Tag Archives: toddler

Toddler Proofing Your Home

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People talk all the time about “baby proofing” your home to make it truly safe, but a better term would be toddler proofing. Once your little one hits a year and gets his feet under him and starts walking, you will find hidden dangers lurking around every corner of your home. Once he begins to climb up on things, those dangers are going to multiply even more.

The key to toddler proofing your home is getting down on your baby’s level. What sharp, hard, and potentially hazardous things are within reach? What would tempt him to climb, and if there are objects, could they fall on him?

Go around your house and plug all electrical outlets. These are very tempting to little hands and fingers. Then, make sure all chemicals and medications are up high and out of sight. The top shelf of your linen closet is a good place. Lock the doors to cabinets or closets with these hazardous substances, and make sure the lock is not one your toddler will be able to figure out. Place sharp objects, like knives, well out of reach from standing and climbing kids. Tuck electrical cords and the pull cords from mini blinds out of reach, as these pose a strangulation hazard.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. You will need to get on your knees and go through every part of your home to search for hazards. After you have done this, there will still be dangers, but you will know that you have done all you can to protect your baby by toddler proofing your house.

Tips for Helping Your Toddler Adjust to a New Baby

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A new baby brings significant changes to any family, but for your toddler, this is even more true. After all, up until the time your new baby arrives, your toddler is the baby of the family. While the adjustment is likely going to take some time, there are some things you can do to make it go easier.

Make sure your toddler knows what is about to happen, but do not make a huge deal out of it. Sometimes you can create anxiety and animosity by putting too much emphasis on the change that is about to occur. New sibling classes, books, and videos can be helpful tools, but only if they feel like a normal part of life, rather than a big, new thing.

The first time your toddler meets the baby, make sure he has had some mommy time. Remember, he has not seen mommy for a while, and this may be the first time he has been away from mommy. After he has seen mommy, introduce him to the new baby by name. Instead of calling her “baby” or “baby sister,” call her by her new name. This will help your toddler realize that she is not a toy, like the baby dolls at home, but a little, tiny person.

Do not expect your toddler to be excited about the baby. Whatever her reaction is, let it be. If your child is willing, let her touch the new baby gently, but do not force it. You can have a family cuddle time on the hospital bed. This will make the first encounter with baby a positive one, and the human contact will help your toddler start bonding with the new arrival.

When you bring your new baby home, your toddler’s routine is going to be greatly disrupted. If you can, have someone on hand who can help your little one stick to his normal schedule. While all of your friends and family members want to see the new baby, make sure there is someone with the toddler. You, as mommy, are not going to be able to fill this role, because you will be recovering from birth and nursing a newborn. Try to carve out some time each day to spend with your toddler, however. He is going to be missing his mommy quite quickly.

Let your toddler talk about what is happening. If he is frustrated, let him tell you about it. Expect him to show some babyish behaviors, such as extra crying and neediness. This is temporary, but respond to it as well as you can. Give your toddler some mommy and daddy time, and soon you will have a well-adjusted big brother or sister who enjoys the new role of older sibling.

How to Help Your Toddler with Proper Nutrition

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Toddlers are difficult people. They do not like to eat healthy foods, no matter how hard mommy and daddy try. Most parents of toddlers wonder what they could be doing to help their little ones eat a better diet. Here are some tips to help your toddler eat as healthy as possible.

First, model good eating. Your child is not going to want to eat his whole grain toast and oatmeal while you eat chocolate chip pancakes. When your little one was a baby you could get away with eating junk food in his presence, but he is aware of the differences now. This is the time to get over your notions about foods you do and do not like and start eating healthy. You just might lose a few pounds in the process.

Second, be careful what you offer. Your child is not going to let herself go hungry. If she chooses not to eat what you offer, that is fine. Do not force her to eat it, but do make sure that the next snack or meal is equally healthy. Your child will soon learn to eat what is offered, because nothing better is going to come later.

Keep meals balanced, but do not focus too much on how much your child eats. If all your child wants for dinner is the bun that is on his plate, let him eat the bun, but do not give him a second bun if he is still hungry. Let him know that he can eat the other food on his plate.

Remember that you will have to introduce a new food multiple times before your child will even taste it, if your child is like most toddlers. While wasting food is discouraging, particularly if you are shopping on a tight food budget, you need to understand that this is part of teaching your toddler about good eating. Throwing away a few plates of food is a small sacrifice in return for a raising a child who eats well into adulthood.

Keep meal and snack times consistent. A toddler needs three full meals and two small snacks in order to get adequate nutrition. However, do not let your child fill up during snacks. Keep them small and healthy, but make sure that the majority of his nutrition comes at mealtime.

The biggest tip towards helping your child become a healthy eater is to be consistent. Soon he will no longer be a toddler, and these mealtime struggles will be a distant memory. Avoid creating conflict, model good eating, and give your child healthy foods. He will learn to like them.