[tinaedmond]

Does anyone have an infant/young child who just screams at the top of his lungs because he's happy? DS has been letting these truly loud screams out lately, it is out of happiness but oh my are they LOUD. They hurt your ears, they are that loud. He is 11 months old.

Does anyone else's child do this? Any ideas on how to discourage the behavior? I understand he's testing out his vocal range, but you really have no idea how loud this kid can scream

On a positive note, he just learned to say "uh-oh" yesterday!

Tina

[Guatemom]

My niece does this (she'll be 3 in Jan), and has done it since she was an itty bitty thing. She just shrills in delight-like a banshee (sp)! Curious to see how others deal with this, too.

[SKL]

I have a nephew who does that - started very young, and was still doing it at his 3rd birthday party. It was LOUD but since it was a happy scream, mostly we would just grin and bear it. His mom would ask him to be more quietly gleeful but it didn't seem to make a difference.

The only real problem with this is that people outside your family will at first think he's throwing a tantrum. Not that you should care what others think, but it can still be difficult in public places.

I would just try hard to teach him about the "inside voice" and hope he grows out of it sooner rather than later.

And thank goodness he is so happy!

[Tamiswaiting]

Yep. Kevin has just started doing this. He's so happy that I don't have the heart to make him stop it just yet. He's also only 8 months, so there's nothing I can think of to change it right now. I think that if he's doing it as he gets older, it'll probably get old for me, though .

[astra]

My son was a screamer at that age too! I just ignored it, and it eventually toned down some!

[Travelkid]

My son is also a very loud and happy guy. He is 17 months and started the "banchee like" scream about 3 weeks ago. We try to stress the "inside voice" but he has an all-around loud and deep voice - yes, he will be the only baritone in kindergarten!

One thing I will say though is his laugh is amazing - it is a deep, booming belly laugh - wonderful, you can never frown when my baby is happy!

[ddhuab]

My daughter does this too, and I swear she is gonna bust my ear drum. She has been doing it since about 18 months (or younger).

I just grin and bear it. The women in my mom's group don't seem to mind, they say she is part of the "screamers" that we all play with. I think hers is the highest pitch though.

We do talk about inside voice and outside voice, but not always in this circumstance.

D.

[nathansvolunteers]

Camille did it for a little while shortly after we got her home , but she pretty much outgrew it on her own. So my hearing loss is only temporary....
Ask for ear plugs for Christmas!!!


Cindy

[amyfk]

My child does this too. Especially when she's playing with her friends or she is happily stimulated. So far I will grin and bear it. If it becomes a real problem later I'll see what to do. for now it's ok.
Amy K, NJ

[Slatond10]

Yes, my DD has the happy squeal at octaves that makes other's cringe. She will be 3 in Nov. and still does it. Visit any play area @ McD or CFA or BK and you will hear lots of happy screamers.

As other's posted I recommend toning it down w/ a "shush" but I think she has already screamed out my hearing of those levels because I really don't notice as much anymore until another parent points out that she has such a "squeal."

We talk about "quieting it down," "inside voice" etc... It helps some. But I admit if I hear squealing of others and notice it is a happy squeal then I just smile and move on. I can handle happy squeals --- it's the other kind that make me cringe

[green_eyes522]

My daughter also started this around the same age. By coincidence, my ped. heard it at an appointment and said to just let her do it because it helps to build their vocal skills and that babies just love to hear and experiment with their own voice at that age. He told me even though it can be unbearable it's important to just let your child work it out on their own time and not discourage it.

With that said...it can be hard to cope. I never verbally discouraged my daughter but if I were holding her and she did it close to my ears I would sit her down and hold my ears and say ouch...that hurts mommy's ears. Even though she was only 11 months she eventually started to catch on that I didn't like the squeal near my ears :-) She is turning 2 this Nov and she rarely does this squeal anymore since it has been replaced with words and hearty belly laughs. Sometimes I actually miss it now because as loud as it was...it was a part of her silly-ness that I love so very much.

Hang in there!

[JustBarbara]

Oh yes, DS has a 'sqealing' phase - sometimes out of the blue we would be playing and he would just let out this loud screech for a nano-second and then repeat it a few times - this was around 13-14 months and it really seems like he was just experimenting with how it sounds (and how mama reacted to it!). At 18 mos. no longer in this phase.

[beejay]

Ds does this, he is 23 months, he started at 15 months and has not stopped yet!!!! Nothing seems to work. My 4 yr old DD does it when they are being hyper so we tell her to use the inside voice. She only does it cause he does.

[Tavidad]

Our boy screams especially in response to animals. He gets really excited, and wants to do something. This has started to change recently (at 19 months), I think because he has a lot more avenues to express himself: running after the animals, grabbing the animals, watching the animals run away . But seriously, as he's gotten a broader range of skills, he's become less screechy.

[Michelle Smiles]

My daughter tends to do this in public to get the attention of those around her. She wants everyone in the grocery store to stop and talk to her. She gets quite loud. It is a happy sound so I hate to stop it but I know not everyone finds it as cute and funny as I do. My best way to combat it right now is to lean down and whisper in her ear. I just whisper silly things but she gets quiet so that she can hear me. She loves being whispered to.