2 Year Old Afraid of Cars

My daughter, who is almost 4, has outgrown most of her noise fears. She's still afraid of noisy public toilets when they flush, but street noises are no longer an issue. I just gave her the tools to deal with the noise issues. Specifically, I taught her to put her hands over her ears, covering them, when there was a loud noise she did not like. She had the power to control it and it worked and continues to work in public restrooms.

The same thing happened to my daughter around 2.. (she was never sensitive to sounds before and had nothing really trigger this fear) she would freak out around cars, and hold her ears yelling "it's too loud!!" and would cling to me like crazy anytime we were in parking lots or near cars... I had to hold her most of the time. It was quite annoying, but over time it got better. We just kept reassuring her that cars would not hurt her as long as she stayed close and the sounds are harmless.

She is 4 now and still slightly afraid of cars, but not nearly as bad as it was back then.

I would try getting her a pair of earphones and some kid-friendly music to listen to in the car and on walks. Just a thought. Hope it helps! :)

My son (now 3) was very afraid of loud noises for a while, including loud cars. He still gets scared from unexpected noises (and I can't think of any other situation where he expresses fear). I don't know if this will work for a girl, but my son, being a typical boy, loves cars. So whenever we heard a loud car noise that startled him, I would hold him tight (if I wasn't driving with him strapped into his seat) and show him what made the noise and tell him what a neat vehicle it was. Then we would talk about how LOUD it was (trying to add a sense of awe and wonder) and try to mimick the noise (boys seem to have a natural ability to do this). Loud motorcycles and garbage trucks were the worst "offenders." I would just try to turn the situation around everytime and distract him with how neat the vehicles are. He has toy cars, motorcycles, and a garbage truck, and he makes the noises with his toys. He is much less fearful now - he even runs to the front windows in excitement now whenever he hears the garbage truck coming (when he used to scream in fear).
I don't know if she will have any interest in those types of toys, but I would suggest trying to get
toy vehicles that resemble the vehicles that scare her the most, and help her make noises with them (Daddy might like to get involved with this 'cause I've never known a boy who didn't make great sound effects!), and talk about how you see those on the street. This was very natural with my son but I don't know if it will work as well with a girl. Matchbox cars or Hot Wheels are great, and inexpensive, and you will find lots of other types of vehicles that are larger and resemble working vehicles on the street. When you are outside and she says that the cars are loud, respond with agreement (try not to mimick her fearful tone, but have a happy tone of voice) and try to distract her and talk about what type of vehicle it is, the color, how big it is or anything interesting about it that comes to mind. My son did not conquer this fear overnight, I don't remember how long it took, but these things gradually seemed to help. It would at least help in the moment and get him distracted from being afraid. I hope this helps you as well!

you're going to laugh---but my son had "loudness" issues--it's actually extreme sensory issues with loudness--not to cars but to loud planes and trains and other things that are also outside---so we started off putting on those protective hearing muffs---the kind you buy at Home Depot to protect your hearing from loud machines--and he'd wear those outside. After about 30 mins. he'd adjust and take them off on his own--he's 7 yrs. old now and we still bring the muffs to like airshows and loud events. Good luck and enjoy! :)

My 2 year has recently developed a fear of various things, cars being one of them. I think its from loud cars waking her from her naps. It got so bad she didn't want t o sleep becasue the cars were going to "get" her. For that we got her a "special" light which keeps the cars away.

I also have told her that the car noise is the cars saying "hi". So we spend a lot of time waving at the cars and saying HI, and she know some cars are louder than others. I also explain that cars are nice and we "pet" our car and talk "beep beep" to them. When its nap time or bedtime, I tell her cars are napping too, but that some snore - like daddy- so she's not afraid of the car noise. I know others who use "safety" spray. SO maybe using a small water spray bottle when you go outside and have her spray to keep the cars away or make it safe. Same idea my friends use for monsters....

I try not to tell her cars are dangerous or can hurt you when we cross the street, I just make it a rule that when we cross the street we need to be safe and she needs to hold my hand to keep mommy safe.

I hope some of that is useful. I know when we found out that our dqaughter had fears, I asked everyone for advise.

I would really reccomend that you take a look at Dr. Harvey Carp's "Happiest Toddler on the Block" he teaches communication skills for dealing with things like this. It really does help and you can get it in either a book or a DVD (I haven't read the book, I like the DVD cause you can actually see what he is talking about and you can get through it quickly and start using it right away)

Good luck!

Both of my daughters have/had noise issues. For them it is a sensory overload due to sensory integration dysfunction, but fear of loud noises is common with children. I got used to carrying foam ear plugs in my purse so we had them when necessary. It is a good idea for hearing protection as well. It is likely that this is all just a stage for your daughter and she'll outgrow it in a few years.

Has she always been sensitive to noise/sounds?
The reason I ask is, my daughter has always been "noise sensitive" since she was a infant. Some babies/children are like that. Perhaps, it's noticeable now, because she can talk and say it.
My girl, also did not like loud cars, or yard work activities, buses, trucks, amusement parks, ANYTHING that was loud. She even couldn't sit through a Sesame Street stage show because she said "it's too loud."

Or, it could be car specific. But no worries, kids at this age, and at other phases, can and do have certain "aversions" or fears...it's a changing cognitive development...they also start to have night-mares etc.

Or did something happen to her, that was car related?

Don't force her "acceptance" of it though...I"m sure it is a phase that will pass. But, if she is indeed "noise sensitive"....it will take time. My girl is still sensitive to noise/sounds...even the school cafeteria is "too loud" for her...but now that she is older, she can adjust to it more maturely.

Just comfort her... show her that you "understand" etc. Let her lead you in how you should pace her and yourself in certain environments. My girl, when she was that age, didn't even like Chuck E Cheese... because it was "too loud" and it was just not tolerable for her.

Well if anything, perhaps speak with your Pediatrician? All the best, hope this helped,
~Susan