Can a 18 Month Old Have OCD?

Sounds like my grandaughter!
Remember kids this age have been kept extremely clean. Moms wipe off even the tiniest specks before they settle, so they do not know what getting dirty is. About picking up anything he drops...HE' a BOY. Don't worry, he will get over it.----He won't pick up anything when he becomes a teenager, either. :-)

That's pretty normal. All toddlers and preschoolers have their little quirks. My son used to not eat his food unless it was cut a certain way - It reminded me of Rain Man, but it's perfectly normal.

My son was the same way Kristy. He couldn't stant to have anything on his hands. He still doesn't like his hands to have any food or dirt on them but he isn't obsessed like he was earlier. Don't worry, he'll grow out of it.

Hi

i think the best thing you can do is talk to his doctor and make sure that you mean what you say. It is probably to early for an avaluation but early intervention is always the key. There is plenty of agencies that can help for free.

God bless

My daughter was like that and it was cute at first but then as she got older it was almost annoying because if she spilled water on her shirt i had to change it. I put her in preschool when she was 3 and one day i went to pick her up early from school and she was sitting reading a book while the kids were having fun cleaning tables she would have nothing to do with it and then they went pumpkin picking for a field trip all the kids came back covered in dirt and my daughter was sparkling and i asked how she stayed so clean and they said she had to be carried and wouldn't touch the pumpkins, but now my daughter is 8 years old and grew out of all that. I think its just something that some kids don't want to be dirty and don't like it or scared of. by the time she was 5 she didn't care. Its cute but always carry extra clothes because if your baby is anything like my daughter it will save you from public tantrums. Its so fun being a parent!!! They grow up so fast and you forget things like that now i am thinking about it, its so funny to go down that memory lane. Don't be to worried they will grow out of that

Kristy,

It is not that uncommon for children to dislike certain things touching them. When my now 4 1/2 year old was your son's age he would love to dig with his hands in the dirt but it took him a while to like the texture of sand, and absolutely did not like the feel of sticky or wet food on his hands. And heaven forbid glue stick to him! It is only in the last few months that none of these things bother him. My 2yo daughter has never minded food on her hands but had to learn to just live with paint or glue on her hands. In her art class you see this a lot and why I have her do art classes. Having her special "art shirt" to quickly wipe her hands on made a difference. She could quickly handle the issue herself and get back to the task at hand. After a while she didn't bother me or really notice. Fun opportunities to experience different tactile/sensory issues helps them to adjust better and easier. Seeing other kids enjoying "the mess" and having the push from a fun teacher makes a big difference. Just keep telling him its not a big deal- its only..... Try to let him keep his hands dirty for a little bit longer each time, distract him or talk him through it, but don't force this on him. He will most likely outgrow it. If it doesn't seem to be improving or he becomes even more sensory resistant seek out the advice of an occupational therapist who deals with sensory integration issues.

Kristy,

It could be a number of things. However, my first 2 sons were the same way. The smallest amount of dirt or food that was on them they would freak out. My oldest son eventually out grew it. My second son still freaks a little when he spills a drink or food on him, not so much dirt any more. My third son could care less what he gets on himself.

If you have questions and are uncomfortable about it, definitely ask your pediatrian.

Good luck.

S.
SAHM of 3 boys 13, 5 and 3

Hi-
I think this is very normal behavior. My daughter was like this from 12 months to about 3 years (she is now 4). Starting preschool made a big difference in her outgrowing these issues. Some of the behaviors (not touching the grass or sand) she grew out of very easy and by age 2. Getting things on her hands (like marker, food, glue, paint, cupcake icing) are things that took a little longer to overcome and she now understands can be washed off and are okay. I think my reaction also had a lot to do with her reaction. Always remember to stay calm and let your son know it's no big deal to have things on him while at the same time not discounting his feelings. While cleaning him up right then, remind him you could also wash up at the end of playtime, dinner time, etc. Of course, still talk to your doctor, but know that this is normal in many children.

I don't know about ocd, but my daughter had a similar attitude and the pediatrician said she was spoiled...she was our first baby and her little grunting noise used to bother my husband so I would run to take care of everything just to make her stop. She's 15 now and still very headstrong; I think alot of it is just personality or the traits of the firstborn child. We did take care not to spoil her in every way (i.e., she slept in her own bed and had to learn to cry and self-comfort, as a toddler) and she is generally well behaved and very socially adjusted. My son, who is 2 years younger than she is, was not fussy as a baby....perhaps because being the second child he got less attention, or again maybe it's just his personality. I wouldn't be too worrried, but you might try letting him fuss and learn to resolve his own problems if at all possible.

K. G.

Hi Kristy,
I highly doubt it's OCD, but it may be a sensory perception issue. Ask for a referral to an occupational therapist for a sensory integration evaluation. Insist on it and make sure the OT knows why your there, otherwise, she may test for fine motor skills instead.
Good luck!
S.

My daughter was the same way. At one point I even questioned whether or not she may be autistic. She is now 7 and has learned to deal with certain situations better. It took time, and I would continue to clean her hands, feet, etc., until she was old enough to start to learn how to deal with it on her own. This wasn't till about 4 years old, when I could start to reason with her. I have come to learn that this type of quirky behavior is also a trait of a gifted (above average intelligence) child!

Necesito hacerme una mamografia pero no tengo los recursos economicos para ello , si me pueden dar direcciones en miami kendall donde me la puedo hacer a bajo costo les agradecere
atentamente
E. villanueva

Not sure if it's OCD..maybe but it sounds like it could be Sensory Processing Disorder I have 3 children with SPD but on different levels of the spectrum. Hope it helps. Google SPD and you can find out sooo much info.

Kendra

I have a nineteen moth old boy that HATED the grass. When he fell down he would cry to be helped up and he wouldn't touch the grass. Eventually it went away. He is fine with the grass now-gets up-touches it-doesn't care. Good luck!

Dear Kristy,
The slippery slope is in spending any time at all worrying about "normal!" There is no such thing and it doesn't matter. ALL children have quirks; very few wind up like "Monk." Although I know that there are HUGE differences between girls and boys, I will first tell you about my daughter because I want you to know that no diagnosis is a life sentence: My now 18 year old daughter became very OCD as she was approaching puberty, it was something set off by her hormones. She was in psychiatric care and on meds for it for a number of years. She made the decision when she was ready to go off those meds. She is now a freshman at a huge university getting all As and Bs, has a fabulous boyfriend and is VP of the Freshman class. SHe couldn't be more "normal" and successful. I have had two nephews who had quirks like your son's when they were little. One of them refused EVER to eat ice cream because he had no ability to tolerate what would happen when it started to melt. Neither of these boys were ever "diagnosed" with OCD or put on meds. The now 220 something one has no residual symptoms. The younger one is only 9. He is still very, very quirky. He is also off the chart brilliant and has skipped a grade in school.
I do not think you are at all at risk of spoiling your son by indulging these discomforts of his. If he were throwing things on the floor and expecting you to pick them up, that would be trying. But this has to do with his not feeling right with the world when things are off. What we want to do as moms is arrange our children's surrounding so they have as little discomfort as possible. Little by little as they get older they gain the tools to do these things for themselves. Chances are his quirks are a sign that he is of very high intelligence and will have many gifts. Enjoy watching them develop and try not to stress about the details. Also, it is helpful if the adults around him can be relaxed because he will sense the stress and that could make his symptoms worse.
I do not believe that any good doctor would "diagnose" or medicate a child as young as he is.
Relax and enjoy him!
: )

As the mom, only you would be able to know if he is doing this for attention or if these things really bother him. Depending on how long it is until his checkup, I would call the Dr.'s office and speak with the nurse there.

it seems banyan may have what is considered an sensory intergration problem. an occupational therapist could perform an evalution and point you in the direction you need to go. discuss with your pediatrician and check with your insurance to see if evaluation is covered. good luck!

I am not an expert, and this observation may may be premature, but your son's behavior sounds like autism to me. Here is a description of Asperger's Syndrome (sometimes spelled Ausberger's syndrome), a high functioning form of autism:

Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents.

Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".

By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.

Here is a link to a fascinating blog written by the mother of a child with this syndrome:

http://adamsautism.blogspot.com/

Kristy, Ask your doctor but it is normal my kids acted the same way at times. They are all fine.
Mom helping MOMS work from home!
http://colleend.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

Hi Kristy,
Do you spray a lot of chemicals around the house like Lysol and Febreeze? Do you use cleaners like Pinesol and Mr Clean? Do you wash clothes with detergent like Tide? And add bleach and fabric softener?

I saw an interesting CNN documentary that said we all have toxins in our system. It comes from the air, the water and the products we use. The scary part was that babies are born with over 200 chemicals in their system!

The toxic chemicals that are in almost every cleaning product you buy at the grocery store and Wal-Mart can affect us all. But, children are the most suseptible - and vulnerable. It's been proven that these toxins can affect brain function.

Everyone's going green these days. We're all becoming more aware of keeping our family, our home and the earth safe.

What if this could make a difference in your life and Banyan's?

Safer cleaning products are popping up all over - Even at Wal-Mart. Some brands are better than others. Here are the green cleaners that Oprah recommends - and uses: http://GC.StarTeamUSA.net .

~M.

Hi Kristy,

It sounds very similar to what a girlfriend of mine experienced with her son. I would have your son checked for Sensory /Speech and Language issues with your pediatrician. Most pediatricians do not like to diagnose speech and language so young, but because Banyan is whining and sensory sensitive to things on his hands, there may be some red flags being raised. You have a right as a parent to have him checked out and there are state funded programs available when there is no insurance available or when your insurance does not cover enough. I always believe in mother's intuition, it rarely fails us and it won't hurt to have your son examined. I hope this helps! :)

I am not a dr, but I have delt with other kids that have a disorder (which comes in VERY MILD to severe cases) of SID....Sensory integration (input) Disorder...where a child has a difficult time processing stimuli. You can do some research on the internet by typing SID or the full word and see if anything REALLY applies to your child. DO NOT WORRY. I have read that a dr or neuroligist can not accuratly pinpoint this disorder and that an occupational therapist needs to evaluate the child.....not sure if this can be done @ 18 months. There's therapy to help the children deal with it. I was a preschool teacher before having my littleone and had 2 students that had SID but they also were autistic (much different than having SID alone)

With that being said I have the same concerns with my 18 month old. Some people say it is normal, but I have 2 other boys and neither one of them was like this. I have taken him to a neuroligist and they say nothing to worry about, but you have to follow you instincts as a mother. They told me they would not be able to diagn. until atleast 2, so I guess I have to wait (unless these symptoms disappear before then).

AGAIN, I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND WHAT I FEEL AND WHAT APPLIES TO ME MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. I AM IN NO WAY HERE TO SCARE YOU OR WORRY YOU, JUST TO PUT SOMETHING ELSE ON THE TABLE. YOU MUST DO THE REMAINING RESEARCH TO SEE IF IT APPLIES.

Good luck......M.

Kristy,

I do not know enough about OCD or other sensory issues to suggest what your son might "have" but I will tell you to trust your gut instinct. Talk to your pediatrician and see what he/she says. I agree about spacing out the shots (I do that for my kids). If after talking to your pediatrician, you still feel that there is something wrong, trust your gut and ask for a referral to a Pediatric Therapy place for an evaluation. It can't hurt. I have a friend that had the feeling something was wrong but NOBODY (pediatrician, play group teachers) would confirm it until she went for the evaluation. She wished she had trusted it early on. He too was meeting all the milestones for his age, to an extent. Trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone else!

Good Luck!

I have a grandaughter who responded in these very similar ways. From 2 weeks she became very colicky and many issues followed. Her speech was delayed which led to the discovery of the origin of her troubles.
I would like to forward your note to my daugthter by email who now lives in Atlanta

It sounds like he has sensory issues............talk to your pediatrician and I would consider staggering his 18 month shots....get maybe one and then a month or so later get the other.......................

Get tested for other issues...............sorry to sound so blunt....educate yourself on Autism, etc....................

Early intervention is key in helping your child no matter what. All the best to you...............(My 17 month old sold was recently diagnosed with Autism and a speech delay)

You might consider something called Sensory Integration Disorder, sort of an oversensitized sensory system. Look it up on google to read more about it. The sand issue sounds like it could be that. Some sites have long lists of symptoms, some for very young children. Hope that helps. Otherwise, whining sounds appropriate for this age, especially if he hasn't started talking much yet. Just encourage him to do things for himself and let me know that you'll respond only to a "normal voice" or nice voice. Good luck!

E.

I know this may be a little late, but has anyone mentioned that he may have sensory issues? My son does NOT like certain textures- sand, rubber band balls, kush balls, firm plastic brush bristles, etc. He partakes in Occupational Therapy (now twice a month) and is MUCH better. My son was born three month early and has a host of other issues, but I have met quite a few parents of children going to the same therapist who were born "on time".
My therapists son even has a few sensory issues. Worth looking into. Hope this helps.

I would research sensory issues...
Sensory Integreation Disorder

I posted a LONG post about this- not sure how to do a search? but it had a LOT of info :-)

ETA: edited to add:
here it is!

http://www.mamasource.com/request/12819326070331277313

my post is farther along the page :-)

My daughter is 22 months old and does the same exact thing! She hates when food gets on her and she hates dirt or sand on her feet!I have often wondered the same thing about OCD but never researched it any further. She has been doing this for as long as I can remember and I just keep thinking it will go away as she gets older. I try not to make a big deal about it and wipe it away. I would however, love to get suggestions also.
Good luck!

I am the mother of 5 children and in my experience, it will take time to determine what it actually could be, and only you and your childs doctor will be able to know what is actually going on. But, if it is of any comfort my son, the eldest, was the same way,but he was even younger. When I sat him in the grass he held up his arms and legs and whined until I picked him up...he hated to be dirty in any way. Even when I gave him his 1st birthday cake, he refused to touch it until I gave him a spoon. However, He is perfectly fine now as a normal 10 year old who has no problem getting out there and wrestling the pigs!LOL! I guess i that age he was just a cleany baby! Sometimes I wish he was still that way!LOL! Good luck to you and your baby and don't worry...whatever it is it will all work out ok.

I would most certainly talk to your ped about it. I don't have any experience with this but you never know...it's best to address whatever may be the underlying issue now than to wait later.

Hi Kristy,
I think it's a little too early to call it OCD. He's too young. Maybe you should take a look at your own behavior and make sure he's not just copying you. We all have little quirks and they catch on to them quickly. We are after all their models.
I would let him whine but also show him how to wipe/clean himself and insist that everyhting is ok. If yourself, you move on and show him it's cool, he's more likely to follow.
Good luck.