Screeching

Anne - posted on 04/15/2010

i know the screeching can be annoying but this phase will pass and compared to kids who have special needs and dont actually know when to stop its a walk in the park and they have to screech as part of their devolopment our third child robbie is going through that screeching phase and babbling forming words etc trust me after two older children with autism screeching is a blessing and well from knowing other kids through family friends etc its just a brief all be it sometimes annoying phase

Kristi - posted on 04/15/2010

My third child was the Queen of Screeching. She also had delayed speech (27 mos.) I felt like her inability to communicate caused a lot of it, so we started teaching her to sign some basic words, and then reminding her to either say or sign instead of screech. With my next three kids, we started signing much earlier, and they tended to only screech when a big brother or sister was annoying them.

Malinda - posted on 04/14/2010

wow, im sooo glad that im not the only one.my son does the same thing, to him its an attention thing...i have learned to ignore it, and eventually he will stop. sometimes he does it in a cute way, sometimes he doesnt..my son tho, just wont listen..he is very stubborn. he will get on the couch and if i tell him to get down, he just looks at me like in crazy..i have popped his butt, put him in his room, and other things to divert his attention..but 5 minutes later hes doing the same thing.. OH and if he doesnt get his way..all hell breaks loose. he will throw a tantrum and if we are in public, i actually have to tell people that he is mine and im not trying to kidnap him...argg..i hope he grows out of it soon..

Brittany - posted on 04/14/2010

I like Kylie's response. try to lower your own vocal tones toward him... I don't know if you use "baby talk" but try to just talk to him like a normal person and instead of emphasizing up when you talk try to just talk normal. and I like the idea of "the quiet game" or something. we did that with our kids and they are great out to eat now!

Michelle - posted on 04/13/2010

And yet another mom here with a 20 month old that has tested my patience the past few days. It's like his personality changed overnight. He is my third child, and the other two never went through this stage. He throws a tantrum and screams whenever he does not get his way. I am finding that the only thing that does work is distracting him. Now we all know why God made all toddlers so darn cute. :)))

Erin - posted on 04/13/2010

Oh my word! I really just thought it was my naughty and frustrated kid. I don't have any other help than what has already been offered but it seems we're not alone!!

Lindsay - posted on 04/13/2010

I don't have a solution but know your not alone!!! My 19 month old daughter does the high pitch scream, when she doesn't get something, when she wants something, randomly, and my most favorite (not) when I am driving!! I just try to be stern and tell her "no screaming" and sometimes it works... or the shhhhhing game.. but I hope this stage is over soon! Good luck to you other moms as well!

Melinder - posted on 04/13/2010

They are at the age where the loves to be independent. I normally let my daughter do things she likes as long as she does not dangers herself. I will let her hold the cell phone as long as she does not put it in her mouth or throws it down on the floor. Normally she just speaks on the phone blabbing i mean.. You can always turn their attention to their favourite toys..At this age they are very easily distracted..

Brandy - posted on 04/12/2010

Hi Joanne! From reading what everyone is saying, I'm relieved to find that this age must come with squealing and tantrums and its not just mine doing it!!! My son is 20 months and doing the squealing, tantrums, temper fits, etc. I'm still firguring out how to control and/or calm them. Like some others have said, I find raising my voice back or immitating him only makes him worse where it used to help. I have also begun whispering and "shhhhing" him and sometimes that helps. Recently he was prescribed steroids and OMG that made him SO MUCH WORSE! I'm reading everything I can and trying everything I can think of but from what other mothers are saying, I think we all have to just grin and bear it! The best results for Aiden are achieved with holding his upper arms so he can't twist away, looking him in the eye, and telling him in a low firm tone "stop it right now.". I've been told getting down on their level and looking them in the eye is useful and most times it is with Aiden. Hopefully we'll get out of this stage soon! I dont know about you but it certainly does try my nerves!!! And keeping my temper in check after all day everyday of that lovely noise is not the easiest thing to do!!! Good luck!!!

Amanda - posted on 04/12/2010

Oh my...it sounds like my house. I have tried the sitting in his room, time out, ignoring, etc. I have yet to find anything that really works. Right now the biggest help is redirecting his attention to something else. I would say that works 50% of the time, which is good considering it could be worse. I agree with the other moms that this is hopefully just a phase and that we just need to understand how frustrating it is when we can't talk about how we feel. I have tried to stay positive when this happens and just talk quietly so he has to be quiet to hear me. Good luck and know that you aren't the only one!

Kimberly - posted on 04/12/2010

This definitely must be an age thing, but I am going through the same thing right now! One thing I love about this group is it is nice to know that we are all dealing with the same issues! I hope this is a short lived phase though because it is driving me crazy! Any time Alex gets told know or he fails in something he is tring to do (a puzzle or whatever) he starts this high-pitched screeching! Holy Mother, what a pain! Nothing really works, so rather than make everyone miserable, I fimly tell him to stop and walk away from him. He usually stops within a minute or two! Good luck!

Danielle - posted on 04/12/2010

my 20 month old just starting doing this and i have the same feelings as you, i am now the mom of "that baby". we actually went out to eat lunch yesterday and my son pulled his screeching temper, (he had a too short of a noon nap) we have tried everything in the past. the only thing that works for me weather we are at the market,restaurant,mall ect.. is to be firm and let him know this is not acceptable. if he continues to do it, one of us walks him outside for a cool off rather than let him continue his behavior. as inconvenient as this sounds, he usually does not continue when we return inside. I know that if i am spending good money to go out to eat, i do not want to hear peoples kids screeching and tempering the entire time i am there. The other things that helps us when we go out to eat is to make sure he is not tired before we go out, as it will make it more difficult for them not to temper if they are are tired. bring a few crayons to keep him occupied when eating out, and when the server takes your drink order and you are still deciding on food, place his food order and have it come out before yours so he is busy and not waiting. as long as my son has had a proper nap, this works for us so i hope it gives you some ideas and helps.... just remember not to give in to him as that will only make things worst because the one time you dont give him his way, he will start all over again .......good luck!!

Grace - posted on 04/11/2010

WOW! My 19mth old, Fred, does the same thing!!! I just ignore him and he gets the hint eventually...but I have tried the sssshhhh, looking in the eye, time-outs and of course the firm "NO"! They all had their days so now I have tried just plain ignoring him...it seems to be working, fingers crossed it stays that way. Good Luck! :)

Raffaella - posted on 04/11/2010

My 20 month old is going through a screeching thing right now and it's really unpleasant. We have been giving her "time-outs" when she behaves this way. She usually cries for a few minutes, then forgets about the screeching. If we yell or screech back at her, she thinks it's a game and it just encourages her. I've also been trying the stern voice thing, and that seems to work. Actually, what seems to work best lately is to threaten to send her to bed. As soon as she hears us say, "Do you want to go to bed?" she stops everything and starts behaving nicely, because she absolutely does not want to go to be...I hope she grows out of it soon!

Tammy - posted on 04/10/2010

Oh gosh, my daughter used to do this, but initially it was more of a "fake", low, loud crying sound whenever she wasn't happy with something, or whenever she wanted something. The way I solved the problem, was I would look her in the eye and in a firm, but calm voice I would command "no whining!" and eventually that did the trick (I was amazed that it didn't take long). She no longer makes that crying sound, but has been testing me with other kinds of sounds, including the shrieking, though she has been very good about not whining and listens when I tell her not to. She now normally uses normal tones to ask for something or show displeasure. Eventually our babies will learn to talk and things will be easier... ...I hope! Hang in there! :)

Marjolein - posted on 04/10/2010

when my daughter is having 1 of those lovely moments i'll take her by her hand and walk her to her room. she stays in the room till she thinks she's ready to come out. she'll knock on the door to let us know that she's calmed down.

Kylie - posted on 04/10/2010

Hi Joanne! So glad to hear i'm not alone!

Before having my 3rd baby, I always hated squealing kids, especially when it seems they are squealing for no reason! Now Maddy is 20 months old & squeals a lot, sometimes I think she just likes the sound?

The only thing i've found that sometimes helps is "playing the shhhh game" with her! ( Whispering & putting fingers on lips and saying shhhh.) i will admit it doesn't always work but I whisper & say shhh & she thinks it's a game! My hubby yells back at her, though sometimes this works, most times it encourages her & drives me crazy!

anyway, here's hoping they grow out of it!