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Help DS seems to be frightened of other children

7 replies

Jen99 · 01/05/2009 21:58

DS is 16mths and is generally a very sociable baby, always been very smiley and is very generous with his hugs even with people he doesn't know very well. He also seems to really like older children - he adores my sisters 7 yr old daughter. BUT if any babies his age or close to his age come near him he gets very upset and cries straight away. They just have to tocuh him and he seems to hate it.

He has always been a bit sensitive around other babies and used to cry at high pitched noises but seemed to grow out of this however this is starting this again. This is not so much of a problem when I am with him as I am able to quickly reassure him and he recovers very quickly but it is causing a problem at the CM where he goes 2 days a week. She has a DS the same age who is very friendly and desperate to 'play' with my DS. When my DS gets upset he gets upset and my CM is finding it hard to comfort both of them. This seems to happen regularly throughout the day.

At a loss at how best to deal with this. DS has had contact with lots of different babies since birth, we got to play groups, baby classes etc. so its not as if he is not used to other children his age.

Anyone got any ideas?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
flymetothemoon · 01/05/2009 22:04

I don't have a solution but my ds was like this for ages.
He'd been whacked hard a few times at the hands of rough toddlers around the age of 12 months and after that for a year or a year and a half he was really not happy to let other toddlers too close.

It did get better, but frankly only as children calmed down and got past the random whacking/ biting etc. stage.

Sorry I don't have a magic solution.

Jen99 · 01/05/2009 22:11

I'm sure he will get over this fear eventually but the real problem is at the CM - I'm worried she will say she doesn't want him any more! She is really good and apart from this seems happy there. He doesn't cry when we leave him and he smiles as soon as he gets to the door.

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frustratedmom · 05/05/2009 10:50

the child minder is good but what of her son - it could be he is rough and she has rose tinted lenses (like the rest of us) about her dc. See what your ds is like with other children same age and eliminate whether age thing or child thing.

I agree with flymetothemoon - it gets better past this random whacking stage.

rizlated · 08/05/2009 17:33

is it all babies he is scared of or just the CM's son? Also wondered how big your son is, whether he is small for his age & if this makes him feel vulnerable around other children?

milkysallgone · 09/05/2009 07:35

Check out this website www.hsp.com

Sounds a bit like your ds

(sorry for lack of explanation, no time for a long post)

rizlated · 09/05/2009 08:53

??? (previous post)

milkysallgone · 09/05/2009 10:22

Oops meant www.hsperson.com !

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