Parents: How did you get your little toddler to stop squealing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mass4life
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mass4life

Guest
My 14-month-old daughter is going through the squealing stage. That high-pitched squeal that makes your ears cringe. I have very sensitive hearing and to hear this truly hurts my ears. I don’t know how to get her to stop it. I’ve tried a stern “NO!” and put my hand over her mouth. She laughs. I’ve tried swatting her but she doesn’t get the connection and I don’t know if that’s appropriate anyway for her. I just really don’t know what else to try.

Any suggestions?

Thanks and God Bless you.
 
40.png
mass4life:
My 14-month-old daughter is going through the squealing stage. That high-pitched squeal that makes your ears cringe. I have very sensitive hearing and to hear this truly hurts my ears. I don’t know how to get her to stop it. I’ve tried a stern “NO!” and put my hand over her mouth. She laughs. I’ve tried swatting her but she doesn’t get the connection and I don’t know if that’s appropriate anyway for her. I just really don’t know what else to try.

Any suggestions?

Thanks and God Bless you.
Click to expand...
May I suggest a good pair of ear plugs, and the word no is the worst. When your daughter is laughing encourage the sound, you could even sing a fun song so it is kind of a reward to her for the pleasant sound. My grandson insists on playing with the blinds my husband spent to much money on, so I try and keep the babies away from them. The harder I try to keep him away by saying no or lightly spanking his hand, he runs back to them.
Finally I put a large felt board in front of the window with lots of felt shapes. He has totally forgot about the blinds. Sometimes it actually works to channel that wonderful energy to something else. But by all means if your ears are sensitive to the sound purchase ear plugs.
 
I would suggest that you try not to react in a way that shows her that it bothers you. Instead, as calmly as you can, pick her up and put in her her crib and close the door. Or something similar, so she knows that there is an unpleasant consequence for her (but without showing her that you are upset.) I used to lock myself in the bathroom (for a few minutes) when my daughter was impossible. Withdrawing myself from her gave her the message that she needed to change her behavior if she wanted my attention. I would talk to her and tell her that I didn’t want to deal with her until she could behave herself. (I read the technique in a parenting book. And it is amazing how those little darlings respond to withdrawal of your attention.) I also remember thinking at those times “Remember, I am the adult and she is the child. No matter what she does, I can think faster than she can!” And don’t forget your sense of humor. Someday you will look back and laugh.
 
My 1 and 3 yr olds have contests on who can do it louder. They don’t do it all the time, but sometimes, they’ll each be in different rooms supposedly taking their naps and still do it. It’ll usually happen when they’re full of energy and really happy, so unless they do it right in my ear or it’s not an appropriate place, I don’t discourage them all that much. They haven’t done this outside the house yet. I have really sensitive ears as well, and when it becomes a problem, I pick them up, put a finger to their lips and make soothing, shushing sounds. My three year old whispers back and his little sister follows his lead. It’s then also a good time for them to get their favorite books, curl up in your lap and read.
 
Distract and re-direct.
This parenting stuff can be hard work sometimes, can’t it? I suggest that when she starts you begin whispering to her about some other option of what to do right then, ie- (whispering)“Sally, do you want me to read you a story? Go grab a book from the shelf.” Or “Sally- would you like to sing a song with me?”

Every child has SOMETHING they would rather do than any annoying behavior- you just need to find it 👍 .

Good luck-- IME- punishing a child for this type of thing and at such a young age is worthless and unnecessary.
 
Thanks to the poster, jess, who gave me the advice to sing songs with my daughter. It works to distract her, even though she’s too little to sing. She quits the squealing, and it’s something I can do with her from across the room.

God Bless You!!
 
Yipee! I am glad you found something that works–hope your ears are feeling better! 🙂
 
I have a 15 month old who went through that stage - can be very frustrating not to mention embarassing when in public!! 😃

He still does it on occasion but much less frequently. There was nothing we could do - I feel your frustration, it would bring me to tears but honestly there is nothing that can be done, except take comfort in knowing it will pass.

We did/do tell Bobby to shh with our lips in front of our mouth and say use your indoor voice, it didn’t really do much but if you’re consistant someday they’ll figure it out. Try not to let him/her see that it bothers you so much or else it will become a thing of power, just ask God to help you get through it!
 
Boy can we relate. We have a 15 month old lil’ girl who is on a screaming binge, I hope you get a lot of suggestions for this thread. I know what you mean we don’t know what to do either. She’s our fourth child and the first to do this. We will keep you in our prayers, God Bless. Good luck.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top