Spotting Signs of Stress in Toddlers (And How to Help)
Even small, seemingly unimportant changes can make it hard for a toddler to feel at ease. Because young children generally lack the ability to explain their feelings, they may express it through behavioral changes. To help your little one deal with their confused emotions, try these tips related to some of the most common ways stress manifests in children: For the Child Who (Literally) Can’t Let Go Extreme “clinginess” or attachment is instinctual for anxious toddlers. This may be especially common not just during times of major changes in your family, but it can also happen as you try to help your tot through a milestone transition, such as giving up the bottle. How to help: Your little one will likely want to hang on to something – anything – when everything else around him seems to be changing. While he probably prefers to cling to you, it may help to offer another object for him to take everywhere. Try to find a special lovey or comfort object that will offer your little one some consistent security. If possible, try to ease your child through the change or transition – so if he’s starting at a new daycare, begin by just having him stay for an hour the first day, two hours the next day, and significantly longer the third day as you acclimate him to the new surroundings. Be prepared, though: Your little one might become very attached to a lovey. For Kids Who Are Having Trouble Sleeping Little kids who can’t explain to you that they are feeling upset and worried may start to display behavior that tips you off that something is wrong. Among those changes may be sleep problems. How to help: Stressed children may begin having night terrors or start sleepwalking. You shouldn’t wake a child during one of these episodes. Instead, make sure he’s safe. You don’t need to bring the child into your bed or sleep next to him (that can start other bad habits). You can sit with him, though, and gently try to soothe him until he relaxes again. Be warned, learning to relax can take a while. For the Child Who Is Having Behavioral Problems Regression is another classic sign of childhood stress. A toddler who had been successfully toilet trained may begin having frequent accidents or a 3-year-old may start asking for a bottle and start acting like a “baby.” How to help: Major changes, especially a sense of loss or the birth of a new sibling, may spur this type of anxiety and reaction in a toddler. In short, the pressure to act like a “big” kid can overwhelm your little guy and make him feel like falling back to an earlier stage of development when things were easier and safer. It can be frustrating for a parent, but don’t criticize your child for acting babyish – that may just increase the feelings of stress. Instead, make him eager to do big boy things. He might be in charge of singing to his newborn sister or helping pack his own lunch for nursery school. The Bottom Line When it comes to toddlers experiencing stress from big changes, in most instances time will help your child get used to the new situation. Meanwhile, consistency and lots of patience and love will go a long way to helping your child overcome the stress and anxiety.
