Nervous tic?

kacelle

Anyone else have a toddler who appears to have a tic?  In the past several days, DD has started blinking excessively (and very exaggerated) when someone she doesn't know starts talking to her.  Today, she continued for the entire 20 minutes a friend of DH's sat at our table during lunch.  

It's hard not to laugh, since it's totally cute, but it definitely gets worse if we start responding to it.  She isn't laughing (which would make me assume she was doing it to be funny), but she also doesn't seem anxious.  She just flutters her eyelashes, blinks, and squints at new people.

I'm going to ask the pediatrician about it, but I wanted to see if anyone else's 13 month old was showing signs of a similar behaviour!   

Athena0809

I can't remember where I read something about this, and it was a long time ago so I didn't pay attention(it wasn't age related then). But something about being social anxiety and it could be a phase or it could actually be a tick. I know, very vague and not much help at all, sorry. DS has not shown anything similar so I would be definitely be asking out doc about it.

kacelle

Steph&Harry08:

I can't remember where I read something about this, and it was a long time ago so I didn't pay attention(it wasn't age related then). But something about being social anxiety and it could be a phase or it could actually be a tick. I know, very vague and not much help at all, sorry. DS has not shown anything similar so I would be definitely be asking out doc about it.

I assumed it was some sort of stress-induced behaviour--I've read that tics can be triggered by social anxiety and pass if ignored or if the stress resolves in a lot of cases.  I've found websites with moms of older toddlers and preschool age children who started blinking excessively when stressed, but no 13 month olds!  I'll definitely be calling the doctor. 

amatistajoy

kacelle:

Steph&Harry08:

I can't remember where I read something about this, and it was a long time ago so I didn't pay attention(it wasn't age related then). But something about being social anxiety and it could be a phase or it could actually be a tick. I know, very vague and not much help at all, sorry. DS has not shown anything similar so I would be definitely be asking out doc about it.

I assumed it was some sort of stress-induced behaviour--I've read that tics can be triggered by social anxiety and pass if ignored or if the stress resolves in a lot of cases.  I've found websites with moms of older toddlers and preschool age children who started blinking excessively when stressed, but no 13 month olds!  I'll definitely be calling the doctor. 

Kacelle,

 I am glad you are calling the doctor. I would second your opnion  that it is some sort of stress induced thing though. But, maybe doc can rule out other things or get her referred to a specialist who can.

kacelle

I called the pediatrician and he said it sounds like she's going through a stage where she's expressing her anxiety with the blinking/squinting.  He isn't at all worried, and said to ignore it entirely.  He did say that blank staring would be a cause for concern, but not a nervous behaviour.  The nurses I work with both said the same.  Thanks!

kelly321

When we went on a 5-day vacation, DD started popping her jaw. It freaked me out because I didn't know how to make her stop, but when we came back home she stopped and hasn't done it since, so I assume it was a nervous tic. I'm glad your pedi said not to worry about it!