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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

20 months old - possible OCD?!

18 replies

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/03/2006 10:35

You will all probably laugh in my face at this one but for the last 4-5 months, Jess has had SERIOUS issues with her hands and feet.

She cannot bear them to be dirty or have something on them, she screams until said thing is removed.

We tried finger painting today - well as you can imagine, it was tears and me sitting doing the painting while she watched.

Is it really possible she can hace OCD with regards to cleanliness at such a young age?! Im at a loss as to how to help her, because even things like eating with her hands are an issue....

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

oops · 16/03/2006 10:44

hi jarm...
my ds1 is a bit like this and wants wiping all thye time.

house of tiny tearaways often has kids a bit more extreme than ours in it.

i have just kept on going with the messy play and loads and loads of praise when he gets his hands wet/messy/et.
i let him get muddy in puddles, he loves to jump in them

i think be aware of it, and gently and quietly push the boundaries with lots of encouragement and praise when she does do something messy

NotQuiteCockney · 16/03/2006 10:45

I think this is normal.

They have so little control over their lives (what to eat, where to go, where they live etc etc) that they want control over the little stuff, when they can.

Original poster

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/03/2006 11:15

bump x

OP posts:

starlover · 16/03/2006 11:17

it's normal jarm... my brother used to be the same. also wouldn't eat tea unless all the lids were on the jams/marmite/butter etc! lol

he grew out of it.
have worked with a couple of kids like it too, and Linus does it to a certain extent.

blueshoes · 16/03/2006 11:24

Normal, I think. My dd started becoming aware of "mess" around that age. Now at 2.5 years, her reaction is to ask for a tissue or give me her hands to clean. I think some children react more strongly than others, dd's cousin for instance.

jangly · 16/03/2006 11:27

I think for it to be ocd she would have to know about germs, which she obviously wouldn't at that age. Sounds normal to me. She's going to be the tidy kind!

tarantula · 16/03/2006 11:28

dd si a bit like this too. Shed fall down in the mud and lie there on her tummy with face hands and feet in the air screaming to be picked up. She also went through a phase of her wanting her hands cleaned all the time at meal times etc. She has grown out of it tho slowly and now loves finger painting etc. Took lots of constant reassurance and prise tho.

RedTartanLass · 16/03/2006 11:32

J&Rmummy, ds2 is like this mega fussy, if he gets his hands dirty

If he falls over in the mud he lies there with his hands out in front of him, a very concerned look on his face, repeating "Dirky...dirky!!!" I tell him to rub his hands together or wipe them on his trousers.

He's the same when he's eating, he want me to wash his hands everytime he gets a bit of food on them, I either leave the sponge on table for him to wipe his hands when he wants, or tell him we'll wash them later.

Must be a stage they go through!!

Bozza · 16/03/2006 11:35

It's definitely normal at this age. DD is like this - I reckon most kids at this age are obsessive about something or other.

RedTartanLass · 16/03/2006 11:37

X posts tarantula, have we got the same LO?

Kliciousmomma · 16/03/2006 11:37

It's normal.. my mum said when I was a little girl I couldn't bear even a tiny spot on my dress hands or feet she had to change me or I'd scream the place down!! (if you could see me now!!!) my mum is a very neat and without realising probably wiped my hands as soon as they got even slightly dirty so I became used to this and stressed when it didn't happen immediately.. this even began to happen a for while with my own dd and I found I was doing the same no worries just let her get a little dirty in an old top and have a picnic in the living room she'll grow out of it trust me

Original poster

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/03/2006 11:42

thanks guys - will try and persevere with messy play then!

fingers crossed she grows out of it soon.... i cant keep up with her at the moment!

(where hse has got the tidy bug from i have no idea - i am slut when it comes to housework!)

OP posts:

starlover · 16/03/2006 11:46

make the most of it and get her to tidy the house while you still can! lol

Original poster

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 16/03/2006 13:59

lol - i stick a baby wipe in her hand and she already cleans everything in sight!

OP posts:

Angeliz · 16/03/2006 14:01

DD1 was like this. If she touched her leg, the table or anything while she was eating she'd have to wash her hands all over again.
She is 5 now and whinges every night i tell her to wash her hands for dinner so i'd say they grow out of it

tearaways · 16/03/2006 14:41

Hi there,

I am actually working in the house of tearaways at the moment and this is an area we are looking into so I just thought I would leave my number in case any of you are interested in getting involved - 0207 428 6037.

All the best,
Catherine.

inycon · 19/03/2006 22:15

My son as a toddler was exactly the same. He wouldn't put his feet on the sand at the beach and was the only one not to do finger painting or face painting at nursery. He soon grew out of these fussy tendencies as he progressed through school. Please don't worry:)

rachc · 20/03/2006 14:11

hello all
my dd1 would clean the whole kitchen floor if i let her (ok so she does most of it), give her a duster and off she goes. she also has a thing at the moment for shutting doors, but then cant get out or into the room. and straightening rugs/mats etc, i'd like to say she gets it from me!!

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