New daycare toddler shakes often....

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Should I be watching for something specific?

Obviously, I asked mom, and she said she only noticed it this week.  She started coming the same day Mom noticed the shaking.  But, she was shaking before she came to my house, so I don't think it's Only starting daycare.

She's almost 2 years old.

She doesn't eat when the other kids eat.  She gets upset and refuses to eat.  But, I can get her to eat about an hour later.  I pretty much give her whatever I think she'll eat.  So, she doesn't always eat WHAT the other kids eat.

Her mood is HORRENDOUS until I get her to eat, then she feels good and happy.  I'd obviously feed her earlier, but she just will not eat.  I will work on her following our schedule soon, but right now, this is how she wants to do it.  It's her first week, so once she adjusts she'll probably eat with the others.

She only shakes from the waist up.  Her hands and arms shake the most.  It's very hard for her to reach for something.  It reminds me of a weakness or shivering, more than an involuntary shaking.  

It's been very cold here this week.  Much colder than we are used to.  I think the high was 43 degrees outside yesterday.. but, I have the heater on inside.

She falls several times a day.  Over nothing usually, she just falls down.  Her Mom warned me in advance that she falls a lot.  

She can't sit on the floor, she can sit in a chair, or lay down.... but, if she tried to sit on the floor, she just crumples all the way over.  So, she's lying down a lot.  She can't sit at our picnic table yet, because she can't get herself in it.  But, if I put her on a stool, she sits perfectly. 

She's verbal, knows her colors, knows her written name, counts to at least seven, and can tell me when to change her diaper.  It's just this weird shaking and weakness.  

[sapphire_chan]

The first question that comes to mind is does she have any other motor weakness? Trouble carrying things the other kids manage with no problem, difficulty standing up again after squatting down, that sort of thing.

This file might be helpful to you.

This site too.

Stuttering and shakiness are normal on a temporary basis around age 3, but I don't think falling over when sitting is a good sign at any age after 12 months or so.

And this sign http://www.therapies4kids.com/therapies-4-kids-info/developmental-milestones.html specifically has falling often when walking as a red flag for 2 year olds.

[LROM]

So, looking at PP's links, I'd definitely ask mom what she's done to look into the shaking, what her theories are, does her daughter have a diagnosis?  If none of the above, share what you've read and offer mom some online resources to check out?

I definitely think flagging for mom that it may be nothing but is definitely not something you've seen and you want to understand as much as possible about this particular child so you can serve her better... that all seems like a good proactive way to engage mom about it if she hasn't done more looking into it.

Sounds like mom was proactive about telling you about it... that's a good sign.

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We talked a little about it today.  She just wants to watch to see if it's not just teething, or an illness, or perhaps she is honestly cold.  Since it just started this week (the shaking) I think she's not too worried.

I'll have to pay closer attention to her motor skills this week and next week.  So far, she's not acting like she normally would act.  She's worried about the other kids touching her stuffed bear.  She spends a lot of time protecting that.

I did notice though (and It bothers me quite a bit)  She CAN sit on the floor, but only if she W sits.  Which isn't a good sign.  

Thanks so much for those links.  I'm going to bookmark them and keep them for a few weeks.

Edited by nextcommercial - 2/3/11 at 4:00pm

[pianojazzgirl]

With regards to the eating thing... have you tried "priming the pump" with some juice or small sweet snack instead of right away offering the meal at mealtime?  Both my kiddos and I deal with high-metabolism/low-blood sugar issues and there are a couple of things that can happen - hunger can strike hard practically out of the blue with a sudden crazy crankiness which then leads to a totally stubborn tantrummy refusal to sit down and eat (yup... even me to some extent, lol).  Something I've also noticed in myself (not sure of the kids as they've never vocalized this) but sometimes when I get hungry it manifests as a slightly nauseous feeling.  It's kind of like morning sickness.  I need to eat a little something so I don't feel bad, and then my tummy is ready to eat a meal.  I find in both cases a quick bit of sugar in the system (glass of OJ works well) gets me (and my kids) ready to eat.  (shhh... I've even been known to give them a few Smarties right before dinner time - don't tell!). 

[Agatha_Ann]

Are you a licensed provider? I am and in my area, we have a variety of people that come to do developmental screenings at my daycare. That might be something you can look into. If you have a developmental center/preschool in your area, you can call them to see if they offer these types of services to home based providers.

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Originally Posted by Agatha_Ann 

Are you a licensed provider? I am and in my area, we have a variety of people that come to do developmental screenings at my daycare. That might be something you can look into. If you have a developmental center/preschool in your area, you can call them to see if they offer these types of services to home based providers.

Yes, we do have that, but it's through the school district, and her parents would have to arrange it.  So, I'm not ready to bring that up yet.  Plus, both parents actually teach in this school district. 

[Viola]

Has she been sick lately?  My niece went through this thing where she was very emotional, sensitive, prone to outbursts even more than normal, and she also seemed to be very clumsy, dropping things, running into things, etc, but we just thought it was typical kid carelessness.  It kept getting worse until she got a diagnosis of Sydenham's chorea, and by that time she was very shaky especially in the hands, and had a hard time doing things.   So not very likely, but I figure just another thing to watch for.