17 month old shrieking at the grocery store?

Question

My son is doing this and I need to make it STOP! anyone else have this problem or is my son the only one?

Answer 1

That's normal.  He's just excited.  Embrace it.

Answer 2

Is he shrieking out of anger/frustration because you won't let him have something or you won't let him run around out of the cart?  Or is he shrieking because he's happy and making happy noises?  If it's the first, leave the grocery store and come back at a time when you don't have to bring him.  If it's the second, just ignore the shrieking.  Sometimes you can try to play a game to distract them from being loud or upset.  Have him look for the next food on your list from his place in the cart.  Or sing silly songs with him.  Being loud in the grocery store just to be loud isn't a crime, and anybody else there shopping who has kids will understand that it's no big deal.  They'll even understand if he's acting up if you just leave your grocery cart sitting there and go home.

Answer 3

its OK. I know lots of children that do this other ppl know that hes excited and curious and possibly over stimulated. that's fine just don't let his excitement make you leave the store because if you get into this routine then he will get accustomed to being able to shriek and you will leave.

Answer 4

1) Keep him amused-have toys (you can use velcro ones to stick on the trolley handles), make sure he facing you so you can talk to him, let him hold things, give him a breadstick etc...

2) HAve a friend either come with you or look after him for you-that way you can focus on getting around the shop ancd your friend/family amusing him or taking him outside if noise gets worse.

3) Ignore the behaviour-if he knows hes getting a response from you for making the noise then he's going to keep doing it.

4) Praise when he is good and is not making the noise---ensure he learns that he gets attention for being 'quiet' not for the noise making.

Dont worry its a normal thing-children find their voices and like to experiment with it :) shops are great as they often have echos, lots of new noises, colours, smells and so can be overwhelming. He may also have learnt (as i said) that its great for getting you to pay attention....they are very clever at this age :)

Answer 5

Bring him a snack, cookies and a juicebox, etc.  And it wouldnt hurt to bring a toy, or a book.  You can read to him while your shopping.  Or you can ask him to hold your shopping list for you.  If you make him feel important, he will concentrate on the task at hand.

Answer 6

Well, without knowning your family background and how you raised your child from birth, it is entirely difficult to pinpoint a solution as much as to figure out a cause.

Seventeen months is too early to reason with him, per se.  I would really dislike trying to figure out what is causing him to do that.  SOMETHING is inciting him to do it, whether as an awareness of changed surroundings, perception that the grocery store is alien and disrupting, or behavior you allow at home I do not know.

I realize you probably have to take your son to the grocery with you, and I do not know what kind of mental conditioning you practice when you go to the store, whether you tell him "We're going to the store now" each time or not.  Do you just grab him and figuratively fling him into a trip to the store and then figuratively grab him and haul him into the store?  OR do you talk to your son to communicate?

What ever the cause and whatever solution you come to, it may take patient time and regular routine relating to him to get him to come to a more civil mentality in the store.  But I personally cannot judge this without knowing more information.