The Joys and Trials of Toddler Parenting
“If you have a toddler, you know toddler parenting is a challenge, even on the best days!”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Newest Articles
As young children look to move and explore their surroundings, new dangers and problems pop up that need to be quickly addressed to ensure that your toddler stays safe and healthy.
As children move into the toddler stage, their eating habits will change. Baby food gets quickly replaced by whatever is on the dinner table. Children start eating three meals a day and a couple of snacks. In addition to food, children will drink 16-24 ounces of milk a day if they are no longer breastfeeding and 4-6 ounces of juice.
Children are interested and fascinated by what their parents are doing, so if your child is a picky eater, let him try what you’re eating. Also give him the opportunity to feed himself with finger foods. If you’re worried that your child isn’t eating enough, don’t. Serving sizes for children are about ¼ of what an adult serving would be.
Now that your child is moving full steam ahead, childproofing your home becomes a key feature of parenting a toddler. Cabinets should have safety latches, particularly cabinets with cleaning products in them. Anything your child can climb on or pull over on himself should also be removed from the house. Another important safety feature for the whole family is the installation of smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
One of the great milestones of toddler parenting is potty training. Some children will be ready as early as 18 months while most children will begin around 2 years of age. Some children, particularly boys don’t accept potty training until they are 3 or 4. Don’t push it, it will happen eventually.
One of the dreaded parts of parenting a toddler is the toddler temper tantrum. These ear splitting outbursts seem to happen at the most inconvenient and publicly embarrassing times. When faced with a temper tantrum remember you are not the first and certainly not the last to contend with this spectacle of horror.
The key is not to give in because that will only encourage future temper tantrums. You need to anticipate temper tantrums and try to distract your child before it starts. Once the eruption occurs it is very hard to put a lid on it. You just need to ride out the eruption until it runs its natural course.
Hearing your child say mama and dada is one of the great, thrilling moments in toddler parenting. However, don’t fret if your child isn’t reciting a dictionary of words. Most children start saying mama and dada between 7 and 15 months and can usually only say 4-6 words between 11 and 22 months. By the time they reach 27 months they will probably have 50 words at their disposal. The important thing is to let your child grow and develop naturally and not obsess over every milestone.
The key to successful toddler parenting is to take it one day at a time and create the safest and healthiest environment possible for your child to grow and develop. Enjoy these years, they are some of the best.
Return to the top of The Joys and Trials of Toddler Parenting, Toddler Parenting, or Parenting Advice.
.
