toddler girl fears men

[milinab]

Hello,
my daughter just turned 2 and she is frightened by men. When we go out and a man in the store tries to tell her how cute she or her doll is, she screams and covers her face. With women that is not a problem. I have a home daycare and she spends all of her time with me. Dad is usually busy and they don't spend much quality time together. Is that the reason? She seems to enjoy her time with dad and miss him too. I wish he spends more time with her but it's not in my control...
Grandparents are also missing in her life. It's pretty much just me...
I really want her to overcome her fears. Any suggestions?

[RockRose]

I almost never see this happen in public.  How many men come up to a preschool little girl they don't know,  and tell them how cute they are?

Maybe she's picking up on something you aren't - and these guys are weird?  Teenage girls,  and grandmas do this.  Do you see a lot of men doing this?  

[kath0469]

My daughter went through a phase like this when she was about the same age. I came on out of the blue but when away after a few months or so. She's now almost 13 and LOVES boys! UGH! I wish she'd go back to fearing guys for about 5 more years.

I really think it's a normal stage. I see similiar behaviors from other little girls.

[mamarama]

it sounds like a phase. i would try not to worry and just react friendly to these people in public.  and since you know that she is always in your care and abuse isn't a factor, it is probably just a being 2 thing.

[Missy0610]

My daughter went through the same phase at that age but she also was afraid of other things that were out of ordinary. We ended up taking her to a pediatric behavioral specialist and found out she may have a sensory imbalance. We started to see improvement in her behavior so we did not take treatment any further. She has since outgrown her fears.

Hope it helps.