A little concerned about something...

[myjoyoverflows]

Maddy's been acting very strange over the past month or so...she's been freaking out, acting like we're going to hurt her...she'll back into a corner and won't come near us...or people that she usually loves to see. Has anyone else had their toddler go through anything like this? We're just really not sure what to do about it. She starts crying and keeps saying, "no, no, no" if you go near her...I'm worried...should I be?

[mamallama]

It's hard to say...has she been left with anyone you don't trust...? Gracie went through something similar when she was younger and it freaked DH and me out! We racked our brain trying to think of why she might be acting that way and worrying someone may have hurt her or done something to her. But we have always been very protective over her and she has only stayed with family. So we ended up just realizing it was a phase she was going through. It didn't last long and we never noticed any other changes in her behavior or diet. I might just really keep watch over Maddie and journal anything out of the ordinary like a diet change or unusual sleep patterns... If you see other areas that are also different and it lasts for more than a couple of weeks - then I might be concerned. I'll say a prayer for you and Maddie. :)

Btw, I just tried to send you a message on Myspace and it says I am not your friend anymore. Sniff. Sniff. What did I do? :(

[breezykc2]

First question from a professional standpoint is to ask...who has she been left with without you around?? Church/Preschool/Family/Friends/Babysitters?? These are all symptoms of being hurt/fear/possible abuse of some type......However, they can also be syptoms of "toddler" too! ;-)
Then, if that is a dead end...kids do go through this stage sometimes, usually it is fleeting though--typically when this is the stage stuff they may resist hugs and not want to cuddle or prefer one parent over another...I haven't personally witnessed freaking out around everyone as typical to the stage, but every child is different and I certainly haven't seen them all! LOL...just stay solid and act as you always do even if she is backing away...a constant presence/force.

Good luck!

[Beth]

Does she know you are expecting? I know she is young, but do you talk about the new baby around her much?

[cabingirl]

I'm not quite sure where you live or if deer ticks are prevalent in your area, but, they are the ones that cause limes disease. When I was a nanny the 3 year old boy I took care of had similar behaivor along with out-of-control crying spells. This is just one of the signs of limes (behaivor/emotional problems) along with joint pain, fatigue, just to name a few. The odds of this being what's going on with your dd are low but when I read your post it reminded me of it. Just thought I'd throw it out there in case ticks are common where you live.

[myjoyoverflows]

Thanks for all of your replies.

Maddy only stays with Bill's Mom...and always has, so I don't really think that it has anything to do with her being alone with someone she's not comfortable with, or with someone who would ever hurt her. Bill's Mom has a hard time even telling her no...I can't imagine that she would be able to do anything to her. But that was my first thought...and she's the only person Maddy's been alone with other than Bill and myself.

She does kind of know and understand that we're expecting...she likes to kiss and cuddle my belly...and I've talked with her about how she's going to be a great big sister...but it hasn't been the only or the most talked about thing with her. I've tried to get her to understand...and what she does get, she seems happy about it...but I also wondered if it was almost like an abandonment issue....but I can't seem to wrap my mind around that right now. We're very affectionate with her...and that hasn't changed for a second since we found out.

As far as ticks...I know that they're all over in Maine...but we're in town...and there's not really any woods around where Maddy would have been...our cat is indoor...so I don't know how that would have been possible...but you never know I guess. I naturally see all of Maddy quite often...and I haven't seen anything that would look like a bite or anything while bathing her...but I'll keep a watch out just in case.

I think that it's a "toddler" symptom like someone else has already said...I just didn't know if Maddy was the only one going through this right now or if it was common. I'm also starting to think that she's having bad dreams at night...so maybe the two are linked...I don't know. Either way, thank you all for your responses!!!

[Cheeseburger]

Katherine sometimes doesn't want us to pick her up or stuff. I guess sometimes we want to cuddle and smother her, but when she gets like that I have to just face facts -- she needs her "personal" space too. :-)

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Sorry not read all the reply as my eyes are tierd and hurting tonight. Just wanted to send you a hug and say that Sinead has been through this. She once told some one that I beat her up which I do not do. I think children like to test there boundries and I think this is just a phase hunny.

Trust me Sinead has been through so many phases I could write a book.