Anybody else have a shy toddler? Did they ever grow out of it?

[LeFxX]

Hi everyone, posting here as I’m hoping it gives more replies!! I have the shyest toddler in all the land and I don’t know if it’s something I’m doing wrong or if this is just his personality?

At the end of last year I started noticing how shy he really was and made more of an effort to go places like soft plays, friends houses for play dates, I invited more people round our house, we went to loads of parks and even signed him up for gymnastics and football classes. He did reaaaallly well and although still very shy, everybody commented on how he was like a different kid.

Anyway in the last 2-3 months it’s like he’s gone backwards. I fear we’re just wasting our money on these classes as all he does is stand there with his hands in his mouth, avoiding eye contact, and just completely shutting down. I keep hoping the next week is better but he’s the same.

He doesn’t stop talking at home, he is the funniest and loveliest little boy ever it’s just nobody but me and his dad ever get to see it. He has an older brother who isn’t like this and he also has a 1yo sister who so far is the opposite too. I know he’s only 2 (well he’s 4 months off 3) but could he ever grow out of this? I’m not actually concerned about it entirely I’m just more worried about when he starts school. I’m contemplating using the free hours in a nursery for him but terrified I’ll permanently scar the child and make him worse?

Any advice welcome!

Yes, I could have written this about my eldest except she was in full time nursery. She used to just watch at parties and other activities but she seemed happy enough so we kept going. Nursery really helped - they’re so used to it, and once she was 3/4 she was one of the older ones which helped too. I would try just a half day in nursery maybe, see how he is? Mine is now a confident five year old who has her hand up constantly in class, wants to do extra activities and is the first through the door at parties. One practical thing that helped us was ear defenders, turns out the parties and activities were a bit noisy and overwhelming, she said she did want to be there but preferred wearing the ear defenders. You could ask him how noisy he finds it.