Early Signs Of Phobias In Your Toddler
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Every child has their own fears. For toddlers, these fears can often change from one day to the next. For example, he might chase down a butterfly for an hour one day, and then the next day kick, scream, and throw himself on the ground when he sees the same butterfly. Fortunately, these fears often pass quickly. When a fear is prolonged, repeated, and cannot be consoled, your child may have a phobia. There are some specific early signs of phobias in your toddler that you can watch for. These include:
- Genetics. Some research suggests that a propensity to have phobias can be passed along genetically. If your toddler has a family history of phobias, and your toddler is exhibiting other early signs of phobias, it may well be that he does have a phobia.
- Fear of a specific situation or a specific object. In fact, this is the definition of a phobia. Your toddler may be afraid of the actual thing or object, or may even be afraid that the thing or object might happen.
- Traumatic events or stress. One of the leading causes of phobias is a traumatic event or other stressors. If your toddler has a bad experience with water, he may develop a phobia of water. This can often be an event that goes unnoticed to a parent. A toddler who, while swimming for the first time, gets some water up the nose might become extremely phobic of water. Traumatic events such as these can be early signs of phobias in your toddler.
- Inconsolable fear. Generally, a few minutes with mom or dad can help to calm a toddler’s fears. If your toddler has a phobia, you may not be able to console her.
- Prolonged fear. If your toddler is continually and consistently afraid of the same thing, this can be an early sign of phobias.
Phobias can be extremely intense, both for you and for your toddler. If you believe that your toddler has developed a phobia, you should contact your health care provider or child psychologist.
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