor. They will possibly even have an audiogram done which is totally painless and easy. An audiogram is when they put the child in a sound proof booth on mom's lap, then ask her to wave when she hears a sound in the headphones. It will be little series of beeps at different frequencies. This measures what tones she is hearing. Most of these guys are amazing with the kids and can tell you exactly what is going on. I have been to a few and have yet to have a bad one.

5. Then if all that checks out okay look to behavior. It can very well be a learned bad habit.

You don't want to jump the gun and be punishing her for something she can't deal with because it has a physical cause. Just like when a baby is hungry and you don't feed them. Then you would feel so guilty and she would still be miserable unitl you were able to get it fixed.

I would rule out other things first. Babies don't know how to cope with different stimuli. They can get overwhelmed easily. A sudden reduction in hearing, a sudden pain, a lot of noise or lights coming at them at once or even over a period of time just overwhelms them. So they do what they can...which is usually scream, or cry, or hold their breath. Whatever comes to mind.

Hang in there. I know it is tough when they are too little to tell you what is going on.

H.,
My daughter is 9 months and is doing that. She is driving me NUTS! I thought perhaps she was hurting but every time I picked her up she would stop. She is using that as a tool. She is training you as my daughter is me.
You're doing the right thing in putting her in her playpen and walking away.

H.

You need to take her to yor doctor. Make sure you express that something is wrong and make him find out What. It sound like she is in pain, or having hearing problems or something but most kids do not just scream for nothing. I don't mean to frighten you. But that what I would do. I don't know if you have said something to you doctor if you have and he blew you off try another doctor. Good luck L. M

My daughter was the same way! It seems to be a bit of a developmental milestone in my case. If no one has suggested it yet, I got a copy of the "Happiest Toddler on the Block"- it helped put the developmental stages of this age into a cute and reasonable perspective for me. Might want to check it out.

My daughter used to do that and we found out that she was having horrible ear infections. If one doctor says it's not her ears, I would consider a second opinion. That is not normal for her to scream like that...Unfortunately, alot of times ear infections are mis-diagnosed in our babies. Probably b/c the ears and canals are so itty bitty. Good Luck! And God bless you and your sailor for being willing to do what you do. I am an x-marine infantry wife, I know how tough it is...J. SAHM, mother of 1, step-mother of 5.

I have no good advice. I do however have a fellow screamer. All I can say is that I'm sorry. We have taught our daughter sign language in the hopes that it would decrease her frustration. Now she screams as she tells me what she wants. I suppose it's better than not knowing what is upsetting her because it makes it easier to fix the problem and get her to stop screaming. If you find out any good advice, please pass it on!

My son (14 months old now) has been doing that as well. My pediatrician says is because they cannot yet verbalize their feelings/desires. They often start biting at this age too out of curiosity or frustration, fortunately mine has not done that yet. Try teaching a few signs (sign language) to them. More, eat, drink, thank you, hurt are the common ones that the day care taught my older son when he was 12 months old. My 14th month old is a little stubborn so the only one he has picked up on is MORE! Good luck!

She's exercising her little will. Welcome to toddlerhood. Sounds like you'll be in for a noisy couple of years :-).

To combat it, I would come up with a consistent response and do it EVERY SINGLE TIME she screams. You mentioned that you put her in her playpen and walk away. That's a great idea! Make sure her playpen is someplace where you can go to a different room and be out of sight.

When she screams, just calmly say to her "Shhhh, that's really loud and hurts mommy's ears. I'll have to put you in your playpen until it's quieter." Put her in the play pen and walk away, saying, "I'll check on you in a minute to see if you're quieter."

Start by leaving the room one minute at a time. Every time you come back say, "SHhhhh, are you ready to be quiet?" If she's really persistent, you could walk away for 5 minutes at a time, or start with 5 min, then 4, then 3, etc.

Your not alone, my niegbor's two year old is much the same. She screams when she is happy, she shreeks ( screams) when mad and believe me the little girl is sweet just for some reason screams about everything. I just wanted you to know your not alone.

It is completely normal. Personally, I don't feel being hungry or tired are little thigns. When I am hungry or tired, I can be pretty cranky.

Have you tried teaching her a few simple signs? This may help her ability to communicate and ease some the frustration she is feeling. It is very difficult for her to know what she wants, but not be able to tell you.

She has all sorts of new, raw emotions, that she isn't quite sure what to do with. Give her some extra snuggles and help her through this time in her life.

Whew, these babies stay one step ahead of us, don't they? I don't recall mine screaming, but she learned that saying "MAMA!!!!" got me running. I think it's just part of the phase a lot of babies go through. They want to communicate with their world, and of course they want their way (when they want it!) With a very limited vocabulary, that means get attention be any means necessary. When simple crying doesn't work, take it up a few notches to an ear-piercing scream. She's old enough to understand "Mommy will talk to you when you stop screaming." and walk away. Try to stay calm (yeah, I know, I know...)and try to ignore her & the behavior. When she stops and tries to use words or gestures without screaming, praise her BIG TIME. I'd say it's normal, but it also needs to be addressed before it escalates any further. If she seems to be in pain, have her pedi examine her. Best wishes to you and yours...and try to get away from it all every now and then. Trade off baby-sitting with a girlfriend if you can't afford a sitter. It's important that you take time for yourself whenever you can--makes us all better Mommies!