“Tony is 2 and a half years now, both John and I are getting very worried as he will cry at the slightest scratch or bruise he gets while playing. We are not able to console him and the crying usually gets worse and ended up causing distress to all three of us. Shouldn’t a boy toddler like him be brave?” Jessie, 24 years
Dr. Stork says: Toddlers tend to cry at even the most minor injury such as a small scratch, an abrasion, or a tiny bruise.
In our house, I always had “the magic cream” (a mild antiseptic cream) on hand, and my children responded almost immediately to attention, reassurance, and a thin smear of the magic cream.
Sometimes I had to sit down with them, hold them close, give them a big cuddle, and make very sympathetic sounds to show them that I knew how much it was hurting or how frightened they were and many young children are terrified by the sight of blood. Comfort and the magic cream nearly always had a calming effect.
Whenever your crying toddler comes to you in distress crying over a small injury, be sympathetic. Say you know how much it’s hurting and don’t try to make him be brave. In a few moments he’ll skip off your knee and return to his play after a kiss to make it better, a cuddle, and a favorite drink or snack.
If necessary, put some interesting idea into your child’s mind to distract him from the injury, such as a special treat for tea, a special game with dad, a picnic, or an outing to a favorite place.
You may also want to visit:
Cultivate Positive Behavior in Your Child
Tips on Raising a Confident and Well-Adjusted Child