16 month old cries when anyone coughs, sneezes or blows their nose

[HelpNeedCoolUsername8]

My son is usually happy and chilled, not sensitive at all…until someone coughs, sneezes or blows their nose. He looks at them in horror and starts wailing inconsolably. Cute and funny until one of us has a cold or flu or we spend time with people with hay fever etc. I feel so sorry for him because he’s crying all the time at the mo. I’ve had flu for two weeks and it certainly hasn’t desensitised him. Anyone any advice that might help, or anyone has a baby who does similar and can tell me how long before he grows out of it?

I have been searching for someone else who has a child who does this!!! My daughter (now three) cries inconsolably whenever her brother coughs. It is a loud cough and I can understand it when she's right next to him and it makes her jump, but she even cries if he's in another room. He's suffering with a nasty winter cough atm, and life is very difficult. Whenever he coughs at night I tense up and wait for the crying to start. It can really get you down. Like you, I am waiting for someone to tell me that she will grow out of it. Sorry I can't be more help, but at least we are in the same boat!

I know this is an old thread but my 18 months old son does exactly the same thing. I have the flu at the moment and every time I cough he is absolutely inconsolable. It’s getting very difficult , especially at nap time and bedtime. Just wondering when did your kids grow out of this behaviour?

Hi, my son is now two and a half and is completely over it! I can’t remember exactly when he stopped stressing about it but it was well before he was 2. Is there someone else that can do nap/bedtime while you have flu? If not all you can do is minimise your coughs by taking a drink or some cough sweets or something with you to nap/bedtime. I hope you feel better soon and I’m sure little one will realise soon that coughs/sneezes are nothing to worry about.

Thanks so much for your response! Yes, I do hope he will grow out of it soon. I’m slowly getting through the flu and I think my son is starting to understand that cough is normal and nothing to cry about. Thanks again!

You’re very welcome 😊I wonder if we’ll get another mum popping along in a year or so with the same question…it can’t just be our dafties, lol!

My five year old daughter does this.
I have had two colds back to back and she won't stay around me because I'm coughing. She won't stay in the room with me, even.
She is highly sensitive to all sounds, but it's so hard when all I want to do is cuddle her but she's frightened to near me while I'm coughing (which, again, is constantly due to a cold, bronchitis, and now another frigging cold).
I miss her so much and I have no doubt she misses me, but she really struggles with it and so do we. I don't know what to do.

I’m sorry, I know how frustrating this is. All I can say is it won’t last forever. I know it feels horrible now but fingers crossed for a swift recovery so you can get back to cuddling your little one. Take care