What can I do about dd's phobia? (she is nearly 2)

[SecurMummy]

Dd is coming up two and is normally confident and happy, likes little creatures, ladybirds etc.

However she is terrified of Flies. I have just gone and rescued her from the stairs where she was frozen, completly white and screaming hysterically because a fly flew past her. She shrieks when she sees them anywhere and is petrified if they are close by/in a smallish space like the stairs.

So, any suggestions? I have dealt with phobias in older children, but never had a child this young being so so scared. For the record I don't know of any bad experiences she has had with flies - what could you have anyway, they don't bite or anything?

Please help, we are just entering perfect fly weather and I can't spend all summer with her screaming and scared, both she and I will go potty! Also, I am thinking that if I get this sorted early/soon enough she may be able to get over it to a greater or lesser degree?

TIA SMxx

hunker, poor thing lol! It's like me and spiders - I know it is stupid and try to be brave but get me too close and I go all to pieces

LM, that is really good to hear thank you, I am loading the thread up now and will have a look at it too.

secur, nothing to add to all the good advice, but wondered if dd had been bitten by an insect and assumed it was a fly? My sister used to have arachnaphobia. When she was tiny, all insects/creepy crawlies were 'pidies' so when she was stung by a wasp, she got a fear of spiders. Unfortunately I can't share anything helpful for children (she tackled it in her late 20s) but could be a possible explanation.

Oh, good news is she's fine now, but you probably don't want to wait that long to get it sorted!

Well this is odd because this happened to my 3 year old recently.

When I discussed it with her, it turned out that she had learnt the song "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly... perhaps she'll die" at nursery and she had thought that meant that flies could kill her.

I explained that you would't die if you swallowed a fly and we had a big talk about this, and she is now ok.

I thought I would mention this in case it helps anyone else!!

That is interesting MP, that is what I mean about being able to talk about it, it is only 6 months or so before I could have a conversation about itwith her but I think most of the flys will be gone by then

Edam - I am glad you sis is ok now but you are right, I would rather not be rescuing her from the stairs for teh next 18 years

I would be interested to know how she got past that though?