Can a Toddler Be Bi-polar??

Hi K.. I just took my son for an evaluation yesterday because I thought he was bi-polar or ADHD. And I was told that they can have the symptoms of the disorders but they can not be diagnosed with it until they are around 5 years of age. My son acts the same way sometimes he is even agressive. I was told it has to do with his age and his enviroment, like what he sees or hears or just how people act. I hope this helps.

K., I have to admit, I'm laughing a bit at your question. : ) Not at you, though! I'm laughing because it really is hard to tell sometimes, isn't it? My son is nearly 3 and he has LOTS of "3 or nearly 3" friends we're around frequently and I can totally relate!

What may be causing these episodes is her inability to accept change. Maybe you (and the other adults in her life) can help her adjust to these transitions by announcing "After we finish breakfast, we'll brush our teeth, put our shoes and coats on and then we'll get in the car to go to day care". Or try a Morning Chart with pictures (bowl of cereal and fruit, toothbrush/paste, shoes, coat, car, school) that she can adhere stickers to when it's done.

The daycare provider can gear her up for your arrival about 15 minutes before you're expected, then you can have a little laminated sheet in the car for what she can expect on the way home. For the time being, I'd limit errands on the way home until she can more calmly accept the "regular" transitions. Sometimes just getting in and out of the car seat frequently can be more transition than little ones can accept easily.

I saw the idea for a super cool laminated Evening Chart in Parents magazine. If you subscribe, take a look at the last 2 issues. If you can't find it or don't subscribe, let me know and I'll give you more details--it was an awesome idea and really helped this woman with her son's night time routine.

D.

Hi K.,
I have to agree with some of the other moms who say it sounds like terrible 2's. I have 5 children and 4 of them are girls. Not all my girls have hit that stage at the same time but they have all hit it at one point except for my one year old, I still have hers to look forward to...lol. I will have my easy going baby one day and a temper tantrum throwing toddler the next and usually there's no warning. They want to push their boundries, see what they can get away with and I have found the more I react to the change the more they will do it. If you don't see it getting better or are extremely worried I would contact her doctor but I really think you're just dealing with a 2 year old trying to get attention in a different way....good luck...it doesn't last forever. :)

It can't hurt to check with your doctor, but my guess is it's probably more properly labele the "terrible two disorder". I think as time evolves this period is getting longer and more intense. My youngest just turned two and I can't tell you how often my mother tells me that none of us kids ever acted that way (i.e., screaming, kicking, crying, to laughing, hugging, smiling) I can see how the mood changes could relate to a bi-polar disorder. Hopefully your child is like most other 2 year olds who will grow out of the phase by the time she turns 3 or 3.5. I started introducing time outs for all inappropriate behavior at age 2 - I give a warning first - then the time out 2nd time ...and it is working. Best of Luck to you. Patience:)

I would start keeping written track of when this is happening and what exactly she is doing for maybe 2 weeks, maybe it will help you pinpoint why. I would then contact your pediatrician and make an appointment to discuss it with them in detail. This could be blood sugar related as well which will highly effect mood swings.

Wouldn't hurt to do some research online either.

Good luck!

Dear K.,

I also was young when I had my daughter and waited several years to have my second child (almost 13 years). Could some of these things you see in your younger child be because she has a teenage sister? I know in my case, my son is like that also (moody one minute...sweet the next) and I credit it to having a moody teenage sister. My daughter is a great person but most teenagers does have an "attitude".He already has the "teenage mentality" because of growing up around it. I'm not sure if this helps you at all, but I thought I'd share my experience with you just in case it might help.

L.

i dont like to automatically think the worse, but if this behavior is recent maybe something happened to her. is she around new people, did she see something bad or scarey.

i always ask my daughter questions, seemingly out of the blue and in very friendly and funny ways. but she is 4 so she can talk and tell me things. when she was 2 it was harder to get info from her.

i just know that when my nephew was 2ish, he had a "mysterious" thing happen at his babysitter, and unknowingly my sister was driving him to the sitter the next day and he realized where he was going and FREAKED OUT... its the only way he knew how to communicate. needless to say with the mysterious bruise on his temple and his reaction, she never took him back again.

i could be completely wrong and i dont want to jump the gun.. i also dont think all bad behavior is a disease. maybe she is just frustrated. i know that my daughter used to have a "meltdown" EVERY day when we came home for the day.. and then that phase went away (now we have new ones :)

good luck

Gosh, I just don't know. I would ask your ped about this. Two is a difficult time and there is a normal amount of mood swings, especially for girls. I was just talking to my neighbor this morning about her three year old daughter, who went from very angry and screaming, to happy, back to angry, (and then she fell on the sidewalk, so then sad)in a span of fifteen minutes, seemingly without provocation. She has played at my house a number of times, and as far as I know she is fine. My next door neighbor's daughter is often cranky and surly too, but can be nice when motivated. I would be more suspicious if there is any history of mental illness in your or your husband's families. Call your ped. That's what I would do.

K., if you daughter is bipolar then my two and a half years olds are as well, and since i doubt that, i'd say no.
i think it's terrible twos headed towards the fun threes when they start testing their boundaries.
i thought we were done with temper tantrums. well, we're not, it's just a new level of furstration they experience or not, but they do test me the same way your daughter seems to be doing, like on daily basis.

how about i want blue sippy cup, ok here it is NJOOOOO AND sippy cup thrown to the wall. . .I WANT ORANGE ONE. i used to give in i am not doing it anymore. when they start screaming i get down so we're of the same height and i say talk to me, what's wrong and if they continue screaming i calmly take them by the hand and take them to the crying corner, i get down to their level again and i say when you're ready to talk to mami i will be here/. they cry for a bit then they stop then i ask them to apologize and then lo and behold in swetest voice ever they say mami i need orange sippy cup.
mine also say i don't want to go to mrs. jennifer (teacher at their preschool), or when we're headed towards our house they start screaming i don't want to go to mami's house.
why?
i don't know, but i don't think i care. they can cry if they want to i will respond to good behavior.
also, and lastly it is so early to diagnose anything and please do not get into it right now, not now not anytime soon.
good luck
vlora

If someone suggests that your toddler is bi-polar, pick your toddler up and head straight for the exit. She's a toddler! And every child is different. So the way your 13-year-old was when she was two is different from this child.

I'd make a chart of what happens directly before these tantrums, to figure out what sets her off. She may be more sensitive to transitions than your other child. She may be slower to talk (that doesn't mean "slow to talk" or "needs speech therapy") and so more easily frustrated. She could be overtired. She could need an earlier bedtime.

But I think that anyone who tries to diagnose a two-year-old with a mood disorder needs to turn in his license and back away from the children.

I honestly think your daughters age has something to do with her behavior. I have a son that just turned two and he acts very similar to this. He will be very happy one minute, playing with his toys or his brother and then just start throwing toys or hitting his brother and screaming shut up, and get away from me. Then within minutes he is back to playing with his toys or giving his brother a hug and telling him he loves him. When he acts this way I try to ignore his behavior unless he is hurting his brother. Since I have been doing this I have noticed a decress in the behavior. Hope this was of some help to you.

if you have any doubts or anything call your ped and get here evaulated. IF you still want to know if everything is ok call your local childrens hosptial which should have a developmental unit and talk to them about it> They will scedule an evaulation and from there you can get cousloring or anything else you may need. My son has Destructive disburtbance disorder with sypmtoms of ADHD and he just turned 3. I have known something was wrong with him since he turned 1. He just isnt your normal 3 year old. He loves to hurt you and laughs when he does. He tortures his older sister more than a little brother should. We had to go through those channels. Right now we were refered to Family Links and are awaiting an appointment with them. I would get her evaulated if you think there is a problem.

This is normal cranky toddler behavior. We are in a society where everytime we run into a simple problem, we want to get a diagnosis and a pill to cure it. Pay attention to what you child is trying to tell you. She is probably over tired or something. Her schedule doesn't work for her. Too many hours in daycare perhaps?

K.-
It is possible for infants and toddlers to show bipolar tendencies. It is possible for them to HAVE bipolar. But unfortunately it is next to impossible to diagnose bipolar until the child can hold a conversation basically.

My ex-husband is bipolar and both sides of the family have mental health history. Both of my kids have exhibited the extreme behavior, but I have never had either one tested. We just rode it out. I don't want my kids on medication, I don't believe in that unless it's a severe case. But my son has gotten "better" as he's gotten older, his behavior has calmed down and now he jusr seems REALLY active, he can't sit still!!

Watch her and do some internet research to better understand things. It very well could just be that "terrible two" stage.

Good luck to you!!

K., not sure but I wanted to tell you that I remember when I was that age (2 and up) that I had the most terrible anxiety and did not get treated for it until I was 20. I can clearly remember being sad, upset, depressed, uncommunicative and angry. Even at 2-3 years old. I have an impressive memory for remembering that far back.
Hope that helps