Child’s fear

[RolyPolyOll]

I am at my wits end and don’t know how to overcome this! We are going somewhere sunny and my daughter (20 months) is absolutely terrified suddenly of sunglasses. If I wear them or my husband she screams and is terrified. If she sees them on the table she also screams. If we put them on her she screams. I don’t know what to do and am genuinely considering cancelling because on the beach many people will wear them! I’ve tried so many things and I just can’t get her to stop being afraid of them. I don’t think this is normal? What do I do

Around this age my daughter was frightened of people wearing glasses but only if they didn't normally wear them

So I wear glasses quite a lot she was fine with me wearing them, but if her grandfather put his reading glasses on she would burst into tears

It was really weird

No advice sorry, she grew out of it

Don't do anything. If you react to her- eg by hiding the sunglasses she will conclude her screaming is the right thing to do. Ignore her, distract her, or maybe just laugh when she starts screaming. And go on your holiday.

To be clear though, it wasn't just her grandfather it was other people that might pop a pair of glasses on and she would freak out

She will just scream for ages and be really distressed. We wear glasses (my husband and I) and she’s fine but when they’re dark she cannot cope. I’m scared she’ll see people around wearing sunglasses and just freak out and the holiday will be awful!

I’d just wear them around her a lot at home. No idea if that’s the right thing but it’s what I’d try.

Thank you. I have tired that and she’s been sooooo unhappy screaming and running behind objects hiding :-(. So took them off.

Have you offered to let her try them on?

Talked to her about what they're for?

I have indeed! She looks at them and just screams before even touching them.

Today I’ve taken them to playgroup for some of her friends to wear to see if that helps?

aw this sounds hard! can you try giving her treats while wearing them to see if that changes the association? pop them on, hand over a chocolate button then take them off again? then pop them on again, chocolate button into screamy mouth, off again?

control of the treats might get her attention? get her to put sunglasses on, pop a treat into your mouth, off again

silly noises are popular in our house too, put sun glasses on, blow a raspberry, off again etc

That is a FAB idea! I didn’t even think of the good old chocolate buttons helping! I’ll do that after lunch 💙

good luck! Of course, it might just give her an aversion to chocolate buttons too, but that's good for her teeth? 😁🤞

Tried and she was so hysterical she wouldn’t eat the buttons and spat them out!

😭 when do you go on holiday? are there any duggee or bluey episodes with sunglasses? I think there's a glasses duggee but not sure about sunglasses?

Charlie and Lola- if you want to go to Lolaland you must have your passport and your sunglasses.

Peppa pig goes for an eye test and wants glasses but her eyes are too good so she gets sunglasses instead.

An update! I tried eating the buttons myself with the sunglasses and then she took them from me! I then kept taking them on and off and she kept taking more and more buttons!!! YOU ARE A STAR!

Chocolate buttons save the day! 🥳

I'll keep an eye on the news, see if I spot a story about a toddler being arrested on a beach somewhere for snatching sunglasses off strangers faces and shouting demands for chocolate buttons 🤣

Brilliant! I was going to ask if they're opaque looking sunglasses, and if you have any that are tinted instead, so she can still see your eyes?

Also playing peekaboo with them maybe?

@longapple Pour yourself a drink, your work here is done! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Yes! I can confirm she is still OK with the glasses and now pointing to the cupboard where they’re stored thinking it’s time to give buttons as I have them on! @longapple you should write a parenting book!

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yesss! chocolate demands are easier to cope with than screaming :D enjoy your holiday 😍