Screaming baby - help!

[Jorior]

My beautiful 7mo DD must have been an Opera singer in a previous life because the pitch she reaches could shatter glass! She's generally happy but when she's not, she screams which is genuinely painful to listen to and is quite stressful for everyone else in the family. It was manageable when she didn't do it so often but she's been doing it more and more. She does it when she wants to be picked up, if I leave the room or sometimes if I just walk in the opposite direction. We have to respond to her because it's blood-curdling and she doesn't give up too easily. It's beginning to affect mealtimes in particular and the only way we can all enjoy dinner is if I BF her or at least have her in my arms. We know this is a bad habit but she's only 7mo so she doesn't understand 'no' yet as she has yet to do anything (like touching or climbing) where we've had to tell her to stop. Any suggestions how we can manage this? I know it will pass but we'd like it to pass quickly..,

So is she just screaming to get your attention?

Hopefully it will be a phase that will pass, especially once age starts crawling and can be mobile and independent.

In the meanwhile, have you thought of getting a sling? Or putting her in a highchair at dinner time?

We have to respond to her because it's blood-curdling and she doesn't give up too easily.

If you respond to the scream she will learn it as an effective strategy to get what she wants and use it more.

You need to ignore the screaming and act as you would if she were not doing it.

You can't teach her not to scream. What you can do is not teach her to use it more. If it doesn't achieve anything for her she will naturally stop using it as her other communication skills improve.

Thanks ladies. I think you're right - we just have to try and ignore it and hope she gives up before our eardrums burst!

DD was a proper screamer, no real advice but wanted to say that it does get better

I dunno I have a 2 1/2 year old who's (happy) shrieks and screams could shatter glass!

So long as it's not an obviously unhappy call then I'd ignore or chat to her in response but don't rush to pick her up.

It sounds like the beginning of separation anxiety to me so not responding could well make it worse.

sling sounds like worth a try