I really feel my almost 3 year old as ADHD...

[HonestBlueRobin]

Just that really - anyone thought their toddler was different, ADHD/autism and when they got older they "grew" out of these behaviours?
My almost 3 year old is my 2nd child... they are chalk and cheese, which is fine I know they can be however my childminder has commented, family comments and the health visitor has also said ADHD traits although too early to say... so yeah just wanting to hear of other experiences where you thought your child maybe had adhd or autism and turned out they didn't? Or the opposite, you were right and your child did?

What sorts of traits are you talking about? For boys especially there is a huge overlap between ADHD traits and those of very active three year olds, especially if they have had any sort of speech delay (for instance due to glue ear).

I suspected by 3yo did but inattentive type not hyperactivity. She was diagnosed at 8 in the end. A diagnosis doesnt change anything though (unless you medicate) but it does give you an explanation.

Will it end up that every child except studious girls are diagnosed with ADHD?! About a third of boys I know seem to be what on earth is going on?

she is far too young to diagnose

Didn't think either of mine had ADHD yet both got diagnosed aged 9 (DS1) and 7 (DS2 - once DS1 was diagnosed it was clear DS2 had it). It was a huge shock as we didn't know anything about it but it made sense when we read into it.

What makes people say ADHD?
Both mine have always been extremely active, but all our family just thought that was normal for little kids.

DS1 has difficulties with emotional regulation but age 3 this is normal. It wasn't until he was 5 or 6 that I was googling autism. The questionnaire came back as "slightly possible" but I never followed it up and any Dr/psychiatrist Ive asked who deals with him for ADHD has said he doesn't have autism.

I think that's a bit unfair. DD1 (19) doesn't have a diagnosis (she has plenty of others) but she was an absolute whirlwind at 2½ and you just can't imagine the sorts of things she would do. It isn't just running around. She had a measured attention span of 30 seconds - she would literally walk across the room at preschool, pick up a paintbrush, dip it in paint, paint a stripe up a piece of paper and drop the brush over her head. She would pick up a toy car, walk over to the sand tray, run it through the tray, then drop it. She would deliberately stick her hand in a fan blade. She would stack boxes to climb over a stair gate at the front door and escape the house (main road nearby). She would climb...anything...but she was ataxic so she would be out of reach, wobbling on top of something. We had to stack two stair gates and attach a piece of wood to the bottom to keep her in her bedroom at night. She had to have 1:1 at preschool for her safety. She then went to special school. She would visit the pediatrician and we'd spend the whole appointment trying to stop her climbing up at the windows and turning on taps.

We've never had a diagnosis because her brain malformation, learning disability, ASD, etc., took priority. But I know what it's like and it's exhausting.

My ADHD girl is actually pretty studious 😂 ADHD is about difficulty regulating attention not having an absence of attention altogether. She has spent hours immersed in books on a niche subject this summer.

He cannot sit still at all, he is constantly on the go, he has real difficulty regulating his emotions which I know hes learning but appears extreme, he has frequent outbursts of screaming, he throws toys eg when excited or overwhelmed not necessarily when angry, his meltdowns are extreme, he will not sit for a meal, has to be up running around constantly, no sense of danger, he often bites when he cant regulate emotions. I initially thought autism when he was 18months old but health visitors said no and I don't believe its autism.
Im aware some of his behaviours are that of a "typical toddler" hence why im asking was anyone right in thinking their child had adhd and was diagnosed when they were older. I know he is too young... and yes i agree it wont change but atleast I wont be going out of my mind wondering what im doing wrong this time round in terms of parenting.

Also he has a speech delay and is currently with SALT.

Mine is too!

She was really really demanding as a child and wouldn’t play alone.

I used to read all the MN stuff about starting them off and then they’d carry on playing alone. She never did that. She’d just follow me.

the speech delay wont help him, the HV may be wrong

Does he have any screen time? There are studies linking increasing screen time and ADHD. If he has any you could try cutting it down/out for a few weeks and see

Hi,

I believe my 3yo son may also have ADHD. Yes, he is hyperactive but he also struggles with emotions and change a lot more than other toddlers. I have had phone calls from his nursery whilst I am at work on several occasions due to his behaviour and have had to have a Behaviour Plan put in place.
He is by no means a badly behaved child, but his emotions do overwhelm him. He also greatly struggles with any change, even just moving room at nursery! He also hurts himself when he is very frustrated and this is concerning too.
Unfortunately, assessments cannot take place until children are 5, so I think we just have to stick it out for a few years! There is autism and ADHD on both sides of the family, so I feel like this is quite the possibility.
It is a struggle and can be difficult to deal with, but I am sure we will both get there!