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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

Toddler 'phobia's

41 replies

HappyJoyful · 27/03/2013 15:41

My 2.3yr old DD has total meltdown at the hoover, I believe this is common, she recently did same thing with a hand dryer, an electric mixer and most randomly the kitchen scales ?!? I'm sure majority (exc. scales) are all natural 'phobia's'

Oh and again, not uncommon but causes major meltdown and shaking 'fear' of having nails cut.

Just wondering what else there is I need to look out for that might cause meltdown? And, other than lots of cuddles and reassurance that these are just things etc, assume there is nothing really I can do and it's a phase that will pass but any tips in dealing with it welcome!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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rrreow · 27/03/2013 16:57

It's probably a combination of the sound (I hate the sound of the hoover myself! Makes me want to cry) and the suddenness of it.

For ages DS liked to play with the dustbuster, but he'd get into a real state if it accidentally switched on. So we kind of guided him through the process and showed him how to switch it on and off. Giving him control over it has really taken the scariness out of it for him. He now loves switching it on himself and giving the floor a good 'clean'. He's 23mo by the way.

The hoover.. we have a Hetty (the pink Henry ones) so it has eyes, which I think helps because you can explain that the hoover is very hungry and we're switching it on to feed it all the yummy dust! Or something like that.

With nail cutting, I give DS a spare nail clipper, so he 'pretend cuts' his own nails, while I'm busy with the other clipper actually cutting his nails. Again I think he likes the control. Also doing things like counting (I do this with teeth brushing as well. If he's really reluctant I brush his teeth while loudly counting to ten, so he knows more clearly that it's finite and when it will stop).

I haven't figured out the hand drier yet. It's just too sudden and I imagine the noise is especially overwhelming because they're usually in spaces with tiled floors/walls. Those super fast hand driers that they have in many places are just SO loud, I don't even like the sound myself.

I wouldn't say there are specific things to watch out for or expect meltdowns for. It's down to the individual child.

fififrog · 27/03/2013 20:03

Hoover and hairdryer the worst, Tiny moths, spiders, broom, dustpan and brush probably the most random so far... Weird, eh? I can understand the Hoover, dustpan and brush not so much!

mummy2benji · 27/03/2013 20:13

Hair washing... ds still hates it at 4yo but we manage with a flannel over his eyes and just a quick shampoo and wash off. He went through a phase of being scared of dinosaurs (unfortunate, as MIL didn't know and bought him a lovely new dinosaur duvet set) which has now turned into a love of them!

QueenBee245 · 27/03/2013 20:25

I clip the nails while DS is asleep, he jumps at every clip otherwise, nearly took his baby toe off once!

StrawberryMojito · 27/03/2013 20:27

I bought DS the Aliens Love Underpants sound book. I'm not joking, it absolutely terrified him. Curiosity got the better of him but, even now, he clings to me (happily) as I read it to him.

Good tip about the nail clippers as he hates having them done.

Original poster

HappyJoyful · 28/03/2013 11:35

Thanks everyone.

rrreow I'm with you on the loud noises thing, I've useless hearing and I guess I miss the fact that they do make awful noises. I think I've seen toy hetty/henry's have been thinking that I could get one to see if she relaxes more around it, and I love the idea of turning it into something that is hungry, I can see her going for that, as she currently describes it as 'sleeping' when it's off.

Tried the nail clippers for her too and that's not quite worked - perhaps like QueeBee says it will resort to a nocturnal activity that I have to do!

I think we have the hair washing scenario about to come, she's getting more and more peeved off about it, I forgot the flannel over eyes tip, thanks benji.

fifi actually wish she didn't like the dust pan brush, she's obsessed with the blinking broom and insists on waving it around bashing things!

Strawberry oh yes those sound books do make some random noises - we've got Peppa Pig, annoyingly for me she loves it, again, perhaps a 'phobia' I wouldn't mine.

OP posts:

NaturalBaby · 28/03/2013 12:55

Giant mascots or people dressed up as cartoon characters.

I was pointing out the arrival of a charity mascot to my 4 and 3yr old the other day, oblivious to my 2yr old having a major panic attack. I only noticed when I heard his scream behind me and turned round to see him frozen in fear. He had just about tolerated a giant Peppa Pig a couple of times but wouldn't go near it to say hello.

Original poster

HappyJoyful · 28/03/2013 13:52

I get that NaturalBaby, now I think about them I'm not a fan either myself.
Clowns are common ones to some kids I think too which I get.

OP posts:

AryaUnderfoot · 28/03/2013 16:53

DD is absolutely terrified of dogs. She has never particularly liked one, but her phobia stems from the time she was knocked off the bottom of a slide by a vile, horrible little terrier thing that jumped at her.

She is 3, and we are thinking we may have to do something about her phobia if she doesn't start to come out of it soon. We know someone with a very nice rug collie who is willing to help.

BeCool · 29/03/2013 00:43

Dd2 is 22 months. She hates the new bath at / crocodile from ikea. She screams and cries "no crocodile out". Over and over.

A week in and I've sussed her - she simply prefers no bath mat so she can slide around the bath on her bum giggling loudly. The fact it's a crocodile was useful for her.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 29/03/2013 00:49

DS 18mo is scared of grass, plants, flowers etc even fake ones. He freaks out but is a bit fascinated at the same time.

Belmo · 29/03/2013 08:28

My dd is terrified of the Hoover, hair dryer, hand driers, blender and microwave. And suddenly very nervous of the washing machine, which is a total pain, as its on all the time.
Bizarrely, also terrified of birthday cakes, even in books.

QueenBee245 · 29/03/2013 09:34

Belmo DS is almost 4 and is petrified of hand driers he's gotten over th Hoover etc but still shakes if a hand drier is being use in public toilets

sleepyhead · 29/03/2013 09:45

Ds is 6 and still hates hand driers. Some of it is habit now though as a few times I've got him to uncover his ears and he's been surprised that the noise wasn't as loud as he thought. Luckily the school hand driers fall into this category as we had a real problem with him refusing to go to the loo at school last year and the inevitable accidents .

Dyson Airblade driers though - I'd happily go back in time and rip up the blue prints for those

megandraper · 29/03/2013 09:56

My 5yo used to hate hand-driers and the food processor when he was 3 - he would run out of the room and scream. Now he doesn't mind them at all. DS2 is 3 and has just begun hating them now. I think it's just a phase.

Judez99 · 29/03/2013 19:11

Hand driers, hair washing, dogs. He went through a stage at about 20m of bath phobia (which was a real pain!). He's 2.5yo.

FredKiller · 30/03/2013 13:17

In The Night Garden.

Not all of it, he loves 90% of it but starts wailing and shaking at the end bit when Iggle Piggle has to get back in the boat. We have to switch it off after the story.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 30/03/2013 14:02

Fred OMFG!! DS does this, why the hell is that? He goes utterly mental and sounds as if he is in agony.

FredKiller · 30/03/2013 14:21

That's weird! DH reckons the music sounds sad. I wondered if he got upset because Iggle Piggle had nowhere to sleep (don't know why Upsy Daisy can't let him bunk in with her, given they're always all over each other). But he's only 21mo so I'm probably crediting him with too much understanding.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 30/03/2013 15:11

See, we thought he didn't understand sleep properly and just that he was going away. God, I have no idea but he goes mental and has started doing it sometimes when the ITNG Iggle Piggle song comes on in his talking book.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 30/03/2013 15:12

Fred Have you not seen the episode where Iggle Piggle tries to sleep in Upsy Daisy's bed but he isn't allowed? I agree it's mean, they should get bunk beds or something.

MERLYPUSS · 30/03/2013 19:06

My 2 didn't like nails clipped but would have them scissored after the bath. They sit on a step up stool opposite me and I sit on the floor.
DT1 went bonkers after a Dyson hand dryer wnet on when he was having a poo in a public loo and couldn't escape. Since then I have made him stand outside the loos and see if he can hear the dryer. DT2 comes out and says 'It's ok you don't need to woos out - it's a quiet one''. We have also done the putting his head under the dryerr to make his hair go funny and that seemed to desensitise him.
(Thise Dysons are bloody loud though)

TheThickChickPlottens · 30/03/2013 19:23

I bribe dd (3yr old) with playing with the iPad to get her to let me at her nails. Toe nails are even worse. I hate manicures and pedicures so thought she might have a sensitivity to it.

Washing her hair is a screaming fest. I'm psyching myself up for doing it tomorrow morning. Dd2 has started protesting too about the hair washing.

Yes, yes for the scary hoovers, hand dryers, whisks, etc... I hoping its just a phase. A long one but still some kind of phase.

She shakes with fear when she sees a tractor. Unfortunately for her, we are thinking of buying one this year. Poor girl.

FredKiller · 30/03/2013 20:31

Schro it was on tonight! She kept kicking him out of bed every time the poor sod tried to get some shut eye on dry land. Then she'd tease him with a kiss, the hussy.

samsmother · 30/03/2013 20:43

My DS (2.7) is scared of...wait for it..... FLUFF! It's even worse If a bit Get caught in the breeze as you enter the room and glides across the room!

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