Toddlers present special challenges to parents, but there are several tips parents can employ when dealing with their small children.
Children will have various needs as they mature from babyhood into teenagers. Children who have reached the toddler stage are challenging at times because they are constantly wanting to exert their independence, while at the same time they aren't far from the baby stage. There are some tips you can use when dealing with your adorable, but at times frustrating, toddler.
How do you know when your child is ready to potty train? Typically, most toddlers are potty trained anywhere from eighteen months to three years. Granted, eighteen months is very early, but some children are ready at this age. The more common age would be closer to three, however. You should not force your child to become potty trained, but instead look for signals that show he is ready. These can include staying dry for several hours, fidgeting when his diaper is soiled, and even telling you that he is going potty in his diaper.
Once he is ready to begin training, you should make sure it is a positive learning process. Encourage him to watch others in the family go into the bathroom. Give him plenty of opportunities to try using the potty by taking him after he has eaten, after he wakes up, and often during other parts of the day. Keep in mind that he won't always be able to go, and praise him just for trying. It may take several weeks and even months before he gets the hang of it, but if you are patient and persistent, he will eventually become potty-trained.
Often, moving your child from the crib to a toddler or big bed becomes a major dilemma. You should choose wisely the time that you are transitioning your child. In other words, if a major change is about to occur in her life, you may want to hold off. If you are expecting another baby, you will need to move your child several months before the new baby arrives. If you wait until her new brother or sister is here, she may resent the fact that the new baby has her bed.
Obviously, if your child is crawling out of his crib, it is time to move him from the crib to a toddler or big bed. You may find that you have more success by moving him to a toddler bed versus a big bed, as he may feel overwhelmed by the size of a full-sized bed. Keep in mind that it may take several nights for him to adjust to his new bed, and he may try to wander out of his room and into yours. You will have to consistently take him back to his bed, however.
Once your child reaches the age of two, three, or four, she may decide that whining is the route to go to get her way. You will need to stop this immediately by watching how you respond to her. You should tell her that you will only listen to a regular voice and not a whiny voice. Once she realizes that whining will not accomplish anything, she should stop.
Some toddlers develop the habit of biting others, and this is an extremely frustrating behavior problem. First, you must recognize that your child is probably biting because she is frustrated. You will need to help her learn how to deal with her frustrations in a less physical way. You and your child can work out a way for her to express her frustrations by possibly hitting a pillow or singing a song. If she continues to bite, you will need to get her full attention and firmly tell her, "No!" You should then remove her from the situation. If she is biting a friend, you should tell her that she will not be allowed to play with that friend any more if she continues to bite.
Finally, your toddler will want to exert her independence, and you may often hear the words, "I can do it myself!" While you want to encourage your child to grow and develop, there will be instances where he should not be allowed to do it himself, such as crossing a street or parking lot. If a tantrum ensues, you should explain to your toddler that he will not be allowed to do the activity at all if he doesn't accept your help. As always, you will need to be consistent with your instructions to your toddler, and eventually many of his behavior problems will disappear.
