Kids Scared of Vacuum! What to Do?

Here is a radical idea!

My grandmother said my uncle was afraid of the sweeper, so she parked it in front of his bedroom door to keep him in bed at naptime!

I had the exact same problem with my daughter (11 months). We conquered her fear of the vacuum last night actually. My husband held her and talked to her in a soft voice while I vacuumed. She stopped crying after about 30 seconds then she just watched in awe. After I was finished we unplugged the vacuum and let her explore it on her own. She started playing with the cord then slowly made her way to the vacuum itself. After about 5 minutes she was crawling all over it.

My youngest used to be scared of the vacuum. But I taught him to ride it. I have a pretty sturdy Kirby. He rode around on it when it was off, and then we went for riding with it being on, riding like a little car or something. It worked for me until he got to big to push. It turned out to be his favorite thing. He hated giving up his vacuum rides when I was cleaning. But I do have pictures. You might also try to give them little toy ones. Or ear plugs. Or make it a game and let them "shoot" the monster from the couch. I really do think it is the noise. And the fact that it sucks things up never to be seen again. I think that if I were little I wouldn't want to be sucked up. You might also try the little attachments and let them "help" with those on. It might be less intimidating if they can suck dry cheerios off the floor with the nozzle attachment, like a game. Just a few thoughts. It took a while for my kids to get over their fright of the vacuum. We must have been poor, because I don't ever remember being afraid of the vacuum or hearing one growing up until I was older. GIGGLE!!
Good luck,
L.

My 9 year old was that way when he was that age. We did everything even letting him touch it and help but he was still scared for the most part. He would get hysterical and I have to admit I've never seen a child run as fast as he used to when I turned it on. We just kept trying to convince him that it was not scary.

He eventually grew out of it.

Vacuuming is a necessary evil. Just put them on the sofa or in their room w/ the gate while you vacuum. No matter what you do, they will be scared until they grow out of it.

I think it's the sound the vacuum makes that some little kids just can't get over.

Not sure that you can force them to not be scared. If they are truly upset, I dont think it hurts to wait until he gets home, that is what I do. I am sure they will grow out of it.

They are feeding off each other, as I'm sure you know. I would suggest having hubby take younger one in another room, and then starting with the older one and asking him/her if they would like to help you vacuum, and then guide them around and "let him/her" do the vacuuming. First, with it turned off, then turn it on. Do this several times before introducing it in the same way to the younger (hopefully with the older sibling's help and encouragement by then)

just have them sit on the couch while you vaccumn tell them mom is in control of it eventually they will get over the fear all of my kids did but if you keep puttin them in another room they wont and this is not the last fear you will have to deal with may as well start now but in my opinion you are reinforcing their fear by sending them to another room god bless

I couldn't figure out why my now 4-yr-old was afraid of the vaccuum when she was tiny. I found out that her brother had tormented her with the vaccuum. I held her for a bit while I vaccuumed. I let her explore the vaccuum. I let her leave the room or stay as she wished. Eventually she learned that the vacuum was not going to suck her up. She helps to vacuum now.

sorry, siding with hubby, they ned to see that it is not a monster, do your work, gt it done, and they will see that it did not eat anything but the crumbs on the floor!

Black and decker has a real operating toy vacuum. They can practice with these and soon your house will extra clean. There is nothing wrong with a toy that really cleans. Also, my nephew had a problem with loud noises and we discovered that it was actually painful for him. He used ear plugs until he out grew his fears and pains.

Don't try to force them out of being scared by making them stay in the room. To them it really is scary. My oldest is almost 5 years old and she still does not like the vacuum cleaner. She also doesn't like the sound of the toilet flushing or running water in the bathtub. She just doesn't like loud sounds. However, she used to cry, but now will stay in the room when I vacuum or come in and out. In time, they will grow out of it.

You might start by showing them something dirty on the floor and explaining we need to clean that up, want to help???
and then tell them that the noisy vacume will help us get our house nice and clean, and let them hold the vacume a minute, and then tell them they can go play while you finish. Hope this works.

They may be sensitive to sound. My daughter is the same way...a loud laugh, sneeze, cough anything loud sets her off into tears. It scares her and hurts her ears.

She still runs from the Vaccume when it is turned on but is starting to get used to it. I vaccume when my husband is home so he can take her into another room and comfort her if she is scared or bothered by the loud noise.

My question to you all. Had any of you cleaned while your children were little and in the crib? Sorry to say in my day it was recommended that you start doing the things you would do so that the child would get used to hearing the vacuum running, the laundry going and the dishwasher or whatever making noise. We can't all live in a quiet bubble. As the chldren grew up they were used to hearing the noise and didn't think anything about it. Neither of my children ran or cried because of the machine.

I had a daughter at age 2 who would strip and run and slide nake on a wet floor and loved it while I cleaned.

I know it all depends on the child but we have to get on with our lives as well. The other S..

How about buying one of the toy vacuum's from the toy store and let them help?

Introduce slowly of course but maybe if they understand the concept of it cleaning they will soon grow out of it and maybe even help you!!

We have a 2 yr old poodle that hates when I vacuum.

TF

Have them vacuum with it off. Then on.