My dd is just about 14 months old. Lately she just loves to scream and she does it a lot of the time. It's not just a little yell, it is this ear peircing, ear drum rattling noise that literally shakes your whole body. She screams when she's mad, when she's happy, when she's excited, when she wants to say to a stranger in the grocery store, you name it. I don't know what to do to get her to stop. I tell her no in a firm voice and then she cries (like most kids her age she doesn't like to be told "no"). We don't raise our voices so it's not like we are teaching her that yelling is how to get your point across. It's not like I just give her what she wants because she screams because I know that will only make her scream more to get her way. I'm almost convinced it's just how she likes to communicate because it gets heads to turn (especially when we are out in public, and coincidentally, the most embarrassing). She loves attention, especially from other kids. She is very friendly and lovable, the complete opposite of my older dd at that age.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get this to stop? My dh, 6 year old dd, and myself are at our wits ends on this one. I suppose there are always earplugs! lol

Happymom, I couldn't help but to laugh when reading this because I know exactly what you are going through. DS is 15 months and has the most shrill scream you have ever heard!! I think they just like hearing their own voice and I think it will pass, but I can't wait for it to! :) When ds does it I either completely ignore it and don't even turn my head toward him because I know that is what he is trying to get me to do, or I start talking to him in a whisper. He thinks this is funny so sometimes he will stop. Sometimes I just completely get him interested in something else immediately and that helps too. The other day I was mortified when he decided to test it out in the library of all places! Needless to say I won't be taking him back there anytime soon! Good luck!

The other day I was mortified when he decided to test it out in the library of all places! Needless to say I won't be taking him back there anytime soon!

That is soooo funny! I took the girls to the library yesterday too and she decided to scream across the room to a little boy on the computer. I was horrified! I'm to the point where I will avoid taking her anywhere at all costs just so I don't have people staring at me like I am the worst mother in the world.

Thanks for the advice, I will be giving it a try the next time she tests her lungs. Good luck to you too. Hopefully they grow out of it before our eardrums pop.