11 month old screaming alot!!.... is this just a phase??

[Shanti]

My 11 mo DD is screaming ALOT lately, the past 2 weeks, and the last few days, especially today she's doing my head in with it! It's REALLY loud screaming where it feels like your ear drums are going to burst.... you know the one I mean? We were out having dinner tonight and quite often DD is really good and sits in her highchair eating but tonight she was very unsettled and screamed alot and we even heard someone at another table say 'wow she has a good set of lungs!' LOL!!!

I can handle DD yelling and squealing etc and I know that's just what babies do but lately she's screaming at me all of a sudden, as if it's a way of getting my attention.... I don't understand why because I'm a very attentive parent, we gentle parent here and DD knows we are here for her with whatever she needs. We never ignore her. So why is she screaming at me like this so much? Today she did it alot ... it's like she's really frustrated or something... I'm really finding it difficult to know and understand what it is she needs right then and there..... when it's been easier before....she doesn't want food, doesn't want water, pushes our hands away if we go to cuddle her, so we put her down but sometimes she doesn't even want that!!!

We tell her gently "No, please don't scream, hurt Mummies ears" and we let her know that it hurts us when she screams but she doesnt' understand anyway. I've tried ignoring her when she is screaming at me like that but she just keeps doing it.
Other than at these moments, she's a very sweet, funny, happy contented baby!!! but just has these moments....!?

Is this just a phase they go through around this age? Eeeeeeek! Is this the start of the toddler phases now.... she's not even 12mths yet!

[Salad]

I could have written you post almost word for word so I will be keeping an eye on the replies.
I think it is a stage and some days Georgia will not scream at all, then other days drives me crazy with it.
Its hard to figure out what they want.

[Winter]

If its any consolation my DD has started semi-holding her breath & tensing every muscle until she's red in the face when things don't go her way - so yep, I think they start this toddler business a lot ealier than we parents expect. I've been reading Robin Barkers (author of BabyLove) "The Mighty Toddler" and in it she lists some behaviour as being common from about 9 months. Yikes!

I think you can be the best parent in the world and your baby will still have her moments. They don't know the rules yet, so they are pushing every boundary to find out what happens when....

I know how you feel.

I

[Jakabella]

Oh yeah its a phase and it get worse and louder! LOL
Bella has a very high pitched squeel and scream - and its definatly NOT because you are not an attentive parent! Its just another thing that they have learnt that they can do and they enjoy doing it! Even if we do not!
Winter - Bella also does the tensing up and holding breath thing too!
Not to mention a few little tantrums when things are not going her way!!

Kate

[~Kim~]

Well here was I thinking it was because Nate had a great teacher at tantrums lol.
I can't remember what Darcy was like at this age so it's like doing it for the first time again....

He gets so frustrated when quite obviously (not ) he's clearly told me what he wants....he gets so cross.

[Ellie]

Thank goodness it's not just me! A has started screaming...tantruming...so I'm not doing anything wrong lol!

[Olive]

yep lots of screaming here too! night and day

[Nai]

Yep same here! I think they are getting frustrated because they are starting to work out what it is that they want but they can't communicate it. Hence, the screaming.

I don't find the screaming too hard to deal with, it's the high pitched squealing that drives me crazy - it is really ear-drum bursting!

ETA - I remember that from 11m I couldn't take DD1 to the supermarket with me anymore as she would have a screaming tantrum and throw herself on the floor in the aisle every time. So I guess it's not entirely unexpected with DD2.

[minimatron]

Sorry Ren, but I had to have a giggle! DD1 is a screamer and has always been. I remember thinking...shes not a toddler yet...then shes not 2 yet.... now shes almost 3 and her screaming has subsided a fair bit now she can articulate herself much better. Its definately times when shes frustrated and cant say something that she screams... and I mean scream. She almost bursts my ear drums and any one in the same vacinity! Fortunately...touching wood....dd2 hasnt started it and shes 14 months. All the best love
Melissa

[Shanti]

oh great.... so there is other screamers out there, not just my DD cos' today in the shops we thought we had the ONLY one!!!! she screamed soooo loud so many times everyone was looking at us haha!!! We were trying to work out what she wanted but then we think she just liked hearing her screams and the echoes! In the end, DH and I would just look at each other and sigh and keep walking.... not much you can do really we've learnt pretty quickly!! You just have to wait til it subsides and carry on!

I said to DH today at the shops, "hmmm if she carries on with this new 'phase' i'm gonna have to stay home all the time!!!"

I think you're right, they just don't know what they want so they get so darn frustrated .... OR.... they DO know what they want but they cant' communicate it.

DD doesn't want to be in her pram, doesn't want a biscuit, doesn't want her water, doesn't want boob, doesn't want to be held.... it's very hard at times when you can't work them out hey!? and yeah my eardrums are pretty sore!!!!

(off to find my "Toddler Tactics" book by Pinky McKay) - mental note : must start reading this book NOW!!!!!!

[Heaven]

pmsl Ren, DD hasn't started this yet but this is what I have to look forward too?? She's not a big screamer. Well, she does when she's playing or having fun or cranky but it's not really really loud so it's ok.

I bought the toddler tactics book last week and it looks great!!