Anyone Have a Sensitive 2-3 Year Old Son?

Our son will be 4 in a few weeks and is very similar to the traits you explain in your son - just his personality. He'll be every girl's best friend in high school and will be the "good guy" because he's so sweet and sensitive.

He loves playing with cars, Tonka trucks, etc. He's just very sensitive. We have several kids on our street who are all in the same age, and I find he's pulling away from the really rough boys and gravitating more towards the other kids who prefer to play "pirate" and tell stories.

My husband and I both have very strong personalities and are very independent. He's a different personality, and we completely embrace him for it. However, it is hard to see the boys he's played with the past 3 years stop being as interested in playing with him, but I can't force them to like him, and honestly, I don't always like how they're behaved, so it will work out OK in the long run.

Good luck!

the world needs a broad spectrum of personality types, and i love that you recognize your reflective/romantic little fellow for what he is and don't need him to be more macho. i do think kids go through phases, but their integral personality is what it is. certainly you'll see changes and grows up (and thankfully past the whiny stage) but if he's always been a sensitive fellow he likely will remain so. he will gravitate naturally towards friends who either share or are accepting of his less aggressive nature, and i would encourage that. he might get picked on, but that can happen no matter what. the best thing is to avoid coddling him and let him express his unique sweet personality to its fullest extent, all of which it sounds like you're already doing!
:) khairete
S.

No, my 1st (7 years old) is sensitive, but not as much as the 2nd (3 years old). I don't allow whining. If they have something to say, I make them say it over and over again until there is not whine in their voices. THAT is the one thing I cannot handle...and I don't care how sensitive they are, I don't want them annoying, especially that does not go over well when they get to school. Nobody wants to play with the whiney kid.

2nd one doesn't take risks....at all. He gets his feeling hurt easily, but his younger sister who is 2 is totally opposite. We don't baby him and buy into any drama. We allow him to say what he feels, but we don't allow him to wallow in it. I have friends whose kids are in HS and what downers they are! She has called them sensitive, but really, they whine silently, by thier eyes, slow lethargic movements - it's even more annoying than a child verbally whining.

I had all of my babies at home, not that I'm advocating that for you, but I feel there is a difference when the kids are present at a birth. We prepared each one of them for what was to come and since they have all seen the babies emerge from my body, they realize I just didn't go somewhere and pick up another kid to replace them. We have NO sibling rivalry in our house.

I was at my brother's birth and he and I were best friends....maybe there is something to it?

Love him, but allow him to grow up and prepare him for another baby.

Make sure he is hanging around other kids his age. I think that kids that age are just whiny. My son is more whiny when he is tired or not feeling well. I think that if you do not make a huge deal out of it when he gets hurt then he will not either. Lots of kids make a bigger deal out of their boo boos when their parents do. My son had fallen and scraped his knee and gotten right back up and said I am ok. I clean off his boo boo and he goes back to his business. I am sure he will be fine. I am glad to hear he is a nice senstive kid. Tell him he needs to talk like a big boy because he is going to be a big brother. If he starts to whine tell him in a calm voice, remember you are a big brother and you need to talk in a normal voice.
Congrats and good luck with the new baby

Our son, now 10.5 years, is more on the sensitive side and when he was younger he went through some phases where he was more easily prone to tears. He does have some "typical boy" (although I hate that term and concept) behaviors like playing sports, video games, and being very physically active (he loves being a bit of a daredevil), but he balances those with a love of Legos, reading, writing, and playing chess. He is a straight A student and every teacher only has positive things to say about him. While he definitely loves his mama (which of course I love), I haven't been overly protective of him and he is really a well-adjusted, interacting well with other kids and adults just fine. He is not picked on at all and seems well liked by other ids. Your son might remain less interested in "rough and tumble" behavior, or he might develop some other interests and behaviors as he gets older. We did have some issues with whining when our son was younger but it really was a phase and he grew out of it, with our guidance. We worked with both our kids to teach them appropriate ways to express their frustration or needs that didn't include whining. Have faith in your son and in your parenting and all will work out well! And congrats on baby #2!!

Hi T.,

I have three kids and my son is the same age. Our youngest is 4 months. My middle child is very much like your son, while he is more physical he likes to sit on your lap, receive kisses and hold your hand. I do believe it is a phase and most likely because you are expecting your next child. Reassurance is the key. Show lots of love and have patience. You will have to be vigilent in watching your new baby. I do not leave my 4 month old alone with my other 2 kids. Whether jealousy or an accident it is not a good idea anyway. Also, once the baby is here make sure he is a part of helping you with the baby. Grabbing a diaper, picking out clothes or grabbing a blanket etc...Lots of praise too will go a long way. Congrats and good luck.

My son went through stages. When he was learning to walk he seemed fearless. He didn't quite have the hang of stopping or turning, he'd run into a wall, fall and get right up and do it again. His legs were so bruised up but he just didn't care. Then he wanted me to pick him up all the time for awhile. For a few years he'd switch back and forth almost without warning. He'd want to run on the play ground, but if there were a lot of people he'd stick to me like glue. He's still initially cautious in new situations. Every year at school the first parent teacher conference they tell me how quiet he is. Then the rest of the year they have a hard time getting him to be quiet. He's become a pretty good rough and tumble kid who's not overly jumpy or wild. He's the tallest in his class (he's 11 now in the 5th grade), a black belt in taekwondo, and he's a gentle giant, but he doesn't let anyone push him around.

My son is a lot like this. We had him evaluated at a place called Therapedatrics and he now recieves OT services and our insurance covers it 100%. He is doing great and dont get me wrong my son is still sweet and says amazing things but he also has learned to be able to talk for what he needs and well so much more you would be amazed and how they helped him grow and learn! Try it, just get the evaluation it is free and yes we are less picked on!
J.