It isn`t unusual for toddlers to throw occasional tantrums or to balk at eating or going to bed. Sometimes, though, the three problems create toddler tyranny and parents start losing control.
When that happens, it`s likely the child is exhibiting PESTT Syndrome, says the pediatrics professor who coined the term. PESTT-``poor eating, sleeping and temper tantrums``-most often is seen in bright children seeking control over controlling parents.
``These parents love their babies, but when the children move on toward separation and individuation there`s conflict, usually between mother and child,`` said Dr. Janet Weston, associate professor of pediatrics at University Hospital in Denver.
Weston began noticing the problem in children while running a growth and parenting clinic.
``What we started seeing was a group of kids in the 2-year-old range that didn`t fit the category of neglect,`` she said. ``They had great mothers who were involved with their kids. The kids were bright but dropping off the growth curve.``
Children who had been clinically measured in the normal range in weight and height were dropping below the 5th percentile in weight and to about the 10th percentile in height. While examining the syndrome, Weston found as many as one-fourth to one-third of toddlers could be so identified, and there could be many more who haven`t been identified.
Problems with eating
The children begin eating poorly when they reach the age at which they are mostly concerned with exploring and learning about their environment.
``At the first resistance to eating a meal, the parent begins putting little piles of food around-some Cheerios, a couple of raisins-and the kids become grazers,`` Weston said.
The small treats satiate children`s appetites sufficiently that they never get hungry enough to sit still for a meal.
Parents can take control of mealtime by setting limits, Weston said. She suggested sitting the child down for meals at specific times daily and only then offering a balanced diet of food over the day`s time.
Then, don`t push it. The parent should tell the child he can eat the food or not, but he will get nothing else until the next meal.
A toddler`s sleep problems, Weston said, are connected to his anxiety at being separated from Mom. If a child hasn`t attached to a security object by age 2, the ``object`` may be his mother, and when he awakes at night that`s who he wants to see.
Weston said it`s important to encourage attachment to an inanimate security object at about 6 months of age. ``If he has a bunny rabbit or blanket, he can rummage around in the crib and find the security object, then get himself back to sleep.``
Temper tantrums in toddlers result from their frustration.
``If he holds his breath and Mom calls the fire department and a big red truck comes and everyone yells and screams, a child will say, `Gee, this is a lot of fun. Maybe I`ll try it again,` `` Weston said.
``But if he has a temper tantrum and mother walks out of the room and leaves him by himself, the toddler quickly finds it didn`t get him anywhere, so he may not bother to try it again.``
Weston says PESTT Syndrome can be dangerous to a child if allowed to get out of hand, because a child can starve himself. In addition, she said, ``We see older kids-4, 5, 6-who have gone through the syndrome and have gotten control and their home is chaos.``
Weston believes PESTT is on the increase because of the new emphasis on parent-child bonding: ``Bonding is certainly important, but the implied message is `Love your child, but don`t cross him.` During the second year of life, what`s loving for children is to set limits, so they can control their behavior and fit into the home and society.``
Fairly quick results
Weston said it doesn`t take long to clear a child of the syndrome if the parents grit their teeth and really make an effort to be consistent.
``It`s all around limit-setting,`` she said. ``The thing is to decide what you want and to give the child clear messages. Then don`t let him talk you out of it.
``In striving to become individuals they will try to take control, and they hate it when you stop them. But kids who learn to live with limits are happier, better-adjusted kids than kids allowed to do what they want.`` -