My Two Year Old Covers His Ears When He Cries

I might take him to an Ear Nose Throat doctor to really check his ears out.
I'm wondering if it's a problem that only happens when he's crying.
Tears drain to nose and throat and if a duct is blocked he might be getting a pressure buildup but only at certain times.
There's a lot of things happening around that age.
More teeth are coming in, tonsils and adenoids can start causing trouble, etc.
I'd just feel better if an ENT looked everything over.

At 2 and 3 yrs old they grow in leaps and bounds and it's not always a smooth ride.
Nightmares can start up - fear of monsters under their bed, etc.
Separation anxiety can get worse.
Our son skipped terrible twos but made up for it with terrible threes.
It all seemed to get better when he turned 4 (and his tonsils and adenoids came out right after his 4th birthday).

Sensory problems are so important to address. Your doctor is one smart cookie. Listen and don't ignore this. Ask the doctor when it should be evaluated, and then do it.

Might be a coping mechanism. I had one that did that.

I also had shy toddlers (a few of them) and they responded to people like that at that age. Funnily enough - the people who didn't pay them attention were the ones they relaxed around the most (my family). They rarely saw my side of the family and yet would just fit right in with them because they didn't make a fuss over them.

Two of my children had fluid in their ears so their ears were a bit more sensitive than most. It was at it's worst around your son's age. It wasn't always detectable (wasn't at all actually) at walk in clinics. We had to go to ENT. It could be weeks after a cold - there might still be tiny amount lingering. Wouldn't develop into an ear infection. Crying might set it off (think of the gulping, how that clears the ear canal) - anyhow, if his ears continue to bother him (or you think) you could always request to see ENT.

I'd keep an eye on it - but I wouldn't 'look' for symptoms, if that helps.

ETA: Read the other responses - and agree that you don't want to take your concerns lightly. My suggestion would be to take them to your pediatrician. Go from there.

We had a doctor at a walk in clinic make an observation about our child that lead ultimately to a misdiagnosis (serious). It was fluid in the ears all along.Sometimes there is a common reason for children's behavioral concerns. It's important not to overlook them. His regular pediatrician will have his full history.

good for you for a sensible mama diagnosis (coping mechanism) and follow-up with your pediatrician.

it's the age for stranger anxiety, so i'm not actually surprised that he's recently become worried about people who aren't part of his daily life. i like your response to make sure he sees more of his mimi. i'd definitely keep up with that.

what do you do when he cries and cries? it's super hard to stay calm and quiet when that's happening, but it's what i'd suggest. not to banish him when he's clearly uncomfortable, but also not to make a big deal about soothing and shushing. the best middle ground for him, although miserable for the adults involved, is to let him roar in your presence. don't ignore him, but don't fuss over it. 'aw, byron, you're having a moment, aren't you? come here and let me put my arm around you. so, mimi, what are your plans for this weekend? speak up, it's awfully loud in here!'

since mimi is on board for acclimating your fellow it sounds as if you have a good ally.

i wouldn't push having him play with her. it just sounds as if it's too soon. let him adjust to her being there, or going to her place, without forcing a more immediate interaction until HE initiates it.

if he's still doing it by summer, you may have bigger problems to address, but my bet is that by calm, no drama responses you will transmit to him that there is nothing to get all het up over.

but your instinct about sensory issues is not to be ignored. keep your spidey senses awake and see if there are any other red flags.

khairete
S.