2 year old after a week in hospital

[Gledhill]

hi, just wondered if anyone else out there could reassure me. my 2 year old ds had a horrific week in hospital and is now at home and on the mend (thank god). he's very wary of everyone, clings to my dp and has lost all his confidence. Do 2 year olds bounce back quickly? We are giving him lots of love, cuddles when he wants them and space when he wants that too and trying to make life as normal as poss for him. Does anyone have any advice to help us help him to get through this?

This is normal. He is likely to regress developmentally by several months, and he will be clingy and insecure for a while. Just go with the flow, lower your expectations and let him set the pace. He will recover, but it is likely to be rather slower than "bouncing back".

Remember - he has been ill, as well as being in a strange and scary place.

Hope all improves soon.

It sounds normal to me.

I think the best thing to do is to carry on with what you've already been doing - lots of reassurance and trying to get things back to normal for him.

I hope things get better for you all soon. xx

It's normal, and you are doing everything right. He will recover, and will have forgotton it when he's older, that's what happened with my dd2.

Thanks
He's a shadow to my husband, really clinging to him. Not sure what to do when he goes back to work?

Forgot to add, I will never forget those awful days when she was in hospital, and neither will you, but your ds will.

Belgo-don't think we will ever forget the deadful week. I'm worried I'm now going to jump at ever slight fever

Yes you will jump at the slightest fever, that's normal, but I promise you you will learn to relax a bit (not totally maybe), and two year olds do bounce back very quickly. Don't worry about what will happen when your dh goes back to work, your routine will return to normal and your ds will get used to that very quickly.

thank you. I was paranoia about fevers and rashes before, now I'm going to be a nightmare.

Don't have much to add, but DD was not herself and regressed a bit for a few weeks after being in hospital at 2 then she was fine. She does (vaguely) remember it, but not in an unpleasant way - she thinks it's a place she goes to stay with her dad (like a holiday ).

Good luck - I'm sure your DS will be fine soon.