Screeeeeeeching! Helllllllp!

JackiePedersen

My 19 month old screeches. All. The. Time.
He screeches when he's angry, hungry, tired, even when he's HAPPY.  Screeeeeeeech! Screeeeeeeeeech!!
I am going to jump off a cliff.

Anyone have this problem and find a solution?  He is my third child, but I just never had this problem with my first two, so I'm a little lost!

thatoneredhead

Oh my word- I had this same problem and sometimes still do. It SUCKS!

When he's truly unhappy I deal and just meet whatever need, but if he is just doing it for the sake of doing it, sometimes I yell back in a playful way which gets him giggling. It gives me a little release before I yell for real. 

I dont really have a solution. It does get to me when I need to be doing something else and cant play with him. I feel ya, mama.

JackiePedersen

Oh my gosh. Ho-LY cute!!  That pic is darling.

Well, darn. I would love some secret to stopping it. Cuz.... yikes!  Suddenly, I'm "That Mom" in Target with the kid screeching.... *shudder*.

violajack

I don't have that problem, but a friend in our baby gym class does. The instructor recommended coming in really close, face to face, and putting your hands over their ears, and talking very softly. This is based on the theory that they're screeching because they like the sound of their voice, or because they are testing the acoustics of a new space, or because the environmental noise is overwhelming them and they're trying to drown it out. If you put your hands over their ears (gently) it changes the way it sounds in their head, kind of like how it sounds weird if you plug your ears and try to talk. It's at least enough to get their attention and get them to pay attention to softer sounds. She tried it during class and the little girl gave her a pretty weird "what are you doing?" kind of look, but she started making really soft cute babbling sounds instead of screeching. 

JackiePedersen

Hey, thanks!! I'm going to try this tomorrow.  That's what I was wondering; if there is something that could change the behavior in some way.  He's only 19 months old; that's not old enough to reason with or threaten a consequence.  Occasionally DH tries putting him in his crib and leaving the room for a few minutes as a subtle "time out", but he and I both acknowledge this doesn't seem to have any effect.  (I think sometimes it's because WE need a time out so we don't get angry.   The screeching can really grate on one's nerves!)  But really, he doesn't understand being put in a "time out", or leaving the store, or being told "no", or any of that. 

I will try this tomorrow and let you know what I notice from him.  Thanks!