The Noises

I recently heard a quote that describes boys: def. Boy-n., a noise with dirt on it. That's what they do. I have an almost 4 yo and a 15mo and they are constantly making some sort of noise. Whether it's cars, trains, animals, monsters, whatever their little imaginations come up with. Yes it can be annoying, but it's their way of expressing themselves. My dh still makes them on occasion (like when he plays with them). I've just come to realize my house will be noisy as long they are here! Be worried when they don't make noise, they are usually doing something bad then!

I work with kids and nothing they do is normal. They are constantly experimenting with their bodies and doing things that make me question their sanity. I wouldn't worry, I also wouldn't make him feel bad about it. It is just how kids are.

I have 3 boys ages 10,8 and 4 and I'm just a few weeks from having boy #4. Lemma tell ya...we do not live in a quiet house. Boys are all noise. My kids in particular are constantly singing or humming which doesn't sound like a bad thing, until you've heard the theme song from Indiana Jones every day for the past 6 months -- and I'm not exaggerating! SIX MONTHS. Before that it was Star Wars -- and all the sounds you would hear in the Star Wars movies. Before that it was Thomas the Tank engine and Buzz Lightyear. Need I say more? I've been listening to all sorts of noises for 10 years now!! Your son is totally normal. Just get yourself set and buckled up for years and years of audio stimulation!! A gentle reminder is usually all it takes to get them to stop, but remember he's a boy and you may have to remind him like 400 times throughout the day! :-) Good luck and enjoy this time! And remember...the mother of boys work from "son up to son down".

At his NEXT health check up, if it hasn't subsided, please talk with your doctor about it. All boys are born with more 'tic' issues than girls. However, they typically outgrow them too, by age 7-8 yrs.

Based on what you've written, if his teachers have not mentioned it, he is probably able to manage it properly when in a social setting. You might even mention your concern to the teacher, as they are listening to so many other noises, they might not have localized it yet to him. One thought about PreK teachers, is that they can become accustomed to all the sounds they have to listen to all those hours. It's got to be one of the toughest jobs out there. Once you bring it up and they put on their professional listening ears, I imagine they'll have some helpful insight.

Good luck and God bless your family!
Jennifer

This is such normal boy behavior. They are using their imagination. Take a deep breath and get some earplugs if you must. He is likely not doing it at school. The only time I insist my boys be noise free is when I am driving because it is soooo distracting but around the house I would let him continue. He will grow out of it. You can ask him to play in his room instead of out in common areas.

Don't worry, your boy is normal. My 4 year old still does all of the noises sometimes. My husband says that he never shuts up.

Help him concentrate on sounds like driving a car or animal sounds, something that will be less annoying for you.

You could ask his teachers at school and find out if he does it there. If not...it may be something to get your attention, esp now that you have a younger child. It probably is normal in that our kids want our attention and will do all sorts of stuff to get it. At least it is not a physically destructive behavior or an aggressive one!

I am sooo glad you posted this question!!!! I have two boys ages 2 1/2 and almost 6. They both make noises! The 6 year old is very loud with his voice, the younger one has a better volume level. The noises are usually machine gun, laser gun (we don't even have toy guns), spiderman web shooting, cars, planes, fire siren etc. My son even makes those noises at school, but the teacher says he is normal, even if he is a little more active, squirmier, and vocal than some/most of the other boys. If the noise is too much for me to handle and he is being nice to his brother and just got home from school, I just put ear plugs in!! If he has been noisy for a long time or is being mean, then I put a stop to the noises by changing the play to a family game or TV time. The best ear plugs are bright pink and sold at Walgreens and called Pretty in Pink! They are the softest ones and muffle the noise just the right amount!

We need some clarification- what kind of noises and in what circumstances does he do it? My son was diagnosed with tourettes, which was the cause of his noises, but we need to know more about your son's behavior.

It's hard to say if it's normal or not because it depends on the type of noises he's making. If he's playing with his toys and doing it, he is just being playful. If he does it while sitting still or sitting still and watching a movie, maybe I'd have some concerned. Evaluate when and what he's doing when he makes the noises and go from there. Checking with your pediatrician is always a good idea.
My son has allergies (like the other woman said about her son), my son was clearing his throat in the mornings and sometimes throughout the day and he was very loud about it. People would stare at us. In all fairness he sounded like an 80 year old smoker hacking.
Best of luck.

I have a 4.5 year old boy who is makes lots of "noises" and has been for awhile. It sounds like white noise to me but, to him he is using his imagination or being "joyful". It sure does make me and my hubby batty as well! He makes noises (humming, buzzing, zooming, ect) when he is playing and when we're driving (yes, it can be distracting for sure!) but he loves road trip and looking out the window and that just starts him on the noise.

At 6:30 it is declared "quiet time" in our home as everyone winds down before bedtime. This is when we are strict on him being quiet and controlling his noise otherwise he buzzes about his day with the occassional "enough!" from mommy when the noise stands on my last nerve but, I'm working on that ;)

I think it's "normal" behavior for my son. i wouldn't worry unless it because something uncontrollable for him. You wanting him to stop and he doesn't is a whole different thing then him not being able to control his urges when he wants to stop.

Oh A.,
I know what you mean! Boys always seem to make noise .... noise noise noise. I have learned when it becomes overwhelming to me I just say "OK lets have 5 min of quiet time" (like in the car when the noise amplifies) or I will say its time for our quiet time and send them out of the room or I go to my room. I think everyone needs quiet time and I raise them to understand that that is normal. This way it is not them doing something wrong its just a normal quiet time need.
Good luck
R.

has he been tested for stuff like ADHD. but if he doesnt do it at school that may not be it

Hi A.,
As an OT working in schools, and two boys of my own :) from your description, I would say this sounds very normal.

My 3 yo will make noises (especially buzzing), or even re-enact something he saw on TV or saw someone do at the grocery store.

When he was 2, it got to the point where it bugged me because it was just too loud or distracting at times. I started telling him to go "buzz" in his room. I made sure it wasn't a punishment, but I made it clear it wasn't okay to do it just anywhere or anytime. Now, whenever he "feels the need" (ha-ha!) he'll say, "I'm gonna go buzz in my room, okay?" and his Dad or I say okay, and he'll be gone for anywhere from 1 minute to 30, and just stay in his room until he's "done."

My 1 yo is already making noises, too - lol
T

A.,

I am the mother of 3 boys and a girl. I can definitely tell you that it is normal for boys to make noises. They are cars, planes, bugs, superheroes--and there is a noise to go with all of them. My boys are 13, 13, and 17. They still make "noises". If they aren't singing, rapping, playing Rockband--then they're making other noises. I think it is all very normal. Hopefully you will get used to it. :) He's just a normal little boy. They like to hear themselves!
K.

I think the noises are completely normal. My daughter has Autism and she is constantly making noises. I think it is her way of de-stressing herself. It is like her own background noise for situations she feels she needs a break from. She does make the noises at school sometimes as well. Sometimes kids (and adults) need something to distract them from a certain situation and sometimes they just need something to keep them occupied so they aren't bored. Some adults are always humming (usually grandmas or moms). My father does a combination of humming and whistling, which I never noticed until we were around my husbands family and they asked if my father has always done that because they noticed that he was constantly humming/whistling. It was not something that I really noticed until they pointed it out, but it is something he has always done. As all of the other comments have said, it is totally normal and you are just going to have to get used to it.

What kinda noises? The reason why I ask his my youngest does the same thing & we just thought she was doing it to bug us because we asked all her teachers & none of them noticed it eihter.. but we found out she only does it at a certain time of year & she ended up having an allergy to something in the air at that time of year & she didn't even know she was doing it because I would tell her to stop making those noises & she would say what noises or start crying because of it..

Hi A.,

If the noises aren't a problem at school and his behavior is the same, then maybe he's just letting out some internal energy. I understand that his noises are probably annoying. Using distraction like you are is a great idea and a positive way for him to use his energy. I would also try getting down to his level and very quietly say to him..."I know you want to make your sounds, can you make your sounds very quietly like a butterfly? Or if you want to make loud sounds lets try it for one minute loud and then try soft again." (try using the word sounds -it's doesn't have as much of a negative connataion as Noises). You can also try to distract yourself from the sounds so you aren't so annoyed by them. Are his sounds loud that will distrupt your baby's naps? When he starts making his sounds, is he excited, bored, tired, hungry, needing anything emotionally? Or maybe he's just experiencing with his voice. Unless it's really out of control loud and his behavior is uncontrolable when he makes the noises, you might just have to put in ear plugs and let him go through it:) 3 yrs old can be a challenging time for child and parent! -it's just a part of them growing into thier own. The less we try to control them the better off everyone is. **Guiding, encouraging, loving, disciplining, teaching our children is different than controlling. Just continue to look for signs in his behavior that could indicate that something is different, and in the meantime continue to use your postive distraction, or soft sounds, seeing if he's needing something when he makes his sounds, or ignoring it. You know your son best, and your own level of "I can't handle these sounds anymore!":) I'm sure this will pass soon.

In Peace,
A.
mom of 4, Birth and Parenting Mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com