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Symptoms of ADD in Toddlers

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) are generally associated with the school-aged child. However, signs of these disorders can also occur in infants and toddlers. These signs can aid caregivers in detecting problems as early as possible.

  1. The "Difficult" Baby

    • These children are often described as being "fussy" or "colicky." They may react strangely to sounds and textures, and can be difficult to soothe.

    Unpredictability

    • Toddlers with ADD may behave in very odd ways. For example, they may over-react to loud sounds.

    Emotional Reactions

    • These toddlers may be easily upset emotionally. They tend to cry often, and may throw tantrums when their smallest want is not immediately satisfied.

    Adaptive Behavior

    • Toddlers with ADD may have difficulty adapting to changes in their environment. They may not be able to tolerate even small changes in routines and activities.

    Object Permanence

    • They may be delayed in developing object permanence, which causes them to believe anything out of sight is gone forever. This can cause separation anxiety when parents leave the child with a caregiver.

    Other Signs

    • These toddlers may also be constantly moving, running and jumping a great deal, have difficulty getting to sleep, and be clumsy or accident-prone.

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