crying when another child cries....

[mckenzie]

My son, who is 2 and a half, always cries whenever someone else cries. It can be a friend that he's playing with who he knows well, or it can be a baby in the supermarket. He gets really upset, huddles in to me and starts crying himself, sometimes while saying "the baby is crying mummy" or "the little boy is crying". He does seem to be genuinely upset rather than just seeking attention. ItT happened on wednesday while he was in the creche at the gym so it's not just with me that it happens.

Any thoughts on why he might be doing this? It hasn't come on suddenly, it's been happened for a while although I think that perhaps it has got worse/more frequent recently.

thanks in advance for you thoughts.

My son, who is 2 and a half, always cries whenever someone else cries. It can be a friend that he's playing with who he knows well, or it can be a baby in the supermarket. He gets really upset, huddles in to me and starts crying himself, sometimes while saying "the baby is crying mummy" or "the little boy is crying". He does seem to be genuinely upset rather than just seeking attention. ItT happened on wednesday while he was in the creche at the gym so it's not just with me that it happens.

Any thoughts on why he might be doing this? It hasn't come on suddenly, it's been happened for a while although I think that perhaps it has got worse/more frequent recently.

thanks in advance for you thoughts.

McKenzie, my ds(now 6) also used to do this when he was a toddler. Like yours it could just be another child crying in the supermarket that would bother him. Now at 6, he no longer gets upset in this way but is still a kind and sensitive boy. I think it is probably a indication that your ds is a sensitive little soul rather than anything to worry about.

My ds is still very sensitive to loud noise (doesn't much like the cinema for this reason) and generally avoids anything scary, ghosts clowns etc. The big advantage is that he is a gentle and affectionate boy. It might help your little boy if you can suggest a reason for the other childs tears eg - dont worry X is only crying because he feels a bit tired or bumped his knee etc. This used to help my ds - so that he felt there wasn't anything he needed to be scared of himself if that makes sense.

It's empathy and it's a good thing! He is literally feeling the other person's pain. Babies don't have any empathy at all (nor do psychopaths!) so it's a good sign of healthy. I think very many toddlers are upset or anxious when other children cry. Your ds sounds rather sensitive and emotional but children change all the time and I doubt he'll still be doing it as an adult

thanks tealady and aloha for your comments.
I hate to see him get upset as you can imagine I'm sure so when he's getting upset for what seems to me like no reason it makes it worse.

I think he is a gentle sole like you suggest tealady (he doesn't like lots of people in small spaces etc) and I'll shall try and see this now as a positive trait ie, him caring about others.