Anyone else have a very SHY toddler?

PoodinPop

DD is 2 yrs and 3 months and is SO SHY. My mom said I was that way as a child but not as bad. I am a SAHM and I try to get her out when I can to do things but when anyone approaches her she will call out for "mama, mama" she will not talk to them or even look there way. You can tell she is so uncomfortable. Even the ladies in the checkout lines when we're shopping will say hello to her and she will turn my way and bury her head into me and squeeze my neck so tight! I am hoping she will outgrow this somewhat but she has always been shy and a mamas girl since she was a baby! It's just frustrating sometimes. I don't know how I will EVER put her in a preschool. She will go absolutely nutz. I think she has some anxieties too. My grandpa, my mom and myself all have anxiety issues and I even take meds for it but I am not shy anymore and can talk to people fine. Just wondering if I was alone here.

PoodinPop

Oh, and as far as the bunny in the picture? I COULD NOT BELIEVE she went to this bunny for this picture. She would've NEVER gone if she knew there was a man under there! She LOVED the bunny. It was the first time she had ever gone from my arms to someone else's she didn't know. It was so easy, she thought the bunny was real and still talks about that bunny!

ilovemygirls

Until DD#1 got to be 3+ she was totally like that.  There were even people in our own family (aunties & uncles) with whom she would have *nothing* to do with.  I had her in different activities & she gradually warmed up while we were out & about.  Once she hit 3ish she was much better with those in our family she would have previously had nothing to do with.  To prepare her for preschool, I put her in a Kindermusik class where it was the teacher & students for like 30min, then parents joined the last 15 or so- you just waited in the building until it was time to go in. She did great going to preschool & now I can't keep her from chatting with people!  I also thought that child was never going to get off my leg- now she tells anyone who will listen her life story LOL.  Not every kid is going to be the 'social butterfly', and that's totally okay- just wanted to give you my experience because the more you reassure her & keep gradually giving her wings, she will definitely fly!

PoodinPop

ilovemygir..........thank you so much for that. That does make me feel better. I do worry about her sometimes and it scares me she will NEVER grow out of this. She is seriously the shyest child I have ever known. I just want her to be able to have fun with other kids and not be so afraid of everyone. She also does not go to all family members. Even my MIL she loves I know but is still timid around her and she sees her once a week!

bubu

My dd just turned three and she was really shy like that, she has gotten so much better it is a huge relief. I am terribly shy and it makes me crazy but I don't know how to not feel so awkward. I remember last year we went to our friends bday party that they had for their son and she cried and held on to me so tight for over an hour. These are people we see like every two weeks and she was scared to death when we got there. She was so freaked out by it that even when my in-laws came to the party she acted like they were strangers too, and my MIL watches her twice a week sometimes more. It was really strange and embarrassing she was so hysterical but eventually she calmed down. We are going to a bday party in two weeks and she hasn't met any of the people that are going to be there so hopefully it goes okay. You are definately not alone but I hope she gets better too.

Purrrfect433

Both of mine are pretty friendly. But, Ben definitely has his anti-social moments. For example, when I bring him to preschool, I have to remind the other parents not to say hello to him until he's incorporated himself in the class(gone inside, put his stuff away, checked out who's there and what they're doing). Otherwise, he throws a huge fit, screaming, "DON'T SAY HI TO MEEEEEEEEE!". It's beyond embarrassing for me because he's just so over-the-top and rude! Thank God he goes to a co-op preschool and the other parents know him very well. They don't get offended and know that once he feels comfortable in the class, he'll be super-friendly and affable like usual.

If you feel like she might be in a situation where she'll be uncomfortable, there's nothing wrong with letting the other people know that she's shy and doesn't like a lot of attention or direct contact until she's really comfortable. It makes the other people feel more at ease, too!

oparcm

I can't help because my dd is the opposite but I just wanted to say that your dd is a beautiful girl.  It is funny because my dd will not go near the Bunny or Santa or bearded men despite being very friendly.