To most parents, a toddler's insistence on the "right" plate or bedtime routine seems like a normal developmental quirk or just the latest cause of a meltdown.

However, for some children, these behaviors may be an early sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition often thought to affect only older children or adults.

" OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions —persistent, unwanted, distressing … thoughts—and compulsions are repetitive behaviors that one engages in to resolve the distress," clinical child psychologist Dr. Kendra Read, Ph.D., told Newsweek .

"For very young children, it can be difficult to tease apart what is typical from what's concerning, because many toddlers naturally prefer sameness or repetition," Read said.

How Early Can OCD Appear?

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