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BehaviourToddler behaviourEncouraging good behaviour: 12 tipsDiscipline
Connecting and commun icatingCommunicating with toddlers
DevelopmentAn overview of toddler development
HealthCommon health issues
Daily careToilet trainingTeeth, sun care, dressing and bathing
Nutrition and fitnessNutrition basicsHealthy eating and exercise habits
Play and learningLearning through playReading and play ideas
SafetyKeeping your toddler safe
SleepSleep needs and bedtime routinesGetting up after bedtime and moving to a 'big bed'
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Behaviour
Your toddler has a lovely surprise in store for you. When you ask
her to do something, she may actually do it! By this age, many
children start to control their urges, change their behaviour and
do as mum or dad asks. Not all the time, of course.
The name for this wonderful ability is self -regulation. It is one of
life's most important milestones.
Here are some things to keep in mind about toddler behaviour:
Toddlers are naturally curious about their w orld. They learn by testing andexperimenting with everything around them. Constantly telling her 'no' can pour cold
water on this natural curiosity. You may want to try some other ways to change
behaviour you don ’ t like.
Allow exploring. Try to create situations where your child can explore life withoutlots of 'don'ts' and 'nos'. For example, if it's not acceptable to blow bubbles in her milk
during lunch perhaps she can go outside later and blow bubbles in water. Put your
favourite things out of reach so you don't have to tell your child not to touch them.
Let's make a trade. If she is sucking on your favourite scarf, replace it with a lessprecious but equally tasty item (see our tips on how to use d istraction).
Offer two choices. Most children like to have some control over their world. Byoffering her two choices (either of which you are happy with), you can guide her to
the result you would like. So, if you think she needs to do a wee, you could say,
‘Would you like to go on the potty or the toilet now? ’
Change the environment. When she wants to 'help' in the kitchen, move her awayfrom the hot oven and give her a wooden spoon and a pot to bang.
Show her how you feel. If she happens to pull your hair, pull a sad face and say'ouch'. If she keeps doing it, avert your eyes and withdraw a little. Using 'I'
statements helps, like 'I don ’ t like it when you pull my hair'. She will recognise her
own emotions in yours, like a mirror, and be able to feel for you.
Avoid rew arding bad behaviour. Your attention is a powerful reward for your child.Avoid giving it when your child is doing something you don't like. Putting your child
down (if you are holding her) or walking away from her are good ways of not giving
attention if your toddler keeps doing something you don't like after you have askedher to stop.
Explain the consequences of her behaviour so she can figure out why something iswrong. This helps give her a better understanding of the world around her.
Toddler behaviour
Your baby has blossomed into a bundle of curiosity with an enquiring and demanding mind
of her own.
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Manage transitions carefully. At this age, children can find it hard to change fromone activity to another. Some extra time, sensitivity and planning can help.
These 12 tips encourage good behaviour in children of all ages.
1. Children do as you do . Your child watches you to get her clues on how to behave in the
world, so, as a role model, use your own behaviour to guide her. What you do is often
much more important than what you say. If you want your child to say ‘please ’ , say it
yourself. If you don ’ t want your child to raise her voice, keep your voice at a reasonable
level too.
2. Keep promises . When you follow through on your promises , good or bad, your child
learns to trust and respect you. So when you promise to go for a walk after she picks up
her toys, make sure you have your walking shoes handy. When you say you will leave the
library if she doesn ’ t stop running around, be prepared to leave straight away if she
continues. No need to make a fuss about i t – the more matter of fact, the better.
3. Get down on to their level . Kneeling or squatting down next to children is a very powerful
tool for communicating positively with them. Getting close allows you to tune in to what
they might be feeling or thinking. It also helps them focus on what you are saying or asking
for. If you are close to her and have her attention, there is no need to make her look atyou.
4. ‘ I hear you. ’ Active listening is another tool for helping young children cope with their
emotions. They tend to get frustrated a lot, especially if they can't express themselves well
enough verbally, so when you repeat back to them what you think they might be feeling , it
helps to relieve some of their tension and makes them feel respected and comforted. It can
diffuse many potential temper tantrums .
5. Catch her being ‘ good ’ . This simply m eans that when your child is behaving in a way thatyou like, you can give her some great positive feedback, for example, ‘Wow, you are
playing so nicely. I really like it when you keep all the blocks on the table ’ . That works
better than ‘waiting ’ for the blocks to come crashing to the floor before you take notice and
bark, ‘Hey, stop that! ’ . This positive feedback is sometimes called ‘descriptive praise ’ . Try to
say six positive comments (praise and encouragement) for every negative comment
(criticisms and reprimands). It also pays to remember that children will seek out negative
attention if the only alternative is no attention at all.
6. Choose your battles wisely . Before you intervene in anything your child is doing, ask
yourself if it really matters. By keeping instructions, reques ts an d negative feedback to a
minimum, you create less opportunity for conflict and bad feelings. Rules are important, but
reserve them for the most important things.
Encouraging good behaviour: 12 tips
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7. Keep it simple . If you can give clear instructions in simple terms , your child will know
what is expected of her. ( ‘Please hold my hand when we cross the road. ’)
8. Responsibility and consequences . As children get older, you can increasingly give them
responsibility for their own behaviour and the chance to experience the natural
consequences of that behaviour. You don ’ t have to be the bad guy all the time. Forexample, if she forgot to put her lunch box in her bag, she will go hungry at lunch time. It is
her hunger and her consequence and it won ’ t hurt her to go hungry just that one time.
Sometimes, with the best inten tions, we do so much for our children that we don ’ t allow
them to learn for themselves. At other times you need to provide consequences
for unacceptable behaviour. For these times, it is best to ensure that you have explained
the consequences and that your children have agreed to them in advance .
9. Say it once and m ove on . Nagging and criticising is boring for you and doesn ’ t work. Your
child will just end up tuning you out. Try to avoid idle threats . Your child will very quickly
work these out and ignore them. The best way is to let them know what you think once
and then take action if you need to set limits or back up a rule.
10. Make her feel important. Children love it when they can contribute to the family. Start
introducing some simple chores or things that she can do to play her own important part in
helping the household. This will make her feel important and she ’ ll take pride in helping out.
If you can give your child lots of practise doing a chore, she will get better at it and will
keep trying harder. Safe chores help them feel responsible, build their self -esteem and help
you out too.
11. Prepare for challenging situations . There are times when looking after your child and
doing things you need to do will be tricky. If you think about these challenging situations in
advance, you can plan around her needs and talk to her about why you need her
cooperation. Then she is prepared for what you expect.
12. Maintain a sense of humour . Another way of diffusing tension and possible conflict is to
use humour . You can pretend to become the menacing tickle monster or make animal
noises. However, humour at her expense won't help; young children are easily hurt by
parental ‘teasin g ’ . Humour that has you both laughing is great.
The word ‘disci pline ’ actually means ‘ to teach ’ and not necessarily to punish . If you use the
above strategies, you will probably never need to punish your child in the old -fashioned sense.
Smacking is not an effective or acceptable punishment for a child, no matter what age. Hitting
doesn ’ t change a child ’ s behaviour for good. It might stop their behaviour momentarily, whilethey try to figure you out, but they will soon become confused when they copy your behaviour
and get in trouble for it. It doesn ’ t give them the opportunity to learn about related
consequences or solve their ow n problems . Instead, it can make them fearful, insecure and
Discipline
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resentful . Some parents may hit their child because they are trying to relieve their own tension
or stress in a situation. For more help with managing stress and angry feelings, try reading
Feeling stressed and When you feel you might hurt your child
When to say ‘ N o ’
Often, a child behaves ‘badly ’ because they know it will get attention (and for children of all
ages, negative attention is better than no attention at all). So paying too much attention to badbehaviour often actually encourages it.
If your toddler is aware of the ‘right ’ behaviour, she will only respect you if you follow through
with th e matter -of -fa ct c onsequence that you agreed on earlier. If she is not aware, then a firm
‘No ’ or ‘Stop that now ’ is something your toddler should understand, but save these expressions
for when it really counts or in dangerous situations. Even though your child may be walking and
talking now, and even though she stopped in her tracks the last time you said ‘No ’ , that doesn ’ t
mean she will stop every time, so you still have to make sure you have a firm but comfortable
grip of her hand when crossing the road or in other potentially dangerous situations.
If you ever become concerned or very frustrated by your toddler's behaviour, seek professional
advice.
Connecting and communicating
Toddlers are listening to every word w e say (even if we don ’ t
notice it). They understand a lot more than we first think possible.
They can be very sensitive and get grumpy or burst into tears at
the way you said something or laughed at them.
A toddler ’ s world is one of big emotions mixed with communication
skills that just can ’ t keep up. Their feelings can sometimes be too
much for them, but they can ’ t find the words to tell you what ’ s
wrong. They are torn between their fear of being separated from
you and their longing for independence. And their brains are just
grasping the idea that they can change how the world works.
They are driven to communicate so they can ge t help with everyday needs, but also to fee l
secure, understood and accepted by their family.
Children really need to be heard and , once heard, understood . This can be very difficult for
toddlers who can ’ t fully express themselves. It can lead to lots of frustration which can lead to
tantrums .
Tips for good communication
Really tune in to what your child is trying to say. Notice the emotions behind it.
Communicating with toddlers
W ith a lot of attitude and not too many w ords, a toddler needs your help to be understood.
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Make regular time to communicate with him in your own special way. Even tw ominutes every half hour makes a difference .
When your toddler comes to you, try to drop whatever you're doing to talk – it islikely he only really needs your undivided attention for a minute or two.
Get down on his level to talk to him by kneeling or squatting next to him.
Try to let him finish his sentences before interrupting, no matter how meanderingthey might be.
Read to him and tell stories. Picture books help children learn about language .
Always be honest . Children are brighter than many of us think. When we lie to them,we lose their trust.
Toddler talk
Stuck for words, a toddler will use actions to communicate what he wants. He may tug on your
pants to be picked up, shake or nod his head and use clear gestures to tell you to go away. If
you have introduced a few baby language signs, he might start using them by 18 months and
even make up some of his own – look out for those moments of creative brilliance and join him in
making up a couple that you can share as your own secret code. One favourite is the 'I love you'
sign which can help smooth goodbyes and be ‘spoken ’ from afar.
When your toddler relies on body language, you can help develop his talking. Repeat what you
think he wants in w ords and explain your response. For instance, ‘You want to be picked up
but mummy ’ s got something in her hand, so you can hold my other hand ’ , or ‘I can see you don ’ t
want that. What about this? ’
Positive talk
By talking out loud about everything, even your chores as you do them , you can help build his
vocabulary and language skills.
We all like being told what we can do, rather than what we shouldn ’ t do. Your toddler is just the
same. For example, rather than saying 'Don ’ t run in the house', you can say 'Please walk when
you ’ re in the house'. ’ Don ’ t yell ‘ can become 'Please talk quietly'.
DevelopmentAn overview of toddler development
Curious toddlers develop their most important skills by playing and experimenting.
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Development is a journey, not a race. Your toddler will probably
develop in fits and starts. One week, he may proudly learn to kick
a ball and name three body parts. Then nothing happens for a
while. The development process soon kick -starts again.
W hat your toddler may be doing
All children develop at different rates. Your toddler may dawdlewith some milestones. Don ’ t worry, they nearly always catch up.
You know your toddler best so if you are worried about his
development, speak to your GP or baby health nurse.
Below is a guide to some of the milestones for children aged 1 -3. For more detailed month -by -
month information, see What your toddler may be doing . You will also find advice on when to
seek help about a toddler ’ s late development .
By 12 months, he can:
pull up to standing position
get into a sitting pos ition
cruise (move from place to place, always holding on)
clap hands (play pat -a -cake)
indicate wants in ways other than crying
By 18 months, he can:
use two words (by 16½ months)
drink from a cup
By 2 years, he can:
take off an article of clothing
'feed ’ a doll
build a tower of four cubes
identify two items in a picture by pointing (by 23½ months)
By 2½ years, he can:
use 50 words or more
combine words (by about 25 months)
follow a two -step command without gestures (by 25 months)
By 3 years, he can:
identify four pictures by naming
wash and dry hands (just more than three years of age)
identify a friend by naming
throw a ball overhand
speak and be understood half the time
carry on a conversation of two or three sentences
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use prepositions (by, to, in, on top of)
Health
Colds and other mild illnesses are part of growing up and there is
not much a parent can do to avoid them. Fluids, comfort and rest
are usually the best remedy. Keep an eye on your toddler and, if
you are worried, there is no harm in asking a health care
professional for advice.
Signs of serious illness
The signs of serious illness in a toddler are the same as for
babies and can be found in the ‘nutshell ’ guide to baby health .
Illness can quickly wo rsen in a toddler , so always call your
doctor if you are worried.
Common health issues
Asthma. One in five Australian children suffer from asthma which sounds like awhistling wheeze when your child breathes out. An asthma attack can be very
distressing for both child and parents. If you think your child has asthma, see your
doctor about a management plan.
Croup. This is caused by a virus and usually comes after a cold. Children withcroup cough like a barking seal. Most cases of croup can be managed like a cold. You
know your child best so, if you are worried, see your doctor.
Chick enpo x. This itchy virus causes red blisters on the body which children find
impossible not to scratch. Once the chickenpox virus has run its course, it then staysdormant in the body and can return many years later as ‘shingles ’ . It is contagious,
so you will need to keep her away from other children until the last blister has healed
over. The easiest way to avoid chickenpox is to have your child immunised.
Chickenpox vaccine is offered free at 18 months of age.
Vomiting and diarrhoea are common in toddlers because they tend to put everything(including fingers) in their mouths. Offer her small amounts of clear fluid (water, oral
dehydration fluid or flat lemonade diluted one - to - four with water if she won ’ t drink
water alone) regularly until the problem passes. If you are worried that she is
not getting better, ask your health care professional for advice. Find more about
vomiting and diarrhoea .
Bladder infection. Also called a urinary tract infection , this is more common in girls.You may notice she needs to wee more often and may be ir ritable or have a
Common health issues
Toddlers seem to be constantly catching something. Colds, coughs, sniffles and even fevers
are quite common.
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mild fever . For girls, wiping front to back will prevent most bladder infections.
Treatment is with oral antibiotics so see your doctor.
See the A-Z Health Reference for other common health issues that may affect your toddler.
Health tips for toddlers
1. Make sure immunisations are up to date
Immunisation protects us against bacteria and viral nasties, such as measles and diphtheria,
that are potentially serious and even life threatening. Immunisation is considered essential
protection for your child. Toddlers can be immunised by a GP or at a baby health centre at:
12 mont hs
18 months
24 months
The Maternity Immunisation Allowance is only payable once you have followed the immunisation
recommendations.
2. Don’ t give unprescribed medications
Normal household medicine can be deadly to toddlers. That ’ s why it is important not to give any
medication to your child unless it is prescribed for her by your doctor. Some herbal remedies can
also be da ngerous, so it ’ s best to che ck with a doctor to be safe.
3. Keep her air clean
‘Secondhand smoke ’ can cause serious health risks to non -smokers. If someone in your house
smokes, they can protect your child by always smoking outside. Avoid using chemical household
sprays, like insect repellent or cleaning products, when your toddler is in the room.
Daily care
Some children are ready to sit on the potty at 18 months. Others
don ’ t show any ‘ready ’ signs until they are closer to three. All
children are different and things will go more smoothly if you can
wait until your toddler shows an interest.
Toilet t raining may take days or months . You may want to start
during summer when you can let her run around naked or with no
pants. With pants off, toddlers can really start ‘connecting the
dots ’ about when they need to go to the potty.
Eventually, all children get the hang of making it to the toilet in
time. The key is to stay relaxed and not push your child.
Tellin her you are roud of her will make her feel reat about every toilet trium h.
Toilet training
Helping your toddler learn how to use a toilet, dress and brush her teeth soon leads to that
proud day when she declares ‘ I can do it myself! ’
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Washing hands
Learning to wash hands is a good habit that will come in handy when your child starts using the
toilet. In addition to washing hands after using the potty, encourage your toddler to wash her
hands before meals, too. A pump action soap dispenser is easier for her to handle than a
slippery bar of soap.
Teeth
No -one wants to take their two -year -old to the dentist for anything other than a friendly
inspection. The best way to prevent tooth decay is to go easy on sugary food and drink. Sugar
rots teeth and is no substitute for healthy, nutritious food . Also try to limit fruit juice as it may
dissolve the tooth enamel surface . Whole fruit is better for them and water is what they needmost.
To brush teeth, use a smear of toothpaste (try different flavours if necessary) on a soft bristle
toothbrush, in the morning and last thing before bed at night.
Adult fluoride toothpaste is not recommended for children under two as too much may cause
grey discoloration on their permanent adult teeth. Low -fluoride toothpaste is available in child -
friendly varieties (lots of sparkles and great flavours) at the supermarket.
Sun care
For good health, children need a small burst of sun (even more subdued, reflected light works),
as little as 15 minutes, each day. In Australia, the sun ’ s burning UV radiation is strongest from
September to April, between 10 am and 3 pm. So try to plan outdoor activities for early morning
and late afternoon.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and children ’ s skin burns much more
easily than adult skin. Sunscreen, protective clothing and a spell in the shade are the best ways
to keep her safe from sunburn . Remember to choose a sunscreen containing the invisible
reflective shield of titanium dioxide or zinc because the regular chemical absorbers are just not
as protective.
Dressing
It won ’ t be long before your little fashion model wants to try dressing herself . Let her have a go,
offering help only when she asks for it. Pants with elastic waists, open -neck tops and cardigans
are the easiest to put on. Also look for clothes with big buttons (not too many) and toggles that
are easy for little hands to grasp.
Bathing
Bathtime is play time for your toddler, pouring water, filling cups, splashing. Even though she
can sit securely in the bath now, never leave her alone in the bathroom as she may slip or turn
on the hot tap. Remember that drow ning is quick, silent and can happen in very shallow
Teeth, sun care, dressing and bathing
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water.
Nutrition and fitness
Nutrition can be an anxious subject for some parents. You may
worry about whether your child is eating enough good food. You
may wonder whether he is overeating or becoming unhealthy.
The following guidelines and tools may help you understand how
to best help your child.
Appetite
Children go through growth and activity spurts, so sometimes
they are really hungry and sometimes they eat like birds. As long
as you offer nutritious food, you can trust your child's appetite to
get the balance right . Forcing children to eat (even strongly encouraging them to eat more) can
often backfire. It also helps to remember that sweets, chips and biscuits can interfere with their
natural appetite for nutritious food. Let their appetite be the guide.
Five basic nutritional needs
If you have the following five areas covered, you can't really go wrong. The key is that you
decide what to offer your children, and they decide how much of that they will eat. (This
technique is called division of responsibility .)
1. Protein builds bodies and keeps children strong and healthy. Try peas and beans (any
kind, including frozen baby peas and canned baked beans), eggs, fish, chicken, meat, milk,
yoghu rt and low - fat cheese.
2. Vegetables and fruit contain nutrients and fibre important for a healthy body inside and
out. The more colourful, the better. Offer vegies like broccoli, green beans, carrots, sweet
potato, tomatoes, spinach, and cucumber (with skin). Also try colourful fruits such as
peaches, apricots, pears and apples. (Wash fruit and leave the skin on.)
3. Starchy carbohydrates provide energy.The more fibre they contain, the slower they burn.
Try fibre -enri ched bread, wholegrain rice, couscous, pasta, corn bread, pancakes and low -
sugar cereal.
4. Good fats with lo n g - chain polyunsaturated fatty acids build brain and nerve cells. These
good fats are found in fish (tinned or fresh), avocado, and vegetable oils such as those
made from olives or canola (but try to avoid deep frying in these delicate unsaturated oils).
5. Tap water is the cheapest and best source of fluids. It is also fortified with fluoride for
strong teeth. (If you do give juice, always mix it half and half with water.)
Foods to avoid
It 's fine to offer dessert at the end of a meal, and sliced fruit is the healthiest option. If you
Nutrition basics
These guidelines and practical tools help ensure your children stay fit and healthy.
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want to serve something special, go for vanilla ice -cream or banana bread. Save the seriously
sweet stuff, like chocolate, for special occasions like birthdays.
1. A child's system can't handle foods h igh in salt , sugar or caffeine (found in cola drinks).
Soft drinks and fruit juice are expensive, high in sugar and bad for tee th. If you want to
offer juice, mix it half and half with water.
2. Fast- fix foods. These foods are low in fibre and nutrients and high in sugar and/or fat.
They include hot chips, potato chips, doughnuts, biscuits and cookies, cakes, chocolate and
sugary sweets. The fat in most of these foods is the less -healthy type, including trans fat .
Just say 'no' and, instead, let your child get hooked on good snacks, like grated or thinly
sliced carrot and sweet baby peas served frozen in a cup.
Worried - too much or not enough?
Knowing the way your tummy 'talks to' your brain can help you deal with concerns about
undereating or overeating.
1. Delayed reaction. Our brains only realise we are full about 20 minutes after the food hitsour stomachs.
2. Tummy clock. Feeling hungry is partly determined by your child's ‘stomach clock ’ – how
much he ate yesterday at the same time. Big meals at regular times actually encourage a
big appetite next dinnertime, so you can use that to your advantage either way. You can
encourage children who undereat at mealtimes to eat more by limiting ‘grazing ’ (or random
snacking). On the other hand, regular healthy snacks can be a great way to reduce
overeating at mealtimes.
Overeating?
If you are concerned that your child has a tendency to overeat, you can try slowing it down.
Offer half a normal portion of food and then, if he finishes it, offer the second half of his meal 10 minutes later (sometimes this will give his brain a chance to catch up with
his stomach).
Offer the most nutritious stuff (lean protein and vegetables) first (this is called ‘foodsequencing ’ ). He doesn't need to eat everything on his plate but only offer him a
normal portion of starchy carbohydrates (like pasta, bread or potatoes) after he has
finished the more nutritious foods. (Given the choice, children tend to go for the
bread and pasta first, which can fill them up before they get to the more nutritious
foods.)
Undereating?
You may feel your child is consistently not eating enough at mealtimes. If he tends to sit happily
for about five minutes and then starts fidgeting and loses his appetite, there are some
strategies you can try.
Use food sequencing to get the good stuff into him first (during that precious windowof opportunity).
Let him wolf down the food as fast as he wants (to let his stomach outrun his brainso he'll fill up a bit more). His stomach clock can help too. If you can make mealtimes
the same every day, he is more likely to be hungry at that time of day.
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Children watch what you are eating. So you can help them adopt good eating habits by eating
well yourself. If you load up with hot chips and cola, that ’ s what they will want too.
Some children reject a new food 6 -10 times before they taste it and love it. Eat itenthusiastically yourself and, if it is still rejected, try again in a few weeks or a few months.
There is no hurry but don ’ t give up as her tastes can change. Find out more about offering new
foods .
Healthy food for toddlers
For good food made easy, try these finger foods for toddlers .
Pack a goodness punch by including lots of your child ’ s nutritional needs in one dish.Try Everything fried rice , an omelette with the lot, shepherd ’ s pie, b aked beans on
w hole grain toast or pasta bolognaise with a meat and vegie sauce.
For more on good food, read Choosing good food .
Seven tips for happy mealtimes
1. Be relaxed about it, even if your child is not eating.
2. Mix it up a bit. Sitting at the same table for every meal can be hard going. Try a picnic in the
backyard or take dinner down to the beach or park occasionally.
3. Try not to give in to whingeing for alternatives to the meal you have prepared.
4. Offer nothing until the next scheduled mealtime or regular snack time (they'll get the hang
of it).
5. Schedule snacking to leave a good space before mealtimes (at least ½ -1 hour).
6. At dinner, try offering the protein and the colourful vegies first, when they are most hungry.
7. Be calm, firm and consistent.
Toddler exercise
Encourage your child to be physically active and you're helping to establish a healthy lifelong
habit . Exercise gives your toddler strong bones and muscles, a healthy heart, lungs and
arteries, and improved coordination , balance, posture and flexibility. It reduces their risk of
getting overweight or obese and of developing heart disease, cancer or diabetes down thetrack.
Being overweight is unhealthy and uncomfortable – and very unpleasant for a young child.
Eating salty chips while watching TV is a recipe for child obesity. Try limiting TV time to 30
minutes, followed by an outdoor activity (like a walk to the park). Keep snacks healthy – a
banana, a handful of healthy crackers, thinly sliced carrot or celery sticks are all good options.
Play and learning
Healthy eating and exercise habits
Learning through play
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toddler ’ s imagination. Finger painting, potato prints and brush painting are all fun. He
will also enjoy scribbling with crayons and pencils (on paper, on walls or whatever
you fancy).
Water fun . In the bath or paddling pool, he will love emptying and filling containers.Drow ning is quick and silent, even in a small amount of w ater , so don ’ t leave him
alone even for a moment.
Pretend play . By the time they are three, toddlers love dressing up in your oldclothes, shoes and jewellery. They like to play house and create their own world with
a doll ’ s house or farmyard of animals.
Outdoor play . Climbing and running are favourite activities for older toddlers.Running means falling so be prepared for occasional spills and tears. Sandpits
provide hours of sifting and digging fun.
Books and songs . Singing and reading expand your toddler's vocabulary and helphim learn to talk. He loves sharing a burst of ‘Incey wincey spider ’ (in Baby Karaoke)
or exploring the pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar .
Discovery . To see how things work, he will open and close drawers, push buttons onthe DVD player and post all sorts of objects into all sorts of holes. To avoid saying
‘no ’ to all his discovery play, remove access to valuable items. Make up a ‘magic box ’
full of interesting things, like reusable stic kers, shiny paper , stacking cups, a pop -up
book, old cards, crayons, dominoes and a small peg puzzle. Sneak in some new items
occasionally so he gets a surprise the next time he opens it.
Safety
Toddlers really want to do things for themselves. This built - in urge
worked fine when we lived in caves. Then the most dangerous
thing a toddler could do was learn to wipe his own bottom. But
now, with toasters, microwaves and powerpoints, sharp knives
and roads with cars, doing it themselves has greater dangers.
Toddlers get into places that you wouldn ’ t expect to find a
possum. They experiment with everything. Until they are five or
six, most don ’ t understand the dangers. And, because they are
still finding their feet, they seem to be constantly bumping,
tripping and falling down.
SUPERVISION IS THE ONLY RELI ABLE PREVENTION . By removing sources of danger, you
can also give your toddler the freedom she needs to explore.
Keeping your toddler safe
To w atch your toddler all the time, you w ill need to grow eyes in the back of your head. In
the meantime, sensible safety rules will do the trick.
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Safety inside the hom e
The best way to toddler -proof your home is to get down to her level and look about. What can
you see down there that might be dangerous? To avoid constantly telling her ‘no ’ , remove
anything you don ’ t want touched. Here are some other tips:
Toddlers love to climb so secure your furniture, especially bookcases and TVs.Keep chairs away from windows and balconies.
Turn off space heaters when you leave the room.
When your toddler is out of your sight for a couple of minutes, you may want to checkwhether he's discovered something intriguing but dangerous.
Curtain tie -backs and window blind cords can strangle a curious toddler. Removethem or hook them well out of reach.
When you make a well deserved cup of coffee, keep it away from little fingers.
Install a safety gate at the top of stairs and teach her to come down stairsbackwards.
Keep medicines, cleaning fluids and other poisons locked away in high cupboards.
Turn down your hot water system to 50° C to avoid scalding.
Keep a well stocked first aid kit and keep it out of her reach.
Check your fire alarms regularly.
Deadlocking doors when you are inside the house prevents you getting out if there isa fire. Only deadlock when you are away from home.
In the kitchen
A dangling toaster cord is tempting to pull so keep appliance cords from hanging overthe edge of the bench.
When cooking, turn saucepan handles inwards and use the back stove elements(rather than the front ones) when possible.
Keep washing up liquid, insect sprays and other chemicals locked away and up high.
Remove stools or chairs that help her reach dangerous items, like knives or glasses.
In the bathroom
Never leave your toddler alone in the bath, even for a second. Drowning is both quickand silent. If you need to leave the bathroom to get something, get her out of the
bath.
Heat bath water to between 37 °C and 38°C.
Lock medicines up high, out of reach.
Safety outside the hom e
Toddlers are fast and quiet. One minute, she is standing by your side, the next she is over at
the duck pond or heading for the carpark. By always keeping your eye on her outdoo rs, youcan avoid dangerous accidents. When out walking, holding hands or using a pram can keep her
from darting onto the road. Swimming pools and open water are danger zones for a curious
toddler. Remember, drowning is swift and silent.
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Keep these other pointers in mind:
When outdoors , remember the sunscreen and a hat. Toddlers burn very easily .Keep up the habit of wearing a hat for all outside play. Remember that some clothing
lets through more radiation than SPF30 sunscreen does.
In the car . Always buckle her up in the proper car restraint for her size. Children left
in cars overheat very quickly so don ’ t be tempted to leave her while you pop into theshop. Always take her with you.
In the garden . A secure garden fence allows your toddler to play safely in yourbackyard. Just watch she doesn ’ t figure out how to open the gate. If your garden is
not fenced, make sure she can ’ t open the doors to go outside without you.
In case of emergency
They don ’ t happen every day but accidents do happen. Be prepared by keeping a list of
emergency phone numbers in your mobile or by the phone.
It ’ s w ise to take a first aid course , particularly if you live in an isolated area or are often with
your toddler on your own. The Parenting in Pictures guides to choking and CPR are also worth
printing and sticking on the fridge.
Sleep
Once asleep, most toddlers sleep through most nights without
waking mum or dad. But, at this age, getting them to bed in the
first place can be a challenge. Toddlers love to test their
independence. A firm and consistent bedtime routine will win
them over.
Toddler sleep schedule
A common daily sleep schedule looks like this:
Some toddlers like to w ake up w ith the birds at 5.30 am or 6 am. Unfortunately, there isn ’ t
Time Schedule
7 am Wake up
1 pm Nap of no more than 2 hours
3 pm Wake up
7 pm Bedtime
Sleep needs and bedtime routines
Toddlers need 10- 12 hours sleep a night. Most of them can do w ith an hour or two in the
middle of the day as w ell.
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much you can do about it. Putting her to bed later in the hope that she may wake later doesn ’ t
tend to work. She may still wake up early and be grouchy from too little sleep. If you live with an
early riser, you may want to move your bedtime forward too.
And if your toddler ’ s day nap is too long or too late in the day, she may not be ready for bed
until late at night.
Bedtime routine
A consistent bedtime routine helps prepare a child for sleep. Most toddlers are ready for bed
between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. This is a good time as they sleep deepest between 8 pm and
midnight.
A routine might look something like this:
6.30 pm : Brush teeth and change nappy
6.45 pm : Quiet time (read a book or tell a story)
7 pm : Into bed and kiss goodnight
If your child takes a dummy to bed , you may consider saying goodbye to it at around three
years old. For tips on how to do th is, see Letting go of the dummy .
Your toddler may go through a stage of calling out from her bed or getting up after you have
said goodnight. Try these tips:
Avoid boisterous play — before bedtime, as it may make it harder for her to settle.
Establish a consistent, calming bedtime routine .
Before leaving the room, check that your child has everything she needs and remindher to stay quietly in bed.
Try not to respond to her calls after you have turned the light out, no matter howloud the protests. If you respond, she will try the same thing again next bedtime.
If she gets out of bed, you can:
return her to bed firmly and quietly over and over until she doesn ’ t get up
again or
return her to bed once and, if she gets up again, close her door and
ignore all further protests.
Find the strategy that works for you and stick with it. Read more about using these
strategies in Call ing out and getting out of b ed .
If your toddler shares her bedroom with a b rother or sister, you may need to delay your other
child ’ s bedtime by half an hour until your toddler is settled and asleep. With luck, your toddler
will very quickly get the message that bedtime is for sleeping, and the disruption to all will be
minimal.
In calling out, your child may actually need som ething . If she has done a poo, change her
Getting up after bedtime and moving to a 'big bed'
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nappy with the lights dim and no talking. If she is scared of a monster under her bed, a quick
check by you (with the light off) can confirm the room is monster - free and your toddler may then
settle. If she is scared of the dark, think about using a night - light.
Moving to a ‘big bed ’
Most children move from a cot to a bed somewhere between two and three -and -a -half years
old. But there is no hurry, particularly as some young toddlers become trickier to manage in abed. Of course, you may need to move her if she has started climbing out of the cot or needs to
use the potty at night, or if you need the cot for a new baby.
Moving to a ‘big bed ’ is a cause for celebration . You may want to redecorate her room at the
same time (with her input naturally!) and involve her in choosing a bed. A safety rail on the side
will stop falls.
For more tips on making a successful move, read Moving to a ‘big bed' .