any advice? My two and half year old is terrified of getting on an elevator. (Or escalator for that matter)
Taking him to the doctor is a drag... literally!! I have to take the fire exit stairs up with him to the doc's office because he would scream so hard he would tremble in my arms, sometimes grabbing on to me so tight I can barely breathe... I feel so bad for the little guy.
Thanks for advice
Try making a game out of it-he will outgrow it though. My son did the same thing.
Prep him in advance about the elevator, mommy will hold you, etc....take a favorite toy/friend...just keep talking it up or try that mommy needs his help cuz you want him to hold your hand-stuff like that...let him push the buttons, etc
Stairs it is til the phase passes!
Maybe play "elevator" at home? Make an elevator out of a box with buttons and stuff and pretend and practice. You might be able to figure out why he's scared from practicing in a non stressful time and location. Good luck!
Oh boy I can identify with him. I will only take an elevator if it is an absolute necessity. It has to be big and have a phone in it!!!!! When I do get in an elevator I have to tell myself to calm down. As far as you little on goes,
I am not sure how I would handle. I guess for right now, do like I do, find
the stairs. Hopefully as he gets older, it will get easier.
Why am I like this? I think because when I was a week over my due date on a hot July day, I got stuck in a small elevator with older women. The
fire dept was called and we waited 2 hours I climbed up the ladder to the
top of the elevator then another ladder up to the doors. I held it together
until I got out, then had a breakdown!!!! I am surprised my baby was not
born that day!!!!!!
My son is 2 now, but about 6 months ago I had the same problem. I had him strapped in his stroller whenever I would go in and he would cry everytime.
I tried diverting his attention. I would say, "Look at the number, it's going to change!" I would point at the lighted numbers and I'm pretty excited when I tell him to look. Then he would see the number 1 change to 2, etc. I would clap my hands and say, "Yay!" Then I would show him the light on the button that would turn off when we'd come to the floor we wanted and tell him "Look the light's going to turn off." And when it does I say, "Did you see that?! Wow!"
I would just keep doing it like that and then he stopped getting scared and now he can't wait to go into the elevator and now he wants to push the buttons and he points at the lighted numbers and gets excited.
Good luck!
