I believe in AP and am anti-CIO.  I am in a predicament and don't know what to do.  Lydia has started screaming.  It's a high pitched screech.  She will be 6 months on Monday.  I really want this to end because I have always hated it when kids scream.  I have tried ignoring it and she generally starts crying.  I pick her up when she cries because as I said, I am anti-CIO.  I just can't handle the screaming and don't want her to continue this behavior thinking it gets her what she wants.  Crying is fine, because that is how she tells me something is wrong.  She can't talk.  But, she can do things other than scream, such as cry.  Since she can do things other than scream, is it CIO to not answer her screams??

I should add that I tell her not to scream like that (nicely) and that if she wants something she can "tell" me better.  I know she doesn't understand this, but I don't want her to think I am ignoring her just the behavior.  This is how I have always dealt with toddlers who throw fits and scream when working in childcare, but I don't know how to deal with it when it is an infant.  

are you sure that the high pitched screaming isn't from pain?

ear infection, teething?

My son was doing that, screaming terribley. It was driving me nuts... I picked him up one time and he was still screaming but I needed to clip his finger nails. I got down to the last one and noticed he had an ingrown nail and it was really red and starting to be infected   I felt horrible. I put neosporin on it and got the nail out and he hasn't screamed like that since. She could be in pain, from teething or something. She may just want to be comforted.
But I don't think the senerio you offered is CIO.. unless it goes beyond like five minutes.

my son does this sometimes. He usually just wants to be held and nothing is wrong. I let him just scream, cry, fuss for a bit. I will tell him not to scream or ignore him. I want him to learn that there are better ways of getting my attention. I won't let it go on for very long at all. Lets say you are cooking, washing some dishes, etc and this happens. Just finish what you are doing then go get your baby. My doctor told me to do this and told my mother this. I am against CIO for long periods of time. My husband is all for it and my mother is against it 100% and we all live together lol. So my son gets mixed treatment depending on who he is with. Tahts not good at all. So I'm happy with what his ped said to do. If all his needs are met just let him fuss until you are finished with what you are doing.

It might be from pain, but Tait screams like that from excitement. Are you sure it's not excitement?

She may just be screaming because its a new sound that gets attention. I can't help much here because mine has never been a screamer - until the time he had an ear infection. Thats how I knew something was wrong and took him in right away.

Quoting bittermelon:“ are you sure that the high pitched screaming isn't from pain? ear infection, teething?”

Well, we took her in for an ear infection, but he said her ears are perfectly clear. She is teething, but she often does it and then laughs after.  So, we're 99% sure it's a trying out her lungs thing!  We thought that at first, trust me!  Because it sounds very pained.  But, she thinks it's funny!  She is just learning that she can scream.  It's not something that lasts.  She screams two or three times then either laughs or cries.  I think it is more of an attention getter.  When she cries, as soon as we move her, she is fine.  I know that she needs something when she does it, but since she can use other ways of communication, I just can't justify giving into it!

Quoting Megan♥ baby Lydia:“ Well, we took her in for an ear infection, but he said her ears are perfectly clear. She is teething, ... [snip!] ... she needs something when she does it, but since she can use other ways of communication, I just can't justify giving into it!”

that sounds like it's just an attention getting thing. If you dont pay attention to it, she'll stop. I dont think it's CIO, unless she's screaming/crying. Tait does it to get attention and when he gets really excited

Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:“ She may just be screaming because its a new sound that gets attention. I can't help much here because ... [snip!] ... been a screamer - until the time he had an ear infection. Thats how I knew something was wrong and took him in right away.”

I think this is what the issue is.  She does it out of excitement, frustration, anger.  She is learning to crawl.  Just starter army crawling today.  So  it is a multipurpose sound.  I've been sort of trying to gauge the scream and what it means and react appropriately.  If it's just a scream for no reason, then I let her do it as long as she wants, but if she's really upset and/or hurt, I pick her up.  I'm not ever in another room.  Even when i go to the bathroom, she is in the hall right outside the door.  

Thanks for all the help ladies!

I voted CIO becuase if you just let them be then it kind of is....only is more of a fuss it out thing lol.

Quoting Tait's Mommy:“ that sounds like it's just an attention getting thing. If you dont pay attention to it, she'll stop. ... [snip!] ... stop. I dont think it's CIO, unless she's screaming/crying. Tait does it to get attention and when he gets really excited”

thanks tawny.  I don't let her cry.  And I talk to her the whole time.  It's not like she's in a different room than me.  

Quoting sratrat:“ I voted CIO becuase if you just let them be then it kind of is....only is more of a fuss it out thing lol.”

I agree that would be CIO, but I talk to her and play with her and give her toys and stuff.  I just don't pick her up until she uses a different form of communication.  Does that make sense?

Quoting Megan♥ baby Lydia:“ I agree that would be CIO, but I talk to her and play with her and give her toys and stuff. I just don't pick her up until she uses a different form of communication. Does that make sense?”

yea. I used to do that. But now its become kind of a bad thing. He needs to learn how to calm himself down. Not just get distracted. He used to cry so mommy would hold him. Then he would scream for attention. Now he screams for attention and toys haha. So I am trying to break thast habit before hes a toddler.

Quoting Megan♥ baby Lydia:“ thanks tawny. I don't let her cry. And I talk to her the whole time. It's not like she's in a different room than me. ”

NP darlin' I let Tait fuss if I'm busy doing something or if there's no reason for him crying. But yeah if you talk to her the whole time and she's content, just screaming to test out her vocal cords it's NBD