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Terrified toddler

8 replies

jomc25 · 16/05/2010 22:31

My son is nearly three and in most respects is keeping up with his peers and in many ways he is ahead of them. However, there is one aspect of his behaviour that I am worried about.

He gets terrified of going into some unfamiliar places or getting onto moving things (little children's trains, car rides in supermarkets, the bus etc). He goes crazy screaming and shouting - so much so that I avoid putting him in such situation as much as possible - for example, I daren't even try to get the bus.

A couple of examples:

  1. We had a nightmare on a plane trip a few months ago. He was fine getting on the plan but went crazy when he was supposed to sit in his seat. We had to physically restrain him for take off and landing.

  2. We were out for the day and there was a little ride on train for the children/ He was desperate to go on the train, chasing after it etc. We went to the little station and waited for it. The train arrived and he was still excited. We paid, but when it came to getting on the train he became hysterical and we couldn't persuade him to get on.

There is a circus coming soon and I would like to take him, but I daren't as he probably would even go inside the tent or would freak out once we were in there.

Is this normal??? I don't know anyone else who has this problem with their child. I keep expecting him to grow out of it, but it seems to be get ting worse, if anything.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
whomovedmychocolate · 16/05/2010 22:33

Yep, completely normal. Pay no attention. Just wait six months, it'll pass.

stressheaderic · 16/05/2010 23:04

I remember my niece at three, getting hysterical over planes in the sky, the Hoover, cheese on her plate and anything inflatable. She's fine now - just a phase.

edwardcullensotherwoman · 17/05/2010 11:39

DS is like this with rides etc, I'm so glad I'm not the only one, and that it appears to be normal. DS will point out a ride, then when i ask if he wants to go on, he backs away/clikngs to me, and very firmly says "No." I did attempt to just sit him on a ride without it moving, but he got hysterical so never did that again..

Good luck Jo, hope your and my ds get over it soon!

jomc25 · 19/05/2010 10:59

That sounds EXACTLY the same! How old is your son?

OP posts:
piglips · 19/05/2010 11:14

when my daughter was 2.8 she freaked out last autumn when all the leaves fell off the trees and when the wind picked them up she screamed and cried like i'd never seen. it was so strange but who knows what goes on in their minds.
give it time and it'll pass

WrensNest · 19/05/2010 12:59

Hi, mine was the same. I tried to out him on a ride at the super market a couple of times and we had hysterics. Then about 6 months later we were at the zoo and there wa s alittle train machine. he say on it, wanted it to mive so put the 50p in. 30 mins later we could not get him off it and we were much poorer for it!
phases!!

jomc25 · 19/05/2010 22:51

Very reassuring - thanks! At least it's saving me money for the time being then!

OP posts:
hester · 19/05/2010 23:07

My dd was the same at that age

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