My 1 year old has recently started screeching all the time. I feel like I am walking around with a bottle of Tylenol and very thin patience! He's a happy guy and is screeching out of happiness, requesting something or just cause he wants to. Does anyone have any suggestions to help stop this? For his food screeches I am working on sign language (e.g. more). When I know what he wants I try not to reward the screeching and wait to give him what he wants until I use the words first and then give him what he wants but as I mentioned the patience is thinning! Any suggestions for teaching him this noise is not appropriate is appreciated! I remember my daughter doing some of this but I honestly don't remember it being so frequently. For example he is throwing a sock now and squealing in delight....I am happy he is happy but my head is not! I don't want to scold him for having fun!
Thanks moms! I am happy to say that he only had two days of the constant screeching and now only does it a few times a day, phew, I was able to put away the Tylenol! I know I am not crazy though because other mom's that have been around him are shocked by the noise he makes when he does it! We are going to continue to just ignore the screams and hope it passes soon.
I know just how you feel. We have been through things like this. Honestly if you can ignore the behavior it will go away faster. Reward the behavior you are looking for, and don't respond to screeching. Completely ignore it if you can. Otherwise it can become a power struggle. I am trying (really trying) to ignore piercing "meows" right this very moment. Hang in there!
I wouldn't totally ignore it. Since he's only 1 there's not much he's really understanding. he'll get it, but it'll take a while. Use the suggestion to tell him to use his inside voice.
At first I was thinking you could withhold whatever he is asking for (when that's the reason) until he asks nicely, but he's young for that. You can still encourage it, though. When he throws a sock & screams with delight, say very calmly & quietly something like "Good job, what a good arm!" or "Yea! you did it! That was exciting, wasn't it?" I've seen some kids turn & be quiet just because they heard someone else.
Good luck getting through this phase.
--R. J.
Hi M., I have older kids now but I seem to remember telling mine to use their "inside" voice and speaking quietly so they could hear the difference. Hopefully some moms going thru this now may have some good ideas for you! Good luck!!
M.,
C'mon, girl! You know he'll grow out of it! Just grin and bear it-don't squelch his enthusiasm or his desire to emote in the way that he can right now. Without any input from you, he will naturally begin to express himself in other ways, and sooner than you think right now. So, let him screech away, and tell him you know he's excited, or agree with him that throwing socks is way fun-he'll learn to use the words you use in response to his screeching. To everything, there is a season, and tis the season for screeching for you. Tis the season for intractibility in our house, and I'm trying to navigate that-it does include screeching, but not the good kind :).
Take Care,
A.
It's developmental and he'll grow out of it on his own. It's a natural part of developing speech.
Ah, I remember the screeching stage. This too shall pass, Sweetie. Just like all the other stages will.
Hi M.,
Mine did it, too! Usually when he was most bored. I found singing to him helped to keep him quiet when I had to have my head near his mouth (such as during diaper changes), and I also explained regularly that screaming hurt mummy's ears. It didn't sink in at the time, but now he is 20 months old he knows the sign for "hurt", "mummy" and has long been able to point to his and my ears, and when he hears a loud noise he shushes it and tells it not to hurt my ears! And he no longer screeches.
I'm sure I won't be the first to say this but "ignore it". He will eventually decide it doesn't attract attention and stop. Same thing happened to me a few months ago and when other mothers suggested ignoring the behavior I rolled my eyes - but that's all you can really do. The too will be a passing phase...
Good luck!
