changing behaviour

[arbiter]

From birth my daughter was good natured and happy and showed signs of early speech now 17 months old, she is throwing tantrums and lashing out and refuses to try to say any proper words. She is also waking often in a very distraught state is this a normal phase or has she got something wrong with her?

[lady_p_gold]

Well obviously this should be checked out as you are clearly worried. Has her hearing been checked recently ? It is probably nothing but it is better to get everything checked just in case.

[andy-hughes]

It sounds like the onset of the 'terrible twos', which, as you will gather, is common enough to have its ownlabel.

This is the age where your daughter is learning a sense of self, and finding out what the boundaries are, and pushing them. It is a perfectly normal part of development, but by all means have her checked out if you are concerned.

[arliebarlie]

I would definately take her to the doctors to get her checked out........................

[Drusilla]

I can understand your concern and had problems of a similar nature with my younger daughter. My initial fear was 'autism' and like many young mum's I panicked, thinking the worse. It turns out my younger daughter is perfectly normal, but a little monkey on occasions. I did check all the signs of autism though and hope the information on the attached site puts your mind at rest. good luck with the onset of, 'The Terrible Two's'. It's like Kevin the teenager, but noisier.

http://www.autismweb.com/signs.htm

[bandy]

If your child showed signs of early speech then her current state is very normal in my opinion. Children all have the same milestones and reach them in average timescales. If a phase presents itself early then it is at the expense of another. In this case it being emotional. Children who are often deemed as bright, seem to be slower to develop emotionally and vice versa.

It will all pan out in time. She is still very young.

[Lonnie]

Sorry to but in on this one, but my daughter is Autistic, and even though its very unlikely your daughter has it, as Drusilla, says, check her link, (excellent), a couple of things thet either weren't on it, or I missed, a possible facination for lights, and an unawareness of pain, by that, I mean that she can feel pain, but doesn't reaspond to it, also the apparent inability to cry tears is a good marker.

But as you haven't posted any of those, its most unlikely, please, as has been advised, get her checked out, if just to eliminate it.

[Goodsoulette]

Amazingly my nephew can swear quite profoundly at the binmen but when it comes to answering questions....zip. He can also muster a pretty good scentence if you refuse to give him something you want. Sounds normal to me..

[mummytait]

I'm not an expert so get her checked out by a doctor or your health visitor. If they say she's fine, try Dr Christopher Greens' Toddler taming (It's a book). I found it invaluable during the terible twos.

[Hamish]

Our son is currently going throught he 'nightmare' phase at nights. He regularly has I nightmare at about 10:30-1:30 wich is usually preceeded by a loud anouncement of 'BIG' or a gradual call of 'mummy'. If I (father) go to him he is not happy until he sees his mum, then he will happily go back to bed with me. The other evening he remain with his eyes shut for about 3-4mins calling for his mum before he opened his eyes. Hes beginning the terrible twos too ...... I think this often comes down to the individual and child.