Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

DD is a sweet, happy, well adjusted 10 month old girl (she will be 10 months Saturday).

The screaming is killing me though.

It seems to be for attention. When there is something bothering her, her pain scream is different. She does it when I don't respond to her fast enough, if she doesn't want to be somewhere or just to scream.

It is embarrassing when we are out and it is something I want her to stop doing ASAP.

Anyone have experience with this? Do I tell her no? Do I shush her? Do I ignore her? I imagine she is too early to be punished for bad behavior and I doubt she will understand what is going on.

When I tell her no, she will laugh and do it more.

Help!

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

I had a screamer! How long has she been doing this? I found it to be a very quick phase...Like you, I couldn't punish, because I know he wouldn't have gotten the point of it, KWIM? i found ignoring it didn't work, but it may help for you to try, just in case. I know how aggravating it is...especially when you are out in public!

It's funny though...you scream when you're making them, you scream when you have them, and then they are here, and all they do is scream.

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Mich, it's definitely a PHASE!!!! Shane did it too and I used to be SOOOOOO embarrassed when we were out and about!!!! He just liked hearing himself I think - it's a very awkward age, she has "stuff" she wants to communicate but doesn't have the words to do it, and hey, screaming gets your attention so that's what they do!
I found shushing totally ineffective... it was better if I responded to him, and got down to eye level and spoke calmly to him... But there are times when that's just not possible, and times when your patience is long gone and you just CAN'T!
I always kept snacks like Puffs handy for those occasions, and as a last resort gave him my cellphone to play with, that *usually* distracted him enough to let me finish my transaction or conversation!!!

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Okay, this is what I do, scream back, repeat his words as if she had them, "I'm hungry! I want bottle!" "I want up" .. etc..

I do it at 80% volume he's giving me, for example if he wants to be picked up. I will yell "up! Up! I want up!", he will stare at me, either quiet down or scream in shorter bursts, I repeat, matching his tone, till he's quiet enough to listen, then ill say for example "noah say I want up, but mommy can't right now, but you can sit and play with your books or play with your house" always give two options, it works better than a distraction, then he's like "huh? Which do I want" and forgets what happened.

Takes a few times to really get it, and you look psycho doing it, but its working for us. Lifes not perfect, but were working things through.

I'm getting this from happiest toddler on the block, coupled with what I've learned from RIE. They understand so much and they are so frustrated that they can't express themselves, express it for them. And RIE teaches that babies who are independent and
confident scream less, but to make them independent
and confident give them a chance to take initiative, give choices, let them find their own way without too much instruction or direction.

I have to add, this makes ds an angel with me, but not with anyone else. If I say no 90%, he listens, if he doesn't we go at it. I take time and do what I do. Dh resorts to distraction alone and Ds smiles at him when he says no, and goes about what deviant baby thing he wants to do.

Eta 2.... you mean these are happy screams? Sorry I don't read too careful and I'm supposed to be in bed my ped said ignore those, but what I try is whisper back "your screaming! Can you whisper? Like mommy?" And he growls...but its a compramise

Message edited 12/30/2010 10:28:37 PM.

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Jordan does it. It's them continuing to find their voices and communicate. Honestly, I think it's hysterical!

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

I definetly think its a phase. Emerson started that around 8.5 months and it ended about a month later.
I think she was "finding her voice"
Soooo embarassing cause she loved doing it only in public places lol like the diner or foodstore. I remember one time it was so loud, you could feel the table vibrate and the ENTIRE place went silent.
I couldnt shove puffs in her mouth fast enough

Eventually she just stopped

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Thank you everyone!

Michal-maybe Sienna and Zevvy have a language of love! So I guess if she is screaming when I have her there next you won't be mad.

I am going to really read everyone's responses again tomorrow.

I really hope this is a phase. I was shopping and the cashier was taking a bit too long and the looks of death were abundant.

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

I remember that stage vividly. We ignored it to the best of our ability and it lost its appeal for her in a couple of weeks.

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Posted by munchkinfacemama

Thank you everyone!

Michal-maybe Sienna and Zevvy have a language of love! So I guess if she is screaming when I have her there next you won't be mad.

I am going to really read everyone's responses again tomorrow.

I really hope this is a phase. I was shopping and the cashier was taking a bit too long and the looks of death were abundant.

Re: Screaming 10 month old. Help me before I lose my mind!

Posted by mrswask

Posted by munchkinfacemama

Thank you everyone!

Michal-maybe Sienna and Zevvy have a language of love! So I guess if she is screaming when I have her there next you won't be mad.

I am going to really read everyone's responses again tomorrow.

I really hope this is a phase. I was shopping and the cashier was taking a bit too long and the looks of death were abundant.

Mich - he doesn't do it endlessly. Just every so often.