Worried!

[Izzywizzysmummy]

Hi all,

I'm racking my brains thinking what to do about this, and I'm just not sure!

Isabelle (who's 3) has developed a complete fear of flies, wasps, bees - anything that flies!! Oh, also spiders too! She was always a bit iffy about them then last week she was in her buggy and a massive bee (queen maybe) flew into her hair - didn't do her any harm but obviously was buzzing in her ear before it flew away. She was horrified and now, since then, anything flying around her has her in hysterics! We were at friends at the weekend and she saw a bee in the garden and taht was it! Wouldn't let me put her down just wanted to go inside and wouldb't calm down!

Took her to her favourite park this afternoon, saw a little gnat thing flying around, hysterical again! She loves the park so it must be bad.

I just don't know what to do! I'm telling her that there's nothing to be scared of and trying to play it down but other than cuddling her and trying to ease her, what else can I do! THere's no way we can avoid them, they are everywhere! What a summer it's gonna be!!

Is this normal? Do I need to take her to the doctor?

Any advice whatsoever would be much appreciated! Thank you x

[rachaelmae]

Yeah all normal

I do the soothing sounds and verbal reassurance then carry on with what i am doing and ignore the drama, and then every few mins reassure her again.

We also catch creatures in a jar so she can look at them in close without the fluttering! A trip to the giant butterfly farm cured Olivia x

I think its the flying things that scares them alot xx

[Izzywizzysmummy]

Thanks Rachael! Glad to hear it's normal!

She goes hysterical and wants picking up (literally hanging off me to be picked up) then once picked up wont let me put her down or anything just screams and wants to go inside. I've given in and gone inside - which is probably the worse thing to do hey! We were at the park so just took her back to the car cos everyone was looking!

Great idea about catching bugs in jars! Will defo do that. Also a butterfly farm sounds brilliant too - not sure if there is one round here, will google it and have a look.

Thanks again

[rachaelmae]

We go to the butterfly farm at stratford upon avon (dont know where you are) its brilliant.

Never pick them up LOL then you cant put them down

Talk about them, point them out in garden when your inside and shes calm.

good luckxx it does pass, honest!!

[Izzywizzysmummy]

Thanks so much Rachael, cant tell you how good it is to hear it's normal & that it will pass! and ideas to tackle it!

I'm on the East Kent Coast and looked up a butterfly farm not too far away so will give that a go.

Did a google search on it and a phD type doctor suggested getting a book about bugs so that they learn about them too - so looking up some bug books too!

Fingers crossed!

Thanks again for your advice xxx

[Bubba82]

Mia doesn't like spiders but I just tell her "spiders are our friends they don't hurt us"

What about showing her critters don't hurt by letting a ladybird crawl over your hand and reassure her that insects are our friends, well except for wasps then ruuuuuuuuun explain to her how bees make us honey, good idea about the book & critter jar like RM said xx

[Tam]

Lily-Bea is the same with flying beasties, she sobs and cries too
I just do as Rach suggested, Hugs and soothing words and that seems to do the trick.
I take her out in the garden and look for bugs and beasties with a magnifying glass, we find LOADS in the garden and she has gotten a lot better!

We look for butterflies in the summer and bees too but she still gets upset when they fly too close to her

[EvansMum]

What about watrying to watch films like The Bee Movie or a Bugs Life??? That might help to show that insects arent scary.