Behavior Changes in Toddlers to Look For

Activity Level Changes

• Changes in activity level may be a cause for concern, according to an article on the KidsHealth website. If your toddler is experiencing physical or emotional distress, she may become markedly less active. By contrast, she may become noticeably hyperactive, inattentive or nervous if she's suffering from anxiety. If traumatized, she may develop phobias, such as fear of certain toys or places, according to Madeline Vann, who has a master's in public health from Tulane University, writing on the everyday health website. Look for an increase of physical complaints such as headache or stomachaches and discuss these issues with your pediatrician.

Changes in Habits

• Even at an early age, your child has set patterns of behavior in areas such as eating, sleeping and response to new things. Sudden, drastic changes in habits may be a sign that something is wrong, according to an article on the KidsHealth website. If your child is usually a hearty eater, for example, and he suddenly refuses to eat anything, this is a cause for concern. He may be experiencing anything from gastric upset to depression, so it's important to discuss these changes with his pediatrician. Note any revisions to earlier behavior, such as if your potty-trained 3-year-old begins having trouble controlling his bowels, according to an article on the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension website.

Changes in Sociability

• Social withdrawal or isolation are causes for concern according to the KidsHealth and the everyday health articles. Sometimes, the cause is obvious, as when bullying is witnessed among playmates; however, sometimes a cause is not apparent. A child in trouble may become less interested in activities that used to excite her, or she may simply withdraw from anything social. Look for signs of distress, such as crying or struggling, and when these behaviors arise. If your child suddenly has a hard time separating from you and this behavior persists for months, talk to your pediatrician.

Acting Out Behaviors

• Toddlers in distress may show dramatic personality changes such as becoming excessively angry, according to an article on the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension website. Look for extreme disobedience that persists over several weeks and is different than what has been typical for your toddler. A toddlers who has been physically abused will sometimes hit himself or may say the word, "bad," and point to himself or others. Behaviors such as fear of going to bed, or screaming or crying when left with a babysitter, should be discussed with a pediatrician.