Relocations, divorce, new parental figures, new child in the house, loss of a family member, loss of a pet, etc. Anything within the family structure can cause stress to the child ages 0-3, especially if it causes stress to others in the home.
Years 1-3: Pre-School Jitters and Bedtime Fears
This can cause a spike in anxiety, some typical symptoms of which include crying, clinging during goodbyes. A toddler may also feel anxious before and during bedtime, and experience a common fear of the dark or a fear of being apart from parents.
At this age, they just don't have much control over their emotional impulses. Their anger and frustration tend to erupt suddenly in the form of crying, hitting or screaming. It's their only way of dealing with the difficult realities of life. They may even act out in ways that unintentionally harm themselves or others.
Toxic stress has the potential to change your child's brain chemistry, brain anatomy and even gene expression. Toxic stress weakens the architecture of the developing brain, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.
Toxic stress response can occur when a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity—such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship—without adequate adult support.
Anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.
Children and teenagers, like adults, may feel sick, dizzy or 'wobbly' when they're anxious. But sometimes they'll struggle to put that into words, and sometimes parents will struggle to work out whether it's a stress reaction or some kind of stomach upset or other illness.
Study Shows Babies Can Catch It from Their Mothers. Babies not only pick up on their mother's stress, but they also show corresponding physiological changes, according to a UC San Francisco-led study.
Autism in young children
not smiling when you smile at them. getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound. repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body. not talking as much as other children.
The terrible twos—characterized by defiant behavior, including saying “no,” hitting, kicking, biting or ignoring rules—can start as early as just after a first birthday or may not set in until a child is 3 years old.
Simply put, toddlers whine because they want to be heard. At this age and stage, they're still figuring out how to communicate and how to get their needs met.
Things to look out for
While all children develop differently, you should speak to your paediatrician if your 2-year-old: Doesn't know how to use common objects. Doesn't use two-word phrases. Doesn't copy actions or repeat words.
2 - 3 Years Old
Between the ages of 2 and 3 years old, your toddler will become more independent. They will begin to move from sitting next to a friend, to back and forth play with other children. This is a good time to help your toddler learn about taking turns, and thinking about other people.
Warning signs that your child may have a mental health disorder include: Persistent sadness that lasts two weeks or more. Withdrawing from or avoiding social interactions. Hurting oneself or talking about hurting oneself.
We aren't really sure what causes social anxiety in toddlers. Genetics likely plays a role, since it contributes to a child's temperament and personality. We also know that some genetic traits can influence certain mental health conditions. A toddler's environment could also predispose them to social anxiety.
Shouting at a child to calm down is also likely to make things worse. Instead, try to distract your child. A different book, a change of location or making a funny face might help. If you've asked your child to do something against his or her will, follow through by offering to help.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. It can affect people of all ages. A child with PTSD keeps having scary thoughts and memories of a past event. They find the event terrifying, either physically or emotionally. The symptoms of PTSD may start soon after a stressful event.