CAn you hear through the rooms, I have a screamer!

[moinab]

I know there are plenty of parents that don't discipline their children, but you can't assume that a screaming child is undisciplined. We get compliments all the time on how well behaved, sweet, and polite our 4 year old son is. Our 21 month old daughter, on the other hand, has been a screamer, literally since she was born. She is a classic "high-need" child. She sleeps only 8 hours a day, maximum. She does everything with intensity, from crying to hugging. Anything can set her off. Lately, she has been screaming if a stranger looks at her or talks to her. It's just the way she is, and it can't be disciplined out of her.

Fortunately, when we went on our 3-night Disney cruise, she was positively stimulated by all the sights, and hardly cried at all. It could very easily have gone the other way, though. We actually had a screaming toddler in the stateroom next to us, but we were very tolerant, as you might imagine.

One of the advantages of the cruise is that it is very easy to remove a screaming child from any situation. If you are in the stateroom, you can take her up to deck 10 for some fresh air. During the day, my kids loved romping around the nightclub area, where there was lots of space and no people. When my daughter would wake up by 5 AM everyday, I took her up to the empty atrium, where she loved to look at all the beautiful decor. Sometimes a change of scenery can make a world of difference.

Good luck!

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by CRSNDSNY
.....As a matter of fact, we've found many adults much more bothersome and annoying than many of the children onboard!

I have to agree!! I can tolerate screaming kids but not adults. Kids usually act up because they're tired and having a meltdown and fortunately it doesn't last forever. We cruised on the Voyager of the Seas in August 2003 with a honeymooning couple next door. Throughout the entire cruise they fought constantly, threw things and I think the guy even slapped his wife around. My kids were scared and dh and I called security numerous times. They would come up, talk to them and basically did nothing. Only on the last night, security took real action and physically removed the man and his belongings from the room. Why they waited so long I don't know. Anyway, give me screaming kids any day!

 

[kristen821]

dwkwootton - You have obviously not had the joy of a screamer. I have two kids one is a screamer and one isn't. My son personality is different from my daughters. At 18 months my daughter screamed to get her point across since she couldn't talk and voice her needs as well. She still screams at times but not near as much since she can voice her opinion. When she is tired she tends to scream. At home I put her in her room and when she talks she gets what she needs. While we are on the cruise i will give her what she wants to keep her from screaming. I think my neighbors would rather me keeping her from screaming then waiting for her to calm down and tell me what she wants. I am willing to give up my daughter for two weeks if you would like to show me how it is done.

 

[disneygatorfan]

don't worry about it. They are babies, what can you expect. It's not like a grown child pitching a fit. You tell your neighbors tough cookies, babies cry sometimes.

They might hear it, but then again, they might not. Either way, people who want peace and quiet on vacation, probably shouldn't choose cruising, and a family-oriented cruise to boot!

Have a great time, I am sure it won't be as bad as you think. Anyone who has kids will completely understand!

 

[lindaso]

Originally posted by dwkwootton
Is there any reason that you can't plan to spend the next couple weeks gving your daughter firm boundaries with consistent loving discipline?

Let's not forget that this poster is talking about a BABY. This is not a 4 year old verbal child not getting her way. My 3rd child was a screamer at that age mostly b/c he lacked the ability to communicate and it frustrated the heck out of him. You can't stop that with "firm boundaries and consistent loving discipline"...although what that is for a BABY I can't imagine. He is now over 2 and has found his vocabulary and the screaming has stopped.

 

[poopie]

Not to sound rude or short, but if screaming kids bother you, perhaps a Disney Cruise is not for you.

I don't think that's fair. Just because I want to cruise Disney without being subjected to someone's screaming child why should I have to choose another cruise line. If the child or "baby" isn't old enough to handle such a trip without disturbing the peace of the general population maybe YOU should choose another vacation without a captive audience until the child is old enough to communicate their needs and feelings without screaming like a banshee.

 

[dwkwootton]

This thread is starting to read like a game of whisper down the lane ... OP asks if you can hear through the rooms because her DD (toddler, not baby) screams so loud it hurts your eardrums and references the child's temper. Another poster chimes in with a similar situation. (And note that as it continues, this poster's story changes enough that her screamer is likely as confused as I am .... now she has a communication problem or had a communication problem but either way it can be solved with getting her own way between bouts of being grounded and getting rewards for not screaming .... the very reason for consistent loving discipline.) If these screaming incidents were rare, this thread wouldn't have existed so these toddlers are probably breaking the sound barrier pretty often. Well sorry, you can hear through the rooms and this isn't a normal noise situation that's being described! C'mon guys, read the posts and be honest!!!! Now we have folks giving their kids away for two weeks, telling me I shouldn't cruise and certainly not on Disney, "accusing" me of birthing perfect kids (surprise ~ one of my babies was born partially deaf and was not physically able to communicate intelligibly, had to take speech lessons for years ~ don't tell me that I don't know how to deal with a frustrated DD ~ she is now a college student with a slight speech impediment and a 4.0 GPA so maybe I should take that poster up on her offer), changing the question from temper related eardrum hurting screaming toddlers to sometimes crying babies, people who haven't sailed Disney as many times as I have telling me what to expect .... geeeezzzz!!!!

Since you've selected a cruise (expensive vacation) and especially a Disney Cruise (very expensive vacation), do you really feel like you deserve to be subjected to screaming like that when you are trying to sleep or put your own child down for a nap? Or listen to that when you're having dinner or trying to feel the magic of Disney Dreams with your own family? Next the party line will be that we have to accept that some toddlers hit or are biters and if you don't like it then don't use the kid's clubs or sail Disney ....

 

[disneybride96]

I don't have kids, so here is my point of view. I don't mind screaming kids, but parents yelling back at them is what sends chills up my spine. What does that prove?

 

[kristen821]

I was obviously joking about giving my daughter to you. How did I change my story? Yes my daughter is a screamer when she is mad. Yes it has been getting better the older she gets and the more she can communicate. Yes I will deal with the screaming differently at home when there are not neighbors to bother then I will deal with it on the cruise. Four days of keeping her from screaming isn't going to make her a bad teenager. She screams when she is overly tired. She may not scream at all on the cruise. I don't know how she will deal with running around all day. My daughter does not scream 24 hours a day as I am sure the OP's child doesn't either. My children are very loved and happy and have a great life. They love me and I love them more then anything in the world and they know that. That is the most important thing to me not if my daughter might scream sometimes. I personally would rather deal with anyone's screaming child then a rude, negative adult.

 

[logan1_2000]

Like many of the other viewers of this thread, I had a different interpretation of the title than the actual subject. So not only did this thread not turn out to be a future story line for Desparate Housewives, but then it disintegrated into some back and forth flame throwing and folks being defensive.

I look over these comments, find a lot of truths being told, but I keep hearkening back to the most truthful piece of wisdom my mother ever told me--there are two ways to travel..."first class", and "with children".

 

[lindaso]

Originally posted by logan1_2000
I look over these comments, find a lot of truths being told, but I keep hearkening back to the most truthful piece of wisdom my mother ever told me--there are two ways to travel..."first class", and "with children".

Amen to that LOL!!

 

[Mom of 5 K's]

I appreciate all of your guys input. Didn't mean for this to become a tit for tat. I do have a non-verbal 18 month old who can become a screamer when she is overtired and cannot communicate what she needs. I now know about the rooms and will do all I can to anticipate her needs. I will not get into the medical reasons she is non verbal, its a little late for that. But I'll just say she is delayed also. Having twins can add to the volume, but thank goodness only one screams!! I can appreciate all of the opinions voiced on these boards and do appreciate all viewpoints. I hope everyones cruise is everything they expect. Thanks again, Mary

 

[jodifla]

Mom of 5 K's, you'll most likely find that your DD is so engaged she doesn't bother with screaming most of the time. And she'll have such busy days that she'll sleep soundly.

Our son melted down during one dinner, so my DH removed him (to the bar next door, which he loved. Great Shirley Temples and attention from the bartenders), but honestly, no one even looked up to see his meltdown. The place was so noisy you couldn't even hear him.

I'm shocked and appalled and some folks' lack of empathy. How do you discipline an 18 month old not to scream, when it's her only method of communication.

 

[dwkwootton]

Jodyinfla, if you could at least read the details in the thread before you liken me to Atilla the Hun, I think that would be fair. My suggestion of trying discipline was in response to the inconsiderate woman with the two and a half year old whose child screams to get her own way. Clearly a very different situation from the OP, both in the age of the child and cause. Had I come flying out of the blue suggesting that the OP beat the daylights out of a delayed 18 month old, then hey, go for it (and at least scratch your head in confusion as to why someone who hates children so much repeatedly sails Disney.) I've been in Mary's shoes and am well aware of the hard work she has to do and I think her follow up post showed what a dignified lady she is. My debate was with Kristen but I've said my opinion on this matter to her, enough, and back to posts about Palos, Castaway Cay and other important topics.

 

[kristen821]

Well I am not even going to respond to wootton, we have all read the post, but have a great time on the cruise everyone!