Obsessed with objects - help!

[RedPandaFluff]

20-month old DD just had a massive meltdown because I wouldn't let her take an assortment of swimming floats and balls home with us after her lesson. She screamed leaving the pool, as I was showering her, as I was drying and dressing her, and the whole way out to the car. It was epic . . . and quite distressing to see her so devastated.

She gets so, so attached to objects. She has a teddy that she loves and takes most places with her, but she'll also get temporarily very attached to random things - a sponge, a sleeping bag, a football etc. She'll carry them around with her for ages and gets upset when they're taken off her (if the ball isn't hers and needs returning etc.)

How do I deal with this? Stand firm and weather the storm? Distractions and offering her other things doesn't work; she's fixated on whatever she's obsessed with at the time. I'm hoping it's just normal toddler behaviour . . . ?

Bump . . . that was a stressy day, could do with some wise words

It's a long time since mine were that age so I won't be much use, but if she won't be distracted I think you just have to take the item from her abs ignore any tantrums.

Thank you for replying, @DominicRaabsTravelAgent - I definitely don't want to fall into the trap of tantrum = she gets her own way. I just don't understand why she gets so fixated on particular things!

Is does seem a bit unusual. It might be worth doing the MChat test, just to see what her risk of having ASD is.

Thank you - I just did that test and she came out as low-risk; but then again she's under 24 months so it might be a wait-and-see situation.

In the meantime it might just be a case of battling through!

Don't worry about her being under 24 months, the test is for ages 16 to 30 months

Yes, stand firm and weather the storm. It will pass