My kid won't stop screaming.

AllieSchmallie · March 2011

And it's driving me crazy. Most of the time, he screams out of frustration (e.g. when I'm not shoveling food into his mouth fast enough at mealtime, when he wants to get out of the gated family room, when I put any clothes/diapers on or take them off, etc.), but sometimes he just screams for no identifiable reason. (Ask jenrose05, she's seen it in person!). I'm seriously getting frustrated. I know that he's still young and can't verbally express what he wants/needs, but he does know a few signs, and he still chooses to scream instead of using signs 75% of the time. I've tried telling him to use a quieter voice, tried saying "no, that's too loud" and put him down then walk away (per dr's suggestions), and tried ignoring him. Nothing is working. Am I just not being consistent enough? Does anyone have any other suggestions? I hate feeling like the little time I have with him is consumed by reprimanding him time after time after time.

Superchicy · March 2011

I wish I had some advice for you! I am thankful that DD only does this sometimes, not on a regular basis and usually when she's tired, or over high-value items like my phone or the remotes. I do understand the constant reprimanding though, DD is constantly pushing buttons, knowingly, and I feel like I say "no" all.day.long. I have just made an effort to treat what screaming she does do as if it is her "normal" voice and hope that she realizes it doesn't get a different response for that than anything else she does. I hope you figure something out or he grows out of this phase. I can imagine how trying that must be day in and day out.

Missbollinger · March 2011

For us Henry generally does the screaming when he is tired or over stimulated so we redirect or do a calmer activity like reading or just contained play in the PnP helps. I know it doesn't last forever though before you know it he will be talking your ear off.

HTH

hav2run · March 2011

DD went through a phase like that just before she turned two. I really have no answers as we never figured out what the issue was or how to console her. She had a good vocabulary, and I was a broken record saying "use your words, not your whine" 50 times an hour. She finally just stopped the for no real reason tantrums as quickly as they started. Now we just get meltdowns over known things. Girly hates the word no.

I have no advice, except this too shall pass. Hang in there.

shannon059 · March 2011

We have days like this. I have noticed a few things. For us it is often because we are bored or tired. Like the clothing thing sometimes we do that, getting dressed = screaming and I just dont respond.. just get him dressed and try to quickly get him with a few favorite toys/outside/a snack or on the road to the museum or where ever to blow off some steam. I am quickly learning that my child needs to be out of the house and DOING things more than I do so getting out at least every other day seems to be KEY to us!Otherwise this is when we get antsy and LOUD!

I too am learning that distraction is the best technique!

As far as telling him to be quiet that does not work for us. I would have to yell it for him to hear me anyway which just encourages his yelling... so I have found that if i whisper to him or around him when he is yelling he will stop to listen to me because he is curious what I am talking about. This sometimes helps and sometimes even just a moment or two of quiet helps : /

Sorry to not have more ideas. Good Luck!

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