Vacuum-phobia
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Printed Date: 25 August 2025 at 8:03pm
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Topic: Vacuum-phobia
Posted By: NZ-rules
Subject: Vacuum-phobia
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 6:41pm
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My lovely happy & outgoing baby turns into a screaming snivelling mess as soon as he either sees the vacuum or hears it. He used to be fine with it up until about a month ago (nothing happened to make him scared of it), and is fine with other loud noises.
My carpet is in a state as I can't get any vacuuming done!! Should I try and desensitise him to it or resign myself to the fact I can only vacuum at the weekend if DH takes him out?? I'm sure this must be a common thing as I was scared of the vacuum when I was little!  ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 7:08pm
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DS wasn't too keen on the vacuum for a while either and it seemed to come on all of a sudden as he was fine when he first saw it.
We then held him (myself or DH) from a distance while the other vacuumed and take him back in forth so he could see it, then out of his view, then so he could see it again and we'd switch rooms while the whole house was done. He doesn't like being next to it and will cry so we are still holding him but now he seems more interested in it than scared. I hope it doesn't last too long for you 
ETA - I also held him and brought him closer to the vacuum when it was off and unplugged so he could touch it. He was still secure with me and not having to be right down next to it. This seemed to help a bit too! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 7:20pm
My DD was like this at 6mos too, like she could suddenly hear it for the first time or something! I would vacuum when she was asleep (that didn't bother her), when someone else was around to hold her (still okay) or just super-duper quickly  -------------  |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 8:04pm
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My DS has been like that for ages until just recently. Though I could wear him in a sling (or just hold him) and he was fine or I had to do it while DH was giving him his bath.
Now he tries to crawl after it and I have to try and keep him away! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 8:11pm
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I agree with the one hold him, one do the vacuuming.
DS was ok-ish with the vacuum till the day he played with the switch when it was plugged in. Gosh he got a shock! Then he was big time scared of it. But we did the just carry on thing (with one of us with him one with the vacuum). Some weeks later, DH actually got DS to do the vacuuming - so cute. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jaxnz1
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 8:47pm
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Yip, we did the old switcharoo thing. We would also make it fun, I would make excited noises and looks on my face and she would join in. She's ok with it now, but if DH isn't at home I'll quickly do it once she's woken from her sleep and still in her cot (she's a happy waker) ------------- 
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 9:37pm
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My son has sensory issues, and has been scared of EVERYTHING loud since he was about 5 months old. He has slowly improved, but the last remaining big fear is the vacuum cleaner.
We have to vacuum either when he's asleep (deep sleeper luckily) or one of us takes him out while the other does it. Needless to say, our floors get pretty darn yuk before it gets done. |
Posted By: NZ-rules
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 9:45pm
Awesome idea - I'll get DH to hold him at the weekend while I give the carpet a much needed vacuum! Hopefully the fear passes soon when he realises it won't hurt him. Thanks guys  -------------
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Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 10:02pm
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Posted By: LouD
Date Posted: 10 January 2011 at 11:44pm
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Mine was scared, but he would silently sit there shaking, but curiosity got the better of him and he soon got the courage to investigate it.
He does get a bit upset from time to time. I would say let him investigate while vaccum not on |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 11 January 2011 at 7:34am
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I wouldn't say Lily has a phobia of it but she is quite cautious off it, she gets more scared over the roller door!
We would often vacuum when she was asleep but sometimes she'd wake screaming 
More often we'd just get someone to take her out for 20 mins (even out back) while we did it but I've found since she's crawling she's less scared of it now!
He may overcome it once he realises it's a normal part of life iygwim... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 11 January 2011 at 3:04pm
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Jake was like this and we would hold him or do it while he was in bath. He got his own vacuum cleaner for christmas and suddenly its nopt so scary (unless he is tired). -------------   
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 11 January 2011 at 4:48pm
Yep we've had that. All I needed to do was pull it out of the cupboard and the crying/screaming would start. Thankfully now he loves it and wants to do it himself Just another one of those 'phases'  ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: monkey33
Date Posted: 11 January 2011 at 7:53pm
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DS had the same problem - DH would hold him whilst I did the vacuuming so that he could used to it, but initially he would still cry even with DH holding him so DH would have to take him outside.
He did this for about 2 months and is now fine with me vacuuming whilst he plays on the floor. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: stefany3
Date Posted: 14 January 2011 at 2:00pm
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Yup, DS hates it here too! He is so terrified of it. I actually put it in front of the TV to stop him touching the TV!
And to solve the problem, I just NEVER vacuum anymore
I sit Isaac on the couch, with ALL his teddies, put on Kidzone, and he just sits there, too scared to move, while I vacuum the rest of the house. I think if I make vacuuming more regular, rather than once every 6 weeks, he might get used to it. I try to leave it out for a few days too, so he can walk past it, and touch it as he feels comfortable. ------------- 
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