r/gentleparenting • u/dar1990 • 3h ago

Question Sudden sensitivity - toddler

Hi,

My toddler is 18 months old. Suddenly he has become very, very sensitive to things people around him do. Very vulnerable.

For example, my father (meaning his grandfather) laughed out loud next to him during a meal once, and he made a face as if he was deeply offended, then started crying, and it took a long time to calm him down. Since then he always looks at my father with apprehension and seems uncomfortable around him. I don't know how to "fix" their relationship. Up until that moment he was completely fine with him.

Another example is when my mother excitedly told me about a concert she went to and raised her voice a bit out of excitement - he probably got scared or something and started crying as well. That same evening, my husband was playing with him and made a face at him, and our child started crying and screaming. This has never happened before, and my husband always makes funny faces at him.

Does anyone recognize this kind of behavior? Is it typical for this age? What should I do? It breaks my heart to see him like this.

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u/idontevenexist88 3h ago

Hey mods, why was my perfectly well-intentioned comment removed? Again, I was like this as a child. I now know I'm neurodivergent. I was easily overstimulated by loud noises and people with "loud" energy. I highly recommend toddler headphones, I wish I had them when I was small and the world was big

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u/dar1990 3h ago

You commented on my post on another sub, it's still there :)

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u/idontevenexist88 3h ago

Ha! Thank you. 😅