Need Help for Claustrophobic 1 Yr Old Son

It isn't unusal for children that age to have fears of different, unknown things. My 1 year old granddaughter loves watching tractors and trucks working on the road in front of the house (we have a huge road rebuilding project going on out front) but she screams if we try to get her to sit on the backhoe or bobcat with her grandpa, even though they are enclosed cabs. My oldest son was afraid of any loud sounds and had a horrible fear of heights. He outgrew it though.

My guess is when your son can start opening the doors himself (around 18 mo to 2 years) he will see he can control being shut in and he will feel more comfortable. Elevators are pretty scary for some, you go in this room, when the door opens, you are somewhere else but you didn't walk anywhere. Some love this. My granddaughter was 11 months old when my mother was in the hospital on the 10th floor and she would have me "walk" her around, leading the way back to the elevator each time. She surprised me that she knew right where the elevators were and insisted on going up and down them over and over. She would giggle each time the elevator would move cuz it tickled her tummy. So be patient, chances are he will change his likes and his fears many times over his childhood.

It sounds like a typical one year old thing to me. They tend to get upset when things don't go the way they expected. Even if he had been stuck in a small area and that freaked him out, he would not likely associate that feeling with every door. What he is probably upset with is the change of scenery. He could see everything, people, stuff, you and then this big thing blocked everything out. Kids this age have yet to develop "object permanence" so when something is out of sight, it doesn't exist anymore. This is why peek-a-boo seems to surprise them every time. He is responding to things changing before his eyes and it is probably more anger than fear. I would take this as a developmental milestone because he now notices his environment in a new way. He will get over this as his brain processes changes differently.

"Raising a Sensory Smart Child" I wish I would have had this book a long time ago. I'm not saying your child has a disability, but that we all interpret our environment differently, and we just need to be aware of those differences and do what we can to modify for it.

Let's not think about Claustrophobia, but rather about a solution:

If you haven't introduced him to 'Goodnight Moon' (doesn't every home have it?) go get it today. It will help him to start thinking less about the spaces he is in and more about the things in the space.

Spend time with him identifying things around every room he is in so he gets into the habit of redirecting his attention from his fears to the interesting world in which he lives.

Then, every time you head into a suspicious room (long before you get to the door) or space, start reciting the story 'Goodnight Moon'... "In the great green room, there was a telephone..." this will get him to think of the new unfamiliar places he goes as places that will have interesting things in them to look for (Will there be a telephone? Do you think we'll see a balloon?).

As soon as you walk through the door, start pointing out the interesting things in the room for him to direct his attention to.

This may take some time R., but it will be worth it.

R.,

I wouldn't go self-diagnosing your son as claustrophobic. One year olds have really quirky fears. All my kids have been terrified of swimming pools and car washes at age 1. By age 2 they love both. I have friends whose kids were terrified of people in hats, with glasses or beards. It is just how one year olds are.

Keep exposing him. It is the best way to get him over it. He will realize that elevators are fun. He will be more comfortable exploring new places. He probably doesn't like the door to his room shut because he can't get out by himself. Don't overreact/oversympathize/avoid the situations or he gets the idea that these things are scary. I had a friend whose 1 year old was afraid of the car wash. She protected her child from the experience and 5 years later, the child still throws a huge tantrum at the prospect of driving through the car wash. She always gets some kind of special priviledge or reward or mom agrees to something she just said no to in order to thrwart the tantrum.

Children are resilient. It does them no good to be coddled and protected from the normal, everyday things of life. Just be there for him, don't overdo it and he will get over his fears.

Good luck,
S.

My daughter used to be the same way in elevators until she was around 4 or so, I would have to hold her. She would also scream getting onto a plane (fun!) - she would stop once she was in her car seat on the plane.
I would not let it bother you, just don't react except to hold him or calm him, esp after he closes himself in his room. We have foam door stops on our doors to keep them from closing - mainly because they will blow shut or the cat will close them.
He is becoming more aware of his surroundings - which is a good thing!

Best wishes!

I think at the tender age of 1 that all kids are especially sensitive to their surroundings. Was he ever in an elevator before that time and have the same reaction or was this the first time? Have you talked to h is pediatrician about this issue? If my kids are around something new, a new place or new people they're very shy and sometimes start crying, too. I hoped I helped a little bit.

Brings back memories! My son was pretty nerve-wracked when a door closed. He was a bit older - nearer 18 months. He had been in a home day care for two months and we noticed the 'door issue'. True, could have been normal development, but we saw it as complete panic to ANY closed door - and feel that it was day care initiated. Bathroom, bedroom, closet, even the front door to our home. When at the clinic, the docs and nurses would leave the door open a crack - and smile about it - but it drove us mad. I think it lasted until he was nearly three - and at another childcare center - before he adjusted a bit. To this day - he's eight - he chooses to leave doors open - but doesn't panic. Probably more of habit than anything else. And in crowds - all three of my children react. So probably normal, too? I don't leave them in a stroller in a crowd - rather carry them or leave the stroller behind. My four year old chooses the cart - and every now and then, so does the eight year old - personally - imagine walking amidst legs or 'bottoms' at your eye level? Seems once they are at 'head level' by being carried, the panic leaves. (Less easy with three children.) We also had a 'stair' issue. Any steps or stairs were a total nightmare. We think there was an issue of sorts with the home day care - but not certain. And - if so, was it something he would have remembered at that tender age? It does sound like your son is more fearful that he's closed doors to places on his own - and even the sound of the door shutting is a reminder that he's done it again ;) - and he'll probably figure that out... sort of like pinching fingers in a drawer - seems they all 'need to' do it once - and then those little fingers curl away on their own. No matter how much we intervene and 'help' them shut the drawer, they 'get it' on their own.