6 Month Old Screeching

Yes it is a phase. The more attention you give him the longer it will last. YOu have to ignore it as best as possible. I got 2 girls and know it is hard.

Definitely a phase, but he is LOVING the reaction he is getting from you. If you can...make your face blank and then when he coos or smiles, then give him big smiles and MUCH good attention...they seem to get the point quick.

My 6 month old does that too. He just started doing it about two weeks ago but he can go for about an hour doing this. I am at my widths end too. I have tried saying no too it doesn't work, same thing with the clapping. My guess is he is getting separation anxiety, or just doesn't want to be alone. His screams hurt my ears too I am thinking about getting ear plugs. Usually when I don't give him a reaction he stops and just starts playing or cooing in his room. Good luck

He is certainly communicating!
I would look directly at him, eye to eye, and loudly say- "I got It"
Sometimes an acknowledgment will handle it.
best, k

It is just a short phase, like everyone else that will follow.
Try your sing-song voice and gently tickle his toes and belly. Speak reasurringly that everything is OK. Then take a nice hot bath. You deserve to pamper yourself.

Have you tried singing?
Playing music?

I know a two years old who is doing the same screeching, and screaming. She can go on for a very long time, and honestly I could not as an adult scream for so long. She does it before a nap, and when she wakes up after one. She does not like to take a nap, and fall asleep sitting up. She will wake up as soon as you pick her up, and put her down. You cannot change her diaper, clothes, or give her a bath and she will scream louder if you say "stop screaming". I started to walk away now until she stops, and ask her if she is done with the screeching. I also put her in the room on the bed when she starts, and keep checking with her. I keep asking if she is done, and take her out when she does. I also tell her you are going to your room unless you stop screaming, and hopefully she will get it. You should walk away from him, and put him in a room by himself each time he screams until he realize he is not getting special attention by screaming. He will eventually stop, and am hoping for the same result with this little girl. The kids use crying, screaming, and screeching as weapons to make adults do what they want. She sheds no tears when she is screaming, and screeching. You can tell the difference if they really shed tears, and have some real discomforts. The screaming, and screeching without tears should totally be ignored by adults. You have adults who want children to be happy 24/7, and never cry. It is impossible, and you are going to have big trouble in the future. You should remain calm when kids are acting up, and they are looking for reactions from the adults. You should get away from him, and regain your composure because the terrible two is coming next.

Your little man has discovered something new he can do with his voice, and he is having a good time getting a reaction out of you! This is totally just a phase. Keep trying to distract him. I doubt he understands "no" at 6 months old. I would tickle him, or sing a song, or make a funny face to distract and redirect him. This is just the beginning of annyoing phases!! Wait till he learns to tell you "NO", that phase is super fun :)

I used to distract all the time by making a funny noise, often with a silly (and happy) face or exaggerated hand gestures.

What this did was catch his attention and he wanted to join in on the fun 99% of the time, which had him forgetting about his screaming protest quick.

p.s. If your son is stubborn, pick up "Raising Your Spirited Child". It will be very helpful.

LOL I call it the sonic weapon! My 8 month old was doing that for a bit, and still does if his siblings dont get the mesage he does not want to be held a certain way. I just ignore it and tried to avoid what was causing the distress in the first place, if possible. Sing while changing diaper, toys in car seat, etc. Also, he should be giving you cues that he is reaching his tolerance point for something with uncomfortable grunts, unhappy face something before he releases the heavy hitter weapons lol I caught on to my sons earlier signs and then just tried to distract him or pick him, etc before he got to that level of uncomfortability. You don't want to reinforce that screeching is the way to get your attention or get what he wants. So try to answer him when he asks nicely lol

btw try not to use "no" because that is how they learn to say it to you. None of my older children ever went through the no phase because instead of no I would tell them "thats not safe" or "thats not nice" etc. instead of "No" My husband jokes about that because as he says "the baby cant understand you" but hey they cant undersatnd "no" either! So avoid the highly aggravating no phase if you can!

Good luck :)

Oh he understands alright....that's why he keeps doing it. It caught your attention the first time and now he has you hooked in. I would not say one word or look at him when he starts it until he stops. Praise him at times when he is good. It will end promptly.

You know what activities bring on the screaming so start singing to him before you start them. In most cases he will be busy listening to your singing to remember to scream. It works. Give it a try.

My son did this while I was on the phone with a client - luckily, she was a mom, too, and understood.

I agree with Workinmom - babies love reactions, and don't yet understand a negative one (other than, hey, that's cool, let me see if I can do it again!). If you don't react, he is more likely to get through this phase (and yes, it is a phase), relatively quickly.