Now don't get me wrong, we're huge fans of the Bananas in Pyjamas here. In fact it was one of the shows I was looking forward to watching the most when I had bub because it reminds me of my childhood {even though they've somehow managed to morph from "real people" into cartoon characters at some point during the last 25 years}. At 10am and 4pm each day we're at home we can usually be found in front of the tv waiting for our daily doses of B1 and B2. While I normally welcome these two into my home on a daily basis with open arms, right now I have a big bone to pick with them. It appears they've unintentionally traumatised my child.
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| No guys, its not Bananatastic! |
A few months ago bub all of a sudden became petrified of the vacuum cleaner, for no apparent reason. Which kind of sucks because having a toddler is like having a mini tornado rip through your house every day which = a lot of mess. Most of which could be cleaned up by a vacuum cleaner, however my child now has an inconsolable breakdown when she even sees me go and pick it up, long before I actually turn it on. It gets a million times worse if I try and use it.
We're talking inconsolable screaming, not just crying, actual screaming. But there are tears, lots and lots of tears that stream all down her face til she gets so choked up she cant breathe properly. She does this while literally shaking in fear. And all of that happens within about 2 minutes of me walking to the vacuum cleaner and turning it on. So my vacuuming attempts while she's awake usually last for 2 minutes. Then I have to spend the next 30 minutes trying to calm her down. So needless to say I don't really vacuum when she's awake.
I've spent months trying to work out what made her so scared to no avail. Then finally this week I worked it out, purely by chance. It was the bloody Bananas in Pyjamas! The most unlikely culprits ever. They're usually bringing joy into our home, not unleashing psychological warfare {as T called it the other night}. It turns out there's an episode called jobs galore where the Bananas use the vacuum to try and clean up all the mess in the teddies front yard, however it ends up going very, very wrong. It came on tv again this week and she was shaking and crying the whole time they were using the vacuum. For those who couldn't be bothered youtubing the episode, I've included a run down and some screenshots for you below {courtesy of bub's abc kids iview app}.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking B1? I think I am B2. Lets scare the bejeezus out of all the kids by flinging ourselves around on this crazy out of control vacuum cleaner turned rocket ship.
Oh no B1 its out of control. I think you're right B2. Ooooopsie!
Uh, Oh!!!
There's lots more flinging around in the air being dragged along by the vacuum cleaner, but I gave up trying to screenshot it. Ultimately it all comes to an end...
Phew I'm glad that's over B1. Me too B2. Thanks Amy!
We're talking inconsolable screaming, not just crying, actual screaming. But there are tears, lots and lots of tears that stream all down her face til she gets so choked up she cant breathe properly. She does this while literally shaking in fear. And all of that happens within about 2 minutes of me walking to the vacuum cleaner and turning it on. So my vacuuming attempts while she's awake usually last for 2 minutes. Then I have to spend the next 30 minutes trying to calm her down. So needless to say I don't really vacuum when she's awake.
I've spent months trying to work out what made her so scared to no avail. Then finally this week I worked it out, purely by chance. It was the bloody Bananas in Pyjamas! The most unlikely culprits ever. They're usually bringing joy into our home, not unleashing psychological warfare {as T called it the other night}. It turns out there's an episode called jobs galore where the Bananas use the vacuum to try and clean up all the mess in the teddies front yard, however it ends up going very, very wrong. It came on tv again this week and she was shaking and crying the whole time they were using the vacuum. For those who couldn't be bothered youtubing the episode, I've included a run down and some screenshots for you below {courtesy of bub's abc kids iview app}.
There's lots more flinging around in the air being dragged along by the vacuum cleaner, but I gave up trying to screenshot it. Ultimately it all comes to an end...
Cue screaming petrified and permanently traumatised children all over the country. Ok it probably wasn't that bad, but there's at least one traumatised little girl in this house and now that I know the cause I'm still no closer to knowing how to rectify it. Has anyone else had a child petrified of the vacuum cleaner? It appears she's not scared of the noise, but the fact that it might start going out of control and fling us around everywhere.... how the hell do I get rid of this fear?
Please tell me some of you know the solution because right now I have no idea what to do.
Toni x
P.S. We still love the Bananas in Pyjamas, but if that episode comes on tv again I'll be taking evasive action and changing the channel.
Please tell me some of you know the solution because right now I have no idea what to do.
Toni x
P.S. We still love the Bananas in Pyjamas, but if that episode comes on tv again I'll be taking evasive action and changing the channel.
I think you should get in touch with the ABC and ask them for a cleaner by way of compensation for psychological injury to a minor ; )
ReplyDeleteOh I like that idea!!
DeleteOh wow, poor little miss! Those bananas are always in trouble!
ReplyDeleteYep and they're in BIG trouble now lol
DeleteDesensitization is the only thing I can think of. Just have it in the corner of the room with funny sticker eyes on it and get her to touch it and pat it. Give it a friendly sounding name and talk affectionately to it. Slowly coerce her into turning it on and make jokes about it. You know what? Ignore me. I'm not a child psychologist.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a very intelligent little girl to have formed that association. I hate vacuum cleaners too for a completely different reason.
Haha I don't really like it either. She's fine with it being in the room and even climbs over the thing when its off but when I go to turn it on she freaks out. She used to let me vacuum if I held her in my arms so it couldn't get her but now she won't even let me do that.
DeleteI know that episode. Luckily my children have not had such a reaction. I have no idea what I'd do, sorry. Sounds like you've already done what I do!
ReplyDeleteThe only other thing I can think of is buying her a little fake vacuum to see if she wants to use that.
DeleteMy daughter had a fear of vacuums for a while. I think it is pretty common. After a while she grew out of it. For her it was definitely the noise. She is not great with loud noises even now and she is 4.5 years old.
ReplyDeleteI really hope she's going to grow out of it because its been over 6 months now and its driving me mental.
DeleteMy boy was scared of vacuums and hairdryers. He's better now, but still covers his ears. Good luck with the recovery x
ReplyDeleteHow did you get him to stop being scared Cybele? Did he just get over it in time?
DeleteOh no! Our first child was terrified of the vacuum for years, however the banana's had nothing to do with it that time ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with #TIK
I have a horrible feeling this may go on for years too :(
DeleteSorry, but I had to laugh at this! Those bloody bananas have a lot to answer for. I still can't get the 'banana detective' tune from one of their episodes out of my head, its been stuck in there for about a year now... I agree with Mumma McD - get ABC to send you a cleaner as compensation :)
ReplyDeleteOmg Banana detective, banana detective we're on the case, hot on the trail.... bah now its in my head! Yea I think the ABC should compensate me too lol.
DeleteOh so not cool Bananas, not cool at all. Bananas need to rectify this immediately. By clearly creating a vacuum episode where it's gentle and useful and does nothing untoward. Sounds like a cracker storyline to me! :) But in all seriousness it's so hard when little ones develop a fear like that. Maybe have her touch the vaccuum when it's not plugged in, chat about the sounds a vacuum make, turn it into a fun experience, have her try and lift the vacuum so she can see how heavy it is and it won't fling up in the air. Then when she's ready, have her turn it on and stand with her until she can see the vacuum isn't going anywhere. Poor darling!
ReplyDeleteI think its going to be a slow process Sarah. She climbs over it when its off, but that's as far as we get. If I even look like I'm walking towards it to turn it on she loses it completely. Little steps I guess.
DeleteI think I should pitch that episode idea to the ABC though. Maybe they can beef it out and make it a little more entertaining without including anything that might traumatise little kids.
Damn those Bananas! Not cool scaring the bejeezus out of little ones! My son was scared of the vacuum at one point, he did grow out of it quite quickly though when he realised it was harmless. We did this by getting him to try and use it and turn it on himself so he had control of the situation. After that he was fine. Your poor bubba! Silly Bananas!
ReplyDeleteI might to get her to turn it on herself, but Im thinking maybe I should try with a toy vacuum first because I'm paranoid I'll just traumatise her more the more I get her to try and touch it.
DeleteBeware - there's another episode that involves an outdoor leaf sucker vacuum. The Bananas suck up Morgan's prized flower for the Cuddlestown garden competition.... I hope this is a phase that your little one gets over quickly! You might have to get one of those robotic vacuums that cleans the floor by itself while you're asleep at night (that doesn't sound creepy at all?!). Good luck xx
ReplyDeleteHaha we've seen the flower sucking one a few times and she doesn't seem to be scared of that one for some reason, go figure. If we could afford a robot vacuum I totally would've tried that by now lol.
DeleteOh no!! Poor baby, and you! My little girl was afraid of the vacuum cleaner (the noise) until i let her have a go and now she loves it! Not sure if letting her have a turn would help though!! Sorry. Hopefully she just grows out of it?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try it soon cos its driving me nuts not being able to vacuum when she's awake.
DeleteIt'll pass, eventually, my 3yo still isn't madly keen on the, I don't blame him though because neither am I!
ReplyDeletePart of me is loving "not being able to use the vacuum for fear of traumatising her" but then part of me really wants clean floors too lol.
DeleteOh no! Sounds hideous and I have no advice to help you, sorry! My boys create a riot of excitement when I vacuum. Admittedly they're not quite so keen on Bananas in Pajamas. Maybe it'll pass? (frustrating answer I know)
ReplyDeleteShe never used to take any notice, I hope we go back to those days sometime soon cos I'm really over it already. A few months is long enough, she needs a new phase now..
DeleteOh yes! The boys were terrified, TERRIFIED of the vacuum cleaner. It's just so loud and that sucking sound is so uninviting and scary!
ReplyDeleteWhile it took awhile, the phase certainly passed. Hang in there, Mama!
Good I can't wait for it to end here!
Deleteomg i am so sorry
ReplyDeleteI like Bananas in Pyjamas so much!
ReplyDelete