I’m 72. It’s challenging my knees. 
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My GD had her six month check up today, and apparently her head is growing faster than normal. Her pediatrician said that she needs to have an ultrasound of her head to make sure everything is okay. She told D it’s most likely fine, but they need to make sure. I have never heard of that. Anyone have experience with this?
(Brain stuff scares us, because my niece has a child with severe brain issues caused by a blood clot on his brain stem bleeding when he was two days old.)
Body parts do not grow at a uniform rate. Some kids chunk up then get taller; others gain height then add muscle mass. So GD may grow into her head.
Good on you GD’s pediatrician for getting that US early, rather than ‘watching’ for another month or two. This may definitively rule out concerns, but it can also provide a baseline for the future.
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My SIL’s head is “big” - not fat, but long - with sort of a cone at the top in back. GD’s head looks like his. We hope it’s just the way it is, but we definitely are glad that the doctor is proactive. Meanwhile, I will tell D not to worry … while I secretly worry enough for both of us.
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It is likely nothing, especially if one of the parents has a large head. They just need to rule out hydrocephalus.
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There is something called sagittal craniosynostosis, where the sagital suture on top of the head closes prematurely, resulting in no soft spot. The skull can only grow front to back as the brain grows. When an infant, it is surgically fixed. Head size is large. Ask me how I know 
@kelsmom SIL and his dad have very big heads, but big from onset. So GD and GS have big heads too. In utero which also had OB think they were ‘larger’ on height /wt than they were. Good thing DD could handle birthing them.
Good to check out but IMHO don’t worry.
Oh, my goodness - my GD met D’s good friend’s baby today. He is a month older than she. The pictures and videos are adorable! She chatted at him, and he was really interested in her. He has been in childcare since he was six weeks, but she has been taken care of by the grandma squad. Looks like she’ll do well when they eventually put her in childcare.
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Just returned from taking care of GD for a week. She’s adorable. But did you know that once you’re over age 70, it seems like every one time you sit on the floor, it seems like you’re getting up five times? Oh, my knees!
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D1 just enrolled the 7 month old twins in a Covid vaccine trial for children age 6 months to 6 years. I think it’s for the Moderna vaccine. Twins are on the waiting list and haven’t gotten their first dose yet, but D1 can’t wait. She’s seen too many littles in ER who ended up in PICU with Covid.
In other news. Twin A is now crawling. She’s mobile and into everything. Her new favorite thing to do–crawl over to her sister and steal her toys. Doesn’t matter what toy it is or that A had no interest in the toy until her sister started playing with it, if B is playing with it, A wants it. The resource wars have begun…
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So much happy news here. Thanks for sharing!
My siblings/spouses are Nana and Mimi, Bapa, Grandpa, Papa, and Opop.
D and SIL were due in November, but unfortunately miscarried at about eight weeks. We’re all still sad, but grateful D is healthy. D and SIL (and H and I) know how very blessed we are to have two happy and healthy children/grandchildren, but would all be thrilled to add another little one to love. Early on, D asked GS (4) if he would like a new brother or sister. He said YES! but then got a very serious look on his face and asked, “Can we keep <Sister’s Name>?”
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Looking for advice and words of wisdom for my daughter and granddaughter. GD just turned 2 last month, and my daughter has some worries about possible anxiety with GD. She has been fearful of noises for a long time and now has more fears; from a fly being in the house, a dark room, as well as other things. She began biting her nails a few months ago, and doesn’t like change. SIL has always taken her to swim lessons, but my daughter took her today as SIL was not able. GD kept yelling, “Not daddy” during the lesson. GD also has some OCD tendencies-toys need to be in a certain order, but not all the times, doesn’t like to have dirty hands, worries when she spills, but at the same time is happy to throw food on the floor! She has always been a bit whiny, but I tend to compare her to my other GD that is 8 months old and a happy go lucky kids, so the comparisons aren’t really fair.
Some of GD’s fear might come from her severe food allergies. Last month she was in the ER 3 times in a 5 day period, one time EMS had to come to daycare for her. She keeps talking about the ambulance and fire trucks coming in her limited vocabulary. This was her 2nd EMS experience in the last few months; she remembers the previous one. The teacher that stayed with her until my daughter arrived, my GD is fearful of now. This is the same teacher she has had for 11 months. GD screams when she goes to the doctor, to the point my daughter can not have a conversation with the pediatrician.
Most of this is not unusual for a 2 year old, but my daughter doesn’t want it to get out of hand; she wants to be reassure this is normal, or how to help GD deal with her fears. She is going to call the pediatrician next week and see if she can get a consult visit or televisit without GD, so that she can talk without screaming. I don’t think a 2 year old needs therapy, but maybe the parents can learn techniques to help with the possible anxiety. While I would never say thing to my daughter, I wonder if she might be on the spectrum. She is very bright (says proud grandmother); she has known her letter, shapes, colors, and numbers for a good while now. She likes to read her books to herself, and while she has memorized the words, she still remembers them.
At this time I am only listening to my daughter as if I give advice, she can take it as criticizing. I am staying away from Googling, but would love to hear if anyone here has experience with a nervous toddler and suggestions.
I agree that she “could” be on the spectrum. She could have health issues causing her behaviors. She could have anxiety and/or OCD. Or she could be fine. What you describe would worry me, though, and I would think early intervention would be best if something is wrong. I usually err on the side of staying out of my kids’ business, but this is a time I would express concern. I wouldn’t say what I am worried it could be, I would just encourage my D to talk to her pediatrician about what has been going on.
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I hope the pediatrician will offer suggestions to help with your GD’s fears. I remember watching some Mr. Rogers’ shows when our S was little and had to make several trips in an ambulance. I don’t recall how much touched on ambulances specifically, but they did talk about helpers and how their equipment and uniforms can be scary, and he wanted to see them several times. We read some preschool books about the hospital and that seemed to help, too. He eventually overcame his fears and didn’t have problems with his doctors after that. Maybe you could buy some books for your GD and read them together, then recommend them to your D if they seem to help. Good luck!
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@snowball I think the severe food allergies really does have a big influence on the emotions of the family as well as the child’s fears. And the EMS and ER experiences. I think the telemed appt is a good thing, and I imagine the little family will work their way through this.
The two factors - severe food allergies, and resulting experiences - to me seem to be what may be affecting this 2 year old, as well as her parents’ anxieties.
Hopefully everyone’s anxieties will lessen.
Unless there is a lot of clear, abrupt changes and regression in many other things, IMHO I would not be concerned about being on the spectrum.
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I rushed through my original post as I was heading out, but wanted to add something as I hope I didn’t offend anyone. I have little knowledge of kids on the spectrum other than what I have seen here on CC and from a past coworker who’s daughter was diagnosed when she was 3. I just want to make sure that someone didn’t think that I believed just because GD had issues, I thought she was on the specturm.
@Silpat The returning toys wherever she saw them first is exactly what I noticed, although my daughter was already aware. I went to visit in March and was helping GD put her toys away. I put the crayon box one direction in the cubbie, GD came behind me and turned them in the other direction; she was 21 months at the time! She spilled water on her shirt once and insisted she was a mess; she wouldn’t finish her meal until the wet shirt was off.
My daughter talks to GD about her feeling a lot; I think it might be over kill. It is almost where GD is rewarded for her behavior as my daughter tells her it is ok to be scared. We did talk about taking her to the fire station to see a fire truck while not in a medical crisis. Daughter said GD would be terrified, and that might be true if an alarm goes off while there, but I thought if a fireman talked to her from a distance, and maybe she could touch the truck and put on a hat, just maybe she would come to understand after a few visits that they are not scary.
GD has a doctor’s kit and likes to listen to your heart and take your temperature, so either she doesn’t associate the equipment with what happens at the doctors, or is smart enough to know there isn’t a doctor in her house! She does have a book about the doctor’s office I think, but I will send some about fire trucks, ambulances and hospitals; good suggestion. She loves Peppa Pig and I bet there are Peppa books on the subject. I would think Daniel Tiger and The Berenstain Bears would have books also; off to check Amazon!
@SOSConcern You are correct that some of this stems from her parents anxieties. While my daughter has food allergies, my SIL has not had to witness her having an anaphylaxis reaction as she hasn’t had once since college. He was terrified when the allergies told them all she was allergic to and how to use the Epi-Pen. Both parents have a better handle and understanding now, but understandable, it was an adjustment for all at 8 months old.
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Last night while looking for toys for our GD I saw a set by Green Toys that contains an ambulance. Ambulance & Doctor's Kit – Green Toys eCommerce
Maybe playing with it might help her work through her scary memories if the adults focus on the people who helped her get well and the good outcome of that noisy trip to the hospital.
We paid several visits to the fire station after S’s trips to the ER. The first time we baked cookies to take there and talked about thanking the nice people who helped S. We always acknowledged fears, then tried to divert the focus to the people who helped and how he was all better because of them.
It’s hard to not be anxious, but we tried to hide it from our kids. When S went to a mothers morning out program, he was a little worried. I showed him the cell phone I bought so they could call me anywhere, but also reminded him how he’d been fine visiting friends and this would be the same. He was fine, but I spent the first morning within 5 minutes of the church just in case. 
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On a different note, are others seeing the little one getting sick since people are not wearing mask? Normal viruses that kids would pass around seemed to have been halted during the early part of the pandemic.
Both my GDs are in daycare/preschool in 2 different cities. One school has had norovirus and 2 bouts of croup within the last 3 months, the other had RSV. Luckily youngest GD didn’t get norovirus even though one of the kids with it was in her class. Seems babysitter brought the siblings to school knowing they were sick as she had to go to work; parents were out of town and she was keeping them. School closed for 2 days once they became aware.
D received a group email from a parent from her class asking all parents to be more vigilant about keeping sick kids home and all family members wearing mask. Parent stated that her family has been sick from all the illnesses going around and they could not continue this way. Now my daughter feels guilty that she sent GD to school Friday with what might have been the start of a cold. As GD has food allergies and most likely environmental allergies, sometimes it is hard to tell.
I do feel for these young parents trying to work from home and care for little ones; I truly don’t know how they get anything done! How easy it would be to send a mild sick child to school, just so you can get work done, or have a break; especially those without family nearby to help out.
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Yes - lots of illness going through GD’s daycare. The university where D is employed has 3 daycare locations adjacent to each other. GD’s group of toddlers has been hit hard by hand, foot & mouth disease and strep. GD ran a fever last weekend and broke out in the HFM rash before recovering quickly, but D & SIL ended up testing positive for strep this week and SIL has the HFM rash. The toddler group in one of the adjacent settings was all absent due to RSV about a week - 10 days ago. After hearing about that from D (daycare sent an email), I saw a segment about RSV running a bit wild on one of the nightly newscasts (either NBC or CBS).
I just spent the weekend with my GD, who is 6 months old now. She is sitting pretty well and is able to turn 360 degree while on her stomach, but she is not crawling yet. She is a very happy baby, always has a smile and hardly cries or complains. I can see she is trying to talk, but she is not making a lot of babbling sound.
They are trying solid food with GD now, but giving her a new food a day. I guess the latest thing is to let babies do self feed, which means a major mess. So far they have tried avocado, banana, peanut butter, egg, and mango. I heard peanut butter was a big hit.
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