Thursday, August 7, 2008

Norah Screaming

Well, don't say I didn't warn you....the video is long and I'm sure you will not want to listen to it for too long, but this is a perfect example of what happens.



So, any advice?

14 comments:

Nora S. said...

ohmygosh...i laughed my head off!!! i love norah...you are so going to have your hands full in the future...she is going to have something to say about every thing! i miss you guys

Crin said...

Here are suggestions from Crin:

1. Ceasing to regularly play I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry while singing like a muppet can possibly cause screaming

2. Online Blogger advice #1:
My son went through a phase of about 3 months, around 4 to 7 months, where he had the most amazing scream - if he did it in public places, EVERYONE would stop and stare and I was sure all the glass in the room would break. The very first time he did it, I made up my mind to COMPLETELY ignore it. I never responded verbally at all, neither told him to be quite nor screamed back. I would try to take some action to calm him down, but he got no unusual attention at all for this behavior. It was very hard to enforce this decision, especially when he would scream in public places, and everyone would look at me like ''why doesn't she do something about her son?''. But after 3 or 4 months, he simply stopped doing it, and has in fact been quite an early and good talker (he is just over 2 now, speaking in sentences). It sounds like you and your husband have already established a pattern of positive reinforcement for this behavior--any unusual attention at all is conceived of as positive for an infant--which may make it a lot harder to reverse. But I'm sure it will get better once talking begins. eardrums finally recovered.

3. Extremely unhelpful Online Blogger #2:
I don't think there is anything wrong here. When people say ''demanding baby'' this is what they are talking about. I know it seems like it can't be true but it is.

I found that extended nursing was the only cure. When they cry, you change the diaper and nurse 'em. I did it untill they were 3 years old and I am a wreck. I would probably be a wreck anyway and I didn't know what else to do so there you have it.

Also want to give you this jewel of a platitude: ''When you think you can't stand it anymore, it changes.'' That from my aged aunt who also said ''Just when you think you are going to pinch their heads off, they do something cute.'

Hopefully, you will have enough cute stuff to balance the bad. My back used to ache when they yelled. But, I'm tellin' ya; put the boob in the mouth & snuggle in and it gets sweet real fast. Someone who lived through the screaming baby years.

4. More (actually) helpful things:
It's totally normal. Reading about Ms Noodle's prob, most places I looked seem to say that she is just learning what her scream sounds like so, she thinks its fun. She is just getting used to the sound of her scream. Everywhere it said to just ignore it and not reinforce it at all. In the mean time ear plugs and Ipods are good things.

5. Take her to the doctor to check for an ear infection. The screaming/opening her mouth might be her way to take down the pressure.

6. Google searching "baby screaming no reason" is helpful

Miss you guys!

Unknown said...

Rachel,
I know this is frustrating for you, but like Nora said, I laughed out loud at this video. She is just hearing her voice and likes to scream (so she can hear it) and it will pass. I know you don't like hearing it will pass, but it will.
Take Care.
Tracy

Rachel Elek said...

Ok, when I listen to it at work I think it's funny!!

Carrie Babcock said...

Maybe Norah just wants attention and conversation? I assume that you and Josh are always talking with her and maybe she just wants some more conversations with you guys. Just a thought. Hope you guys are doing great!

Johnson Fam said...

Caleb is going through a similar stage right now, but instead of a scream, his is more of a roar/very loud grunt. Like when you get frustrated with someone and you go "ughhhhh". Really can't capture it on paper, you'd have to hear it in person.

Being that he's the second child, I think I'm taking the this too shall pass approach because I realize how quickly Brooke changed and took on new quirks and oddities. Gotta love them for being human!

Anonymous said...

Well... the Nora sceaming officially cleared the room of both my cats, and they have yet to emerge from under the bed. Their eyes are VERY large.

GREAT video!
Chandra

alyssa said...

Hi Rachel! I just found your blog - I'm not even sure where I followed links from. Anyway, my advice it to wait it out. It's awful, i agree. Both of my kids have done it - Micah still does it on occasion. Téah was really bad. But it's a phase where they're learning what will get responses and what they can do with their own voice to get those responses! They really will outgrow it eventually!

We had dinner with some friends once when Téah was about 9 months old and she did this the entire meal. I was sure they would never, ever invite us back over. It was awful! Luckily they seem to have forgotten about it. (It was the Perry's!)

Unknown said...

Rach- I have been blog absent for awhile. it was good to see your apt and all the things going on! And that video is hilarious. However, I have no parenting advice for you, as the least maternal person I know :)

Tim and Deane said...

We laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. And then we realized you must hear this screaming a lot, but it was still funny, so we laughed some more.

Directly translated, Norah's screams mean, "Hey, I really like you, and I want to dialogue with you on a higher level, but I am a baby. So until we are able to converse in a bilateral manner, just keep talking to me. And, fork over some of those curly noodle things I like?"

This will pass. Until then, you probably won't want to take Norah into the sanctuary with you during church services.

Anonymous said...

Just realize it could be worse. You could have an adult walking around saying choochies, choochies, fart noise, etc etc...
Jeremy

Jim Elek said...

If it were me, I'd scream back with some obscenities and rude comments like "quit screaming, you can't even walk yet!" or "oh, yeah, y dont you try and back that up!" and other such nonsensical things that are always good things for infants to hear. I find that when someone gets loud, the only way to ensure that you don't lose your place in the pecking order is to get louder than they can. It also helps if you can be more shocking. Thus, when she screams, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHhhh......EEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHH" you simply scream back "Something rude and obnoxious that can be heard over your scream" and eventually you win. One possible negative outcome of this is that a neighbor calls CPS. Another is that your daughter continues to scream (but only louder) and subconsciously develops feelings of resentment and distrust towards you. But at least you will establish dominance and prove that you are in charge by controlling the situation, however childish your approach may be. ***this approach is not supported by any research or confirmed to be a healthy approach by any expert, most parent organizations, any logical person, or people that realize that screaming at babies is a ridiculous practice that accomplishes nothing but proving that while the state requires a license to operate a motor vehicle, any idiot can become a parent (this sentiment was beautifully elocuted by Judd Nelson's character John Bender in John Hughes' masterpiece 'The Breakfast Club', which was released in 1985."

Joshua said...

WHO THE F... DO YOU THINK YOU ARE JAMES WARD? TELLING MY WIFE WHAT TO DO? THAT'S IT YOU RAT BAS.... I'M NEVER TALKING TO YOU AGAIN.

How was that?

Jim Elek said...

Yes, yell it out. Yell at me, Rach, but most importantly, yell at Norah.....A LOT!!!! Happy birthday.

 
I wonder how long it will take Rachel to find out that her husband wrote a note at the bottom of her blog. (July 9, 2008) ;)