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My LO is 16mo and I lovingly call her a sociopath Really she is probably too young to empathize. But if she hurts me and I yell out in actual pain? She laughs. I'm all about comfort of emotional problems and rub some dirt on it for physical pain (unless she is REALLY upset. But we give her space to get over it first).

@Mae: ugh. So c is really sweet and sympathetic most of the time, but she has started hitting or smacking DH and me and laughing, even when we tell her it hurts. She only gets upset when I put her down and walk away and then she throws a tantrum.

@Foodnerd81: not cool! Luckily fiona hasn't started (yet?) hitting or hitting on purpose. But she is just a wild child. Today she threw a full bottle of lotion and it landed on my toe and I cried out because it really effing hurt and she was cracking UP. I'm like... no. This is not mommy being funny I think you broke my toe! (she did not).

I have 16 month old boy/girl twins (which is like watching a nature vs nurture experiment unfold because they are so very different!). B has no sense of compassion whatsoever, but A is extremely sensitive and compassionate, even at this age. When her brother is sick or having a bad day, she will rub his hair or back while he's nursing. She gave his hurt toe kisses the other day and even later she came over and touched his toe really gently. Once B bit me and I cried out "ouch!" and she came over and rubbed my knee and made kissing noises. When I was sick a couple weeks ago she brought me boogie wipes and (imaginary) cups of tea. I know that she's mostly emulating things she sees DH and me doing, but her twin brother doesn't do anything like this. He's your very typical oblivious to others toddler.

B is very compassionate, but a toddler is a toddler. I don't think they have much of a clue that adults can get sick, tired, or hungry while taking care of them. He'll always go over to comfort someone who's crying, but I've also had days when I'm starving and tired after work and he totally refuses to get off the playground and go home.

Oh, and we also don't make a big deal if he falls or bumps something... unless he's really upset, we just tell him that he's fine and should get up.

LO is mostly not compassionate at all and kind of a bully. She has her moments but I don't really think she is being truly empathetic but more parroting what she has seen us say & do. So one time I was crying talking to DH about an upsetting situation and she came up and said, "What's wrong Mommy? You okay?" Which is what I would say to her if she were crying.

My son is very compassionate. I was saying the other day that I need to go to the doctor and he asked me if he coud come as well to make sure I was okay.

I think that level of compassion and empathy may be beyond a 3.5 year old's level of comprehension. They're pretty self centered.

Too early to tell with DS2, but DS1 is very compassionate. He gets upset when we have to forcibly give his brother medicine. If you mention you don't feel well, he gives you a hug and a kiss. This boy is super sweet.

He has his moments. The rest of the time he isn't very compassionate. I could hurt myself and he'll laugh. He laughs if his cars "crash". Which is certainly not the reaction I ever have when playing with him or comforting him when he hurts himself.

I think it's just that he hasn't really figured out the appropriate feelings/emotions yet. He's 2. It will come though, I'm sure... I hope...

He's pretty compassionate now at 20 months. If he hurts me and I fake cry he comes up and gives me a hug and kiss. We also aren't the type of parents that rush to him when he cries either. I think it's just a personality thing and maybe they go through phases. He use to think it was funny when he hurt me and a fake cried haha