So all winter (luckily) DD - 22 months - has loved splashing in puddles and getting herself all muddy. A couple of weeks ago we went to the park where she got very muddy, and a couple of older women 'told her off' for this as they were walking past. Not sure if that's relevant, but this is where the hatred seems to have started. Now whenever we go for a walk and she sees mud she just keeps saying "eugh muddy" and tries to avoid it. If she thinks she's got some on her shoes she'll walk funny for a bit and then ask to be picked up. Today we went to the beach, so no mud just stones and sand! She just moaned about the mud the whole time and needed carrying by the end. We've tried ignoring it, and telling her that mud is fine and we like it, but it makes no difference. Has anyone experienced this? Is it just a phase, and how should we handle it? She doesn't cry or anything, just seems to want to not touch it.