Can a 3Yr Old Have OCD??

I think it is normal, my kids do it, my son more than my daughter and some of my friend's kids do it too. I would just do the best you can to talk her through it and tell her that it is the same either way. When they are tired or upset it is harder to get them to listen but I choose my battles too. If I have made something or cut it already as you say about the strudel, I would just tell them that it is fine and the same as if you did not cut it. I would say I am not making a new one and wasting this one, you will eat this one or you get none and then walk away. don't play the game. they may sit there and cry but eventually they will eat it. after she eats it, tell her that next time you will try to remember not to cut it but that if you do, she will eat it anyway. Remind her that it tastes the same either way. I do think this is normal though.

Kim,
It sounds like normal 3 yo behavior to me with the exception, as O. poster mentioned, of if it disrupts her life completely. Lots of kids that age have little "weirdities" -- like food can't touch another food on the plate, certain foods only, etc. I'd keep an eye on it. Things that seem to be OCD can be a symptom of Aspergers or autism--not to alarm you--just to keep an eye on it.

This doesn't sound like OCD. It sounds like wanting to be in control. All toddlers go through it. It's annoying, yes, but it's normal.

I've countered it by letting my son feel like he's in control of these types of things (since they are "small" issues to me and don't really matter one way or the other - I won't let him decide large issues at this age, of course, since I'm the parent). I'll ask him, "do you want your sandwich in triangles, squares, or just in half?" and "which cereal do you want today?" and show him the choices. Making decisions lets him assert his independence and has really cut down on these fits. Though there are still a few things that *must* be done in the proper order or he gets a bit upset...but I think he (and most young children) just thrives on routine because they find comfort in knowing what's going to happen next.

Our son has OCD and issues peaked when he was around four. Your situation doesn't strike me as OCD, but it's hard to say. The big question is whether her concerns as so severe they affect your family's life. For instance, if we didn't tie our son's karate belt on absolutely evenly, he would go into hysterics and couldn't be calmed down for 1/2 an hour. He would end up missing class because he was so distraught and inconsolable. We also couldn't leave if we opened the garage door. He had to do it and he would close the door and reopen it. If we didn't let him, again, severe hysterics and we couldn't even get out of the house. Some kids are just very particular about how they want things done, but with OCD, it's like they can't move on, that they think the world is going to fall apart if things aren't done a particular way and only by redoing it the right way can they function.

Actually, this is totally natural. It is also natural for a toddler to like to line things up, like book or figures on a shelf, before going out or to bed. As already mentioned, if it starts to show an extreme anxiety level or interferes with normal life, then defintely get it checked.
When my girls were little, they would do the same thing. And Yes, milk first. Do NOT cut the sandwich the wrong way or the wrong size. Now I wish I could get them to line things up again--or at least pick things up without hounding. :)
BTW, my 22 month old daughter does not like certain foods touching other foods--like beans touching meat or rice. Shredded cheese must be on top of the food, not mixed in or she will not eat it.

I don't think those are OCD-related issues if I understand the disease correctly.

To me, it sounds more like her exerting her independence to have things the way she likes them.

OCD has two components: obsession and compulsion
wikipedia has a good definition of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive...

I think if it were more OCD, it would be more lining all the cars on a table in a certain order (blue then red then green) and being anxious when one gets out of order.

I'm convinced both my husband and I have OCD. I get fixated on things (noises particularly) and can't block them out - I obsess. He will drive by the house 2-3 times to make sure he put the garage door down (compulsion).

If you're concerned, I'd ask the pediatrician to do an evaluation.
But, I think it's more a control/independence things you're experiencing. We have a 3.5 year old who's pretty particular about things, too (like not having bubbles in the bathtub) and throws a fit if he doesn't get his way.

The important thing is to try not to give in. Easier said than done, right?

Oh my, I have a 2 yr old who I *just* said I think has OCD. I wonder back in the day when I was a kid (in my thirties) it would just be called 'fussy' but remember we live in the era of 'let's label everything and then medicate it!' Not to make light of it.. just to calm some worries. That said this seems like pretty standard behavior from what I've asked of friends with toddlers. Kids are more independent now and what better way to flex this than by insisting things get done their way? :) They like to assert themselves and test boundaries and your reactions. All pretty positive stuff I think.

My 2 yr old picks up lint, any speck of any fuzz, etc and runs it over to me (not DH, lol) and it's a little frustrating but endearing. He likes to run in circles around me when I wash dishes or blow dry my hair or stand at the sink and do makeup, etc. What else.. he seems to have little food rituals, etc. As long as it doesn't severely affect you and your family schedule, etc I would say don't panic just yet:) I am a neat freak but not OCD..though it's all perspective. My DH thinks I am OCD when it comes to my keeping things in order. I just like things a certain way:)

What she is doing sounds pretty normal. Lots of kids this age only want things a certain way. For instance I usually make lunch for my kids. If my husband makes lunch, of course it isn't going to be done exactly as I do. ie. sandwiches, fruit cut in a different way. They may say they won't eat it because it isn't "made right". Just say too bad this is how it was made. You can eat it or not. She may through a fit, but will learn to eat it the way it was made.

Maybe, but it sounds more like your toddler is becoming assertive and opinionated. My son has quirks also. For instance he refuses soggy cereal in the morning but not at night. He also does not like anything cut or broken unless he plans on doing it himself. I accidently cut his toast in half yesterday morning and he melted into the biggest tantrum ever. Some things he fought over (mostly food) have disappeared over time....or when daddy is home:)

I believe so. My daughter just turned 4 and was diagnosed with OCD. At first I thought she ws being picky and trying to manipulate me but I took her to a psychologist to evaluate her and was diagnosed with it. For example, we will go to a store and if she sees something out of place she tells me " mom, it's not right"... she'll put everything where it belongs and will not leave until "it's perfect". We could be there for 10 minutes until she sees that it looks good. She needs everything to match including her clothes, bedsheets, hair accesories, etc. If not she will freak. All her building blocks have to be color coordinated when she's building because if not she'll knock it down. If she's coloring or drawing and she comes out of the lines she will start crying. It was soo annoying to me because I didn't know she had a condition, I just thought she was being a brat. In the end, I took her to get evaluated and was told she had OCD. She only sees a good or a bad, not a happy medium like the rest of us which is why she gets soo upset when in her eyes something just isn't right. Even if its silly to us, to her it's serious. I hope this helps. If not, try googling OCD symptoms in toddlers.

can 3 year olds have ocd absolutely.. my friends son (age 14 now) had ocd symptoms from 1 year.. but was not diagnosed until 5 or 6.

But your child sounds normal.. this isnormal toddler behavior. my kids do it too.

I always say all toddlers are bipolar and they are.. it is nothing for a toddler to laugh 1 minute and cry the next.. thy have mood swings... normal for a toddler.. not normal for an adult..

this isa stage she is going through.. it will pass... the next stage might be better or worse..

Sounds like normal 3yo behavior to me! That's the age where kids start to understand that they have some control over their environment. My son did all sorts of things like that and now he's a normal 6yo.

The key here is.. DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! You shouldn't be going back and "fixing" the milk. You should just shrug your shoulders and say something like, "you can have it like that or not at all, it's your choice". If you keep fixing things the way she wants then she is in control. The same thing goes with kids that don't want to eat dinner, etc. I make one meal and my son either can eat it or go hungry. Once or twice he didn't eat a meal and then realized that it's not fun to go hungry. Be consistent and don't give in, your daughter is most likely fine. :)

As frustrating as it is, this sounds normal... my 3, now 4-yr old still pulls it every now and then. It's all about control. I tell her I'll try to do it the way she wants NEXT time, but for now, I usually give her the choice to eat it as it is, or skip it (and no replacements). This can bring on tears or temper tantrum, but better to get it over with in the short run. It will only get worse if you "cater" to unreasonable requests. To preempt the problem and offer her some control, I try to offer her choices ahead of time... "do you want your sandwich whole today, or cut in half, or in triangles... ?"
She's just testing. Be strong!

I think the definition of being 3 yrs old is the same as the definition of OCD. LOL . She's gaining independence and of course wants to be in control. I think this is all pretty normal. unfortunately, some kiddos display it more than others. I think if this were a 7 yr old, it would be something different, but I think this is fairly typical for the age. I think the big secret about 3 is that it is the HARDEST age of all sometimes. Hang in there, it should get better. Good luck!

What your daughter is doing may not be OCD, but in answer to your question, yes, a 3 year old can have OCD. And, OCD can be caused by a strep infection (you may have heard of PANDAS) even in the absence of strep symptoms. Here are links with a video and story about that:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/can-strep-infection-c...
http://healthbeat.yourtotalhealth.com/2009/09/dr-nancy-in...
And here is a discussion thread about getting OCD from strep without symptoms:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pschildmentl/?msg=25...

And here are two places with PANDAS forums:
www.pandasnetwork.org or www.latitudes.org (click on forums and there is a PANDAS forum there)

My son acts the same way and I think he is just being a toddler. He is being PICKY not OCD. Some people think that this can be diagnosed at this age but i am NOT one of those people. Dont worry about it soo much..This i say in the nicest way...i believe that she is a lil spoiled too. I say that cuz this is how my son acts and he is SPOILED ROTTEN..and i love him sooooo much. Hope this helps.

i dont think so, kids are picky sometimes, my son who will be 4 in may is the same way about "broken" food and will not eat it and cries until we get him a new one,obviously we cant fix a broken cereal bar...if you are concerned i would ask the dr but i think its just normal childhood issues...hope this helps!

nope shes just being 3.