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Original poster

2 year old scared of everything

11 replies

Singlemamof1 · 10/03/2021 20:27

I have a 2 year old who seems to be scared of everything......wind and rain hitting her window at night, the hoover, any drilling, loud car noises, lawn mower, strimmer, any noises she can't see happening. I've tried showing her that there are alot of noises we can't control or stop from happening.

I've tried to make a game of it, showed her noise can be fun. I've spoken to her consultant but she says there's no explanation for it and no signs of autism.

I don't know what I can do to make her feel better about noise.

I've made random noises around the house and she asks whats that noise ...so I show her what is is or if its something I don't know I will say I don't know...just noises. (I live in a new build house...it makes loads of noises haha)

I've shown her videos of different noises. I've shown her someone drilling, she's watched me using the lawn mower and hoover....so she can see its nothing to worry about but she just gets hysterical.

OP posts:
MotherPiglet · 10/03/2021 20:33

2yo just need a lot of reassuring. They dont understand things, they are still very very young. My 2yo knows what makes the noise, but he still doesnt like them. Sometimes he'll cry. Sometimes he'll cover his ears. Sometimes he'll tell me it's too loud. Sometimes he doesnt respond at all. I don't think it's anything to worry about and is normal.

Marypoppinsbrolly · 10/03/2021 20:36

My 14 month old is going through a stage of being afraid of a lot of things - I think it's an awareness thing, they suddenly realise they don't know what things are/don't like something.

He currently won't go on any play park equipment, cried when we put him in the swing for the first time but is happy to run around the park area so I don't think it's sensory overload. He's scared of the food mixer, scared of some of his musical toys but not all of them, scared of some toys or play park equipment that moves...

He's unsure of the hoover and watches it closely and sometimes follows it around the house. Doesn't trust the hairdrier but doesn't cry at it at the moment! Cried at some songs that we played, seemed completely random.

I think they just need reassuring and will grow out of it.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/03/2021 20:37

I think you need to stop scaring her. I understand your logic, exposure to lots of noise might dull down her responses bit that’s not working and you’re just upping her reaction. She’s going to constantly be on edge from these noises and therefore not very far from a breaking point at any one given time.

But her do wear defenders for outside the house and stop all the scary noises as much as possible until she relaxes enough to be in a position to learn and be calm.

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2 year olds Behaviour & development Families General parenting
YoyoRiot · 10/03/2021 20:46

DS was like this, used to cry if someone laughed in the wrong way. He is now grown up and not bothered on but by noise.

Inpeace · 10/03/2021 20:47

Oh gosh the hand dryers in public toilets make it almost impossible to take a small child for a wee

MumblesAndMutters · 10/03/2021 22:37

I know what you’re going through, OP! It helped my DD to be able to name it. We watched an episode of Bing Bunny where he gets scared of fireworks (YouTube) and says “too much loud”. As soon as DD heard those words she was very happy to label all the noises that upset her as “too much loud” and that seemed to help quite a lot. We also got ear defenders, also like in the cartoon, and we have them lying around within reach at home or in the base of the buggy if out. If things get annoying for DD I ask if she’d like them, she generally refuses but it seems to help her to have options. The sensitivities seem to reduce with time. Hang in there!

Original poster
Singlemamof1 · 10/03/2021 22:38

Haha yes I have to use toilet paper to dry my hands when we are out haha

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Original poster
Singlemamof1 · 10/03/2021 22:45

Yes she loves Bing and watches them on repeat almost every day haha. I think we have mastered to hoover when she realised it was actually fun to use...now I have to use it when shes not there because she insists on doing the vacuuming haha.
There is just me and her in the house and she's used to being with me 24/7 so can see where the noises we make come from....now shes noticing other noises from other people its scaring her.... we walked through the town and there's building works going on...we also live on a building site ( mass new build) she won't even play in the garden if someone is mowing a lawn or hammering in their garden...she just cries and cries. I will look at getting ear defenders...hopefully they will help x

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CrazyOldBagLady · 10/03/2021 22:49

My son shows no signs of autism but he hates loud noises. We got him some ear defenders and put a little hook up for them to hang on. He can go and get them himself whenever he wants. He'll pop them on and then get the hand held hoover out for something or go and help his dad drilling or something. They've made loads of difference.

CrazyOldBagLady · 10/03/2021 22:55

By the way, my sons explanation is that it hurts his ears, so maybe some little kids just have really sensitive ears.

Original poster
Singlemamof1 · 10/03/2021 22:59

I've just ordered some ear defenders which apparently will be delivered tomorrow...she definitely has sensitive ears as she hears noises I don't lol
Hopefully the ear defenders will help her too x

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