She is 2 and a half and like many toddlers does get extremely upset over such things as putting sauce on wrong side of her plate, picking up the wrong stone etc etc but generally the reason is easy to identify (if not to comprehend 😂)
In the last week or so though she has become suddenly extremely distressed when I can't identify any cause like that at all. For example one morning we were happily chatting about what she wanted for breakfast, and I was saying she could have it, and we were about to go down the stairs. I asked if she wanted to hold my hand, she said yes and we walked down two stairs still chatting when she suddenly screamed no and rushed back upstairs and wouldn't come down. Absolutely hysterical, running round in circles like she didn't know what to do with herself. I asked things like if she'd like to come downstairs and she would nod and then go to and then get extremely upset again and tell me to go away. Same for offering Peppa on my phone, snacks even. I wondered if it was maybe low blood sugar and she couldn't explain how she was feeling and eventually got a snack near her mouth and then she accepted it, ate it all and calmed down.
The next two times though I'm sure food wasn't a factor at all. We were for example out at a play park she really enjoys, had just got out the car and were on her way there and she was chatting about where she wanted to go first, and then suddenly got very upset again, I couldn't carry her because she was kicking, struggled to get her in the pushchair etc. It carried on on our way in while I tried everything to help her. She'd point to what she wanted to do like swings and I'd help her in but she'd still be hysterical until after about twenty minutes she calmed down and stopped sobbing and then seemed happy to play again. I really don't know what triggered it or what helped her come out of it.
It's happened about three times in total and when I asked her if she could tell me why she was upset she said each time "because mummy" and when I asked what about mummy upset her she said "because of the tiger". I can't think of anything we read or watch that involves tigers really, we haven't been to any zoos, but I do remember for a while if she felt afraid of something like different people she'd describe it as being frightened of "the tiger" so maybe it's the only way she can convey how she feels.
She's always been very attached to me although she loves her dad too and I would say in last few days is responding more to him so perhaps a phase. She sees one set of grandparents now since lockdown and really enjoys seeing them too.
I'm not a shouty mum or anything and she is generally quite an easy, happy toddler so we've not had any especially difficult moments lately, she often comes into my bed etc and is very cuddly. I love her so much and hate seeing her so distressed when I don't know the cause! (Cutting up the roast in the wrong way or whatever at least I know what's wrong and can help her through it)
The only thing I can think of is I'm due DC2 soon and she may have picked up on conversations about hospital etc, could that be it?