ear-splitting shrieks of a 14 month old - how to respond?!!

[happynappies]

For some time now my 14 month old dd has starting having melt-downs when she screams and rolls around on the floor borne out of frustration. A new development over the last few weeks though - emitting ear-splitting shrieks that last about 3 seconds, repeatedly... and I do mean, repeatedly. I have tried to ignore the shrieks - there is nothing in particular that is causing frustration - its not that she's reaching for something, or asking for something or whatever, so I'm trying to ignore as I was thinking she was doing it to get a reaction from me. Sometimes I get so frustrated with this that I hear myself shouting "Enough!" or "No - that is naughty!" - still no effect. Dd doesn't seem to understand "No" very well anyway. It is driving me insane. Any thoughts? thanks!

Move breakables out of the way and go next door.

The other room I mean, not another house.

Give her a big cuddle, IMO 14mths is to young to understand any form of discipline and even if it is temper their emotions are very overwhelming to them.

Try to ignore - DS does this as well and it's horrible (esp at 5am, ouch)

What NFK said

Ignore, ignore, ignore

I feel your pain

I tend to wait calmly until he's finished screaming and then deal with whatever is upsettin ghim.

Either ignore or cuddle without saying a word. Any emotional reaction from you, even anger, will just encourage her.

It's a phase. Repeat the Mother's Mantra "This, too, will pass."

You could try displaying an extreme reaction of your own, and by that i don't mean YOU have a temper tantrum , although i have to say, it is tempting .

Could you go to the nearest window, and start pointing, saying "oh wow, look what mummy can see", in a VERY over excited voice, being very animated. See what her reaction is, and if she stops for long enough for you to scoop her up, then take her over and carry on the OTT reaction.

Hope you find some peace and quiet soon.

ooh ytes distraction also good (I fall back on 'where's your car?' in excited tone)

Ds did this for about a month, I think it was just an exciting new noise he had discovered he could make. It drove us mad but we just ignored it - he didn't understand us telling him to stop and if we got worked up about it he just seemed to do it more - and he did stop in the end when another noise came along. Maybe try teaching her a new noise?!

How did the rest of your day go happynappies?

Hi all - thanks for your tips. I feel bad that my frustration gets the better of me at times... but will try my best to ignore. As the day went on she resorted to shrieking a bit less, but then tired around tea-time and it went a bit pear-shaped!! I like the idea of teaching her a new noise - she loves animals and likes learning animal sounds, so perhaps I'll persevere with that!! Thanks again - its good to know that people have been there before me, and that she should grow out of it!