My daughter is almost 22 months old. Often when she cries or is fussy, I"ll ask her, "do you have any owie?" She'll nod her head 'yes' and then point to her head. She does not speak very much, so she doesn't articulate in words, but does communicate well non verbally. Before, I asked her if she had an "owie" and she pointed to her vagina. Turns out that it was a little irritated and so the doctor prescribed a "Baking Soda" bath for a week (helped it a lot). So I guess I"m asking, "how accurate can a child of 22 months communicate their "owie"? I mean, one time, she was crying and I said "where is your owie?" and she pointed to my mom! However, she repeatedly points to her head when I ask her if she has an "owie." Now, we have a brain scan (MRI) on her head and she's totally fine (that's another story!) but I was just wondering, if she's now associating the word "owie" with her head. (She associates the word circle with her arm, because the one day that I taught her what a circle is, she was wearing a printed shirt that had circles on her sleeve. Now, "circle" means her "sleeve"..... ) So how do I know that this is just a "word association" or if she really does have a head ache from time to time? I am afraid to ask her doctor because doctors tend to play on the 'cautious side' and might say she needs an xray or exam or MRI. She's already had 2 MRIs (a whole different story - again) and an xray because of "precautions" from other specialists/doctors. I'm don't want to over react so that's why I'm asking all of you if your child does this as well. By the way, all of the 'testing' that she's had done on her (xray, MRIs) resulted in nothing. She's totally fine, normal and healthy..... but... does her head REALLY hurt? That's what I'm wondering...... Thank you!
Thank you all of your comments/feedback and stories. She got two of her 2-year molars in last night! In answer to some of your questions, her brain MRI showed NO problems what so ever anywhere. BUT I WILL use the different phrases such as "happy, " "sad" and other "Feelings..." good call on that one. Thank you again!
Has she had a cold? Does she have any allergies? If so, it could be possible. But it might also just be word association.
Hi KL,
From what I know, and my experience with my own 2 boys, your daughter is probably making word associations: sometimes she'll get it right, but more often than not, she'll get it wrong, because she's got to learn somehow :)
Whenever you give your daughter a word, give her more than one example (the circle on her shirt *and* the circle of the cartoon sun in her favorite book); "owie" is a bit more complicated, because it's not concrete (her vagina hurt, but she couldn't necessarily *see* anything wrong with it; it was a feeling) she's trying to communicate with you very well, but she hasn't really pinned down the meaning of "owie" to anything (my head; my grandma; whatever). The best strategy is to stop using the word at all until she has an obvious "owie" (a bruise, scratch, you see her bump her head, whatever) then *tell* her "This is an owie." or show her an "owie" on yourself or someone else. Something visual and concrete.
(just wait until she tries to learn her colors: lol)
Good luck,
t
Well, she *could* have a headache. I got a lot of headaches when I was a little girl and looking back I think it was because of my diet. My mom always cooked healthy dinners, but during the day it was a lot of processed food (pop tarts, ramen noodles, kraft mac 'n cheese...you get the idea). Extra sugar, sodium, and food additives can totally cause headaches. Maybe take a look at her diet and see if there is anything that could be triggering them.
Another thought is that maybe her head hurts from crying. Like she is upset about something else that she can't verbalize, starts crying, and then doesn't feel so good from crying. Next time try asking her a different question, like, "Are you sad?" or "Are you frustrated?" and see if that gets a positive response. Being a mommy is like being a detective sometimes, isn't it?
My 7 yr old son had complained that he had a headache from the time he was 2. He did not verbalize the word headache - he would just hold his head or ask for me to kiss it. Then he started throwing up for no reason - we could never figure out why he would just throw up and have no other illness. He never complained a lot just from time to time. We took him to a Neurologist & she did a sleep deprivation scan in her office & they found that he was having 10-30 sec. absantee seizures. This small fraction of time does not allow the body to shut down and convulse, but it does cause headaches. He is on medication to stop the seizures and he is doing much better. The main triggers for kids to have headaches are prolong exposure to T.V, video games, changes in light and becoming over tired and sleep interuption. My son is a toss and turner which does not help his condition. So while I know it is expensive to get them checked out - just go see a neurologist & see what they can do for your chld. At that age it is hard to get them to verbilize.
On another note - I have a 12 yr old daughter who was getting headaches & it turned out she just needed to be on a nose inhaled anithistimine - so it could just be she has alergies that you are unaware of. My daughter shows no other sign that she is having an alergy attack besides the headache. So that might be an avenue for you to go down as well.
Good luck...
I would try the motrin if it is a daily thing and see if she still says owie if you really think she could have a headache. My son is the same age and while he seems to understand boo-boo and owie, he uses the word long after it is gone for that same location. He is getting in his molars now, and will point to his head. Later I will notice him grabbing his cheeks or mouth and ask if he mouth hurts, and he will say yes. It is just very hard to tell at this age. Although the motrin will work for the teeth too.
With the MRI's etc. that she has gotten, is there something that could indicate a headache? Otherwise, I have trouble thinking of a 22 month old with a headache that wasn't caused by a bump to the head. Just my opinion. Good luck.
The "circle thing" is just her learning, and she circle is sleeve. She'll get it right eventually :o)
The head owie, though, could be accurate because she's already identified another big owie. It's probably just a headache.....my oldest got them often....playing too hard, too much fun, too excited, all those things would create a headache, even to the point of throwing up sometimes :o( Motrin took care of it.
My youngest never had headaches, though. Kids are just different.
At 22 months, your daughter could be working on her 2 yr molars, so let's pay attention to other symptoms of running nose and putting things in her mouth to see if that could be it. Otherwise, it could just be a headache, and tylenol/motrin should help :O)
~N. :o)
When I was little like that I got headaches frequently. I am proned to headaches now, and get migraines at least four a month. My Mom went crazy trying to figure them out and eventually thought she had the answer; She stopped using a headband, or barrettes, clippies, or even pony tails. Still today, if my hair gets tugged or held back by hair stuff, the next day I get a massive headache. Just a thought. I have a 22 month old son that doesn't talk much at all. He can locate an owie though.
I think it may be real owie, but at that age it's really hard to locate a pain. What about an ear infection? Or teeth coming in? It hurts somewhere in her head, but she tell exactly where it starts.
Just a thought... does she drink enough liquids, especially water during the day?
good luck
