Toddler developing fears

[Eyre89]

Hi all I'm a first time mum and have a 19 month old DS who has started to show he's scared of things which have either previously been funny or things which I can't see any reason why he would be scared of them.

The Hoover and my hairdryer he used to find hilarious, he would follow the Hoover and turn it on and off, today he sobbed when I got the Hoover out and he just has to see my hairdryer and he says no. Is this just something to do with development?

He has also developed a fear of walking on cracks in the pavement, drains/grates and holes in general. It started after his grandad took him on a pier. So I'm guessing it could stem from that? It's frightened him the gaps on the pier and it's led to this? He will walk on them if you hold his hand otherwise he will skirt around them and say no or just won't move until you hold his hand. He even cried going onto a rope swing which had holes.

Thank you


Looking online I can see a lot of stuff about toddlers developing fears around now, I just wondered if anyone else had this? Is it just a normal development stage while he is learning and trying to understand more?

[Asleeponasunbeam]

I think it is perfectly normal. Mine both had/ have similar fears and they're usually quite short lived. I remember the summer DD turned 2 and she became terrified of all flying creatures, including birds high in the sky. And last autumn DS (2) was afraid of falling leaves (he had seen a silly puppet show of 'Chicken Licken' though!).

I always employ a strategic mix of brisk and jolly reassurance.

[Eyre89]

Thank you for the reply.

Yeah I just wanted to see if it was just a normal thing and how long it lasts. We just all make sure we walk across the drains so he can see we've done it. But I just do what you say I'm quite brisk and carry on (some pavements have loads of them I just never realised) or it would take me forever to get anywhere. That reassurance did help your DD abs DS then that's good to know. He just looks genuinely really scared sometimes I was worried it may become a big fear.

Thank you.

[Ferguson]

I guess as children become more aware of their surroundings, and start to realise that they are a 'separate entity' from their mother, they can think about things in more detail and a slightly more mature way. They know they can get hurt a bit if they fall, and they begin to be able to assess 'risk', so they try to avoid anything that could potentially be harmful.

[Eyre89]

Yeah that's a good way of describing it Ferguson as he went to step over a drain the other day. He got as far as lifting his leg, then it was as if he decided he couldn't risk it so let himself fall backwards rather than step over.
Thank you