OCD in a 2 yo? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

julesverne · 10-25-2003, 06:34 AM

Hi,
I have obsessional OCD and am wondering if the tendencies I see in my 2yo are consistent with OCD or if they are just typical toddler behavior. There are 2 behaviors that I question.
1. My dc is very particular about where her high chair is located in the kitchen when we eat. SHe has to be on the left side of her sibling. If I move her elsewhere or try to get her to sit elsewhere. SHe throws a major temper tantrum. SHe just doesnt get upset. SHe loses all control and wont sit until she is on the left side. There are other examples of this type of particular preference for things to be a certain way. SO this is not an isolated incident. I question if she is just being defiant or if she has OCD.

2. SHe will also be very indecisive and will go back and forth in an infinite loop when trying to make a decision. For example, she will ask to get down from her high chair bfore her meal is finished. WHen I take the food away, she will begin ot get upset and will want the food back. If I give it back to her, she will get even more upset and will want it taken away. SHe will go back and forth. I have tested her and she will continue to do this for an hour. I have to stop the cycle by making the decision for her. SHe usually loses control, throws a temper tantrum and stay in her room until she calms down. I am not sure if she is being defiant, if she needs me to set the boundary instead of allowing her to go back and forth, or if this is an early sign of OCD.

ANy thoughts?

THanks in advance.

Julie

mank · 10-25-2003, 08:16 AM

I am not totally understanding your whole situation but alot of this is just the typical 2's behavior and being a child.
I would not look to much into it being OCD.
I would check with your doctor and see what he/she has to say about it.

fm5 · 10-25-2003, 09:25 AM

Just a side note. I started laughing when I read your title "OCD in a 2 yo". I thought you were doing a Rocky impression YOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!

franjava22 · 10-25-2003, 11:57 AM

Sounds like my daughter. Ahhhhhh... Love those terrible twos. Kids are big into rituals and consistency. Especially as toddlers. Also, as they grow and can do more, they find more to explore and interact with. That's why she doesn't want you to take her food away even though she's playing. She's still hungry, but is too doggone busy to eat when you tell her to. Give her time to learn that things can change, but the world won't stop spinning. By the time she starts preschool, she should have outgrown a lot of the control issues that seem like OCD. (Not all of them.) If you still think there's reason to worry at that time, talk to her pediatrician. Until then, pick your battles. Put her seat in the same place every day. Read the same book ten times before she goes to bed EVERY NIGHT. So far, it looks pretty normal to me. Even if your other kid(s) weren't like that, she just may be more high strung. (By the way, I have obssessive compulsive tendencies, but am not worried about my daughter at all.)

lynn45 · 10-28-2003, 02:24 PM

Just remember also, they are just starting to try to get a little bit of control at that age. My daughter is 2 & 1/2, I just keep trying to tell myself the only thing she can really control right now is what goes in her mouth. That's the only reason she is giving me such a hard time. My daughter does the same thing with food, but everything else...she knows what she wants and what she wants to do. And routine is the king for them, it doesn't matter what the problem is, if she is used to getting milk before bed...she will NOT go to bed until after her milk....etc, etc.

I think we all worry about passing this monster on, I would talk to someone to find out what to look for. That does sound like pretty normal kids stuff though.