overly cautious/sensitive 2.3 yr old - anyone else?

[lucamom]

My son is 2.3 months old, and has recently started being 'scared' of doing things like coming down steps, which he used to happily do (always holding onto something but nevertheless quite confident). If something runs at him/comes towards him in person or on the telly, or if the ground becomes uneven for example, he'll sometimes blink really quickly, or make a whingeing noise and gingerly step up and down. At the weekend he climbed up a climbing frame and then refused to come down the slide! He's tall for his age so it's a shame when he gets upset or scared as I'm sure people expect him to behave differently as they expect he's older than he is.

He has always been scared of the hoover, but now if a food processor is on the telly he doesn't like that either!

Does this sound like anxiety or is it normal at his age? Any advice on what I can do to help him - I don't want to change him and 'toughen him up', but sometimes he can be a bit of a 'wuss'!!

Many thanks for the reply, I'll look for the book you mention x

HI there, I'm really interested in this issue of vestibular/auditory sensory processing. I was a very anxious child and suffered from dizziness and hearing issues in my 20s. Never thought there could be a link. Can you tell me any more Leningrad?

It might well get better with age. My ds used to be like this and has become much more confident since he was just turned three.
He's nearly four now and much more chilled out. So much so that people who haven't known him more than a few months cannot believe he was anything but chilled before.

Try and see the positives too (I'm sure you do anyway) of having a more sensitive/ cautious child - I bet there are upsides e.g. he doesn't do as many dangerous things.