My son is scared of Vacuum cleaner and hair dryer How can I help him???

United States
March 6, 2007 2:35pm CST
He is 7 months old and have been using both since birth. The hair dryer if he's not in the room I can use and he's ok with it.The Vacuum though I can be in another room door shut and he's still starts screaming.After I turn it off its ok he's fine again. Is this normal or what?
5 people like this
7 responses
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Yes, it completely normal. My oldest did it as well. He outgrew it by 18 months, some kids don't care, others do. There really isn't much you can do, besides just wait it out. I would still use it when you need to, he'll be okay. He may cry, but eventually he'll realize it's just loud, not dangerous.
3 people like this
@PoeTalker (715)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I'd assume it's pretty normal. If you feel like you must do something heres a cute idea. Draw or find a good cartoony drawing (colorful) picture of a vaccum cleaner & hair dryer. Go to the baby and play with them. Make funny noises and stuff until he laughs and think it's funny. He may be less scared when he sees the real thing happening.
3 people like this
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Usually kids go through a period where they are scared of the vacuum cleaner. It sounds pretty fierce when you aren't used to it. The best thing to do is to just rearrange how you do things, which is seems you already have. Most little guys grow out of this fear by the age of 3, some sooner. Just be patient. There isn't a way to really HELP them get over this fear without causing more trauma that might be worse.
3 people like this
• Canada
6 Mar 07
Actually you have nothing to worry about as this is completely normal behavior . Many little one's are very scared of loud noises but as they get older they outgrow the fear . They don't know what it is they are hearing and are to little to explain to them . It takes a few years but the problem will go away and it is different with all children . My littlest one still jumps if someone says something to loud and she is almost 2 .
3 people like this
• Australia
6 Mar 07
I have not had this problem with my son but here is a sugestion. Hold him while you are using the vacum cleaner if you can that way he feels safe.
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
22 Mar 07
That's a good idea!
• United States
6 Mar 07
My son was a little older when he got scared of the vacuum but he quickly out grew it. For me what helped was letting him push the vacuum. From whatI understand it is a pretty normal thing to happen.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
22 Mar 07
That's weird. I always thought a vacuum was soothing for infants and babies. The vacuum always put my kids to sleep at that age. Maybe try and not shut the door? Maybe he is just crying because he can't see mommy? Try vacuuming with him being able to watch and see what is going on. If not and he is really scared of it, then I would just keep vacuuming with him in the room so he will grow use to it, but if he really seems like he is terrified, then I wouldn't vacuum around him. My daughter started being scared of the vacuum when she was 2 yrs old, she loved it as a baby, but hated it at age 2, so that was odd. I ended up buying her a toy vacuum and then she would vacuum with me and got use to it. Just an idea for when he is older. :)