Help me help my daughter

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

DD is 17 months old with a HUGE vocabulary. But there of course are some things she can't tell me she wants. She has gotten to the point where when she wants something she just starts whining and pointing or pitching a fit. I ask her what she wants like "Do you want to get up on mommy's bed?" and she starts laughing so I know that is a yes, she will shake her head if the answer is no. We sign so I will ask her to sign yes if I know the answer is yes and she usually will but only with my prompting. I am also trying to give her the words to use since she doesn't know how to ask for something. I don't know what else I can do..the whining is driving me up a wall! This is a relatively new thing and it seems like it's just her reaction to get what she wants. She wasnt this way a week ago. Any suggestions?

[iggyloo]

17 months is when we had to add alot more signs to save our sanity.

[taikkw5]

I think it's the age. Our 18-mo-old DD doesn't have a huge vocabulary yet, but she does use signs and has a decent vocabulary. The whining thing has just started really bad in this last month. We also have to prompt her more to 'use her words' or 'manners'. I remember DS being like this for a few months and he eventually stopped being so bad. With both DS and DD we'd ignore them a little if they whined really bad and then talk really quiet to them. For both of them they seem to quiet down to hear what we're saying.

[MamaWillow]

Yep, 16-17 months was really bad for us too. DS would point at something and grunt or yell. I think it's just a phase, because now he can say ya or shake his head and communication seems a lot easier.

I would say either add some more signs or just keep asking her questions so she can answer you yes or no. It will pass soon....stuff happens so quickly at this age.

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

Awesome..glad to hear it's just a phase. There is a Signing Time coop going on right now and I just added 6 more movies lol

[doodah]

Keep telling her what the appropriate response is. Talking is one skill, talking while frustrated seems a completely different skill for most kids. Just remain calm and patient. You will be reminding her to use her words or signs for the next several years.

[Hcm1940]

Honey, the whining doesn't go away!! Lol! My dd is 30 mo and speaks very well, but when she gets overwhelmed by emotion whining and fits happen. I tell her, "please show me" or "please use words so I can help you", and that helps her to slow down and talk instead of whine/cry. Good luck to you!

[Austinsmamma]

Charlotte wasn't/isn't a whiner at all (thank goodness since DS is ) but what has helped her communicate is I say what everything is in a single word no sentences to confuse her So as she was learning to tell us she was hungry I would say eat? because she knew what eating was then we gradually went to Charlotte eat and then onto Charlotte hungry? And now when shes hungry she will tell me eat or Charlotte hungry We have used this basic concept with her for well over a year and she speaks very clearly and has a HUGE vocabulary

[elizabeth.scalf]

DD is 16 mos and doing the same thing. Most of the time I know what she wants so I'll tell her to 'say please' and she signs it. If its something she's just pointing or grunting about then I make her sign please. A few specific things she'll ask for by name (sign). That seemed to help because when she wants something she'll come running to me signing 'pleasepleaseplease' and I can say 'show me' and then she'll run to whatever she wants, giggling. Its cut down on the random grunting. But I think it is just the age, the start of independence. She knows what she wants!!