toddler fears

[sofia31]

Ds 2.5 is developing lots of fears at the moment. The main one is cars. When walking on the pavement he screams if a car comes past. Likewise, when getting out the car in a carpark, he clings to me screaming, even if a car is at the other end of the carpark. Does this sound like something toddlers often go through? I just reassure him and tell him he is safe holding my hand, but he is getting really distressed. Other fears are dogs and sudden loud noises. At a farm park a goat jumped up in its pen and bleated. It took a long time to calm him down and look at anymore animals after that shock! Anyone elses toddlers experienced similar?

I've had the dog one with my eldest two but not cars

Even now at 5 and 6 years old they edge away from dogs even tiny ones

It's probably in part due to us not having a dog and none of our families do either

But I don't think being cautious around dogs is a bad thing

Have you tried talking to him as your out and about, about the things that scare him?

At 2.5 years old, having a fear of cars isn't a bad thing. They ARE dangerous. He will realise as he gets older that he is safe if holding your hand.

My eldest developed a fear of loud noises at age 2 (hand driers, trains, dogs suddenly barking). It was really a problem at the time as he would cover his ears, and get very, very distressed. We couldn't use public toilets for years as the hand drier terrified him.

It was so bad, that I really thought we were going to have to get professional help. For a year, (ages 2-3) he was very scared. But things slowly got better. He just grew out of it. It took a couple of years. He's 5 now. He will sometimes put his hands over his ears, but he isn't terrorised anymore.

My dd is 19 months and gets distressed by noises like hand dryers, lawn mowers and aeroplanes, my mum showed her how to pretend to be an aeroplane (arms stretched out and making a noise) and now she just does that instead of getting upset at the noise, she also likes to say hello and bye to noisy things like aeroplanes and lorries so could you try that and otherwise I think you're doing all you can by reassuring him when he's worried

My ds1 is 10 now, but between 2 and 4 he was scared of cars, dogs, helicopters, hairdryers, hand dryers, and men. Oh, and shops etc where there was a shut door.

It was very very hard, but we just kept reassuring him, making posters for his bedroom, carrying on with life...

He is still a cautious and sensitive boy, and has fears (last year it was bridges, now he is nervous of planes), but he is gaining in confidence.

Not sure if it will help, but if your dc continues to be sensitive and fearful, the Sensitive Child book talks a lot of sense.

Reassuring to hear he isn't the only one. I think he is going to be quite sensitive too. I agree its not a bad thing to be cautious of, and am glad he doesn't bolt but stays close. He is getting quite good at talking about feelings when we read books, so will keep talking about it. Thank you.