My Daughter Likes to Scream Need Help with Discipline

This is so common! I don't think there is much to be done about it but be patient. You really can't discipline a 16 month old. She is just experimenting with her voice and with the power she has to affect people. Screaming gets a big reaction! Thats pretty cool - I think I'll scream some more! Look how crazy it makes all the adults! Yay!

Really, though, both my son and daughter screamed like this and it drove me mildly crazy and my husband positively nuts. He hated it. Honestly, though, they just outgrow it when they learn more words and more effective ways to communicate. In the meantime, try to give no response at all to screaming and to distract her as quickly as possible. She starts to scream - start singing a song, playing pattycake, asking how big she is, getting a new toy, whatever.

It will pass, I promise!

B.
Mom of two prior screamers

As hard as it mey be, ignore it. And continue to ignore it. Show no emotion when she does it and stay calm. If she's getting no reaction, it will stop (though every now and then she may throw it out for another try). It won't be an immediate fix, you've gotta stick with it. Every time you react to it, you'll take yourself back to sqaure one. There's a really good, simple discipline book you might take a look at called "1-2-3 Magic, discipline for 2 to 12 year olds". I checked it out at my local Library, though I don't recall the author.

"Ouch that hurts my ears" Ignore and definately have a music time to use louder voices. You can crank up the music and have a little fun with the voices. But when they do it say you have to wait til music time to use that voice. One kid asked "save it for scream time?" My neighbor says her daughter has a scream pillow but she's an only child I would be scared of that here with multiples.... they may use it on eachother.....not good.
and maybe a cheap pair of ear plugs.good luck.

My best advice would be to try to ignore it. Tell her, "no screaming" and then turn away and act like you aren't hearing her any longer until she starts talking in a nice voice again.

My daughter is close to your daughter in age and does this as well. We try to teach her how to use her words to ask for things. We have found she usually is hungry and wants a snack or wants a toy. Obviously she can't have everything so we try to redirect her attention to something else. Good luck.

Hi J.,
Maybe you should get some ear plugs. She of course is trying to get your attention. She probably is doing that to because she wants your full attention and not paying anything to your son. This is my suggestion. I don't know if it will work or not. I also had the same problem when I would go to the store, I don't know if she does this to you in the store or not. If she would start throwing a fit in the store because she wanted something, she would sit on the floor and just cry. So what I did is I put everything back out of the cart and went home. Eventually she knew if she did that she wouldn't get anything for not behaving. If the next time we went and if she was good, I would just get her something little to reward her. I know it is hard because you have another child but tell him because he is so good that Santa will give you something more because of it. He is always watching us to see if were good or bad. Share that one with your Daughter to.
Now if this is just happening at home I would just ignore her and go on with your stuff like she's not even doing it, eventually she'll know that what she is doing isn't giving her the attention she wants. Do something fun with your son like play a game and look like your having alot of fun doing what your doing and eventuaaly she will want to do the same thing. Don't give into her. It's being a tough Mother and teaching her she just can't be throwing a fit everytime she wants something. If she comes to you screaming and demanding tell her when she can be good you will listen to her in what she is wanting but until then plug those ears. Good Luck!!!!!! Your son will also see this to and he will get the hint he better be good.
:)
C.