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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Are all dc scared of the Hoover? How do you deal with it?

13 replies

Whenisitmysleepytime · 02/12/2011 10:20

I obviously don't Hoover enough as my dc are terrified of the Hoover.
Ds is 2.5 and shouts me not like Hoover.
Dd is 7mo and screams.

How do you deal with it?
I did a VERY superficial swoosh today but can't always wait to Hoover when they're out and I'm home. (hardly ever happens)

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 02/12/2011 10:28

Mine is 21mo and is still not keen on it. Until a couple of weeks ago she'd run screaming, terrified of it. I tried putting animal masks on it and all sorts. Not even having a toy hoover worked.

What seems to have changed things is where I keep the hoover - I've moved it into the living room permanently because it blocks off the enticing plug sockets, and since then she's gone up to it, had a good nosy at it and says 'Hello hoover' to it several times a day, and now laughs when I put it on (still won't come near it but at least isn't throwing a total wobbler) - whether having it in the room when it's off has made it seem less scary I don't know, but it does make cleaning up a LOT easier.

Original poster

Whenisitmysleepytime · 02/12/2011 10:31

Ds has had a play with it and it's tools several times but I think it's the noise. He also has a hand dryer phobia.

Any ideas about dd?

OP posts:

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/12/2011 10:34

I deal with it by never hoovering

DP does the whole house when he's home alone - DS has always hated the hoover.. though, at 4 he would probably tolerate it. I'll keep that thought to myself though

greensnail · 02/12/2011 10:36

I used to have to give dd1 chocolate buttons while I hoovered, which seemed to take her mind off it. She's fine with it now though and uses the hand held one while I use the big one. Dd2 h as never been worried by the hoover though.

Ragwort · 02/12/2011 10:41

Never noticed this

montmartre · 02/12/2011 10:46

My DS is terrified of the vacuum (the noise, he hates it).

I only vacuum if he's out, asleep, or at the opposite end of the house (e.g. I can vacuum the bathroom (at back, upstairs) whilst he's in the sitting room (at front, downstairs)).

DD used to be scared, but got better as she got older- it's a huge treat for her now to be allowed to do the vacuuming what a shame.

laurenamium · 02/12/2011 15:06

DD is 11mo and it took me about 4 months of smiling and singing whilst really loudly and doing little dances while I was hoovering for her not to be scared of it, now she sits on someone's knee or in her high chair and shreeks (sp?) excitedly whilst clapping while I Hoover up

So just doing it anyway and showing there's nothing to be scared of I guess!

AnySleepWillDo · 02/12/2011 22:27

I get dd 2.8 who's always been a bit scared to count how long it takes me to do the room she's in then shut the door of the room and quickly do the rest! Doesn't bother her unless it's in the same room she thinks the counting is a fun game to see how quick mummy can do it.

Listzilla · 05/12/2011 16:08

We didn't hoover till DD was 15 months Well, once or twice when she was out, but not often enough. We mostly just swept.

Now we've no trouble hoovering in front of her, she follows us as we do it. And she's grown out of her fear of the noise of hand driers, thankfully.

If we could just get her able to be in the same room as a hair drier, we'd be sorted...

wideawakenurse · 06/12/2011 12:52

DS was the same, used to scream and run away.

I started leaving the hoover out in the lounge, and named him "David the Dyson", and got DS to have a play with it when it was turned off.

Now he loves it, and when I say, "Shall we get David out, he runs to the kitchen cupboard when its stored"

The other thing to thing about is getting a toy hoover for them, maybe from ELC to use when you have yours on?

quornsausages · 06/12/2011 13:17

My daughter didn't like the hoover (nor did she like hairdryers and hand dryers). When she was about 2.5yrs, our Dyson packed in and we bought a Hetty hoover (same as Henry, but pink) and she likes that now. She even wants to do the vacuuming. Still doesn't like hand dryers though.

camdancer · 06/12/2011 13:56

DS was well over 3 before he could be in the house when the hoover was on. He still (4.5) doesn't like hand dryers and has some other sensory issues around food. We just didn't hoover when he was in the house. We don't have much carpet, just stairs and landing so it wasn't dreadful. In summer DH would play with DS in the garden. We had to be more creative in winter, but I have been known to sweep the carpets especially the stairs.

Apparently there are frequencies that children can hear that adults can, and the hoover can emit them. So they really are hearing something offensive to them. It isn't just being difficult - yes, I'm talking to you Mum!

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 06/12/2011 14:00

My DS loves the Hoover, but he's only 14 weeks, the noise puts him to sleep. Unfortunately for my carpets, this hasn't encouraged me to do it more often!
My DM said I was frightened of it until she let me sit on it like a horse and pull me around on it. Obviously this doesn't work for uprights, unless you intend your child to be a gymnast!

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