1 yr old screamer-help!

[Lee-Bee]

Can you tell if it is an intentional "if i shriek like this i get attention" versus a "I am over tired and have no control over myself" shrieking?

15 months is still young BUT it is old enough they can learn. So if you have already bumped lunch forwards on their behalf you can consider a simple "no screaming", pick her up and plunk her into bed approach (with the thought that if she screaming she isn't eating anyways, and the others deserve a peaceful meal). Change her diaper before meal so she is ready to be put down for nap. Another idea is a playpen away from everyone and every single time she does it pick her up, give a simple "no screaming" and plunk her in it until she stops, "you are done screaming now you can come back to the group".

The point being for her to connect that the screaming leads to her getting no attention. Before the times you expect it to happen remind her "if you scream you will go to bed/playpen".

If it isn't just an attention seeking thing and you feel she truly has no control and doesn't know what to do with herself then this may not be the best approach for her BUT sometimes even if it isn't the best learning approach for the child it is still the best approach for you and all the other children's sake so you can use it to nip the problem in the bud THEN once it is under control work on teaching calming strategies etc.