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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Screams at hoover!

20 replies

sam27 · 26/08/2004 14:50

Hi. I wondered if anyone else has had experience with this. My 9 month old ds screams and screams when I hoover, he even cries at the sight of it when it isn't even on! He also cries at other noises such as dragging the washing basket along the kithen floor (tiles)! Although it is the hoover which really upsets him.

Why is he so petrified of the hoover? How do I get him used to these noises? I think our house is too quiet and I obviously don't hoover enough!!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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deegward · 26/08/2004 15:06

DS2 and ds1 used to be like this, I always thought it was because ds1 was at nursery so therefore wasn't used to it, but ds2 was exactly the same (at about the same age as yours). He is now 17mths and although the hoover is not his best friend he doesn't scream anymore. I think it helped that I used to carry and comfort him as I was doing it, and he played with his own play dyson. NOw he gets his out when I'm doing the house. Hope it helps, I think it will get better, and its "just a phase"

MeanBean · 26/08/2004 15:10

My DD is two and she still hates the vacuum - also hates the lawnmower. It must be something to do with moving noisy things, because she doesn't mind the washing machine.

moomina · 26/08/2004 15:11

Hi Sam

My ds was the same and now at 14 months he has begun to get used to it. Strange, really, considering that when he was really small I used to put the hoover on to stop him crying!

I got him used to it slowly by carrying him with me while hoovering (not easy I know) and letting him play with it as well. I just pull lots of silly faces and try to make the big scary noise into a fun game, IYSWIM!

HTH

Jimjams · 26/08/2004 15:16

DS1 (5, but autistic) has become more sensitive to hoovers and noise as he's grown older. I have 2 dysons; he cannot tolerate at all the upright- but is completely obsessed by the smaller one. He's obsessed by hoovers in general and likes to look at pictures of them but if I even touch the upright he starts screaming and dragging me away. (although he loves looking at them in shops! The noise is very deep as well as loud and it seems to be that gets to him. He loves some washing machines and cannot tolerate others- and I've noticed that pitch is important.

My friend's dd didn't like hoovers when she was a baby, but I seem to remember that phase didn't last long.

muddaofsuburbia · 26/08/2004 15:20

Yup - ds is nearly 2 and is still freaked out by our hoover. He goes absolutely nuts - screaming. blotchy face - the works! It disturbs me a lot because he's a really placid boy and not prone to tantrums or anything like that, so it must really scare him.

Interestingly we were both at a church this week, when someone brought out a big industrial sized vacuum cleaner with a hose. It was blue and he went running up to it, stroked it(!) and shouted "MUMMY, mummy, hoover like Noo Noo!!". He thought it was great, even when it came towards him. He was disappointed when it was switched off.

But our Dyson, gives him the heebie jeebies and he goes on about it going "round and round" so it could be that it's very noisy and spins. He plays with it when it's off, but if I push it (even if switched off) he goes ballistic.

So I'm still waiting for him to get used to it , but I'm slowly getting an idea of what it is exactly that freaks him.

colinsmommy · 26/08/2004 15:30

My 12 mo ds screams at the vaccum at the top of his lungs, but I think he thinks it is an exciting toy. He constantly puts his hands on, around, and underneath it and likes to play with the cord. I can't vacuum at all with him around. I wish he was afraid of it.

Original poster

sam27 · 26/08/2004 15:52

It is so reassuring to know I'm not alone! I have started to carry him with me while I do it, although he still cries (but not as much). He is 10kg now though and it kills me so not sure I can continue this way!

OP posts:

Piffleoffagus · 26/08/2004 16:05

my dd also, I got her toy one, is on a previous thread sometime ago, she hated it at first but now isn't bothered by it being on at all, and is 21 mths now..
They do outgrow it, and yes it helps to hoover more often but for a short time I found...
less is more you know... hee hee

Twinkie · 26/08/2004 16:07

DD still is at 4 years old she won't be in the same room!!

Great excuse not to hoover - that and sciatica means DP has to do it!!

scaltygirl · 26/08/2004 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

fee77 · 26/08/2004 16:24

Thank god DD is not the only one! I have given up hoovering for the time being as it is just too stressful, and will only attempt it if DH has taken DD up the garden! That's my excuse anyway!

nutcracker · 26/08/2004 16:27

My Ds used to be petrified of the hoover. He used to scream and scream and shake even if i opened the cupboard where it was kept.
At first I would hoover when he was asleep or when someone lese could play with him, but it was getting ridiculous so in the end I just used to get it out and get on with it.

Now he has gone completely the other way and adores the hoover. If he sees it now and I don't let him play with it then he will scream.

We are getting him a mini version of ours now for his birthday

ernest · 26/08/2004 19:47

my 10 mth old chases after it (combat crawling), frantically trying to eat it. makes hoovering just as difficult, just for the opposite reasons

whizzz · 26/08/2004 20:23

I scream at the hoover, yell at the duster, rant at the mop - but they still don't clean the house by themselves !!

Mirage · 27/08/2004 22:27

My year old dd hates the hoover now-used to love it.I usually hoover whilst she is asleep,but sometimes can't avoid doing it while she is in the room.

I hoovered the living/dining room on Monday with her clinging to my leg,screaming all the way around.Horrible.

One of my friends has a little boy who is just the same-they can't get a stairgate to fit their stairs,so put the hoover in front of them.He won't go anywhere near it.

indamb · 30/08/2004 21:51

my dd used to be just the same with the hoover/hairdryer.
i had to turn it on and then enter the room, this did seem to help as it wasn't a sudden noise and she wasn't as upset.

Lisa78 · 30/08/2004 21:53

mine's 10m old, he's fine with everything - except the strimmer! Screams the street down even if he hears it from inside

Tommy · 30/08/2004 22:47

Both mine are the same! They hate the hoover so DH does the whole house on a Sunday morning when we're all at church. Once, DS1 came in when I was ironing - he looked terrified - he had no idea what the ironing board was or what I was doing! Fortunately he now has a toy iron - don't want him getting wrong ideas

paradise · 31/08/2004 16:14

My Ds also used to hate the hoover, until i started encouraging him to help me get it out from the cupboard and put it away. We also bought a toy dyson and he is fine now, infact will hoover when i do. In a few years hopefully he can use the real thing!!!

Pagan · 21/09/2004 11:13

Was just about to ask the same question when I noticed this thread. Hoover, lawnmower and strimmer are total no-nos. Afterwards my DD (aged 1) sits traumatised on lap for ages.

Doesn't help that I loath and detest our hoover so much so that I swear when I'm doing it and usually get in such a fankle that I give up. Have finally persuaded DH that we need an upright as it was his idea to get the useless thing we have even though he doesn't hoover.

Hooray - victory!!!

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