"Screeching" Baby

How funny...I thought we were the only ones who had this going on! My 15 month old screams any time he gets mad...at home, in the car, in the store, the park, the mall...any and everywhere, and sometimes for no reason at all. He started at 9 months. At first it was more of him "finding" his voice, but now it's him being mad that he didn't get his way. It's been going on for 6 months now. We've decided (at the Dr.'s advice) to completely ignore it. She told us he's probably looking for attention from us, his older brother, and/or anyone who'll indulge him. It's only been a day, but I've already noticed a SLIGHT decrease. It's really hard to completely ignore the behavior, but I'm hoping it will help. Good Luck!

You might want to try looking at it as, oh, I don't know, a developmentally appropriate behavior instead of giving a whoop about what other people think. Maybe having an autistic three year old -- who exhibits all kinds of distracting, annoying behavior that people often not enjoy -- has desensitized me to stares, judgement, and complaints, but I accept that my daughter is at where she's at and that we're working on it. It's the same deal with you and your toddler, only you have the added bonus of him being so young. Unless someone is an utter jackass, people don't expect stoicism from a 16 month old.

Good luck!

They all do it at some point. My 15 month old does it but I find it funny because although it is loud, the look on his face when he hears his voice is priceless, it is hard to keep a straight face. My problem is that usually my 5 year old laughs at it so it encourages more. I think he had everyones' attention at Target the other day as well as the fruit store when my neighbor was there too...."I thought that scream sounded familiar...". Yesterday instead of screaming it was "mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy......." I prefer that, but almost equally annoying. I do find a nice snack quiets him down and may be your only saving grace....
Good luck, and anyone around you when your son does this isn't judgemental of you or your son, we moms (and dads too) know that it's a phase and you just have to smile and be glad he's healthy!

My son did the same thing but I just ignored it and I kept on what I was doing. I figured every baby goes thru that and anyone who was looking at me crazy didn't have a child, or they had a perfect child that didn't do what my son did.

He's 2 he's almost grown out of it but now his thing is when were grocery shopping, he yells at the top of his lungs "I like boobies mommy" Now that is embarassing. All I do is turn away to laugh and ignore it. Its funny b/c he only does it at the grocery store.

I work in a childcare center and have ages 8 mnths- 15 mnths.....try having a room full of screeching babies lol. I read and article on this and it is a way that they exercise their vocal cords. Just have to live with it. lol. Good luck.
H.

As he gets older you can say "Ouch that hurts!" This seems to get my son to stop most times. He's 22mos and does it to let me know he's mad now. Before it was a vocal chord stretch, and I tried everything you did. They do grow out of it. Generally I syopped taking him out unless absolutely necessary, and when we had to, I always had treats to keep his mouth occupied.

it is a phase and he will grow out of it. if it is bad when you are out, then yes you are right, leaving is the best option and avoiding where possible taking him on errands is a good plan. Babies that age try out all kinds of things - going with the flow is generally best unless it is a health or safety issue. Some good books are "Smart love" by the Heinemans and "Unconditional parenting" by alfie cohen.

Your letter has amused me - I can so relate! UGGGGhhh! When we were house shopping - my, then 17 month old son, picked up that habit because he loved the sound of the echo in empty homes and basements. That habit never died. We went through the "stop" phase and that didn't help. Distracting him did work, at times. Funny thing is - my son, now 10 and other child, 13 years, use that same, quick sound, in situations where we may be separated by an aisle or two in a store or we temporarily get separated in a crowded area and need to locate each other quickly. One , quick, high-pitched Ahgh! has been our signal for years-if you answer with the right pitch, the sound carries. I answer with an "Ahgh!" It's one of those "drop everything and GO" sounds that is only used for that purpose. My husband even uses it. It's become our families' private code word (sound) for years. So, I do feel for you but, years later, it has become like a safety net for our family.

Yep, happens to everyone.lol It is his way of testing his voice. He now knows that he can do it and will continue to do it until he discovers something else he can do. My kids did this at the most inopportune times like at masses on Sundays...church filled with people. But my kids did it at the choir parts so people thought that the bb was singing with the choir.lol
This too shall pass and only to be picked up by another annoying bb standard.lol Good luck!

They all do it around that age. I run some programs for moms and literally EVERY child has gone through a screeching or squealing phase. They're just excited that they can make noises and once they can start getting some words out it usually subsides. Ignoring it is really the only thing that works because they think everything else is a game at that age. Anyone who is annoyed by it needs to get over it. They did it when they were that age and they had kids that did or they will have kids that do. Distracting can sometimes work as well...I taught my daughter Itsy Bitsy Spider around that age and doing the hand work seemed to keep her occupied. However, I'm not sure what is more annoying...screeching or 1000 repetitions of Itsy Bitsy Spider a day!

OMG- I am still going through this and my daughter is 22 months old, although not as often except in places she has not tried out her singing voice at! lol I actually find it amusing and so do most people around us. I have also had people stop and make comments but usually at how cute she is and how she is checking out the sounds she is making. I have finally accepted that she is listening to herself and not doing it for attention or anything else negative.

Most people do not mind screaming babies or screeching! They do however mind ones that are throwing tantrums and crying hysterically since they did not get their way. If your son is just enjoying himself and doing this with a smileI think everyone will overlook it just as we would if we saw someone elses child doing it! Remember he will eventually get bored with this!

Good luck with this and many blessings to you and yours!

My almost 16-month old is more of a squealer not a screecher... but yes, they do it and there's no trick to stopping them (that I've figured out). I just brush it off and say what a great set of lungs he has - good and loud like his mama. I guess I always knew from the moment I first heard him in the delivery room (even the doctors commented). I say just go with the flow -- it's not like you're sitting with him in a movie theater or somewhere where people expect quiet. If your screaches in the grocery store, no big deal.

When my son did that, in church, while shopping, etc. I did what most parents say you shouldn't do, but it worked...I gave him a sucker while we were out. It kept him quiet long enough to finish whatever it was I needed to do. You may also try bringing a toy with you to the store or playing a game that he needs to listen for like "Can you find all the red things?" or "I see something really big!"

Good luck!

It's probably just a phase. When my (now 4 1/2 year old) granddaughter was about that age, she loved to scream. I was told by day care provider friends that she just likes the sound of her voice. It quit after a little while. (Now she does OTHER STUFF!!!!!!)

There was a time when she was between 2 1/2 and 3 years old, that in church, during communion, she started singing very loudly. She was singing Jesus Loves Me at the top of her lungs, and boy did we hear some snickers around us!! At least she chose the appropriate song!

My son did that at about that age, too. They like the new sounds they are able to make and like trying them out, especially like you said in different places where they can really hear themselves. I couldn't get him to stop. I think it is just part of having a child:-) They'll be noisy sometimes. We stopped going to many of our favorite restaurants for quite a while because of it. I didn't want to drive everyone else crazy with a screeching baby as they were enjoying their dinner, and I didn't enjoy it because I always had him up and walking around outside because he was screeching and/or wouldn't sit still. I didn't get to enjoy my dinner either. Now that he has outgrown that, we can eat out a little more often.

On the times we have had to fly, I have usually been lucky as he has slept or I've taken lots of things to entertain him. Occasionally he would do it, but not all that much. There wasn't much I could do about it then. I tried my best to entertain him, and that's all I could do. I had to get to where I was going via plane since I couldn't drive across the country with him by myself in car:-)