Scared of noises when she can't see the source?

[sunfish21]

My DD is 25 months and a fairly assertive, intelligent child. We live in the woods and spend a lot of time watching birds, squirrels, etc... Lately she has become quite afraid of three things: woodpeckers, owls and trains. The only common denominator that I am thinking of is that she hears them and can't see them. Other birds are fine and we live near the airport and the planes don't bother her; in fact, she loves them. She has seen "Thomas the Train" and likes it--but my trying to reasons with her doesn't get far!

I am trying to balance respecting her feelings with encouraging her to not be afraid, explaining why she is ok (ex: the train is outside, we are inside....) but nothing works. She will cover her face, ask me to hold her or lay down on the floor when she hears them. I would guess this is a stage but does anyone have advice as to how to respond to her?

[prothyraia]

I haven't run into this one, but brainstorming here.... maybe you could cut out pictures of those things (or use toy birds/trains) and bring them out when she hears the sounds, while you're snuggling. You could also encourage her to pretend to be the owl/train/woodpecker/whatever during times when she's not hearing them.

[elmh23]

It's a stage. My ds went through it and it lasted a long time. For him, it was airplanes, which really sucked because we live under a landing pattern and near an Air Force base that is constantly flying low aircrafts over us.

What worked for us was to snuggle (when he'd allow it) and then go look for the sound. If we were inside, then we'd go out and try to find the plane.

[Bea]

My son did this and sometimes still does.

I give hugs as required by him, explain what the noise was (if I can. Sometimes it's a one off that I didn't hear) tell him it's fine and Mommy's here if he's worried.

Unexpected noises still startle him sometimes at almost 3 but as often as not, he comes thundering, panicked through the house to tell me "X noise scared me" and that's the end of the upset. Just finding me (20 feet away) allows for enough time to pass so the sound registers as "that was a banging water pipe".

Then he wanders off as if he only came to tell me as a point of interest

[Theia]

My DD is the same age and she does this as well. She usually looks to me to see my response and I try to offer her a reason as well as comfort with the "noise", but usually if its especially loud or strange, she comes running to me before I can respond and I have to calm her down. I talk about it for a bit while holding/comforting her, and then I slowly change the subject. We usually bring it up again later in conversation and such and she will usually come to accept the "unknown noise" because Mama is OK with it.