Can toddlers have mood disorders? VENT

Re: Can toddlers have mood disorders? VENT

• MNgirl326 member

  July 2012

  When you go on outings do you go places with other kids? Does he play with those kids? Does he have opprunitiex to be active? Like at a park, kids gym or pool? I wonder if he is getting enough stimulation. It's just a thought and I am going off of my own child as a reference, but when he is bored and doesn't have opprotunties to be active, he gets very whiney and crabby. I am sorry I don't have much insight, but I hope it gets better soon!

   

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• nosoup4u member

  July 2012

  Is he grouchy all the time, or just a lot more than your first? My older son has been having temper tantrums since he was about 18 mos, but I think my younger is just a happier kid - he's 21 months, and is happy all the time, definitely a different personality.

  I'm on my phone now, so I can't easily link to things, but maybe look up askmoxie.org, she always has good advice. Have you read "Happiest Toddler on the Block"? That boom might have some ideas. 

  DS1 - Feb 2008

  DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

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• SilliRy

  July 2012

  Is there any chance he's teething? My DD just turned 17 months and all 4 canine teeth are coming in...it's awful! She's whiny, clingy, and miserable. She's also more tired during the day. The only thing that helps is serious distraction-we went to the science museum the other day just so shed forget about her teeth for a while-it was great! 

   

  Good luck-I'm a new SAHM and it's so hard when they're crabby all day. 

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• erbear member

  July 2012

  I think it's normal for the age. I too had a very easy first kid (well, except for months 0-6 and 3.5 has been a challenge), but DD2 (17 months) has certainly been a harder toddler. Lots of the same behaviors you described. She has a bunch of time when she's happy and plays, but she does spend a chunk of the day whining and fussing, especially if we're in the car or when she wants me to pick her up but I'm doing something.

  They get more independent around 2. This is a hard stretch. Hang in there, mama. I find that she does better fi we're out of the house and with other people.
  

  "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
  

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• NewFamily09 member

  July 2012

  He seems crankiest in the mornings, from the time he wakes up until his nap around 12:30.  I've tried putting him down for earlier naps, thinking that maybe he just needs more sleep, but most days, he doesn't nap earlier, he'll just cry in his crib or play.  He takes one long nap each day, usually about 3 hours.  After his nap, he's usually happier, but still very grouchy compared to other kids.  He loves walking, so I just made a second attempt at letting him walk down the nature trail.  He was content for the most part, except when I had to make him turn around to walk home or something.  I'm just not sure if this is something medical or mental or if he just has a really strong stubborn personality.  Of course, right now he is screaming and crying- why, I have no idea.  I don't know how I could give him any more stimulation.  I take my kids for walks, trips to the playground, pool, we sometimes do crafts, they have plenty of toys.  I wouldn't think he could get that bored. 

  

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• ralleb1981

  July 2012

  You mentioned he is not talking - have you considered contacting your local Early Intervention to get him assessed developmentally? We went through EI for a delayed babbler, and it has helped immensely. Hope your day gets better.

  

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• kcisthebombdotcom member

  July 2012

  I think that 18ish months is a tough age (it has been for both of my kids who are overall very easy, anyway). They are a lot more aware of the world but don't always have the words to tell you what they want yet.

  Have you considered using sign language? When my nonverbal toddler learned signs his frustration went away since he had a way to communicate.

  

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• M&M227

  July 2012

  ralleb1981:

  You mentioned he is not talking - have you considered contacting your local Early Intervention to get him assessed developmentally? We went through EI for a delayed babbler, and it has helped immensely. Hope your day gets better.

  This we also had an EI eval for gross motor and speech (DD is going to get physical therapy), but they assess the whole child including social emotional (how they deal with day to day life basically).  It can't hurt to have him looked out, and they can give you suggestions or tell you that he's completely normal.

  Since you mentioned he wasn't really speaking I would think he might be frustrated.  He know's what he wants and can't communicate it.  Have you tried some sign language?  DD signs "more" "eat" and "milk."   

  <a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home D

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• bramdar

  July 2012

  I think what you are going through is normal. My daughter is 18 months old and can quickly change her mood and freak out, whine, and fuss. She is very stubborn and miss independent. I know she is getting her canines which has brought alot of irritability to her and these have been slow moving teeth for us, so the crazy moods are a normalcy lately for us. She isn't really talking much either bui has learned some basic sign language which has helped cut down on the number of tantrums. I know it is hard to hear them whine continuously and I have many days like that with her where I am not sure how to help her.

   I just think they are learning how to deal with emotions and the only way they know right now is to whine and fuss, so as hard as it is we need to keep our emotions in check even though we feel like crying and screaming with them and I think it will help them calm down. Or sometimes just ignore the fuss and just keep pointing out things interesting on the walk or whatever you are doing and just say, "you are ok, wow, look at that bird!" ;-) Take a breath, momma, you are doing great and just know that this phase won't last forever ;-)

  

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• april262011

  July 2012

  M&M227:

  ralleb1981:

  You mentioned he is not talking - have you considered contacting your local Early Intervention to get him assessed developmentally? We went through EI for a delayed babbler, and it has helped immensely. Hope your day gets better.

  This we also had an EI eval for gross motor and speech (DD is going to get physical therapy), but they assess the whole child including social emotional (how they deal with day to day life basically).  It can't hurt to have him looked out, and they can give you suggestions or tell you that he's completely normal.

  Since you mentioned he wasn't really speaking I would think he might be frustrated.  He know's what he wants and can't communicate it.  Have you tried some sign language?  DD signs "more" "eat" and "milk."   

  This would be the route I would take.  From what I understand, the evaluation is free.  And, if they determine that ST or OT would be appropriate, they are also free or very low cost.  I hope you get some answers.   

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• NewFamily09 member

  July 2012

  april262011:

  M&M227:

  ralleb1981:

  You mentioned he is not talking - have you considered contacting your local Early Intervention to get him assessed developmentally? We went through EI for a delayed babbler, and it has helped immensely. Hope your day gets better.

  This we also had an EI eval for gross motor and speech (DD is going to get physical therapy), but they assess the whole child including social emotional (how they deal with day to day life basically).  It can't hurt to have him looked out, and they can give you suggestions or tell you that he's completely normal.

  Since you mentioned he wasn't really speaking I would think he might be frustrated.  He know's what he wants and can't communicate it.  Have you tried some sign language?  DD signs "more" "eat" and "milk."   

  Thanks everyone.  The pedi suggested maybe meeting with some special "development specialist" nurse they have there about him not talking yet.  DH thinks it's unnecessary and too early to start worrying.  If you guys think that his inability to talk could be why he's so unhappy, maybe I'll really make the appointment now and DH can just deal with it.  We had decided to wait until he's 20 months old to make the appointment, hoping that maybe he's on the brink of learning a bunch of words.  I've also been trying to work with him more on talking.  In the meanttime, I have started teaching him a few signs, which he hasn't quite picked up yet.  He just points and fusses when he wants something.  Do you need a referral from a doctor to get an EI evaluation?

  This would be the route I would take.  From what I understand, the evaluation is free.  And, if they determine that ST or OT would be appropriate, they are also free or very low cost.  I hope you get some answers.   

  

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• kcisthebombdotcom member

  July 2012

  NewFamily09:

  april262011:

  M&M227:

  ralleb1981:

  You mentioned he is not talking - have you considered contacting your local Early Intervention to get him assessed developmentally? We went through EI for a delayed babbler, and it has helped immensely. Hope your day gets better.

  This we also had an EI eval for gross motor and speech (DD is going to get physical therapy), but they assess the whole child including social emotional (how they deal with day to day life basically).  It can't hurt to have him looked out, and they can give you suggestions or tell you that he's completely normal.

  Since you mentioned he wasn't really speaking I would think he might be frustrated.  He know's what he wants and can't communicate it.  Have you tried some sign language?  DD signs "more" "eat" and "milk."   

  Thanks everyone.  The pedi suggested maybe meeting with some special "development specialist" nurse they have there about him not talking yet.  DH thinks it's unnecessary and too early to start worrying.  If you guys think that his inability to talk could be why he's so unhappy, maybe I'll really make the appointment now and DH can just deal with it.  We had decided to wait until he's 20 months old to make the appointment, hoping that maybe he's on the brink of learning a bunch of words.  I've also been trying to work with him more on talking.  In the meanttime, I have started teaching him a few signs, which he hasn't quite picked up yet.  He just points and fusses when he wants something.  Do you need a referral from a doctor to get an EI evaluation?

  This would be the route I would take.  From what I understand, the evaluation is free.  And, if they determine that ST or OT would be appropriate, they are also free or very low cost.  I hope you get some answers.   

  It's easy for your DH to say not to take him and wait it out when he's not the one who has to be with him all day long. If him not talking is affecting his happiness I would absolutely call EI sooner than later. You do not need a referral from a pedi. You call them up, they will ask you some questions over the phone about his development and set you up with a service coordinator to do paperwork and coordinate a time to have him evaluated by a team of professionals. It is most definitely worth it. Waiting it out serves no benefit to anyone.

  

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• XCrissCrossX member

  July 2012

  Just to answer your question from your subject: yes, toddlers can experience depression. Some symptoms include:

  • excessive crying and persistent sadness
  • lack of enthusiasm or motivation
  • increased agitation and irritability
  • chronic fatigue and lack of energy
  • withdrawal from family, friends and activities once enjoyed
  • major developmental delays (in toddlers ? not walking, talking or expressing self)

  I'm not saying that that is what is wrong with your child. I'm just saying that it is possible.
  

   

  
  
  

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