Mommy October 1, 2018

Expert article- How to deal with anxiety among toddlers

Anxiety may seem like a common issue among adults, but there has been a sharp increase in parents seeking help for anxiety-related symptoms in toddlers. Toddlerhood is an exciting phase of a child’s growth. It is a time when a lot of physical, emotional, and cognitive growth occurs. Though these changes make them feel older, they may also make them feel anxious and a little stressed. 

This is very commonly observed in toddlers and can be due to various reasons like separation anxiety from their mothers, disruption in their routine, or the sudden introduction of an unfamiliar routine. Sometimes even potty training can make kids anxious or the fear of new people around them in pre-school can trigger this.

How to observe signs of anxiety among toddlers: – 

Although every child is different and shows different signs of anxiety, some of the signs that may indicate a toddler’s stress level can include: 

•   Disrupted sleep and eating habits
•   Extreme emotional changes like being sad, angry, clingy or withdrawn
•   Excessive crying over minor things/ issues
•   Throwing unwanted tantrums
•   Nightmares and fears at bedtime
•   Physical problems like a stomach ache
•   Over-body movements
•   Fatigue
•   Increased thumb-sucking
•   Change in bowel movements 
•   Illnesses like dengue, chikungunya, etc. 

Other than these, there can be other signs like misbehavior or change in habits that may alarm you and indicate a potential problem with your toddler. 

As a caregiver/ parent, you should never ignore a toddler’s change in habits or routine and try to deal with them patiently. Be calm and help your child be calm too. Acknowledge their feelings and assure them of your presence and support at every step. Try to make them understand the reason for a new routine and how important it is. 

If it’s school-related, you could show them other children going to school and how they enjoy themselves; talk about the fun new things they’ll learn etc. Also, during times of anxiety, follow your regular routines including feeding, playing, sleeping, etc. This will make your child feel that everything is happening according to them. 

If you’re trying to teach your baby new things like potty training, don’t go overboard, it won’t happen in a single day. Give your toddler ample time and take breaks if they’re not yet ready to accept it. It’s all about accommodating their fears and making them comfortable. 

Sometimes an illness may not show actual symptoms but will remain asymptomatic. For example, dengue may not cause alarmingly high fever, but your toddler may have headaches or stomachaches. In such a situation, it is evident that your toddler will behave abnormally, feel irritated and/ or be anxious. You should consult your physician. 

Thus, preventive measures such as using mosquito repellents like the Goodknight Neem Agarbatti indoors is a must to protect your child from mosquito bites. It can be switched on through the day. 

Also, make it a point to use personal repellents like the Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on their clothes or stick Goodknight Patches on items around them while your child is outdoors – at play-school, the park or play time. 

Prevention is always better than cure. And if it can keep your baby relaxed and calm, then it’s certainly worth your consideration. And these tips will help you remain aware of your child’s emotional state so you can ensure their mental well being.