I think my 21 month old may have ADD or ADHD. Anyone with this kind of experience to offer advice?

Question

First of all he runs around like crazy. All the time. If he's awake he's running around. He's also got a habit of climbing everything. I mean people, tables, chairs, on the counters, dishwasher, stove, he love to climb and I'm afraid he's going to get hurt. Not only does he like to climb but he likes to jump. He will just get on the bed and jump in the floor. He will laugh and do it again. I can't keep him interested i anything more than 5 minutes. He won't watch tv, he won't play a game unless it involves wreslting around and even if it don't, he adds it in with pushing and grabbing, and he seems so hyper. He is also whiny. He will fuss over everything. He hardly eats. I think he may have milk allergy o lactose prblem, but still looking in to it. Does it sound like e has an add problem? It's jsut that I read things online about it and he fits like every line of the toddler add/ Any advice?

he can say uh huh, yeah, dad, choo choo, grammy, and god. he won't say mom or anything else.

his diet is not the problem. He is more or less a vegetarian meaning he will rarely eat meat. He loves fruits and thats just about all he eats along with potatoes. He dosn't get a lot of sugars his fruit is al natural. He doesn't get junk food or candy on a regular basis.

Answer 1

It's too early to tell. Does he talk? If not you should have him evaluated by the local Early Start program.

Answer 2

I think that you may be overreacting, when you should just be reacting and correcting. First, I believe that you need to evaluate his diet. Children should not have a lot of high fructose syrup in their diets. Thus eliminate all of the sugary drinks and snacks. I would also monitor the carbohydrates because they do breakdown into sugar over a period of time. Second, I do believe that children at every age get a great sense of security from discipline. You should make sure to get on level, and make sure that there are immediate consequences for his actions. You should not feel like your child should fit into some mode, and don't go and have a doctor put him on medication when this the normal time for having a ton of energy and jumping around. If the people prescribed drugs for us the way that they prescribe drugs for children now, we would all be walking zombies with no creativity or imagination.

Answer 3

He's 21 months old and a boy to boot! I honestly think ADD is over-diagnosed...my son is 3 1/2 and just recently started getting interested in watching tv, and he still only pays attention to it once in a while...He may be sensitive to Red dyes that are in many types of food/drinks...Sounds like you just have a VERY active toddler on your hands. Personally, I don't believe you can truly diagnose a child w/ ADD until they are closer to school age. The fact that he shows interest in things at all, 5 minutes or not, is a good sign...If you don't want him to climb things, it will be up to you to get him to stop...I know it's frustrating, but you'll have to stay on it...every time you catch him doing something like tell him no and put him in time out for 1.5 mins...if you're not a fan of time out, use some other form of discipline...he'll figure it out soon enough...unfortunately, at this age they LOVE to see what they can get away with! Hang in there, don't rush into an ADD diagnosis, he sounds like a normal kid to me! Good luck!!

Answer 4

Hi there,
As a mother and a nurse I have honestly never heard of a child that age actually being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. You simply may have a very bright and busy little boy on your hands..they don't call them the "terrible two's" for nothing! Have you thought about dietary factors, such as sugar and caffiene? These can really do a number on small kids! You sound like a wonderful and caring mother and I'm sorry you're going through a tough time. I had one like that and he grew up to be the most responsible and stable kid ever! Good luck and hang in there!
Mel

Answer 5

Well..I have a nine year old that is ADD and your son sounds just like him at that age. We could never leave the house because he was always doing something he shouldn't, I became a hermit and fat..lol.
I also have a 2 year old now...who doesn't act anything like that. He watches TV..plays games with me..says the alphabet..is loving..all of which my other son would never do when he was 2 or 3 or 4..he about drove me crazy. I just recently let the doctor put him on medicine..he is getting better everyday. So, be patient and good luck!!

Answer 6

You can bring up concern, and really you should, with your pediatrician. It may be something in his diet that is really winding him up. There are lots of things our bodies convert to sugar and it sounds to me like your son's body is doing a fantastic job of it.
ADD and ADHD are not diagnosis you or anyone on this site that hasn't professionally checked and monitored your son should do. Please do not get caught up in the hype and hysteria of these two conditions. It is just too early to tell in your child at 21 months.
Try to engage his behavior, your son 'wrestles' because he has seen it, or it is something he has had done to him, only now that he is bigger he can do it back more. Find activities that can soothe him. It maybe a lot of hit-and-misses but the search is part of the learning experiance
My youngest daughter who is now 11 used to jump on her bed, run around like crazy and always be full of energy too. A few trips to the O.R for stitches and a hobby with dinosaurs and dragons have calmed her down. She has also developed a great love reading. So trust me, they do change modes often in their young lives.
Sat

Answer 7

Infancy/Late Infancy

Problems sleeping through the night
Short, sporadic naps during the day
Excessive crying/colic
Ear infections/allergies/asthma
Not interested in being held
Content when put down
Difficulty bonding
Cries when held
Rapid or delayed milestones
Irritable in high stimulus settings
Irritable when routine changed


Toddler

Does not respond to normal behavioral controls
Difficulty in sharing/taking turns
Inability to sit still or sustain attention (Normal attention span for this age would be 7-9 minutes)
High incident of falling or accidents
Clumsiness
Can be destructive with toys
Trouble with playing with other children, higher incidence of biting, kicking or pushing playmates
Does not like to be read to
Fidgets when restrained or help for more than a few minutes
Can act as if driven by a motor

Preschool

Always in motion
Inability to sit still or sustain attention (normal attention span for this age would be 9-15 minutes)
Clumsiness
Coordination problems or delays
Difficulty following directions
Seem as if they are not paying attention
Impulsive: grabs toys, acts before thinking
Difficulty sharing and taking turns
Trouble waiting turn or standing in line
Inappropriate touching, poking of other children or intruding on other’s personal space
Bed-wetting
Interrupts often
Can be aggressive: hitting, kicking or biting playmates
Forgetful



http://www.addvice.co.uk/

this site above talks all about ADD. i hope it helps you!



lizziey

Answer 8

I would definitely look into the foods he is eating. I know you said he won't hardly eat anything, but he obviously is getting plenty of unwanted energy from something. Yes a milk allergy can make them act "wild". I have seen this numerous times and soy products help and also organic foods, watch out for white bleached flour, go more towards whole grain flour products. Somthing in white flour and bleached flour is making our children act like this. Talk with a doctor, but try to avoid synthetic drugs... PLEASE! For your childs sake these drugs have many side affects and affect the kidney and liver in unhealthy manner. Stay away from sugar and many starches, such as potatoes, noodles, etc. as they turn to sugar on the humans stomach. Check out the web sight I listed below.

Answer 9

I would get him tested to see if he has allergies . I heard that can cause alot of ADD signs. I believe my son has ADD . He is 4 yrs old. My Dr told me he wont test him to age 5. He is very wild like that as well and cant focas. My hubby as well as some of his family member have ADD. I wount though put him on meds . I think he is way to young and will do everything I can to prevent that . I have though took up his sugar intake . I ended up doing research online

Answer 10

21 months is to young to determine ADD or ADHD. Around age 5 or 6 is when they really begin to test for it. I would just try to bring him outside a lot to get that energy out.

Answer 11

he sounds like normal toddler to me i say don't label your child as ADD or ADHD too soon i say wait until 3rd grade or so then they have had time to adjust to school and other activities they may be in if your worried when he starts school that he has too much energy i say have him join a sport to burn some of the extra energy