It is not a common sight to see a toddler that is not melodramatic, cries at the slightest provocation, and even for no tangible reason.
Dr. Elaine Aron, a psychologist, thought up the term “Highly Sensitive Person” in the 1990s. According to him, Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) are neurologically wired in a way that makes them more sensitive to the world around them.
This means they respond more strongly to sensory stimuli, like loud sounds, smells, and bright lights; because of this, they react in a way you may consider exaggerated.
Highly sensitive people are likely to feel things deeper than an average person and may take a longer time to emotionally recover when upset.
If you have noticed your baby barely takes no for an answer or is easily afraid, then you may have a case of a highly sensitive child.
If you continue to read this article, you will understand who a highly sensitive child is, the signs of a highly sensitive baby, and how to help them grow to explore all their potential.
Who Is A Highly Sensitive Child?
A sensitive toddler is a child who feels things at a higher degree than the average child would and as a result, may have a harder time processing things around him. This doesn’t mean the child has any kind of sensory disorder; it only means their sense organs are more sensitive than an average child.
How Do I Know If My Toddler is Highly Sensitive?
If you want to know whether your baby is a highly sensitive child, then you might want to look at the points below to know if your baby shares any resemblance with the listed signs or not.
1. Inconsolable Cries And Fussiness
A highly sensitive child gives the first sign right from birth. He cries a lot and no matter how much you try to pacify him, he won’t stop crying. He spends less time sleeping.
2. Too Selective With Food
Highly sensitive babies are difficult to please when it comes to what they eat. Unlike any other child you can entice with candy, nothing can make a highly sensitive child change his mind if he hates a particular food item. Even if the food looks very attractive, the child won’t have an appetite.
3. Troubles With Picking Clothes
A highly sensitive child can see a reason not to wear a particular dress or shoe and give a very strong reason why it should be the other one.
4. Hates Change
Whatever your reason for trying to change things, a highly sensitive child prefers things done in the manner he is familiar with. Indeed, toddlers generally exhibit similar behavior, but it is quite extreme in the case of a highly sensitive child.
5. Hates Attention Or Too Many Tasks At A Time
Keep a highly sensitive child out of any discussion that will require him to show himself or make everyone stare at him; he hates it and doesn’t like to feel overwhelmed. If you have to get him to do anything for you, don’t call out a long list of what to do at once.
6. Highly Empathetic
Your little one will be empathetic. A highly sensitive child feels what others around him feel easily, even when he is not in control of his own emotions.
7. Easily Scared
Does the slightest thing like a cartoon character or an image in a book get your baby scared? You might have a highly sensitive child. He perceives sights as scary where there is absolutely nothing or where he fails to get a grasp of the situation. He may also avoid getting close to certain people due to fear.
8. A Highly Sensitive Child’s Senses Double
Every sound or brightness comes to him double to how others hear or see, feel or perceive it. Your highly sensitive baby can perceive the odor someone else might not even notice or hear the sound of an aircraft before it gets close enough for others to hear.
A highly sensitive child is the one that notices an aunt is now looking pretty or old or a house paint change.
While other kids may get excited and repeat the sound of a siren, a highly sensitive child will possibly cry and try to run away, looking for a safer place.
9. Deep Thoughts
If your baby easily retains a new word he heard and asks questions which seem beyond his age, then, you might have a sensitive child in your hands. A highly sensitive child talks more maturely because of their nature and sees things beyond the surface.
10. Unusual Reaction To Disciplinary Action
A highly sensitive child doesn’t react to the same disciplinary action as other children. According to a psychologist, a highly sensitive child will take in everything you say and heighten it. Facing a naughty corner or going to his room to think won’t work for a highly sensitive child.
Screaming at a highly sensitive child will not produce any results.
11. Difficulty In Sleeping
A highly sensitive child has a constantly active mind so calming their active head to fall asleep is always a difficult thing for them.
12. A Sensitive Child Always Need Spare Clothes
When going for any outdoor activity, get extra clothes because highly sensitive children could fuss at the slightest sensation of an external element such as sand on their clothes.
13. Also
If you are finding it difficult to give instruction to your child or get your baby to cooperate every time, you might have a highly sensitive child on your hands.
In all of these, be rest assured your little one is a gift; know that they are highly creative, intelligent, and gifted with words. They are highly empathetic and tend to be artistic.
Causes of High Sensitivity in Babies
A toddler barely has any control over how he feels; a toddler also doesn’t know how to react to whatever he is feeling. The easiest way a toddler expresses himself is to cry or disturb you as a parent, till the fulfill his wish.
This minute, a toddler is a sweet child and the next minute he is not.
Nothing causes this attitude – it is just their nature. However, according to Aron’s research, 15-20% of adults and children worldwide have more reactive nervous systems than average, which makes them Highly Sensitive People. This means this attitude in an average baby is more pronounced in a highly sensitive child.
Being a highly sensitive child is not a disorder, but a natural trait that comes with its challenges and strengths. Dr. Aron’s self-assessment for adults includes questions about how much other people’s moods affect you, whether you’re bothered by intense sensory stimuli like loud noises and bright lights, and whether you are particularly sensitive to caffeine.
Additionally
It also turns out high sensitivity is a result of the gene. If you are a highly sensitive person, there is a chance you will have highly sensitive children.
It’s not known why some children are more sensitive than others, although some researchers theorize it’s possibly Mother Nature’s way of fluctuating things to cause a balance by creating some people with more resistance to their environment and others with greater sensitivity to it. It’s important to remember though, neither trait is necessarily better, just different.
How to Handle a Highly Sensitive Child
Wondering how to groom a highly sensitive child? You can peruse the 8 helpful tips and strategies below:
1. You Have To Come To Terms With It
For you to deal with anything, you must first acknowledge it is in existence and is your cross to bear. Do not try to change the child; rather, accept your baby is different from the rest.
2. Stay Positive
Don’t use curse words. Remember he is empathetic, so you need to stay positive around him. See his temperament for all the good sides that come with it.
3. Try To See Things His Way
Every time he gets fussy over a choice of clothes or food, try to see yourself disliking a thing and be forced to have it. Give your little baby time to warm up to new people or places.
4. Don’t Push Your Sensitive Child To Overcome Their “Shyness”
Don’t throw him into a room with loud noise unless you want him to have an epic meltdown. It makes things worse when you force your child to be “normal”. If you can learn to read his cues to avoid what triggers him, it will ease a lot of stress and worry for you both.
5. Help Your Highly Sensitive Child Sleep
Highly sensitive babies and toddlers get overstimulated easily, making it hard for them to sleep. Your best bet for a peaceful sleeper is a consistent bedtime, relaxing bedtime routine, and a sleep space that is dark, quiet, and boring. No mobiles, night lights, or lullabies playing all night.
6. Don’t Be Forceful With Your Choices
Don’t force your choice of loving a pet on them if they hate it or try to make them listen to a loud sound thinking it will help them in any way.
One certain thing is your sensitive toddler will one day grow into a sensitive adult. And while he’ll probably still feel things intensely, the positive aspects of sensitivity like being creative, attentive, spontaneous, thoughtful, artistic, and compassionate, will happen as he gets older. Those wonderful aspects are probably already quite evident.
7. Maintain A Familiar Routine
Since a highly sensitive child is opposed to change, you will help them cope by introducing them to a routine. Put up time for everything so they get used to these activities every day. Doing different things at different times can get them confused and overwhelmed.
When Should I See a Doctor?
A high level of sensitivity is nothing to worry about except if it gets severe and affects the way a child reasons or affects a child’s development. Then, you need to see a doctor to be sure it is not Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Babies suffering from these disorders have some of the similar attitudes of highly sensitive children. Children who have autism, for example, can be sensitive to bright lights and certain textures or sounds, whereas a child who has ADHD may have frequent, intense tantrums.
Keep in mind; while autism can be reliably diagnosed by the age of 2, an ADHD diagnosis usually isn’t reliable until the age of 4 or 5. Talk to your doctor to assess the situation.
Last Words
There’s no particular test that can tell you if your child is highly sensitive or not. In research studies, scientists use a scale to classify sensitivity, but the measurement isn’t meant to be used as a formal diagnosis. Instead, your baby may seem sensitive simply based on his temperament.
Keep in mind; it’s perfectly normal for babies to experience unstable emotions and blow up. Nature and experience help them grow out of common challenges as they get older, such as being afraid of loud noises or the dark. Your baby may change as he gets older.
It can’t be overemphasized that it’s important to accept your child’s sensitivities. Try not to take out your anger on them because their reactions and behavior are things they have no control over.
Your primary aim should be on how best to help them manage the high moments by not triggering them to the point where they meltdown.
At every point of their grooming, keep the positive side of their temperament at heart.
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