Irrational fears-Normal phase?

luka425

My almost 2 year old is deathly afraid of a ton of things.  Mostly flies.  she screams everytime she sees one.  She is also scared of the vacuum cleaner, blender etc..  I'm wondering if this is a normal phase or if I should be doing something?  If it is just a phase, how long does it normally last?

TIA 

LoveEeyore

The most normal thing about 2 yr olds is that there is nothing normal.  My twins never went through that.  They have fears- the vacuum, people dressed in character costumes, and most recently, any bugs.  DD#1 developed a few more paralyzing fears, but nothing that couldn't be worked through, easily quieted with comfort.

I think it isn't normal to have such extreme fears that they can't be comforted, but I think it is normal for them to learn that expressing fear is a way to get some sort of response.  Mine like ethe extra squeezes and 1-1 coddling, so they sometimes "fake" it.  I also think it's normal for 2 yr olds to have dramatic responses to trivial stimuli.  2 year olds are good for that.  So lots of run-on words cut short:  Likely normal.  Even extreme is probably normal.  I would look at how you are responding to fears and make sure you aren't reinforcing the fear by saying "yes!  blue blankets are scary, but I'll keep you safe!"  But acknowledge her emotions.  I think my oldest went through a phase of being afraid of all moving vehicles if she was not moving for 3-4 months?

Beckypooh09

DS1 started doing this around 2. He's scared of quite a few things but it has gotten better after a few months.