Toddler with a Tic

SillyMe80

My 3 year old son has recently (becoming frequent within the last couple days) that I can only identify as a nervous tic of some sort. He has been opening his mouth wide, it looks like he is popping his ears. Sometime quickly, sometimes for a couple seconds. I asked him why he was opening his mouth. I asked him if his ears, throat or teeth were hurting. He said no. I feel like I did the wrong thing by drawing attention to it, but I wanted to know if it was something I could help with. Ever since I asked whenever he does it he hides his face like he did something wrong or like he is embarrassed. I told him that he isn't in trouble and it is ok if he wants to open his mouth, but if something hurts him he should tell me or Daddy. He had his 3 year check up a few days ago and his ears and throat were fine. Developmentally he is on track. I am just not sure where it could be coming from. I think I am going to being him into the dentist for a check up and make sure thing are ok in that capacity. I have read a little about nervous ticks in young ones and some articles say to ignore it and it will go away, but I worry and this is the first time I have dealt with anything like this. 

SillyMe80

please pardon my sentence structure and typos! I was typing this between getting spaghetti squash prepped and finding peanut butter strategically placed around my kitchen by my toddler. Gotta find time when you can, right? : )

Crystal318

I noticed something in my son about a year ago....he kept blinking his eyes along with a very quick jerky head nod. I took him to the eye doctor, regular doctor and had an EEG done a the Nuerologist. All doctors said nothing was wrong, no seizure activity etc. They all said to keep an eye on it but do NOT draw attention to it (I did in the beginning just like you said you did).  They said tics in toddlers are actually pretty common and usually go away on thier own. It only took a few weeks and it was gone. 

I personally have a slight tic myself, so it really freaked me out. I thought I passed it down to him or something.  I have had mine since I was about 18 (I'm 32 now).  Its just a slight head nod every once in a while but I know its there and it drives me nuts so I did not want my child to go through the same thing!

Good Luck!  I wouldnt freak out about it - I am sure the doc will tell you the same thing.  Oh also they  said a lot of times toddlers "appear" to have tics bc they do someting one time and realize its fun to do and they keep doing for a while just because it is something new to them.

Crystal318

Also, I just re-read your post and if he is hiding his face when he does it then it is probably not a nervous tic bc normally those are done subconsiouslly. Its probably more of a habit.  I am sure it will be ok.  Give it a few weeks and see what happens.  I do know how you feel though. It is scary to think something is wrong with your baby!