my nearly three year old is frightenend of his own shadow! My mum drew a pic of an elephant on the board yesterday and he cried until she wiped it off. The only halloween outfit he will look at is a hairband with two bouncy ghosts sticking out the top from tesco. I asked him if he would like to dress up as a spider or pumpkin this year and he was not impressed at all. Its prob that bloody frankenstein man in asda...you know tha huge lifesize battery operated one at the end of the aisle. He walked past it and it moved and made noises.....he just shot off hysterical. Poor little thing. He never used to be a scaredy cat, but he hates ducks, dogs, cats, rabbits etc. I just try not to make a fuss about it. He isnt as bad with the hoover now.

Sounds exactly like Thomas - forgot about the hand dryers in the toilets and the drill when we do diy (not much of that in our house though lol) - when I think about it the list is quite long.  I find it odd because they are everyday noises that he should be used to - hope this 'phase' comes to an end soon

I have the same problem with my little boy and have done for about a year.  He doesn't like the vaccum cleaner, mower, drills and even hand dryers in the toilets he has to check they are not on before we go in the toilet.

I spoke to my health visitor regarding it and it is very common at this age as they have very sensitive ears.  Hopefully they will grow out of it.

Pinky, just re-read your post. 

My brother had a speech problem and had speech therapy at 3 years old.  By the time he went to school he was talking just the same as everybody else.  I'm sure Toby's speech will improve x

Thanks for your replies ladies.  I've heard of sensitive hearing before but not sure if it's a medical thing or just a label for people who don't like noise? 

Thomas had his hearing tested at 2 days old with the new headphone thing - no problems detected but I suppose problems can arise.

We work round it as best we can - hoover at night, close all the doors when I'm drying my hair etc. but it's not always easy.  If we do have to hoover while he's around, when he  eventually calms down he'll repeat for ages "Thomas not like hoover". 

We went to Woolies the other week and didn't make it through the door - they had a bouncy castle right at the entrance and he was hysterical at the noise - it can really limit us.

I will speak to the HV and see what she says.

Thanks again x

my son doesn't like noises not as bad as yours but will turn the hoover down, put his hands over his ears hates fireworks, and although love looking at airplanes is woken up very easily when they fly over at night. toby has a speech problem and because of this had his hearing tested, his hearing is 100% fine so no other reason for it but i guess it is just something he doesn't like and will grow out of or will just learn it is life. i would certainly get his hearing checked, without a doubt just so you can rule it out, there might not be anything wrong but when it is hearing there isn't much you can do about it until you know. all they did at the hospital was put headphones on and toby listern to all different sounds and pitches and then they did some other tests to check the ear drum etc. each time we have gone toby has had a cold so the sounds were rebounding from his ear drum before going to the brain which might point out something with his speech but we are waiting to go back without a cold just to double check again. best of luck xx

Poor wee soul that must be horrible for him. I would deffo speak to your hv. Maybe he has got sensitive hearing and loud things are hurting his ears. (i have no idea if that can happen, just sounds like it could be something like that)

We went through a stage of this with dd, but not as bad.  It seemed to be horns. dogs barking, hoover etc but not to the extent of your lo.  I think after a year of this, I would try speaking to hv or someone. 

Not sure I have any advice for you other than to have a chat with your health visitor and see what she says.  It could well be a phase but equally may signify something - although no idea what that might be!  Not meaning to worry you as I'm sure it's one of those things (my ds1 went through a vomiting phase when he was 2 for about 4 - 5 months, would throw up on demand (his own demand, obviously!) and it stopped as suddenly as it had started) but it is worth checking these things out early in case it is something that can be helped. 

Hi, just wondered if anybody has experience of this.  My ds will be 3 in 6 weeks.  For the past year he has been terrified of household noises such as the hoover, hairdryer, lawnmower, bathroom extractor etc.  It's at the stage where if I open the cupboard door to get the hoover out he goes hysterical - goes rigid, screams, crys, shouts 'no mummy' etc..  He is the same with all the other stuff - he only has to see the hairdryer in my hand or the shed door open and we have the same outcome. 

He also seems very sensitive to outside situations aswell - for example we can't guarantee if we go shopping or to a restaurant/cafe etc. that he will actually go through the door.

A couple of weekends ago we stayed overnight at a hotel and although he was fine with the room he spotted a hoover in reception (not being used) and we had real trouble getting him to come out of the room after that.

He's ok in all other areas, speech, walking, etc.

The problem just seems to be getting worse not better - do you think after a year of this, it's still just a stage he's going through or do you think I need to get it investigated?

Thanks x