My daughter is terrified of the vacuum!

[Auraji]

My dd is 8 months and she's so scared of the vacuum. I usually have to wait until DP is home and either me or him vacuum while one of us holds her while she cries and reassure her that is ok. We have to take her either upstairs or downstairs depending on what area we're cleaning. I try to get close to it and tell her what is and that I know it's loud, but there's no need to be scare, etc. So far there hasn't been any progress. Any tips?

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

My son is too. So far, I just have to hold him while I vacuum. My (deployed) dh jokes that he's afraid of it because he doesn't hear it often enough.

I think it's something they just get over, eventually.

[Auraji]

Originally Posted by FiveLittleMonkeys

My son is too. So far, I just have to hold him while I vacuum. My (deployed) dh jokes that he's afraid of it because he doesn't hear it often enough.

I think it's something they just get over, eventually.

That's what DP says too haha.

I've tried babywearing but she still cries. I guess that's the way it's gonna have to go down. I hate vacuuming at night, all we want to do then is relax.

[newmothermary]

Miles was too and would cry when we vacuumed. In about a week he got over it and now he chases after it!

[tzs]

mine does too. so now i have one dog and one kid terrified.
but i find that if i hold her while i do it and dance around she loves it.

[springbride]

I wear DD and talk with her.

[Sheryl1678]

Mine is also terrified. She is even scared to death of the silent, manual Bissel carpet sweepers. She shrieks. I can't even hold her so I wait until grandma or her dad can take her shopping and i quick vacuum. My carpet never looks as good as I would like but its just not worth freaking her out. (she is also terrified of ponies and Santa - go figure).

[Theia]

Originally Posted by springbride

I wear DD and talk with her.

This is what I did, and a little of the dancing around. Her fear of it didn't last that long. I think it helped her to see that it was OK, especially while being so close to me and knowing she was safe. Those first few times were difficult though.

[LemonPie]

My older two (now 4 and 6) both went through phases where it scared them. They outgrew it eventually. My 16 mo is now afraid of it, even though I now have a central vac that is much quieter than a regular vac. If I have to use it, I just hold her while I'm doing it. Or I let my 6 yo do it. He loves to vacuum, LOL.

[Madalyn]

My little guy was terrified of it. He's not as bad now. He used to scream bloody murder. Either way I find it a perfect excuse to pawn the vacuuming duties off to DH.

[MamaPhD]

My 13 mo DD gets terrified and starts crying very loud if I am not holding her.
She stares at it, if I'm holding her.
She falls asleep instantly (less than 2 minutes), if I have her on Ergo on my back.
Go figure...

[pacificbliss]

DS is still afraid of the vacuum and he's three. One of us has to take him outside. Even when it's off and he sees it he tells me he doesn't like it.

[mama2mygirl]

My baby is ten months old and Papa wears her while vacuuming now. She's fine now.

[elmh23]

Both my children were terrified of the vacuum. They're still uneasy about it (have to be in another room with daddy!) and they're almost 3 and 5! Both of them are sound sensitive though and our vacuum is VERY loud, louder than any other I've heard. I can't wait until we get a new vacuum (soon I hope!) because hopefully it will be quieter.

[Hayeser]

My oldest DD was terrified of it until she was 2.5. when she finally understood that it wasn't going to "get her" I guess she got ok with it. I wore her while vaccuuming when she was a baby and she'd sleep while I did it. at some point though she just started hating it (as well as other loud things like dust buster, blower, etc.). I guess it's just a phase.

[CookAMH]

It may be too late for this, but 8 mo DS is totaly fine with the blender while he's in the kitchen. Early on in using it, I'd look at him and smile and he'd smile back and know it was ok. He'd be staring at it big time and wondering what it is but then see me and see me smile and be fine.

He got scared of the vaccuum once when it came pretty close but other than that he's ok. We've made a point ot not react to startling or noisy sounds and he may startle at the suddenness of noise but usually doesn't cry since we don't make a big deal (ie we don't say, Oh my that was a loud noise!!!)

That probably doesn't help at this point, but an idea is to try playing with her in a room, have DP turn vaccuum on in another room and when she looks up, smile at her and continue playing. I'd probably be holding her with a book or something and keep doing what you were doing before it turned on. that may or may not work but maybe if you did it over time, sh'ed be ok with that. Then, have the vaccuum be turned on closer, like just down the hall or outside the room. OR, have it on outside the room with the door closed so it's muffled, then when she's ok with the noise, have DP open the door, don't acknowledge it, keep playing, etc.

HTH.

[_betsy_]

Both my DDs went through the petrified stage.

My 1 yo DD2 is more sound sensitive, and she's really frightened by it. I wore her when she was little, and now that she can walk she can get herself away from it more easily.

I had no tears or screaming when I put her and the 3 yo in the crib with a couple of toys.

Both my kids love to play with their toy vacuum, but the real thing? Shriek!