She'll Just Start Screaming!

Hi C.- my advice is a little bit different. I am a nanny to a little girl that would scream like that too. It was so loud and so HIGH that I swear only dogs could hear it. I would look at her and say in a very stern voice "Mary, it is NOT okay to scream like that. I do not like that. Stop." Not yelling at her, not putting her in time out- just letting her know that it is NOT okay. SHe did it a couple more times, and everytime I would crouch down next to her and tell her not to scream. She stopped within a week. DON'T pick her up, then she knows that if she screams you will pick her up. "Mary's" mom taught her how to say "up please" so someone will pick her up, which is so cute and MUCH better than screaming. Good Luck, L.

My daughter did that. Sometimes it was to test her own voice and others it was to get a reaction. We just reminded her to use a quiet voice and it decreased considerably.

my daughter did the same thing! everyone was afriad to watch her because she would do it without warning. My daughter was this way from day one and still is at times. She is getting better at 4 though. I re-assure her and talk to her. then I just kept her with me as much as possible. She was my first and very fragile. She also took her "moo-moo" everywhere and used that as a source of comfort in those few times I couldn't be with her. She is just a sensative girl with a big heart!

My son did this as well up until he was about 8 mos. It used to be so bad that my husband couldn't even take him. I felt like I never got a break, because he always had to be held by me. For my son I think it was a combination of things. Seperation anxiety was part of it, but I think he was in pain and that is why he would scream out of the blue. He started teething at 4 mos had 2 teeth by 5 mos. Have you talked to her pediatrician about this? Has this been constant for 16 mos or does it come and go? Good luck with this, I know it can be a challenge.