"banshee" shrieking - 10 mth old - is this usual??

[weeonion]

DD has always been a chatty sort which was sweet but she has now developed a loud, V loud shriek that she uses when we are out and about. Most especially in quiet surroundings such as coffee shops and libraries. It really is piercing. now i have tried the ignoring it and chatting away to her when she stops it but - it doesnt seem to be working. is this usual for this age? is she just practising to become a member of a girl band in later years or should i be concerned??

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my 7mth old does it and people look at her like she is a gremlin !

They do it because they can! It's a new noise that she has discovered she can make, and is doing it again and again because she likes the novelty of it.

Ignoring it is exactly the right thing to do - she'll get bored with it eventually, or the next big novelty will come along.

I have 2 dds, 4 and 2.5, and they both did (and sometimes still do!) this!! hard on the ears, and dogs start howling. I think you are doing the right thing to ignore it!! If mine get excited (especially in a group of children- the people in the cafe at the gym love us, ahem!) they go into this kind of frenzied shrieking- boys seem to do it too, so I wouldn't be worried! Just smile sweetly at all the old grumps that are scowling, and say "It's lovely to see them so happy and animated, isn't it?" (whilst wearing your own earplugs, of course!)

thanks folks! will just have to grin and bear it for a while then!

My 10 month old DS has just started to do this too & I've tried everything - ditracting, ignoring, saying no. Nothing works and it's hard not to get embarrassed. Would love to know how you're getting on. Dreading going out to lunch tomorrow!!!

krsemma - sympathies with you!! i dint know - i am still hoping it is just a phase - she is doing it alot at the moment - breakfast here was a laugh!! i am still on the ignoring her phase but - i know what you mean about it being embarassing!
hope it goes well today !

Hi weeonion, we had the banshee shrieking all the way to the resturant in the car but he wasn't too bad in there. Sometimes I find myself giving him things to eat just so he can't screech! I hope he finds a new noise soon.....we off to cornwall soon and that could be a long drive!!