Is this really odd behaviour or just a phase?

Ok my DS hates the "happy birthday" song. We've laughed about it (not in front of him of course) because he absolutely cannot stand it.

On his 3rd birthday, when everyone started singing it to him, he hid under the table. Thought that was a bit odd, but I did that as a child, which he doesn't know about, so didn't think too much of it.

On his 4th birthday, he begged me to tell everyone to NOT sing the song. So we didn't. He was still concerned when we blew the candles out that people would sing it, even though I stressed to him they wouldn't.

Today we were at a birthday party - and when everyone started singing it to the birthday boy - he ran off and went to another part of the garden and crouched down until it was over.

Is this getting to the unusual stage? I'm wondering if I should get him assessed by someone, but DH is of the opinion that its really not that odd...

A friend of mine had a son who went through the same thing. It turns out he is musically gifted, and pitch perfect, and couldn't stand to hear all the out of tune voices massacring the song! Maybe you have a mini mozart on your hands?

Maybe he just doesn't like being the centre of attention?

I don't think it's anything too serious. Is he self-consconcious other times - dislikes people looking at him dancing or singing, doesn't like photos, doesn't like comments on his clothing or appearance? I'd guess that he's had a pretty strong experience when the song was sung either to him or someone else, and now he has an aversion to it. It's like being sick after you ate, say mushrooms and then mushrooms make you feel sick from then on. Sorry, probably not explaining well... on iPod with toddler using my legs as a 'tunnel'!

FWIW, I had a phobia of the birthday song when I was little too. It started when Dad threw Mum a surprise party. She carried me into a dark room, the lights went on and lots of people jumped out from behind furniture and started singing at the top of their lungs. Apparently I cried every time I heard it for years! And I'm fine now... well, nothing caused by happy birthday anyway!

ETA. Phobias are really easy to treat. If it's not causing general distress, don't worry about it. But if it's making life hard for him, happy to offer strategies on how to get past it.

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A friend of mine had a son who went through the same thing. It turns out he is musically gifted, and pitch perfect, and couldn't stand to hear all the out of tune voices massacring the song! Maybe you have a mini mozart on your hands?

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i was thinking that the mish mash of out of tune voices may be getting to him too

Could it just be the fact that everyone starts singing at once, and usually quite loudly? I remember being a bit scared of it too. I was very shy though so didn't take much to freak me out. I wouldn't worry too much, specially if you end up with a mini Mozart! :D

I can imagine how all the focussed attention at that moment could be overwhelming. My DD who is normally quite confident, freaks right out when anyone tries to point a camera at her. She's quite happy to use the camera herself and also to look at snaps that we've taken when she's not posing, but as soon as it turns into several people all standing looking (like at a party or whatever) no go. So my money's on the attention thing. Just watch though because if it's an anxiety thing and you start to notice that he's generalising onto other things/situations, then it might be something to get some help with.

Hmm.. well he's shy when he first meets people, but then he turns into the biggest show off.. lol.. he is always posing for pics and everything when I have the camera and hogging it with his noggin...

He loves music though, his favourite song at the moment is a Rammstein song, and he's a pretty good little head banger.. LOL

I used to hate the birthday song because it meant whoever it was being sung to was getting older - and I couldn't think of anything worse! I loved birthdays (especially my own!), adored parties, but hated the idea of getting older.


Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks ;)

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A friend of mine had a son who went through the same thing. It turns out he is musically gifted, and pitch perfect, and couldn't stand to hear all the out of tune voices massacring the song! Maybe you have a mini mozart on your hands?

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likewise to knowing a musically gifted child with this issue too. She'd cry when her father sung too but he was really a horrid singer! She can now play violin and piano and sing