How to Treat ADHD in Toddlers

Overview

Nearly all toddlers have a lot of energy and short attention spans, so it may be hard to tell whether or not yours could possibly have attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD. Nonetheless, if he is diagnosed with the disorder, you are probably looking for treatment options, and you'll happy to know that drugs are not the only answer--or even the best one.

Step 1

Introduce a structured routine and discipline into your child's home, preschool or daycare setting. Give her a set bedtime, wake time and nap time, and feed her meals at the same time each day. When disciplining her behavior, concentrate on just one or two of her undesirable traits first, giving clear instructions as to what you expect, and be consistent with it. Make eye contact when you talk to her, and always remain calm, no matter how many times you have to repeat the same thing.

Step 2

Give your child lots of love and attention, since he may feel unloved or unwanted by the way his behavior alienates and angers others. He may also experience frustration or have low self-esteem because of your reactions.

Step 3

Reduce the noise level at home as much as possible, and straighten up, organize or get rid of any clutter that may tempt him to misbehave, or cause confusion, stress or disorder in your toddler's life.

Step 4

Take your child outside every day to play, run and work off excess energy. Take him to the park, or walk with him around the neighborhood, letting him be as active as he likes.

Step 5

Feed your child natural, wholesome foods--organic whenever possible--rather than processed foods, junk food or pre-packaged meals. This will minimize the additives, preservatives, dyes and chemicals that your child ingests, which may increase hyperactive behavior.

Step 6

Fill your child's sippy cup with water instead of fruit juice or sweetened drinks, which will cleanse his system by flushing out toxins without adding unnecessary sugar to his diet. Sugar itself has not been proven to increase hyperactivity, but it often goes along with other undesirable additives which could contribute to the condition.

Step 7

Build a support system by educating your family and friends about ADHD and your toddler's needs, and let them care for her now and then while you take a break. Also look into local support groups. This will allow you to be more relaxed, rather than stressed out or frustrated; since your child likely picks up on your energy and mimics you. It's important to present the type of behavior and calm emotional level that you want her to display.

Step 8

Talk to your child's doctor about medication if the natural alternative treatments fail and you still feel that you would like to explore the pros and cons of that option. Preschoolers between three- and five-years-old may be prescribed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved dextroamphetamine, commonly known as Adderall, or the unapproved methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin. However, there is not a substantial amount of data regarding the safety or effectiveness of either drug for this age group, and they are not recommended for younger toddlers. According to a report published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2007, one third of small children given drugs for ADHD have a bad reaction to it, such as sleeplessness, appetite loss, irritability or repetitive behavior. In addition, the drugs may affect a young child's healthy growth, causing him to be shorter and lighter than his peers.