Xandra has been having these screaming fits. I mean on the top of her lungs scream. She will do it because she can not have something, Riane is on the chair she wants, because a toy will not do what she wants and so on and so on. I have been getting such headaches from it.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her to stop this or limit it way down?

If not thanks for reading. This is all I can say right know(also what I would love to do)

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I am sorry to hear that. My mom has a little baby at her daycare like that. She says that everyone gets stressed out from the screaming. I think it is a phase since she doesn't have words to express herself. I would keep encouraging to use her inside voice. Also put words to her frustration. Short ones. Like "you are trying to say mine". Or "are you sad?. This shall pass.

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Julia does this and has for a while. When she can't do something or can't have something, she screams. We've been trying to get down at her level and asking her what she wants and when she says yes, "x" is what she wants, we try to get her to say the word and the sign so next time she won't scream. Its slowly been working but she still screams when she and Emma fight over something or she's just tired and mad.

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Today she started to scream and cry for no reason. I tried getting her a sippy cup, cereal, holding her(mand did she want nothing to do with that) tried reading a book. I didn't know what else to do. So as I did something around the house. She followed me and cried. Finially she was done looked at me and started to babble like nothing happened.

I so can't wait till this is over. It just stresses us both out.

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Asher screams like that when he has something (like the phone, tv remote controls, something breakable, etc.) and I take it away from him. I swear he has a complete meltdown. Someone recently posted about a similar situation and said that on Dr. Phil, an expert said that when a toddler does this, to calmly repeat "I know you want the ____", or "I'm sorry your toy doesn't work" (whatever applies), over and over again while holding them. They said it worked. Then someone else responded that they always pick their LO up and start whispering in their ear when they start screaming. They said that their LO will stop so they can hear what their mom is saying. I've tried both. Although it doesn't stop Asher's screaming completely, it does seem to shorten the duration and calm him down much quicker.

I have also found that when he has something he is not supposed to, instead of just taking the object away and telling him "no", that if I say instead "can you hand the phone to Mommy please?" and hold out my hand, the vast majority of the time he will hand the forbidden object to me without a fuss. Crazy huh? Then I happily praise him and tell him what a good boy he is.

I hope one of these suggestions work for you. I know how nervewracking and stressful screaming fits can be - for both of you. Good luck, and let us know if something works!

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Married since 2-8-97
Me - Rachel 32
DH 34
ASHER born 2-23-07
Angel Baby lost 4-10-08
Next Baby due 5-30-09!!!

I was going to post what Kitty did, what someone else had posted that they saw on Dr. Phil. When I read it I thought it sounded hokey, but I have tried it and it does calm him down. I don't know if it's just the tone of my voice, or if he "gets" that I can hear him and know what he is trying to tell me, even though what he wants may not happen at least somebody is listening and he doesn't have to scream to get his point across. Of course that's a lot for a little one to understand, and I know he doesn't get the half of it, but I do think he gets *some* of it, because almost every time it works. I'll just say like "I know you wanted to play with Mommy's bracelet, but it's not a toy to play with. Let's see if we can find something else good to play with".

I think sometimes just talking to him calmly in the midst of his meltdown lets him know he isn't just ignored and brushed aside, that I DO hear him and I care about what he wants even if I can't let him have exactly what he wants just then.

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Mary Beth - 31
DH - 30
Baby Kian - 3/24/07
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Thanks for the great ideas. I will try them and let you know what I find that works.

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it was me who posted about the whispering. it worked for jordan and derek and is starting to work for caleb

like kitty i askfoir the forbidden item instead of taking, always works.

good luck angela, its a phase. heres hoping they grow out of it sooner rather than later

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