Gone are the days where accessing our parents’ bedroom was prohibited let alone sleeping in their bed! These days, the number of toddlers sleeping with their parents has skyrocketed. We are breeding toddlers who are afraid of sleeping alone! The trend is unlikely to buck in the near future. It is too easy to say yes, right?
As much as it might be annoying to you, the feeling of saying no to your little angel or prince is even worse, which is why most parents give in and within a short time, a month, 3 months, a year has passed with your bed having three occupants every night and no visible hope for change.
We cannot overlook that there might be a serious reason why toddler wants to sleep in parents bed, but either way, it needs to stop as soon as possible. Check out this handy guide below to learn more about why your Jack or Jess, shares the warmth of your tiny or huge bed and how to correct this.
Reasons why your toddler want to sleep in your bed
There are a number of reasons why toddler
wants to sleep in parents bed and they include;
It’s a routine
A good number of parents feel it is safe and appropriate to doze the night off with their newborn next to them which is understandable for bonding and watching them.
The problem comes in when trying to define at what age should the toddler move to their baby cot or their room and give you and your significant other space to be.
This age is a grey line, which is why it remains a routine even past the moving face and the toddler grows knowing that this is the right thing to do and the only way to go.
They are scared
The dark is always frightening for toddlers and there is no safer place to be than in the arms of mommy or daddy.
The calm and quiet invites mysterious noises and scary thoughts which is why he or she will seek protection at your side.
A nightmare or night terror fresh in mind could also be the reason why your toddler seeks protection from you every night.
Nursing
Depending on the sleeping patterns of your toddler, nursing might be the only thing that lures him or her to sleep. Research done shows that the biggest percentage of toddlers find sleep when breastfeeding.
When this becomes a routine, it is automatically registered in the toddler’s brain that they will find uninterrupted sleep with you beside them and since the majority of breastfeeding mothers do it on their beds, they end up spending the night with the toddler.
Lack of sleep
If you have made it part of your toddler’s life cycle to take a nap every day especially in the afternoon, there is a high probability that as they grow, they will start lacking sleep at their expected bedtime.
Children are not wired to stay put, thus, leaving them on their bed without any sleep or having slept is a waste of time. Expect to see them walk into your room and hop onto your bed for a bedtime story.
We all know what transpires next.
Compensating for time lost
Parenting is a lifetime career and you need to allocate ample time to spend with your children.
Toddlers are needy people in nature, which is why they will always look for ways to compensate for the time you were away at work or on a business trip. Is there a better way of doing so compared to listening to a bedtime story or chit chat your way to sleep?
I don’t think so.
How you can stop your toddler sleeping in your bed
Make their room sleep-friendly
As you seek to take stern action and
insisting your child sleeps in their room, you need to make sure that their
room provides a safe and soothing environment for sleep. A room free of any
objects such as toys and unnecessary noise that could brew into a nightmare.
Each child has their unique idea of a soothing environment and you need to establish this first. Take time to study your child. What toys or dolls do they feel secure around?
What extra accessory in the room such as a radio with some soothing music or a rocking bed sooth them to sleep easily?
These are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself as you seek to make their room a haven for uninterrupted sleep.
Use a light projector to settle your toddler
This is part of making your toddler’s room friendly. Kids are quite curious and very much fascinated by new stuff especially that which is bright and attractive.
A good light projector should keep your child occupied during those moments when they lack sleep or suddenly wake up at night and get tempted to match into your bedroom and join you in bed.
Take it slow
Rushing things with children more often than usual turns out to be disastrous. If your kid has been sleeping at your side for some time now, or perhaps all their life, he or she will need time to adapt to the changes you are introducing in their lives.
Come up with a plan that is will take your toddler a step at a time towards the ultimate goal of sleeping in their rooms at night.
For example, you can begin by sleeping in
their room with them and as the days go by, sneak out at night for a while and
then come back until they are completely comfortable to sleep through the night
alone.
Be consistent
Once you begin the process of transitioning your toddler to stop sleeping in your bed, do not take a step back. Not even once. It takes a strictly followed routine to make a habit and this is what you need to work on with your kid.
You will have to send a clear and consistent message to your kid that the time to sleep in your bed is gone.
Establish an effective bedtime routine
A healthy routine will be of much help getting your toddler ready for bed. As you begin, you can take part in the routine as a motivation to the kid and over time, let go for them to do it on their own.
Helpful bedtime routines include reading books and taking a bath before going to bed.
FAQS
Is it bad for toddlers to sleep in their parents’ bed?
It is not bad. Study shows that there is no negative cognitive effect with sharing the bed with your toddler, but you deny them the opportunity to grow to be independent.
At what age should a child sleep in their bed?
There is no specific set age for children to start sleeping in their bed. This decision fully rests on you the parent to study you, toddler, since they are all different and judge the perfect time when they are ready to sleep on their own.
How do I stop my toddler coming into my bed at night?
• Make their room sleep-friendly • Use a light projector • Establish a helpful bedtime routine • Take it a step at a time • Be consistent
Conclusion
As a parent, you might feel the urge to spend the night next to your kid, even for a lifetime, due to the bond that ties you together, but, it is important to let them go at the right time for him or her to grow to be independent and confident to get things done without much or any help at all.
Your toddler’s inability to sleep on their own is now becoming a drag. Lack of sleep, and dare I say a reduced chance of ‘mommy and daddy time’ is beginning to take its toll on your life.
If this is you, then you must be desperate to know how to get your toddler to sleep alone! I’ve been there, and in this post, I will give you some tips for overcoming this issue.
Reasons Why Your Toddler Does Not Want To Sleep Alone
Toddlers should be able to fall asleep on their own and alone. The reason why most toddlers develop a chronic pattern of dependency is due to how their parents respond during those anxious nights that happen here and there.
Naturally, our children should develop the capacity to master their fears and soothe themselves.
Despite this, some toddlers are just afraid to sleep alone, even after reassuring words and checking under the beds. So, why is this happening?
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
Toddlers may go through a stage where they realize their separation from mommy or daddy and the fact that they need to sleep on their own. This usually happens when a toddler is transitioning to a bigger bed.
As they learn to push boundaries, they will go through phases of not wanting to be alone.
As a result, they may want to climb out of their beds and seek proximity or closeness to their parents at night.
Negative Sleep Associations
Between the age of 2 and 5 years, imagination begins to develop in a toddler’s mind in earnest.
At this stage, magical thinking and things such as fears and nightmares or night terrors start to emerge and may be challenging for parents who are looking for ways on how to toddler to sleep alone.
Since the toddler is not able to separate imagination from reality, they may become very unsettled hence resist sleeping alone.
Anxieties
Toddlers feel safe when close to those they love and tend to cling around all the time. Clinging happens especially in times of stress of uncertainties that result in bedtime fears.
When fear develops, it’s natural to find them needing comfort from those they are attached to, like parents or babysitters. It mostly develops in toddlers who get separated from their parents during the day.
Unhealthy Habits
Some parents are not aware that the bedtime habits they allow or encourage can lead to sleep problems on their children.
It becomes challenging to make changes later once these habits have developed. Though not impossible, it’s worth making an effort.
Mostly, toddlers above two years may refuse to go to bed and sleep while watching TV with their parents.
A mild resistance of bedtime refusal is when a toddler delays his bedtime with open-ended questions, unreasonable requests, crying, protests, and temper.
These are unjustified attempts to test their parent’s good nature and limits, and not necessarily bedtime fears.
How Can You Encourage Your Toddler to Sleep Alone
Getting a toddler to sleep alone is enough of a circus, and you need to figure out how you are going to tackle bedtime.
If your toddler is struggling to sleep alone, some decisions may help to cope with the situation, which comes with some challenges.
First things first, you need to be firm and tell your toddler why they need to stay in their bed and sleep.
Once a parent has set that expectation, it’s time to apply some bedtime routines on how to get a toddler to sleep alone. Some tips may help.
Communicate Effectively
When a toddler is feeling insecure, he will tend to cry as you are leaving the room. You can verbally reassure him that you are going to attend to something, and he must stay in bed. If he gets out of bed, take him back to his bed and physically put him on it.
Do this without arguing or talking. He will get to the point that it’s time to sleep, and you mean business. Most likely, a toddler may want to test you, so keep taking him back and back again until he stays.
Remain Persistent But Be Calm
If the toddler follows you immediately, try sitting on a chair in the room. Reassure him of your presence by sitting close to his bed. Tell him you are going to sit right there, only once, and do not do any more talking.
Don’t get into his bed or allow him to be out of bed or sit in your lap. When he is asleep, leave the room.
How to Deal With Crying
The toddler stage is full of emotions, and some days can be full of all the extremes of emotional response a toddler can have.
Many of their roller coaster ride experiences are groundless and unjustified. As you try to break the unhealthy sleep associations, your child may cry, be present, and responsive.
Your presence as he sleeps shows you are responding but teach him how to cope with difficult emotional situations. Show him even if he cries, the fact will not change.
Have a Daytime Talk
As you are helping your toddler to cope with the difficult task of sleeping alone and becoming more independent, create some time during the day and talk about it with him. Show him some love and express how proud you are of him that he can now sleep on his own.
Take time to listen to him and remark on his progress.
Teach Your Toddler to Self-Soothe
Self-soothing is an art that a toddler can learn through some self-made strategies to soothe themselves to sleep. It involves useful, yet straightforward self-managed tools like sucking a dummy or a toy, swaddling, or self-exploration.
How do I get my toddler to sleep in his bed after co-sleeping?
You could start by keeping him at arm’s length if he used to be a bedside sleeper. Then bring a crib for him in your room instead of putting him in his place from the get-go. After a few days, help your toddler transit to his room.
Is it OK for a child to sleep with his parents?
It’s a personal choice. For infants, not only are parents close by to respond if something goes wrong, it easier for the breastfeeding mom to nurse throughout the night. But, as toddlers develop, it becomes more problematic as they may develop unhealthy parental fixation and also their presence may hinder marital intimacy, jeopardizing a marriage.
Parents may get a night of good sleep when their toddler is in another room, but toddlers may only feel safe in the presence of a parent. But, the good thing is that falling asleep is a habit, and children can learn it.
While some may have some difficulties falling asleep than others, all children eventually start to learn how to fall asleep without the presence of their parents.
It may take some time to learn the habit, but children will finally learn to put themselves into sleep on their own eventually.
Have you introduced your little one to ABCs yet? Now is the perfect time to do so, and we have the best ABC toys for toddlers to help you with that.
Believe it or not, at that young age your toddler is already a knowledge sponge. At any given time, his/her mind is soaking up lots of information from the environment. And while that’s a good thing, it would be even better if you introduced some meaningful learning in the form of ABCs and probably 123s.
Those two are the building blocks of language and literacy.
We’re talking about introduction here, not classroom teaching or lecturing. So make it as fun and enjoyable as possible. How? By using ABC toys for toddlers.
These invaluable playthings offer toddlers alphabetical letters that they can see, touch and feel. They are often colorful and come in varying sizes and shapes. That’s how they manage to build interest and encourage the child to play (and learn) for several minutes or even hours.
At the end of the day, your little learner will have a solid foundation for reading and writing. Perhaps more importantly, he/she will master the skill of proper communication from a very young age.
If you want to have the most fun out of the whole process, make sure you only choose the best ABC toys for toddlers. Here are the top picks to keep in mind as you shop:
We all know that toddlers don’t have the longest attention span. The good folks at LeapFrog understand that more than anyone else. It’s no surprise that their Dino’s Delightful Day Alphabet Book is one of the most colorful and interesting ABC toys for toddlers.
In addition to letters and words, this 16-page book has numbers as well, albeit only 10. Still, your little champ will learn how to recite the alphabet, pronounce some basic words and count from 1 to 10.
Reasons to buy the Delightful Day Alphabet Book
The ABCs: over its 16 pages, this colorful book covers all the letters of the alphabet alongside their phonic associations. So in addition to identifying letters, your toddler will learn how to pronounce things like apple, banana, cup and so forth.
Numbers: it’s never a bad time to introduce your toddler to counting. You can do that easily with this ABC toy for toddlers because it has numbers as well. They run from 1 to 10, which is pretty much enough for a kid who is 2 years or younger.
Story: the entire book is a story that you can read out loud to your child. Storytime is bonding time with your little one. And you can do that while teaching him/her a few things about Dino and other illustrations that are in the book. For example, it provides the perfect opportunity to teach your baby that apples and bananas are healthier than sweets and chocolates.
Music and sounds: when letters and words start to get boring you can switch to music and sounds. There are tons of catchy and memorable tunes in the toy’s “Music Mode”.
Durable: Dino’s pages are made of cardboard that’s covered with a glossy coating. They’re not only pleasing to the eye but durable as well. Your only task will be replacing the 2AA batteries when they run dry.
The best ABC toys for toddlers are those that go beyond the alphabet. This is one of them. In addition to the usual A to Z (with their phonic illustrations), the Battat Hide & Seek Alphabet Pop-Up board has numbers, shapes, colors, and images of some common and basic things.
The design is simply genius. Each flap is a pop-up with something educational on the other side. For example, when your toddler pops up a letter, he/she will see its lowercase on the other side. When he/she opens the flap with 6 apples, he/she will see the number 6 (which is their total count) on the other side. It’s pretty comprehensive, I must say.
Reasons to buy the Bettat Hide & Seek Alphabet Pop-Up
Alphabet: it’s an ABC toy because it has the entire alphabet from A to Z. Each letter has a phonic. You can have some fun singing “A for apple, B for bird, C for cat” with your toddler.
Numbers: the numbers run from 1 to 10. But they’re hidden under the flaps so you and your young learner can pop the flaps to reveal. On top of the number-flaps are images of some common and basic things like trees and kittens. Once you count the 4 kittens you can pop the flap to unveil the number 4. That’s how your toddler learns how to count and identify numbers at the same time.
Shapes: there are 4 basic shapes – circle, square, rectangle and triangle. You can introduce your toddler to these when he/she reaches 2 years. The knowledge of shapes will help the child to identify, organize and process visual information over the course of his/her life.
Colors: on the fourth row of the board is a list of 10 colors. They include red, blue, green, yellow, grey and several others. Needless to say, there’s so much that your child can learn from these apart from simply identifying each color. From knowing a thing or two about traffic lights to being able to identify which color bin is for recyclable garbage and which one is for compostable stuff.
Not many ABC toys for toddlers can match the CozyBomB Magnetic Wooden Fishing Game Toy for Toddlers in terms of pure creativity. Here you get a combo of pretend play and learning.
How so? It’s basically a find-the-fish game where your child tries to pick up a fish from the “pool”, except instead of actual fish, he/she gets to play with alphabet fish. It’s a complete set with 26 letters of the alphabet, a wooden imitation of a pool and two fishing rods with magnets for picking up letters.
Up to two kids can play with this ABC toy simultaneously. And when they’re tired of picking up letters or spelling words, they can identify the various colors used to make the pieces.
Reasons to buy the CozyBomB Game Toy for Toddlers
A fun way to learn ABCs: you can tell your little one to “fish” a particular letter, pick letters in a certain order or pick letters that spell a certain word. Either way, he/she will enjoy the “catch a fish” game and don’t be surprised every time he/she yells out the letter that he/she picks.
Make believe: this is one of the best ABC toys for toddlers who enjoy pretend play. All of them do, but if you notice that your little one goes bananas over role-playing then you absolutely need to get him/her this toy. You can spend time playing with him/her or you can let him/her enjoy it with other kids. Regardless, he/she will learn the alphabet as he/she “fishes” for letters under the iced wooden lake.
Motor skills: there’s the obvious part where this toy enhances cognitive development through the teaching of the alphabet. In addition, it also helps with motor development and coordination as the child learns to pick up pieces using the fake fishing rod.
Solid construction: the magnetic pieces are wooden; and so is the board (or the “pool”). Besides being completely safe for kids, they are very durable.
This ABC toy for toddlers makes an awesome gift for your developing puzzle-solving champ.
How this particular puzzle game works is that your child has to match a letter with its corresponding image. For example, he will take the wood with A printed on it and match it with the wood with Apple to make it A for Apple. The same goes for B for Butterfly, C for Car, D for Dog and so on.
The best part is that it’s self-correcting. That means each piece can only match with one other piece. For example, A can only match with Apple, so if the toddler tries to match A and Butterfly the pieces won’t fit.
Reasons to buy the Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Alphabet Letter Puzzles
Alphabet: there are 52 wooden pieces, 26 of which are alphabet letters from A to Z in upper and lower cases. The other 26 are their phonic illustrations like apple, butterfly, car, and dog.
Images: toddlers do well when images are incorporated into their learning materials. Melissa & Doug did exactly that in this set. The piece that matches the letter A has the image of an apple and the word “apple” also written on it. So, when you say A for apple, the child can actually see the A, the apple and how to write apple. That’s comprehensive learning right there.
Wooden: all the 52 pieces and the storage box are made of wood. It’s a safe material for kids’ toys.
If you think that the LeapFrog Dino’s Alphabet Book or Battat Hide & Seek Alphabet Pop-Up are cool because they combine ABCs and 123s, or that the CozyBomB Game Toy for Toddlers is awesome because it mimics fishing, then you’re in for a real treat with the Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles. It has all three – letters, numbers, and fish!
Reasons to buy the Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles
Letters, numbers, and colors: the letters (A to Z) are for learning the alphabet while the numbers (0 to 9) are for counting. The 10 fish figures are for learning colors. You can teach your little one a few things about various colors and how to identify them. Makes it a perfect toy for teaching him/her that when he/she sees the red light on a pedestrian crosswalk then it means “STOP”. Yep, you can start teaching them vital life skills from an early age.
Puzzle play: the letters, numbers,and fish come in various colors which allow you and your toddler to play several puzzle games. One that springs to mind is matching colors; “match a green letter with a green number and green fish”. By doing so, your child will gain invaluable problem-solving skills, not to mention hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Wooden pieces: all the pieces are made of wood which, as mentioned, is the perfect material for kids’ toys. It’s non-hazardous and lasts for a long time.
Conclusion
Want to keep your child away from electronic gadgets? Get him/her these ABC toys for toddlers. At least three will do so that when he/she gets tired of one he/she can play with the next.
While playing with these ABC toys, your child will learn alphabet letters before he/she begins school.
That will give him/her a very good foundation for literacy and proper communication.
Looking for the best flash cards for toddlers? Congratulations, you’re on course to implementing the best arithmetic and language learning method for your little one(s).
Don’t get it wrong. Blackboards and learning apps are cool and all, but they are nowhere near as good as flash cards. There’s a whole set of scientific studies that back these humble cards. We can’t get into that right now, but I’ll give you a summary anyway.
Toddlers usually benefit a great deal from mental stimulation, especially the kind (of stimulation) that focuses on the right side of the brain. This is the subconscious and intuitive part of the brain. It takes in information quicker than the left side of the brain and you don’t need repetition for it to learn. The same can’t be said about old leftie!
Guess which side is stimulated when you use flash cards? The right! Every time you flash a card your little one will learn and retain whatever word or phrase is on that card thanks to the right side of the brain. You may want to keep the sessions exciting, relaxed and brief because…well, you’re dealing with a toddler and toddlers have a short attention span.
And equally important, make sure you have the right set of cards. Here’s a review of the best flash cards for toddlers to give you an idea of what to buy.
Even though Brighter Child recommends these cards for toddlers who are at least 4 years old, you can actually use them for 1 to 7-year-olds. The pack has a total of 54 cards with “starter” words like apple, ant, ball, leaf, nest, sock and many more. Besides, there are images of common animals and objects like fox, bike, button, duck, and banana just to name a few. They are pretty colorful as well, you can bet that your little one will have his/her undivided attention on these.
Quite a good way to keep him/her away from the TV, isn’t it?
Reasons to Buy Carson Dellosa Words Flash Cards
Excellent for learning first words. Printed with simple and basic words, this set will introduce your toddler to pronunciation, reading, and phonics. Most of the words have 6 letters or less, which makes the deck perfect for early education.
Your kid will learn best with images. On one side of these cards is a word. When you turn it around, you get the same word with its picture cue. This is the very first step to teaching your little one about visual-spatial learning.
Colorful design to keep the child’s interest up. While the words are printed in black, images are in full-color. The cards feature a red frame and rounded corners. These combinations make each card have some appeal on kids.
Thick material. You want your flashcards to be durable, and that’s why the Carson Dellosa deck features thick cards for longevity.
If you’re looking for the best flash cards for 2-year-olds, then DK’s may just have the perfect solution. This set of 16 cards takes toddler learning beyond phonics. In addition to words and picture cues, each card in this deck has a tactile that the child can touch and know exactly how the object feels in real. If these aren’t the best flash cards for toddlers whose sense of touch is developing, I don’t know which cards are!
Reasons to Buy My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards
Language development. The flash cards are printed with words like sweater, dog, teddy bear, keys, car, fire truck, and other simple stuff. All these will go a long way in developing your toddler’s phonetics and basic sentence construction.
Touch and feel area. This is the one feature that makes this set one of the best flash cards for 2-year-olds. Each card has an area that your toddler can touch and feel. By doing so, he/she will know how that drawn object feels in real life. Keep in mind that at that age, kids usually use all their senses, including touch, to learn. So this is like a step into kindergarten or pre-school already.
Use this set of flash cards to introduce your little one to counting and basic arithmetic. Each of the 26 cards measures just 5 x 2.75 inches, which is a perfect size for the small hands of your toddler. 20 of the cards have numbers on one side and illustrative objects on the other side. The number of objects corresponds to the number printed on the other side. Makes it fun to ask your child “how many apples are these?” And when he/she says “two”, you turn the card to show him/her how the number two is written.
Reasons to Buy Counting Ring Flash Cards
Excellent cards for counting. The numbers run from 1 through 20, which means that your child can use this deck to learn the first 20 numbers.
Includes arithmetic. 20 cards are for counting and 6 cards cover basic addition. Besides preparing your toddler for school math that’s yet to come, such basic arithmetic boosts creativity, critical thinking, and passion for math. And, your kid will be able to socialize properly with others in contexts that require some arithmetic knowledge like counting toys.
Colorful images. Kids are visual learners, duh! If you just put a number on a card, they can easily forget. But adding some art makes them remember the number. Over time they will recognize the number without having to see the images. Counting Ring Flash Cardsuse this concept superbly by combining numbers and artsy images. They may look a bit too artsy (and less realistic) but they do the trick nonetheless.
Cardboard material. The cards are made with laminated cardboard for durability. You can bet on them to last for so many years.
Still not sold on Mudpuppy’s Counting Ring Flash Cards? Perhaps this deck by School Zone will do the trick. It has a total of 28 cards that are designed to teach your child counting and simple arithmetic. Just like the Counting Ring cards above, this set of cards is printed with numbers and images to make sessions more interesting. Take the number 5 for example. There’s the number “5” symbol on the flashcard, the number “five” word, and 5 cars as picture representations. So, every time your little one sees the symbol 5 he/she will associate it with the word “five”.
Great for counting 0 to 25. The numbers are printed clearly on each card alongside their spellings and picture representations.
Introduction to basic arithmetic. In addition to the numbers, there are three extra cards. One is for addition (+), the other one is for subtraction (-) and the third one is an equal sign (=). Well, you get what the makers had in mind ☺. Hold out the number 2 card, followed by the + card, then the number 5 card, and the = card and finish the equation with the number 7 card. Just like that, your toddler will learn that 2 + 5 = 7.
Colorful images. It’s not just about numbers, there are images as well to make each lesson as fun as possible. From tractors to cars and even a whale, there’s plenty that you can teach your child with these creative flash cards.
This is yet another great set of flash cards for 2-year-olds or toddlers who are in that age range. School Zone recommends this deck for 3+ year-olds, but you won’t lose anything in introducing your enthusiastic learner to these flash cards when he/she is 2 years old. In fact, there may be more to gain because at that age he/she can already associate things. He/she will look at an image and associate it with the corresponding letter. You can go the extra mile and teach him/her a few things about pronouncing the letters and basic phonetics. That’s how helpful these flash cards can be in language development.
Reasons to Buy the School Zone Alphabet Flash Cards
Teaches alphabet. The deck has 26 letters in uppercase and 26 letters in lowercase. Each letter has a phonic association like A for apple, B for bee and C for crab. You can go a step further and introduce your young champ to spelling by forming simple words (like ace, bee, do and eat) using the cards.
Perfect size for toddlers. Each of the cards measures 3 x 5.5 inches. They are not too small for the child to lose or try to swallow, but they are not too large to feel bulky either.
Makes excellent toy. How about using this deck in card games? Try the matching game with your child. Let him/her match the uppercase and lowercase of a letter to win. Or you can start by picking out one letter and let him/her pick the one to follow in alphabetical order. There’s just so much you can do with these.
The main difference between these flash cards and the School Zone Alphabet Flash Cards is that this set has the same image for uppercase and lowercase letters. For example, uppercase letter “D” is for dog just as lowercase letter “d” is for dog. This consistency is what makes it a perfect set for phonics songs. Otherwise, these two decks of cards are mostly similar.
Reasons to Buy the Carson Dellosa Alphabet Flash Cards
Good for mastering the English alphabet. In the deck, you will find uppercase letters from A to Z and lowercase letters from A to Z. Each one has a phonic association.
Picture cues. Phonic associations are basically pictured cues that also act as learning tools. When your child is tired of learning the alphabet you can switch to the images and let him/her identify an apple, dog, zebra, elephant, fox, lion and every image that he/she can.
Good quality cards. The glossy card stock used to make these flash cards makes them eye-catchy and also durable.
Conclusion
We may be in the age of technology but the humble flash card still remains the champion of teaching alphabets, numbers and basic arithmetic. If you have a child, it’s important that you introduce him/her to this type of learning as early as possible.
That way you will give him/her the much-needed boost in language development, problem-solving, counting, arithmetic and a ton of other skills. And yes, you need the best flash cards for toddlers.
Any of the six above will do the job. Better yet you can pick two; say one for alphabets and one for numbers.
Outdoor play is a crucial aspect of growth for every child.
It gets them out of the house to breathe fresh air and even to learn to play other children. As they play, they build character, learn new skills, and improve creativity.
To assist your little one in having fun outdoors, we are going to take a look at the best outdoor playsets for toddlers.
Considerations Before You Begin
Before purchasing any play tool, keep in mind factors such as construction, material, versatility, safety, and longevity.
Buy a set with sturdy construction that ensures it stays intact for a while! These playsets need to be durable, and toddler-proof!
Settle for an item with long-lasting material and one that is usable for different activities. This way, you do not have to buy separate toys for each activity. Ensure you select a playset made with safe components that do not pose a health risk to your loved ones.
Intex is an awesome play center for every two-year-old and above. It is available in an eye-catching mix of blue, red, and yellow colors and includes the main pool, water slide, water sprayer, wading pool, and four inflatable rings.
During summer, the rainbow sprayer becomes a useful tool. Attach it to a hose and help your kids beat the heat in hot weather. The pool has a capacity of 77 gallons to provide youngsters with adequate fun.
The manufacturer also provides six plastic balls and rings. With these extra toys, kids can enjoy ball roller, bouncing ball, and ring toss games in the water. The landing mat provides extra padding for better cushioning while the drain plug helps you empty the pool when playtime is over.
In case of damage, the company offers a repair patch to help you fix the affected spot to prevent you from rushing to the store. Knowing how rough toddlers can play, this is extremely useful, right?
This excellent Sports-Tastic step 2 outdoor playset provides a baseball and a plastic bat for your sports-mad kid to enjoy! Your toddler can shift between tossing a basketball, climbing, kicking a ball through the soccer goal, sitting on the platform, and playing baseball. Each sports equipment has a storage area on the wall of the playset to foster a neat arrangement.
There are steps to climb to reach the platform, ensuring safety and easy access for young ones. Note that the baseball is tethered to allow a child to play solo without chasing the ball around the play area. The sport strengthens and exercises hand muscles.
The plastic set suits 1-6 years old children. It is a few inches from the ground, making it ideal for younger kids. Should they accidentally fall off (we all now how unsteady these toddlers can be), it is not exactly a fall from a great height.
Reasons to buy
It has a low height from the ground
Well-built and sturdy
Useful for kids crawling or learning to walk
Enables a child to enhance various developmental skills
Kiddey is not a slide, swing, or a baseball playset. It offers something different, which is a tent and a tunnel. The pop-up, 3-piece package is quick to assemble. It is highly portable to allow you to use it wherever you can, including your backyard, the park, or indoors. If you have a child who does more than climb, swing, or bounce balls, this tunnel-tent product can be a wonderful outdoor playset.
From one end, the playset has a ball pit with a tent cover, a long tunnel, and a square tent on the other end. Toddlers get to crawl in the tent for adventure to develop survival skills and boost their creativity. They can also roll through the tunnel, horseplay for fun or slide balls inside the tube.
Unlike the other four products that allow one or two kids to play at a time, Kiddey can accommodate several of them at a time. The company boasts of a strong, polyester fabric for longevity and flexible, steel wire, lining to withstand the rolling and crawling movements in the tunnel and tents. The tunnel features a mesh top while the square tent has multiple entry points.
The pop-up construction and surface stakes make assembly quicker. In a few minutes of set up, your kids should be having fun in the playset. A child of 1-12 years old can use this product.
It also comes with a case for storage and transportation, which is a win for parenting!
Besides sliding into a pool or grass, your kids can use a swing as well. Costzon offers a swing, slide, and basketball rack. It is bright to lure kids and has a stable, slat ladder to enable your mischievous toddler to reach the top.
The playset is made of HDPE material, which is non-toxic to protect the health of toddlers.
Its slide can carry a maximum of 110 pounds to suit kids of up to 6 years old. It is smooth, with no edges to prevent pinching your child’s skin. The swing can hold 66 pounds comfortably.
It has firm hangers and ropes. The removable basketball hoop is marvelous for kids who love the sport. It lets your young one start mastering the game at an early age. If he or she loves climbing stuff, the ladder should be a fantastic section for him or her.
Costzon utilizes nonslip ladder steps with groves to prevent falls. The manufacturer provides an innovative, wide slide structure with three zones acceleration, deceleration, and buffer. They ensure your child glides safety from top to bottom.
The swing seat is spacious and has a T forward to keep your toddler intact when sitting. Besides, it uses a thick, wide backrest to enhance comfort at all times.
As an example of the best toddler outdoor playset, Step 2 offers you a model that allows your little one to learn and perfect a variety of skills. It features a slide, climbing ladder, basketball hoop, toss-through-wall, and a soccer goal. The set also comes with a sports ball that suits different games.
With this brand, you are giving your kids a chance to learn how to play basketball, toss, and kick a target. The slide area provides extra fun, as a child climbs the playset, gets to the top, and exits through it. He or she can also crawl through the openings on the lower part to enhance motor skills and flexibility.
Step 2 can handle a weight of 60 pounds, which is equivalent to 27.2 kg. It also comes with an in-built scorekeeper to save your kids the trouble of having to memorize scores. The ladder section has steps that are simple for every child to ascend. Besides, the slide is smooth for fast and thrilling movement.
The plastic model suits 2-6-year-olds and putting it together cannot be hard. However, its platform can fit one child only at a go, but the whole tool is usable with two playful toddlers. You can install on the lawn or combine with a kiddie pool for more exciting experiences.
Reasons to buy
It is multipurpose
Has an elegant design and a sturdy construction
Easy to climb
Utilizes safe materials
Utilizes a smooth, soft slide
It takes up less space
High-quality and easy to set up
Lightweight and sturdy
Suits outdoor and indoor use
Conclusion
I have no doubt that if you are looking for the best outdoor playset for toddlers, then you cannot go wrong with any of the 5 options identified on this page!
The most important thing is that your toddler gets outside, takes in some fresh air, and gets some awesome exercise too.
The mere thought of traveling with my toddler used to bring me out in cold sweats. Gone were the days where I could strap him into his car seat and he would immediately fall asleep. Boy, I miss those days.
Now, he needs entertaining. But how? How could I entertain him AND drive?
Here, I take a look at the best car seat toys for toddlers. These toys will remove some of the stresses of traveling with a toddler!
The good news is that there are tons of car seat toys for toddlers on the market. The bad news is that you will need weeks, if not months, to browse through most of them before you get your hands on the best car seat toys for your baby. Of course, unless you’re on this page, then your work is reduced to choosing between just six of the very best. Heck, you can even get all of them!
This colorful toy will get your cute little driver tooting with every turn you take. Designed in the shape of a car dashboard, it features an adorable dog character that moves back and forth when the toddler turns the steering wheel. And that’s not even the best thing about the toy.
Best Features
3 play modes: your toddler can switch between driving, animal and music modes. Whatever the choice, he/she will get entertaining sounds that will keep him/her engaged.
Educational: more importantly, the 3-mode feature helps the child to learn the various aspects of driving, nature, and music. For one thing, your toddler will be introduced to steering, shifting gear, using the mirror, braking, and even traffic lights. When those cease to entertain he/she can switch the signal lever to music. There are over 60 melodies, songs and phrases to learn, not to mention the many built-in animal sounds. That’s what makes the VTech Turn and Learn Driver one of the best car seat toys for toddlers – because it helps in speech, language, and cognitive development.
Imaginative play: in addition to cognitive development, this handy toy packs lots of features for pretend play. At the very top are 5 icons with images of varying cars and animals. When your toddler is not picturing him/herself in a particular type of car, he/she will probably be “petting” an animal or turning the steering wheel while shifting the pedal and trying the brakes. Whatever the case, this kind of imaginative play is a solid building block for creative thinking.
Easy and safe to use: every single piece on this plaything moves with ease. Equally important is that there are no small or removable parts that can cause a choking hazard.
Powers easily: two replaceable AA batteries are included for powering up the entire set.
Any Deficiencies?
The one thing that could improve is usability inside the car. VTech didn’t design it to be installable in a stroller, so you have to be creative when trying to attach one. Otherwise, it’s an awesome indoor and outdoor baby toy.
How about getting your tech-savvy toddler this car seat tray organizer? It has a large tablet holder, you know, in case your little one wants to be the next Steve Jobs. Alternatively, you can put your iPad in that holder and let your kid play with his/her other toys. And there can be plenty of them!
Best Features
Supports unlimited toys: the beauty of this particular unit is that it’s a travel tray – kind of a surface for holding toys. That means you can carry your child’s house toys to the car and let him/her play with them as you drive or enjoy the ride. It will remain steady thanks to the added quick buckle and securing straps.
Animal-branded surface: its more than just a tray because on the surface are images of a few animals, including rabbit, bat, cat, giraffe, and fish. At the very least your toddler will learn how to identify animals.
Pockets: in addition to the large surface where your child can place toys, the Beloved Belonging Kids Travel Tray has pockets on either side. You can throw in a water bottle, your phone, snacks, crayons, painting pads, extra toys, and whatnots.
Foldable: the best part? You can fold and carry the tray, together with everything inside. It has 3-inch reinforced walls and zippers that keep everything safe. Talk about portable entertainment for your little one and convenience for you. You can pack it while in the house and then unfold it when you get to the car or plane.
Waterproof construction: the BPA-free material used to make this tray cleans up easily. It only takes one wipe for the entire tray to look fresh as new.
Any Deficiencies?
The construction is decent enough but the material doesn’t feel strong enough for the long haul. If you’re the type of family that goes on many road trips per year you may have to buy more than one unit of this. Regardless, it’s an excellent tray that fits on planes and car seats, including booster seats.
Do you want your toddler to master essential dressing skills from a young age? This is the perfect gift for that kind of learning. It’s an entire set with a buckle, buttons, lace, zipper and a few other items that are used in fastening clothes. A few days with this board and your little one will be a champ in getting ready for school.
Best Features
It’s a learn-to-dress board: the whole concept behind this piece is to teach your kid how to dress properly but in a playful and low-stress environment. The baby places the board on his/her laps and learns how to tie laces, open & close zippers, fasten or loosen buckles, open buttons and close them and so on. There’s a total of 9 learning items, all of which instill hands-on dressing skills.
Motor development: any skill that your toddler learns contributes to motor development. In this case, he/she masters an astounding NINE skills. Every time your toddler uses this toy he/she learns how to put on shoes, pants, shirts, coats and any other clothes. Let them use it a few times in the car and you may find them ready for school by the time you wake up.
Engaging: all the items on the Kenley Toddler Busy Board are great, but the buckles are arguably the best. Why? Because there are several of them and each one has a varying level of difficulty. Once your child tries one, he/she can move to a more difficult one. Believe it or not, kids love such types of challenges. He/she will sit quietly trying to solve the puzzle, as you enjoy the drive. This alone makes it one of the best car seat toys for toddlers.
Comfortable: the Montessori-inspired board is made of soft wool. Its surface is comfortable to the touch, even for the tender hand of a toddler. While you can’t wash it with a machine, it’s fairly easy to clean using a wet cloth.
Portable: with dimensions of 12.8 x 11 x 0.5 inches and weighing in at 0.4 pounds, this car seat toy is designed with toddlers in mind. You don’t even have to carry it to the car for your child, he/she can manage to do that for him/herself. There’s a removable strap to make the work easier.
Any Deficiencies?
Some people don’t like that it’s not foldable. If you force it, it will fold. But then it will wrinkle and can get damaged. It’s not that big anyway that you will want to fold it.
The Melissa & Doug Wooden Latches Board makes the list because of the many activities packed in one board. It has latches, rooms, shapes, colors, images, numbers and lots more.
Engaging activity board: when you look at this board the first thing you will notice is a set of 6 house designs. Each one has a different type of latch and color. They are all numbered from 1 to 6, and on the bottom row are 4 flowers. The simple process of identifying all these things will keep your toddler quite engaged in the car.
Learning toy: more importantly, everything that’s included contributes to your child’s learning process. When not opening latches he/she will be looking at the various colors, counting numbers or even observing architectural designs. Yep, your kid will learn a thing or two about house designs. Animals are there too, behind the doors.
Interactive play: this is yet another feature that makes the board one of the best car seat toys for toddlers. Two or even three kids can use it at a time. When one is opening the “house’s” doors the other one will be counting the number of houses whose doors are still closed. This is the kind of play that not only improves a child’s social skills but also builds motor skills.
Solid construction: the entire board is made of solid wood, which is safe for kids. It doesn’t have small parts that can cause choking hazards.
Perfect for travels: equally important is that the wood doesn’t bend. Your toddler can place the board on the laps while in a car.
Any Deficiencies?
The latches are the biggest attractions for kids with their clicking sounds. Unfortunately, they are not named. If your toddler likes to ask questions like “what’s this one called?”, you may end up with a puzzler. Anyway, the board has a draw latch, sash lock, cabin hook, crossbar, door chain, and lock hasp in that order from 1 to 6.
Why buy a work board, car seat organizer and tablet holder separately when you can buy this travel tray and have them all in one package? With its vibrant colors and child-friendly design, it is designed to keep your toddler as calm as possible during a trip.
Best Features
Best when used as a travel tray: it’s basically a travel tray that has a hard surface on which your toddler can place his/her toys and play with them. He/she can even use it as a study tray while at it. If you don’t mind your kid using a tablet, then you’ll be pleased to know that this tray’s cover doubles up as a tablet holder. You can actually remove the entire back and use it as a stand-alone tablet holder.
Puts safety first: in addition to the sturdy walls of the tray, its top part can be attached to the seat in front so that the whole thing doesn’t fall down.
Lots of pockets: one reason why this tray ranks among the top car seat toys for toddlers is that it has many pockets. Just beneath the tablet holder is a zippered pouch that holds fairly sized items. There are smaller pockets on either side of the tablet holder. These ones can store smaller items like pens, crayons, and pencils. If you have something bigger (like extra toys and snacks) you can put it in the tray’s side pocket. On the top surface is a hole that holds a bottle (for water, juice, etc.)
Educational surface: the lap tray is more than just a work table. It has drawings of farm animals, vegetation, a house, flag, waterbody, boy and lots of colorful stuff that your toddler can draw or trace. He/she can also use them to learn various animals, colors, and whatnots.
Cleans easily: the top surface is made of PVC. First, the material makes it easy for your kid to draw or trace things that are on the tray. Secondly, you can wipe off whatever the baby drew on the surface with ease using a piece of wet cloth.
Any Deficiencies?
Yes, the plastic smell! You may have to wait for a month or more before the smell finally goes away. Other than that, not much to complain about this toddler travel tray.
The idea behind this toddler toy is a brilliant one. It’s designed to look like a tablet that’s easy to hold for a child. The package includes an easy-grip stylus for tracing, writing and scribbling numbers and letters on the screen. Now that’s the kind of toy you need if you want your little one to learn and keep busy while in the car.
Best Features
Learning toy: this is one of the most brilliant car seat toys for toddlers, at least as far as learning. It allows your kid to trace lights and practice writing letters A to Z and numbers 1 to 10. Every time the child writes a letter or number correctly, the toy sounds it to help with pronunciation as well. It’s simply amazing.
Increasing difficulty: there’s level 1, which basically involves scribbling letters and numbers, and then there’s level two, which requires more accurate writing of letters and numbers. With this toy, your child gets a very nice pre-school learning toy that can teach him/her how to write numbers and letters accurately as well as handwriting development.
Motor control: the part that some people probably don’t see is where this toy develops the child’s hand-eye coordination. He/she views, traces and then hears the sounding of the word/letter. That’s a very big part of overall motor control.
Attached stylus: the easy-grip stylus that comes with this tablet is attached so that the child doesn’t lose it.
Easy to use: for starters, it’s a lightweight toy. At only 12.8 ounces, a toddler can use it comfortably while placing it on the lap or table. Besides, it has rubberized sides for an easy grip.
Any Deficiencies?
It’s safe to say that LeapFrog assumed that every kid who will use this toy is right-handed. The cord holding the stylus is rather short for a left-handed child. He/she will still be able to use it but may struggle at times. Overlooking that, the tablet is awesome for pre-kindergarten learning.
Conclusion
In case you’re wondering, all these toys are surprisingly affordable. They’re all priced at under $50. With such prices you have every reason to get more than one; say a travel tray and something like the Vtech Turn and Learn Driver or LeapFrog Scribble and Write Tablet.
That way your little one will have a variety of the best car seat toys for toddlers to play with while in the car.
How can such a tiny person create so much noise?? Sure, we all know kids can be noisy, but screaming! Why?
When my toddler son was going through a screaming phase, at first, it scared the hell out of me! I leaped off of my seat like a cat and burst through his bedroom like the special forces. He was fine.
My heart was beating through my chest!
After a while, it became a normal behavior, and that worried me more. What if he screamed and I didn’t react when he really needed me?
In this post, I am going to take a look at the best ways you can get a toddler to stop screaming.
How To Get A Toddler To Stop Screaming
Ask Your Toddler Why They Scream
It might seem a bit too obvious. In fact, it is damn obvious. Sometimes the obvious works.
It is simple, if you want to find out why your toddler is screaming, then why don’t you ask them?
Sure, it might not get you anywhere. You might get nothing back, or you might get a small pause, followed by a louder scream… but you have to ask.
Oh, and when you ask, make sure you do it nicely. Don’t shout back, don’t act angry. Keep calm, and ask them.
Your toddler is not the best communicator. My son could bearly string a sentence together when he went through the screaming phase. I am certain that his lack of communicative abilities lead him to scream when he didn’t know the right words to use!
Sit down with your toddler and speak to them. Let them listen to the words you use. Your toddler will learn to communicate better simply by listening to the way you talk.
It is possible that your toddler is craving your attention.
Ask yourself if you are giving them enough attention. When I say ask yourself, I mean drop the pretense and decide whether or not you are actually giving them enough attention.
It is difficult to question your parenting abilities, I understand that. But needs must, and if you want your toddler to stop scream, you need to get back to basics.
Occupy Your Toddler
If you want your toddler to stop scream immediately, then you had better get some awesome distraction techniques under your belt.
You need to put aside a few distraction ideas for a time when your toddler is causing some embarrassment by screaming in a public place.
Consider carrying one of their small toys in your pocket or bag. Bring it out when the screaming begins. It worked for my son every time!
Reward Good Behavior
I truly believe that rewarding good behavior is one of the most powerful things that you can do as a parent.
Be careful though, there is a fine line between rewarding good behavior and bribery.
Bribery is bad, rewarding good behavior is good.
The key difference is that you do not offer a reward before specific good behavior is shown. Sure, you can offer reward if behavior is good over a period of time. Use a rewards chart for this. Bribery is offering a reward for good behavior immediately, or over a short period of time.
Why Does Your Toddler Scream?
Your Toddler Finds It Funny
Let’s face it, what is funnier than watching your parents jump out of their skin?
Kids love to see your reaction and find it extremely funny when you jump. The result is that your toddler wants to do it again, and again, and again. Until they get bored of it…
…kids never get bored of scaring you, by the way.
Your Toddler Is Scared
It could be that your toddler is genuinely scared, and this is the worst think about your toddler screaming.
Damn, in your time as a parent to a toddler, how many times have you heard the phrase:
It is just a phase
Says everybody when a child is acting up!
Is it true though it is likely to be a phase that your toddler is going through, and riding it out might just be the only way you are going to get through it.
I know, it is easier said than done.
Frustration
This is very similar to your toddler not being able to communicate properly.
It is not just communication though, it is everything.
Your toddler will be looking at everyone, wanting to do everything they are doing. Does your toddler have older siblings? It is possible that they are looking at their older siblings and the frustration is creeping in because they can’t run as fast, speak as well, jump as high.
Reassure your toddler that they are doing well. Help them achieve what they want to achieve.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why, but this post will help you understand how to get a toddler to stop screaming.
The most important thing is that you communicate with your toddler, and teach them how to communicate effectively. You are their role model, and they will learn from you.
Be less angry, be less frustrated, and your toddler behavior will surely follow.
It was a huge challenge for me, and for my toddler son! I was woken up most nights, sleep was slipping away from me. In this post, I am going to take a look at some toddler self-soothing behaviors to make sure you get enough good quality sleep!
In fact, it was not just me going through it. I have a friend who was going through the same thing. So I asked them for some advice, and here it is:
Toddler Self-Soothing – Layla’s Story
Throughout Lala’s infanthood, she had problems sleeping. I spent months poring through research journals and interviewing pediatricians. Very little changed; my toddler hadn’t learned to self-soothe.
Neither of us was getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep at night.
Before long, my blood pressure started going up and Lala began complaining of recurring headaches. I became desperate for a permanent solution to our sleep challenges. I saw a therapist who suggested that Lala learns to self-soothe.
Child therapists suggest that self-soothing is an important phase in every toddler’s development. To cope with discomfort and other stressful situations, toddlers adopt habits that make them feel secure and calm.
Self-soothing was—and still is—a life-long skill my toddler had to learn so that she could rock herself to sleep in my absence.
Here, I’ll share the self-soothing hacks that worked for Lala and me.
Common Toddler Self Soothing Behaviors
As children mature, they adopt different strategies and techniques that help them stay calm enough to sleep on their own. These repetitive activities often seem funny and weird to uninformed adults.
However, child therapists have revealed that these behaviors are basic signs of neural development. Toddlers adopt self-soothing behaviors to help them regulate their emotions and moods.
When Lala eventually learned to self-soothe, she had fewer episodes of tantrums, had better moods. She also showed more signs of self-control. With her newly acquired self-soothing skills, she coped better in stressful situations. What’s more, she began sleeping for longer hours and my blood pressure dropped to a healthier range.
Listed below are all the socially-acceptable self-soothing behaviors I taught Lala.
Stroking Blanket Between the Toddler’s Little Fingers
This is top of the list for toddler self-soothing behaviors!
Toddlers especially like this self-soothing strategy. The warmth of the blanket gives them a calm womb-like comfort. Lala absolutely loved her pink blanket. Now Lala is almost four. And whenever she wakes up in the middle of the night, she clutches her favorite cotton blanket to her chest and fiddles with it until she drifts back to sleep.
According to child therapists, toddlers love comfortable things and they associate current events with pleasant memories. Lala loves fiddling with her blanket because it reminds her of the warmth of my womb.
The blanket also reminds her of the skin-to-skin contact she experienced in her breastfeeding days. This soothing activity is definitely worth considering.
Humming that induces gentle vibrations in the chest.
Humming is another comforting sensation that toddlers love. With each hum, the toddler’s chest vibrates a little. A sense of calm suddenly washes over the child. It’s quite easy to teach a toddler to hum. All you have to do is show by example.
Children learn very fast.
Teaching Lala this self-soothing behavior was quite easy. At bedtime, I laid her on her bed and hummed rhythmically. Soon she followed suit and began humming herself to sleep. It was almost magical.
Because humming involved many repetitions and chest vibrations, her brain calmed down enough to induce sleepiness.
Shaking Head From Side to Side
Bodily movements help to soothe toddlers. While some children rock themselves while standing, others do this from a lying position. According to experts, forming neural pathways cause repetitive rocking and other self-soothing behaviors.
This self-soothing strategy worked quite well. I shook my head from side to side and encouraged her to follow suit. But I must admit that we often wound up rocking the entire body. But even that isn’t a completely bad idea.
Shaking the head repeatedly helps the toddler self-soothe from a sensory level. It’s definitely worth a try.
Belly button twiddle
My best friend has a two-year-old son. His name is Jake. And when little Jake started daycare, he forgot almost all the self-soothing behaviors he’d learned. He began twiddling his navel whenever he felt sleepy. No one knows where he learned this.
The first time the daycare teacher noticed Jake fiddling with his navel during naptime, she almost screamed in horror. She clamped her mouth shut, I think because she didn’t want to wake the other sleeping children.
Apparently, none of the other toddlers in the class showed signs of weird self-soothing activities.
Fiddling with the belly button probably reminds toddlers of all those months when they curled up in Mom’s womb. This behavior reflects expert’s theories of toddlers adopting behaviors that bring them pleasant memories. Lala didn’t need to try this. I only included it in my list because I realize that it might work for another toddler.
How To Help My Toddler Self-Soothe
Here are some tips that you can follow to help your toddler self-sooth.
If your toddler is having problems learning to sleep on their own, do not despair. You’re not alone. All over the world, toddlers struggle to sleep without the help of an adult.
To make your job easier, I have outlined and explained five effective ways to teach your child to self soothe.
Set up a fixed bedtime
Toddlers are creatures of habit. They learn faster when they are made to work with a fixed schedule or timetable. In matters of sleep, toddlers benefit more when there is an established consistent bedtime schedule.
Lala got used to the bedtime rituals very quickly. It started with a warm bath, a bedtime story, and lights out. Sticking to this pattern helped her fall asleep in her warm and cozy bed. Occasionally, she hummed and hugged her favorite pink blanket. Sometimes, she rocked her stuffed animal to sleep as well.
Help your child cope with the dark bedroom
If your toddler is afraid of the dark, you can leave on the lights in the corridor, especially if its silhouette filters through the cracks in the bedroom doorway. A toddler or baby night light projector is an awesome idea to help your child stay in bed!
Because Lala had formed the habit of imagining monsters in the dark, I provided a warm, natural-looking light in the adjourning rooms. Later on, I installed a nightlight bulb in her bedroom. This went a long way to help her overcome her sleep challenges.
Handle mid-night episodes wisely
When your toddler wakes in the middle of the night, pay attention. Listen through the door and wait for five to ten minutes. Your child needs adequate time and space to practice the self-soothing strategies they’ve learned. If they keep crying, calmly walk into the room and soothe them.
Ask them what the problem is. Reassure your toddler of your love, care, and protection. Be wary of night-terrors in toddlers!
When Lala woke up in the middle of the night, I kissed her and encouraged her to hum and rock her stuffed animal or her blanket. The self-soothing techniques calmed the brain. She always fell asleep after a few minutes.
Be consistent
Don’t give up after a few nights. If you maintain a regular bedtime routine and a smart mid-night intervention strategy, your toddler will adjust. With time, your toddler will develop the skills required to sleep independently. What’s more? They will also cry less.
It took Lala about one week to learn to self soothe. However, children learn at different paces. Your toddler might take less than a week to learn, but they might also take more than two weeks too. Studies by educational psychologists suggest that there are individual differences and that children learn at different rates. Be patient with your toddler.
Recommended Purchases For Self-Soothing
Teaching your little one some toddler self-soothing behaviors is a challenge! Often, you will need to purchase helpful tools for your child. Below is a list of purchases that worked for me and some that worked for other parents I interviewed.
Stuffed animals
Soft warm baby blankets
Self-held feeding bottles
A warm nightlight that has a natural glow
A stereo and nature music mixed tape. The tape features birdsong, the hiss of rushing waters and the swishing of forest trees and desert sand dunes
Very few babies are born with flawless sleep patterns and habits. Yes, some babies sleep for 6 – 8 hours throughout the night, but these are the exceptions. In most cases, newborns wake up regularly for nightly feeds until they reach their third months.
Research has shown that early self-soothing lessons benefit children in the end. According to this 2002 study, babies who had learned to self soothe by the age of one were unlikely to develop sleep challenges in toddlerhood and middle childhood.
Toddler’s sleep patterns and associations are a lot more difficult to adjust when compared to a baby’s sleep habits. That makes it more of a challenge to build in some toddler self-soothing behaviors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions!
How do I teach my toddler to self soothe?
The first step is to make your toddler’s bedroom warm comfortable and cozy. Declutter the room. Place objects and toys that bring pleasant memories. Consider investing in self-soothing tools. Blankets, stuffed animals, self-held bottles and birdsong are fantastic tools.
Establish a bedtime ritual and timetable. Choose rituals that are effective on multiple levels. Warm baths and (oil or water) massages soothe and comfort toddlers. After baths and massages, proceed to the bedroom, turn down the lights to a warm, soft glow.
Yellow candle-like flames are natural and soothing. Avoid the harsh glare of white LED or fluorescent lights. Read a bedtime story, pray (if you want) and then encourage the child to hug a warm blanket or a stuffed animal. These activities create feelings of comfort and security.
When your toddler wakes up at night, get up and press your ears to the doorway. Listen for five minutes. If the child hasn’t gone back to sleep, open the door and pacify the child. Ask what the problem is. Listen to what your child has to say. Afterward, hug them and encourage them to hum and to rock their favorite stuffed animal, blanket or self-held bottle,
Don’t linger in the room for too long. Leave after five minutes. You can wait outside and monitor the child’s progress from there. Often, the child will drift off to sleep without your help. If, however, your toddler continues to cry, wait for seven minutes before you intervene. Be willing to give your toddler adequate room to practice the self-soothing techniques they’ve learned.
How long should a toddler cry it out?
Every child is different. And in matters of self-soothing, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all guideline. Some experts say it’s okay to allow your toddler to fuss and cry for about five to eleven minutes before you intervene. Other experts recommend a longer duration.
Whatever you do, be sure to apply the law of moderation. Don’t let your toddler cry for too long especially if he or she is ill.
Monitor your toddler. Ensure that they aren’t harming themselves while they are crying.
Can newborns self soothe?
Experts believe that newborns are capable of self-soothing when they cross the three-months milestone (or when they turn twelve weeks).
However, it is important to note that newborns have very small stomachs and are unable to take in sufficient amounts of food at once. Often they have to wake up every one to three hours to feed. Obviously, babies who cluster feed are not capable of soothing themselves to sleep when they are hungry.
Before you start swapping self-soothing stories with other mothers, bear in mind that parenting tactics differ. Bottle-fed babies eat less than breast-fed babies. And breast milk is more easily digestible when compared to baby formula.
In other words, breast-fed babies are more likely to wake up more often for nightly feeds.
By the sixth month of life, two-thirds of babies are capable of ingesting more food at a time and of sleeping for longer hours. When they attain the six-month mark, you can teach your baby to self soothe.
Conclusion
Many toddlers struggle to sleep on their own. Often, toddlers insist on being held, rocked or patted to sleep even when they wake up in the middle of the night.
Not only does this deprive the entire family of quality sleep, but it also robs the child of the opportunity to learn an important life skill.
Toddlers who learn to self soothe are more likely to:
Regulate their moods
Cope in stressful situations
Concentrate in a formal school setting.
You can help your child self-soothe if you create a comfortable and cozy space for your child to sleep in. Fill your child’s room with soft blankets, stuffed animals and other tools that are reminiscent of pleasant experiences. Establish a bedtime ritual and stick to it.
Tuck your child into bed and encourage them to rock their stuffed animals and or blankets. Hum to them and encourage them to hum as well.
Do not despair. Like Lala and I, you and your toddler will overcome your sleep troubles.
the key point is – you should teach your little one some vital toddler self-soothing behaviors!
One of the best ways to bond with your baby is by carrying them with the help of an awesome toddler hip carrier when you’re up and about, doing your light, but tedious chores.
The body-to-body contact that is created makes your baby warmer and calmer. Plus they turn into little explorers; observing your world and in some cases trying to mimic the things you do. That makes for a truly beautiful sight for any parent, and it’s a learning opportunity for your toddler.
Plus, carrying them around can get very tiring, right?
Unfortunately, your body can only support so much weight before fatigue creeps in, especially if you don’t have the right gear. In which case the joy of caring for your baby can easily turn into a plight of shoulder pains and backaches. Now, if you want to avoid that make sure you have the best toddler hip carrier.
Why a Toddler Hip Seat Carrier?
Once your baby reaches three months he/she will be big enough to be carried with a hip seat carrier. This specialized babywearing gear distributes the baby’s weight on your hips and waist. By doing so, it relieves some of the pressure from your back and shoulders.
Contrary to a front-facing baby carrier that forces you to hunch forward or a backpack carrier that makes your back straighten, a toddler hip seat carrier lets you retain your natural posture. It moves around your waist, letting you switch the baby from one hip to another whenever fatigue starts creeping in.
What’s The Best Toddler Hip Carrier?
Not all baby hip carriers are made equal. While you definitely need one, it’s important to ensure that whichever one you choose is the best toddler hip carrier for you and your baby. It should be comfortable and affordable. Be sure to check that it feels right on you, your little one and your pocket.
Weight capacity and durability are the other considerations to keep in mind. You don’t want a hip carrier that won’t be able to support your baby when he/she adds just a few pounds. Worse yet one that will wear out after two or three months of use.
Feeling spoilt for choice? Well, you’re in luck because we have already done the hard work for you. Below is a list of the best toddler hip seat carriers to choose from.
If you can only buy one toddler hip carrier then make it a Bebamour; better yet go for this particular model. It packs premium features, yet comes at a very affordable price.
First of all, you can use it in three different ways: with your toddler facing inward, with him/her facing forward and in the horizontal position. With a seat surface of 5 inches, this carrier is just enough for your baby or toddler to sit or stand on comfortably, but not too big to feel bulky.
The seat has a non-slip surface to keep the toddler safe. For your comfort, the thick padding on the waist strap makes this carrier a good friend to your abdomen and torso.
It has a foldable aluminum frame. When not in use you can fold the entire carrier and store in a bag or pouch. Its two zippered pockets – one in front and the other on the side – provide room for storing diapers, tissues, bottles, and whatnots. Overall, this carrier makes an excellent buy for babies who are between 3 and 36 months old.
Pros
Very soft surface that doesn’t hurt the baby’s bottom
Surface doesn’t sink in (to lose shape) even after extended use
A running issue with most of these baby hip seat carriers is their short-waist belt. ThreeH sought to solve the problem by introducing a longer, adjustable waist strap that can fit slim as well as plus-sized baby carers with simple adjustments.
By default, this hip carrier comes with a waist belt whose circumference measures 28 to 44 inches. In case you need a longer one you can order it separately, you’ll get the entire belt complete with all the buckles. The ThreeH Baby Hip Seat Belt Carrier earns several points from that fact alone.
More importantly, this hip carrier is super comfortable and safe for you and the baby. Its large stool has a non-slip surface and a 30-degree angle to it so that the baby doesn’t fall off. That, combined with the Velcro strap and buckle, makes it one of the safest toddler hip carriers on the market.
Pros
Has a pocket for storage
Supports up to 45 pounds of weight or 3 to 36-month old babies
The stool is made using EPP foam for durability while the soft sponge pad provides comfort
Made with baby’s safety in mind
Extremely affordable. Represents the best value for money
Cons
Good for the shoulders but can dig into the hip and cause some pain after prolonged continuous use
A toddler hip seat carrier is cool. But do you know what’s even better? A hip seat carrier that’s also a baby carrier. You can get that combo when you buy the Bebamour Baby Carrier with Hip Seat.
Designed for babies who are 3 to 36 months old, this hip carrier can support up to 33 pounds of weight. And at 1.82 pounds, it’s light enough for virtually every adult to carry, even with a baby in it.
Note that babies who are 6 months or younger should be carried using the hip seat alone. If your little one falls in that age detach the upper part of the carrier, tie the baby seat around your waist and enjoy some fun times together.
Its cotton and polyester material not only offers a comfortable surface for the baby but also lasts long. Just under the seat is a large pocket that can hold several essential items, from diapers to phones and car keys.
Pros
It’s a seat and carrier combo
Breathable surface (76% cotton) keeps baby cool when the temperature is high
Supports 6 different carrying styles: 3 as a hip seat carrier and 3 as an ordinary carrier
The waist strap is about 48 inches, which is long enough for most people
Fitted with a hood to protect the baby from the sun or light showers
Cons
Too small for bigger babies. Can’t support more than 33 pounds of weight
Some people will tell you that the best toddler hip carrier is one with a 30-degree tilt. That’s justifiable because a slight tilt provides a safer (and perhaps more comfortable) stool for the baby. You will find that type of stool in the Per Fashional Baby Hip Seat.
Padded with a sponge lining, this baby hip seat carrier has a waist belt that adjusts from 25.59 to 46.45 inches. In other words, it can fit slim as well as bigger waits. The adjustable strap helps you fasten the entire seat safely to your waist.
On the side of this toddler hip seat carrier is a small mesh pocket. Compared to the pockets found on other models, this one is pretty small. Not many things can fit in; probably just a phone or keys or something equally small. Regardless, this well-designed toddler hip carrier can support up to 55 pounds of weight. It’s ideal for babies who are under 3 years old.
Pros
Wide stool and sponge lining provide a comfortable seating surface
Thick waist belt distributes baby’s weight effectively
High weight capacity and fitted with two straps for extra safety
The waist belt is large enough for people of all sizes
30-degree tilt prevents baby from sliding off the surface
Cons
Limited color options. You can only get it in khaki, red and dark blue
This rainbow-colored sling by Hip Baby Wrap is perfect for people who prefer slings over ordinary hip carriers. It’s still a hip carrier, the only difference is that you wrap the baby in it (rather than him/her sitting on a stool).
Is that a good thing? Absolutely! Your child will be safer because he/she will have an entire cloth wrapped around him/her, not just your arm. It also acts as back support for the baby.
Made with 100% cotton that is breathable, this sling can support up to 35 pounds of weight. It’s a pretty straightforward carrier, but you’ll need to learn how to wrap in a way that is safe for the baby and comfortable for you.
Pros
Can double up as a nursing cover when you need to breastfeed
Aluminum rings make it easy to adjust the length of the sling
Soft, lightweight and breathable fabric provides your baby with comfort
Excellent for slim, medium and plus-sized users
Easy to maintain because it is machine washable. Be sure to place a sock around the aluminum rings to avoid damaging your washer.
Cons
The shoulder is not padded, but that shouldn’t be a big issue because the fabric can’t bruise you
Requires a few lessons to learn how to wrap safely
The Hippychick “Hip Seat” or Hippychick “Hipseat”, choose your pick. However you want to call it, this toddler hip seat carrier can easily turn into your best friend if you have a 6-36 month old baby.
It features a padded surface that provides ultimate comfort for your child. But not at the expense of safety. The seat has a non-slip surface that keeps the baby safely in place. For extra security, the carrier has a waist strap that holds the position on your waist firmly. It is well-padded and won’t cause any discomfort at all.
Despite the strong and durable material used (feels like Cordura), this carrier feels light. Its machine washable too, so that’s a plus as far as maintenance. Simply open the zip to remove the seat and then throw it in the washer.
Pros
Does an excellent job in distributing weight
Has inward-facing pockets to keep your belongings safe
Ideal for older babies of up to 3 years
Easy to put on or remove
Well-made and durable
Cons
The waist strap is only suitable for people who are slim
Conclusion
Here’s a tip to wrap up the review: the best toddler hip carrier is one that allows your baby to sit in the ‘M’ position.
The above products support that, but it also depends on the age and size of your baby.
If you have the chance, be sure to inspect that the model you choose has enough padding for you and the baby.
Kids also need to know how to drive. But obviously, you can’t put your toddler behind the wheel; unless, of course, it’s one of the most awesome toys with steering wheel for toddlers!
In which case you can never buy enough of those, and there’s every possibility that your car-crazy child will love every single one of them (it is also worth checking out these garage toys for toddlers).
Why Steering Wheel Toys Are Awesome For Toddlers
Toys with steering wheels for toddlers are great for play, but more importantly, they help with the development process. Every time the child manipulates something on the steering wheel and sees the car reacting, he/she learns the concept of cause and effect. Turn the wheel and the car will turn, press the tiny horn and there will be a honking sound. What a child is learning is that actions come with reactions.
And not just that. Simulated driving is great for a toddler’s concentration and imagination. As your little one gets carried away in that imaginary world, he/she will find him/herself focusing on the visual (like looking at the road ahead), actionable (like turning the steering wheel) and auditory (like hearing the horn) aspects of the play.
That develops motor skills and coordination from a very young age.
Besides, turning a toy steering wheel is in itself a physical activity. It helps the child’s muscles to develop and bones to strengthen. If it’s a ride-on car then the child will be using almost every muscle in his/her body to power it.
Not many exercises come close to that.
So, if you can find a toy that combines exercising with motor control you will help your child to develop in a healthy way. In light of that, we have taken the liberty to review the best toys with steering wheels for toddlers.
Kicking off the review is this awesome food truck for toddlers. The two-sided toy has a truck dashboard on one side and several culinary playthings on the other side. There’s no actual driving involved but the dashboard side features a steering wheel, gear shifter and clicker key.
It’s pretty realistic and great for your toddler’s imagination, just as the counter side is.
The latter has a food prep area that’s fitted with a light-up grill, “full” cash register with 4 menu cards, a wash-up sink, and a service bell. Just below the counter, on the outside, is a recycle bin. In total, your Toddler gets over 20 removable pieces to play with.
And that’s not even the most fun part! The cash register reads out all the menu cards while the tiny stereo system plays over 125 songs and sounds. To put it simply, this truck provides hundreds, if not thousands, of learning opportunities for kids.
From singing to culinary skills, interactive play, hygiene lessons, and so much more, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Servin’ Up Fun Food Truck has them all. That’s why it gets a spot among the best toys with steering wheels for toddlers.
How the Fisher-Price Food Truck Enhances Toddler Development
The realistic truck side will help your baby understand the basics of driving and road etiquette as the food prep area teaches him/her something about being a chef.
Built-in songs, tunes, and phrases are great for a child’s academics. They focus on counting and sizing.
Promotes interactive play. At least 3 kids can use this toy at once, with one of them being the chef, another one taking the driver’s position and the third kid as the food buyer.
If they are many, toddlers will learn to take turns and in the process acquire the skill of patience. It can be used by kids of crawling age all through 11 years, so don’t be afraid to let them explore this magical truck.
A toy car is nice, but a smiling toy car is even better for a toddler. And that’s exactly what your child will get in the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe – a colorful, smiling ride-on coupe. It’s not just a likable and amusing toy, it’s also quite realistic. It has four wheels and a steering wheel, complete with a working horn.
The clicking ignition switch is bound to make your child feel like he/she has started a real car. At the back is a small gas cap that opens and closes, so don’t be shocked when your baby pulls up next to you at the gas station!
Of course, they won’t, but what they can do is ride the toy.
Its removable floor cover enables your child to power the toy car with his/her feet.
Steering isn’t hard since the front wheels can turn through 360 degrees. When your toddler is tired, you can simply carry the whole car with them in it! There’s a sturdy grip at the top, fitted for that particular purpose.
How Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Enhances Toddler Development
Provides physical exercise, muscle development, and bone-strengthening when the child powers the car him/herself
A nice educational tool for young drivers. They can know all the basics of driving, from starting a car to fuelling and a lot more
Requires assembly. Doing this with your child’s help will teach them how to build things.
Encourages role-play and imaginative play, both of which are great for mastering social and communication skills.
How about getting your toddler a colorful toy that’s rich in visual and academic features? That’s what My Spin & Learn Steering Wheel from Beat Learning brings to the table. The circular steering wheel has three modes.
First, there is the color mode with white, red, blue, yellow and purple. When this mode is active the LEDs will come on, highlighting the colors for the child to see. The second mode involves shapes. Here your kid will learn to identify a triangle, square, pentagon, star and circle. Again, LEDs light up to highlight the shape for your child to take note.
The final mode teaches feelings.
Your toddler can learn joy, surprise, anger, fear, and sadness. You guessed it right, LEDs light up to highlight each feeling.
The best part of this learning wheel is the songs, sentences, and phrases. Whenever a color, shape or feeling is highlighted in LED the toy plays an accompanying song, sentence or word to teach the child what he/she is looking at. In other words, it triggers both the visual and auditory senses of your child.
How cool is that?
That alone puts this wheel up there among the best toys with steering wheels for toddlers.
How the Best Learning Wheel Enhances Toddler Development
Teaches kids to identify basic shapes, colors, and feelings.
Accompanying songs are great for a child’s vocal and vocabulary development.
It’s an engaging toy that can teach your toddler how to concentrate.
There are buttons that change the mode when pressed. More importantly, they trigger a baby’s curiosity as he/she tries to find out when will happen when a button is pressed
It’s a wheel, so there’s the driving aspect of this toy.
This is one of the classic toys with steering wheels for toddlers! It doesn’t have to be Disney themed, but any toy like this will be played with for hours!
Who wouldn’t want a piece of Mickey’s positive vibes? He has a way of putting a smile on kids’ faces what with his hilarious voice and sparks of light. No wonder toddlers get excited at the sight of a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar or a Mickey-themed park.
Well, those are two ways of getting your baby a piece of Mickey and Friends; if you want to do it once or twice a year! The other way, the better way, is by getting a Mickey and Friends Activity Pinball Ride On. This nicely decorated ride-on toy has Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all the beloved characters from the show.
It has activity buttons that play Mickey’s favorite tunes, giving your toddler time to enjoy the music and learn the words as well.
A turn-able knob spins colors and blinks signal lights just like in real cars. It comes complete with a tiny ignition key and gear that revs the engine to produce an engine sound.
Long story short, this toy has an amazing ability to mimic real cars. That’s one of the reasons why it’s among the best toys with steering wheels for toddlers – because kids can learn about driving from a tender age.
How Mickey and Friends Enhances Toddler Development
Mimics real cars, which makes it an amazing tool for driving lessons. You can teach road etiquette when your child is young.
Has a peek-a-boo window for imaginative play, which is known to enhance social and communication skills.
The included removable toy phone makes it even easier for a child to learn communication.
Baby can sit and ride on or push the toy. Either way, it offers good exercise
Kids love to pretend play, and they find it more fun when the toy is realistic. Speaking of which, CASDON’s Sat Nav Steering Wheel is the closest substitute for an actual steering wheel. It’s a toy satellite navigator and steering wheel as well; a combination that makes it the perfect tool for toddler play, learning, and development.
The toy wheel is packed with several realistic features that include a revving engine, horn that honks, braking tool and something to imitate gear change.
So while your little one won’t be driving an actual car, he/she will get enough fun from pretending to. Indicators and flashing lights make it even more realistic, and you can use them to teach your child about traffic rules.
How CASDON Sat Nav Steering Wheel Enhances Toddler Development
Motoring sounds and commands that interact with the wheel to help your child learn the basics of driving
Flashing lights and indicators can teach your child a thing or two about traffic rules
Based on an instructional play that teaches your child left and right directions
Your toddler can develop hand-to-eye coordination by playing with the wheel
Has spoken instructions which also help with your child’s hearing and vocabulary
This is an awesome steering wheel toy when your child is leaving the baby years and moving into toddler territory. Plus it gives them something to do on long journeys!
Are you the type of parent/guardian who enjoys the occasional drive with your little one? You can make the experience more fun for your toddler by adding the Taf Toys Infant and Baby Car Wheel Toy into the mix. The little steering attaches to the headrest of the seat in front and allows your toddler to imitate the driver’s actions.
In addition to a steering wheel, the toy has a gear lever. It makes sounds and produces light; both of which are very amusing to toddlers.
More importantly, they stimulate your baby’s senses while providing fun on the road.
How Taf Toys Car Wheel Toy Enhances Toddler Development
Allows baby or toddler to play pretend by imitating driver’s actions, therefore encouraging learning by imitation.
By watching and imitating, the baby can develop motor skills and coordination.
Sounds and lights help to develop baby’s visual and auditory senses
Great tool for teaching a child cause and effect through imaginative play
Which Steering Wheel Toy Should You Choose For Your Toddler?
If you want a ride-on car that will give your baby all the exercises that he/she needs then Little Tikes Cozy Coupe makes the best pick. The Fisher-Price Food Truck, on the other hand, is perfect for gaining as many skills as possible – from culinary to driving skills and everything in-between.
Mickey and Friends is good for riding on, playing tunes and learning colors, which is also the case for Best Learning Wheel. The latter adds the benefit of learning about feelings as well.
CASDON Sat Nav Steering Wheel and Taf Toys Car Wheel are both excellent for teaching a toddler the basics of driving, traffic rules and how to treat other road users.
Conclusion
Each toy on this page is a fantastic option if you are after a toy with steering wheels for your toddler!
Your toddler will love role-playing as a driver, and be just like you when you are driving… so make sure you don’t go cursing at other drivers because they will copy you as they play!
In other words, each of these toys with steering wheels brings something to the table. Feel free to grab whichever option is most suitable for your toddler.
Even better, two or three toys can make your little one happier while teaching him/her a lot more about driving and whatnot.
It is quite natural for toddlers to find cars as well as tracks to be extremely interesting! With that in mind, I am going to take a look at some awesome options if you are looking for a toy garage for toddlers.
A toy garage will enable your little one to make their dreams of running vehicles come true!
At present, play garages are available in various sizes as well as shapes and it is imperative to provide your toddler with playthings that will encourage them to be innovative in the long run.
The majority of these toys happen to be resilient as well as intriguing. Below, we will run through some popular garage toys for toddlers.
This awesome product from Melissa & Doug features a two-level wooden service station which is an intriguing multi-purpose toy. It is the best toy garage for toddlers, and I absolutely love all toys by Melissa & Doug! Their mission is to:
Provide a launch pad to ignite imagination and a sense of wonder in all children so they can discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose.
…you can’t argue with that, right?
Anyway, back to this toy… Your toddler will enjoy running the cars inside the carwash. After this, they will be driving around to the subsequent level parking deck.
Finally, they will reach the top using the elevator.
These toys are fantastic for creativity as well as tactile sensations. They are, in fact, more open-ended as compared to those playthings which come with lights as well as sounds. This specific toy will provide your toddler with the opportunity of producing their personal sound effects and also imagining conversations that take place between the drivers without any distraction whatsoever.
There is likewise a compact-sized footprint with the product in case you do not have adequate space. It might be a problem if you have two or more children since it will be difficult for several children to play with this toy at any given time.
Reasons why I recommend this toddler garage toy
Comes with 2 toys in one
Features a gas pump for effortless hand-eye coordination
Battat is reputed for being a business that came into existence approximately 114 years back. We all know this company to produce some astounding playthings and toys for kids for over 40 years. The company markets their toys using methods that are more effective than advertising: they encourage conversation between parents on a one-to-one basis in playgrounds, classrooms, and any other place where children love to play.
Here, this amazing 3-car garage happens to be one of those remarkable products manufactured by the company that has captivated the hearts of numerous kids (and parents) across the globe.
This innovative 3-car garage manufactured by Battat comes with as many as 3 colorful vehicles that include 3 differently-colored garage doors as well as 3 keys which are color-coded.
It is essential to match every single key to the appropriate colored carriage so that the doors can be unlocked and you will observe the vehicles rolling out.
This garage is particularly designed for promoting color matching and they also assist in developing hand-eye coordination while encouraging the little ones to get some more knowledge regarding cause as well as effect.
Apart from this, the garage comes with a handy fold-down carry handle which will allow you to play with this fun vehicle in the best possible way. In fact, this garage is ideal for children who are above 18 months old.
The box consists of one single garage, as many as 3 vehicles, not to mention 3 keys as well. Toys with locks and keys will also keep your toddler entertained for hours by the way!
Reasons why I recommend this toddler garage toy
Manufactured from top-quality materials.
Extremely resilient.
Teaches the children new skills regarding using colors and keys.
Any child who is more than 18 months of age can use this toy easily.
Here, you will come across one vehicle for every single mission. In fact, this playset is going to fulfill your toddler’s requirements in case their vehicle requires a tune-up, a top-quality carwash, or anything similar. There are several levels of different types of creative adventures.
You can easily send your vehicles through as many as four activity levels, turning around the spiral ramp, halting for filling up the fuel tank at any gas pump or reaching the summit by means of riding a crane on an elevator.
What you will find inside each box?
Every single box is going to consist of the following things:
As many as 4 activity levels including a gas pump, track, a genuine working elevator, crane, not to mention a spiral ramp as well
A 4-level large-scale garage that comes with easily identifiable real-world features and activities
Comes with a top-quality car wash for all their Matchbox vehicles and trucks
Service station for repairing the Matchbox automobiles
Comes with one single tow truck from Matchbox which will provide lots of fun to the kids once they end up opening the box.
Reasons why I recommend this toddler garage toy
Is properly designed and features easy-to-understand assembly
This garage toy includes 4 Wooden Race Cars, 1 Toy garage for vehicles, and 4 Car Ramps.
The vehicles can be collected by your toddler on their own while preventing any loss of vehicles and also enhancing the sense of storage.
Montessori toys for toddlers are intended for kids aged between 2 and 3 years and help to enhance the coordination of the hands and eyes, intrinsic motor skills and sharing abilities, plus problem-solving capabilities as well.
Outdoor Playthings for 18-month-old toddlers – Vibrantly colored racing track sets help to attract boys and girls and also keep them engrossed for hours together.
This toy will help children to be aware of colors too. They can likewise practice their skills of counting;
This particular product happens to be the tallest Wheelies track set on the market that comes with as many as 3 different types of tracks which includes one that is able to launch the vehicles into the air.
This amazing garage toy for toddlers from Fisher-Price will provide the kids with plenty of racing fun and they can likewise learn how the playtime can be transformed into an entirely new gear simply by taking turns.
It will be feasible for the children to send their Wheelies vehicles zooming down the racetrack one at any given time while some fun phrases will remind them to begin taking turns.
They will start observing how it is possible to enjoy the game by being patient as well as by taking turns. It will be possible for the children to make use of their creative skills for developing stories while playing with the help of easy-to-handle cars out there.
Their little hands will receive a fantastic workout while they grasp the cars and send them down the racetracks at a tremendous speed.
Reasons why I recommend this toddler garage toy
Will teach the children fantastic social skills
Will enhance their creative power
Children will adore the different tracks as well as the various sounds that are produced while playing the game
The track is tall and amongst the most attractive out there
The toy is very simple to put together and this can be done within 30 minutes
There are various innovative ways to play with this breathtaking learning set including zooming the wooden vehicles, building with the help of blocks, matching the vehicles to their respective garages, and so on.
There are as many as 7 graduated garages out there which can be organized according to one’s preference. They can also be stacked to construct a lofty structure that will provide lots of learning opportunities.
Simple and neat storage is not a problem!
Above all, each one of them is going to match one of the 7 stackable cars by color, size, as well as number thus opening up limitless opportunities in front of the kids.
These toy garages will aid in developing proper hand-eye coordination of your toddler, and they will be able to have a sound concept of color, numbers, and size.
At the same time, their problem-solving abilities are going to be improved significantly and they will become more creative in the long run. These toy garages are going to be a fantastic gift from any child between two and four years of age.
Reasons why I recommend this toddler garage toy
The colors of the cars are vibrant and fun
The garages are quite strong and thick
Will help to enhance the counting abilities as well as creative powers of the children
These are absolutely safe for the kids and they can use it without any risk at all
Manufacturers recommended age: 24 months +
How imaginative play helps with Toddler development
By the term “imaginative play” I mean playing freely that encourages the healthy development of your toddler. Here, we have mentioned some essential benefits provided by imaginative play at present.
A garage toy for toddlers will enhance imaginative play and will help your toddler through an important developmental stage!
1. Social development
While participating in imaginative play, kids are actually experimenting with life’s social roles. In fact, imaginative play is able to affect the development of the essential skills of a child which are important for his success with their friends. While playing creatively along with their buddies, children learn how to compromise and cooperate (hopefully).
2. Language development
Imaginative play will help children to expand their vocabulary and they can also experiment freely with different words in their own convenient time. There is no risk of feeling embarrassed in case they pronounce these words incorrectly.
3. Physical development
Children will be able to express themselves both verbally as well as non-verbally by means of imaginative play. They will be able to use their muscles as well as their senses for achieving this.
Working with different art materials will enhance their motor skills significantly along with their hand-eye coordination.
Moreover, their gross motor skills will be stimulated in case they are encouraged to participate in dancing, large construction projects or mutual painting.
4. Thinking abilities
The mental development of children is enhanced by imaginative play to a great extent and they will learn how to think and solve problems effectively.
5. Emotional development
Last but not least, imaginative play will help your toddler to express positive as well as negative feelings. They will also be able to get the better of difficult emotions through their improved understanding.
Conclusion
In this post, we looked at 6 of the best garage toys for toddlers. Each one of the options is robust and enjoyable, built for toddlers!
It is essential that you provide your toddler with proper playthings that will keep them engrossed for hours.
The toy garages mentioned above will enable your toddler to develop in the best possible way. They will also enhance vital life skills!
Your toddler will have the opportunity of playing with various models and can also imagine various scenarios like a race, a trip to the garage, a crash, and so forth.
Hopefully, the 6 garage toys mentioned above will help you to pick the appropriate plaything for your toddler! One they can use for amusing themselves in a healthy and creative manner.
Ahoy, me hearties. All hand hoy and avast ye! Here I serve ye up the best Pirate toys for toddlers!
Let’s save the pirate lingo for September 19th, shall we? Nonetheless, one undeniable thing is that pirate jargon and stories make life a bit more adventurous and fun.
“There was an old pirate…who swallowed a fish, a bird, a map, some gold, and even a whole pirate ship!” – goes one of Jennifer Ward’s most loved verses. It really does pull kids in. They’ll want to know what happened to the old Pirate, and why he swallowed all those things.
As you and your little one catch up on such bedtime stories and brush-up on your pirate lingo, don’t forget the most important accompaniment – toys.
Besides spicing up the story and using them to play pretend games, toys will help your toddler to visualize events. That’s a very important part of the child development process.
But with so many options to choose from, how do you pick just one or two pirate toys for 2-year-olds or 3-year-olds? Since you’re here, we thought we would narrow down your options to just 5 of the best pirate toys for toddlers.
This is our ultimate list based on plenty fun research.
The beauty of Jake and the Never Land Pirates is that it makes toddlers go bananas; unsurprisingly so.
Between the heroic Jake, feisty Izzy, cool animations and tons of sensational musicals, there’s plenty to like about this Disney Junior show. And now you can bring Jake, Izzy, and the Never Land Island to your living room thanks to this LEGO set.
Alongside Jake and Izzy figures, the set includes a buildable island complete with a treasure chest, lifting bridge, palm tree, and slide. Use them to bond with your baby as the two of you build Never Land Island then help Jake and Izzy to find buried treasures (gold doubloon) and hide them in the treasure chest.
You can rebuild the island in many different ways. To make everything magical, LEGO included magic pixie dust that your toddler can use to make Jake and Izzy fly.
Overall, the LEGO 10604 Duplo makes a great toy for teaching 2 or 3-year-olds some building skills. That is what makes it one of the best pirate toys for toddlers.
Reasons to Buy the LEGO 10604 Duplo Jake and the Never Land Pirates Treasure
Allows you to build the island in many different ways. There’s a slide that goes straight to the sea
Bricks are well-built for duration
Great for toddler’s basic building skills and role play
Never Land Island is sufficiently big to fire imagination. It measures 5 inches high, 5 inches deep and 8 inches wide. The characters are realistic too.
Easy and fun for kids in the 2 to 4 years age bracket to assemble
For Toddlers, bath time should always be sailing time. With Playmobil’s 1.2.3 Pirate Ship, you and your baby can sail the high seas, steer your pirate ship and fire water through the front-facing cannon.
With colorful decorations and a pirate flag, this ship is both a play tool and something for your child’s imagination. It comes with two figures, a treasure, and a parrot.
When the crew isn’t firing jets of water through the cannon it will be out searching for treasures.
The best part? Your child can use the ship in the water and when out of the bath. It works best in the water though because of the rotating wheels and water-firing cannons.
Reasons to buy the Playmobil 1.2.3 Pirate Ship
Eye-catchy colors make it one of the best pirate toys for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds
Comes as a full set that contains ship, pirate figures, cannon with red firing button, parrot and treasure
Rotating wheels make it easy for toddlers to push and steer the ship
Doesn’t have small parts that your child can lose or swallow
Want to encourage your pirate-loving child to play outside games more? Use the Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship to entice him/her to the outdoors.
The water table is packed with plenty of pirate-like features; from a ship that is laced with a pirate flag to a water-firing cannon and everything in-between.
Measuring 40 by 29 by 38 inches, the playset is big enough for three or even four kids to use at the same time. That interaction and creative play are very important to a developing child. And it gives this set a huge selling point, placing it up there among the best pirate toys for toddlers.
So what do the kids (and you, of course) get? First, there’s a huge pirate ship that floats when the set is filled with water. There are two ways of adding water: by pouring it into the crows’ nest using jars or simply using a pump.
The ship has two pirate figures. Anyone of them can be a commanding captain and take a position at the top of the mast, towering above everything else.
There are spinners that create waves or currents, you know, just to make it more realistic. The water cannon and anchor add some spice to the already fun set!
Kids can squirt water using the cannon and raise or lower the anchor using a cranking handle.
Considering its height, it would be accurate to say that Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship is one of the best pirate toys for 3-year-olds. If your toddler is younger they may find it a bit too high for their height.
Reasons to buy the Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship
Can be used by many kids at a time
In addition to the ship, pirate figures, the package includes a squirting shark and several other playthings and accessories (like a bucket, scooper, strainer, and boat). The downside (or fun side – depending on how handy you are) is that it requires assembly.
One of the most realistic pirate sets for kids
It’s generally an outdoor toy, but can also be used indoors
Plenty of activities for a child to do using this toy
What’s better than having a pirate playset? Having a pirate playset that comes with its own riding toy! That’s precisely what Little Tikes is offering with this 2-in-1 Pirate Ship.
Rather than having a ship that floats on water, you get one that has wheels, so that your child can ride it or simply push it.
It’s one of the best pirate toys for toddlers who can’t play with water for one reason or another (like catching a cold easily). Included in the set are figurines, a cannon, pirate flag, and anchor.
The deck hatch is also a storage for all the accessories that come with the toy. And since it won’t be in the water, you can even add your own to make it more fun.
Reasons to Buy the Little Tikes 2-In-1 Pirate Ship
It’s a 2-in-1 toy; i.e. your child gets a ship that he/she can ride
With a height of roughly 9 inches (floor to seat), it makes one of the best pirate toys for 3-year-olds
Very sturdy and durable. Can support two kids without breaking
Forces the child to push forward using his/her legs and torso, which will provide some good exercise for your child
Kids hate bath time. Okay, maybe not all of them, but a good majority are never thrilled about it. Unless, of course, there are some toys in the mix.
And what’s a more fitting toy than a pirate ship? This pirate ship from Toomies.
Made for toddlers who are at least 18 months, this ship is an ideal pick if you’re looking for pirate toys for 3-year-olds or 2-year-olds. If the water cannon, spinning wheel, and squirting octopus do not bring a ‘saily’ feeling perhaps Pirate Jake and his dingy will.
The ship’s deck has several colorful toys that make a mast.
When he is not having fun in the bubbles Captain Jake can sit atop the mast and get a bird’s eye view of everything.
While his big front canon is always ready to ward off oncoming danger with splashes of water, the playful octopus watches the sides and sends intruders away with quick squirts.
That ability to enhance play is what makes the Toomies Pirate Ship Bath Toy one of the best pirate toys for toddlers. And it gives you a chance to bond with your baby during bath time.
Reasons to Buy the Toomies Pirate Ship Bath Toy
Designed with bright, attention-grabbing colors
Cannon, octopus and spinning wheel add to the fun by splashing water
Doesn’t use batteries and is safe for toddlers who are over 18 months of age
Your child can use it in and out of the bath
Well-built for durability
How Imaginative Play Helps With Toddler Development
It’s nice to know the toys that you should buy for your toddler. What’s even better is knowing why you should buy them. Generally speaking, they encourage imaginative play, or what is commonly called role-playing. Most adults don’t understand just how important imaginative play is, so here are a few benefits:
Develops and improves the social skills of a toddler through interactive play. This is more so when there’s an adult (who has well developed social skills) involved. And if you are their parent/guardian or basically someone who is in the child’s life then it turns into an awesome bonding session as well.
Boosts language development. When playing with adults, children will pick up new vocabulary and lingo by listening to the adult(s). When they are among other children, they will experiment with language freely. Either way, their language development will be boosted. So don’t be so surprised when your child picks up some new pirate lingo a few days after gifting him/her with a pirate toy.
Enhances physical exercise. All the walking, arranging and pushing that comes with role-playing is almost enough to keep a child physically healthy.
Leads to emotional development. Kids use imaginative play to express, and by extent, understand their feelings – both positive and negative feelings. By doing so, they figure ways of working through difficult emotions and enjoying pleasant ones.
Last but not least, imaginative play boosts creativity. Children sharpen their minds every time they try to imitate what they saw on a TV show or what their friends are doing. That’s how they gain new knowledge and even increase their cognitive abilities.
That is to say, get your child the best pirate toys and they will serve him/her in every aspect of his/her life.
Conclusion
So there you have it, Captain! The best Pirate toys for toddlers, yarrr….
Whilst we are discussing Pirate related toys, don’t forget the following:
You have been yelling at your toddler for the last few months, and now they have stopped listening to you, right?
Frustration sets in, and are now at a loss because your toddler simply isn’t listening to you.
In this post, I am going to give you tips on how to get your toddler to listen without yelling. So you can take charge again! If only until the next phase…
7 Tips for How You Can Get Your Toddler To Listen Without Yelling At Them
Follow these tips to get your Toddler to listen. All without yelling at them!
Stop Yelling
It is pretty simple, if you yell at your toddler, it will accomplish 2 things.
Your toddler will consider it normal behavior and will no longer respond.
Your toddler will copy your behavior. Now there are 2 people yelling and 0 people listening.
Take a look at the way you communicate. Are you somebody who yells a lot in general? Or is it just at your toddler?
If you are a ‘yeller’ then it is time to change your behavior if you want your toddler to fall into line!
Discuss Good and Bad Behavior
When a person gets to the toddler age it is much easier to communicate with them. They can understand, and they can communicate better with you, allowing you to understand what they are thinking.
It is time to have a frank discussion with your toddler about what you consider to be good and bad behavior. Use as many examples as you can, people work better with real-life examples.
Write down 4 or 5 good and bad things they have done over the last week and discuss each one. Ask your toddler if they consider it bad behavior.
Reward Them For Good Behavior
During the discussion about good and bad behavior, introduce the idea of a rewards chart for your Toddler.
For a start, they love to be rewarded! Especially when you heap praise on each thing they did well.
Rewarding good behavior, in my opinion, is much more important than punishing bad behavior. When you punish bad behavior you are giving your toddler attention. If they want attention, they will act up until you give it to them, bad or good.
Listen To Them
Before you yell, ask them in a calm voice what they were doing.
Listen to their response. Give them time to respond, they don’t know as many words as you do and will take some time picking the right ones.
Once you have done that – ask them if they think it was good or bad behavior. Listen to their answer.
Now is the time to remind them of the reward chart.
Communication without yelling is a challenge, but if you listen to your child, they will learn to listen to you.
Compose A Punishment Plan
What will you do to punish your toddler if they misbehave?
Do you put them in a ‘time-out’ area? What about taking toys away from them (my personal favorite)?
All you need to do is ensure that you have a plan. When your toddler exhibits some bad behavior, you will know what to do if you have a plan.
Follow Through With Punishments
Now that you have a punishment plan, your next job is to follow up on the threats in the event of any bad behavior.
Here is my example:
My son was naughty – I cannot remember exactly what he did, but it did prompt some action from me.
I threatened to take away a toy and give it to the garbage men. His bad behavior continued.
The toy was taken away.
Cue a gigantic toddler meltdown! It lasted for about 3 minutes. What did I achieve from that? A Toddler who knew that I followed through with threats and did not back down.
Since then, he has bucked his ideas up!
Work As A Team
Work with any of your toddler carers. Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Daycare Staff. Anyone who cares for your child, speak to them about the way they interact with your toddler.
If you are no longer yelling at your child, but other carers continue, then they will still learn that yelling is a way to get things in life!
Reasons Why A Toddler Has Become Immune To Yelling
Reasons why your toddler is immune to your squawking!
It Is Considered Normal
Your toddler will stop listening when you yell all of the time because it is considered normal behavior by them.
I only yell when it is necessary – i.e. my son is just about to run near a road! It is effective… because when I yell, he stops!
They Are Pushing Your Buttons
Toddlers are learning how to communicate still, let’s not forget that.
Part of this important learning phase includes pushing your boundaries to see what they can get away with. If they learn to push your buttons, and you react by yelling, they might simply do it for fun!
The authors of this book (Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish) are internationally acclaimed experts on communicating with children.
I must admit, if kids were to come with a handbook, this should be that handbook they come with! It is rammed full of excellent tips for how you can raise a respectful, communicative child.
Peaceful Parent…. happy kids… it sounds like utopia, right?
Whilst life does have a tendency to throw a spanner in the works, this is a particularly useful book that questions your Parenting method and helps you to correct your behavior first.
Once you correct your behavior, it is much easier to correct your toddler’s behavior!
The author of this book (Thomas W. Phelan) is a clinical psychologist, who has put this book together to help parents deal with toddler behavior.
Dr. Phelan uses his famous 1-2-3 step routine to help you improve your child’s behavior.
The key message I got from this book is to ensure that you establish positive routines throughout the ‘toddler phase’ to build the foundations of good behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can yelling at a child be harmful?
It depends how loud you shout! The biggest harm you can do to your child by howling at your toddler is to make them think that it is normal behavior. Your toddler will copy you because yelling is learned behavior.
Research suggests that yelling at your child can lead to more aggressive behavior too!
How can I get my toddler to listen?
Rewarding times when your toddler listens to you is the best way of getting a toddler to listen. Toddlers want your attention, and if you are giving them attention when they are good, they will be good more often than bad.
If you only give your toddler attention when they are acting up, then they will continue to act up!
How do you discipline a toddler without yelling?
Simply concentrate on the times when your Toddler exhibits good behavior. Implement a reward system (use a rewards chart). Removing your child’s favorite toys is also a good way to discipline your toddler.
What happens when you yell at your child
Your child will learn that yelling is one of the only ways that you can get someone to do something for you.
If shouting at your toddler is your normal reaction to bad behavior then you are simply teaching them to yell back at you. If you follow the tips on this page, it is much easier to get your toddler to listen WITHOUT yelling at them!
Wailing at your toddler all of the time is a negative parenting strategy, and the key message here is to correct your own behavior.
Once your behavior is corrected, then your toddler will naturally follow.
You will be shocked to see your toddler’s reaction when you begin parenting in a positive way!
Are you losing a battle of wills with a pint-sized, emotionally unstable dictator?
I’ve been there, and it can make you feel pretty useless, right? They know how to push your buttons, they know how to make you angry!
The good news is that you can put some work in now to resolve it! In this post, I am going to give you 9 tips for how you can deal with a toddler who is bossy, and assertive.
Dealing With a Bossy, Assertive Toddler
Collaboration is key to success when dealing with a bossy toddler!
Work Together – Mom and Dad
The most important thing is that you attack the problem like a team.
Before you even approach your toddler with some corrective behavior techniques, you need to get together as a team (Mom or Dad, or whoever is caring for the toddler).
Establish what is good and what is not good behavior. It is an awesome idea to approach this meeting with some recent examples of both good and bad behavior.
I don’t want to turn this into a business meeting, but there are some benefits to holding a structured meet up.
Once you have established what is not good behavior from your toddler, it is time to agree to some corrective behavior. Include punishment in here too, because if it gets that far, you both need to be on the same page, right?
Change Your Behavior
A change in your behavior will have a huge impact on your toddler’s development.
Let’s take, for example, your behavior when your toddler demands something without asking nicely. Did you provide? Or did you stop and explain how they need to ask in order for you to comply?
How about the way that you interact with your toddler? Are YOU a dictator to them?
Listen to yourself speak as you interact with them. Do you ask correctly? Are you polite?
Toddlers are learning how to interact with others by listening to you. The way your toddler responds to anger is learned behavior.
The bottom line is, if you are bossy then they will also be bossy.
Rewarding good behavior is not simply buying them a new toy (far too expensive), it is praise and extra affection too.
You cannot underestimate the power of a rewards chart! It is simple, and best of all it is free (assuming you already have a piece of paper to write it on!)
Not only is it free, but you can also work with your toddler to put the reward chart together!
It is a perfect opportunity to ask YOUR toddler what he or she believes is good behavior. This task alone will increase your toddler’s knowledge of how to behave in the correct way.
Set Expectations
Giving your toddler your expectations will set boundaries and will set a baseline for behavior.
I mentioned above that it is a great idea to put together a reward chart with your toddler to reward good behavior. I would also use this opportunity to set expectations.
Discuss what bad behavior is, give them real-life examples where they have not behaved well.
Now tell them you expect their behavior to improve.
Setting expectations is not simply how you expect them to behave, you should also set the expectations for what will happen when they are behaving badly too.
My son snaps out of bad behavior as soon as I threaten him with the removal of a toy! I am under no illusion that this will work forever, but it works now and that is the most important thing, right?
Always Follow Through
This is extremely important! I cannot emphasize it enough.
Above I mentioned that I threaten to remove a toy from my son’s collection if he does not improve his behavior. The ONLY reason why that works is that he pushed me to act during the early stages of my action plan.
What did I do? I removed a toy. Did it work? Not immediately.
I followed up with a threat to throw the toy away if he carried on. Did it work? Not immediately.
What did I do next?
I threw the toy away.
For the next few hours, my son was absolutely distraught that he had genuinely lost one of his toys. The fact that I followed through with a punishment means he KNOWS I am serious when I say I will take a toy away.
Incentivize
This ties in with rewarding good behavior but takes it a little bit further.
If you have followed the ‘Give Praise For Good Behavior‘ tip above, then you will have already created a rewards chart – good job!
Now as a next step, you could implement a points-based system. for instance, 2 points for a day where they have been polite, a further 2 for going to bed on time, 2 more for brushing their teeth without a meltdown. -2 points if good behavior is not seen.
You could incentivize good behavior by suggesting a trip to the toy shop on Saturday if a certain amount of points are achieved.
Correct Bossy Behavior Every Time
Very important – do not let your toddler get away with ANY bossy episodes.
Every single time your toddler is bossy, correct their behavior.
Correct the bossy attitude by reminding them about the rewards chart.
Give Your Toddler Some Choices
Toddlers may be going through a bossy stage because it is an important part of their development.
It is during this stage where they want more independence, but you still need to be the ones making the rules.
There is some middle ground though…
Simply give your toddler options. Each option should be something that you are happy with.
This is a classic technique where it looks like you are giving someone an option, but all options are yours and therefore they are going to do what you need anyway.
Why Is My Toddler Being Bossy All Of A Sudden?
There are many reasons why your toddler has suddenly become a pint-sized dictator!
If your toddler has suddenly begun being bossy or strong-willed then there may be a reason for it.
Phase
The word ‘phase’ is feared throughout parent land. It basically means ‘just ride it out’.
During toddler years, they will be swapping communication techniques until they find a way that suits them. Your toddler will also be learning from you!
It is part of a toddlers development and nothing to fear.
Just ride it out!
Tired
My son is bossy when he is tired, it is difficult to change that. As long as I do not let him get away with it, he will stop eventually.
If he wakes early in the morning, I know that he is going to be bossy at around 18:00 that day. The last hour can escalate to a battle of wills!
Bullied
Check with your toddler to see if they are being bullied. Being bullied is not a good experience at any age, but at a young age, it can result in some strange behavior. Being bossy is one of them.
Keep a close eye on your toddler and speak with their daycare staff to ensure nothing untoward is happening there.
Toddler Is Copying You
If you are bossy then your toddler will be bossy, period.
Time for you to change, before you both lose it with each other!
Toddler Is Copying Friends
During your toddler’s development, they will be learning life skills from those around them, including other kids.
If your toddler’s friends are bossy, then your toddler will copy them.
Conclusion
In this post, I gave 8 tips for how you can deal with your toddler being bossy, strong-willed, or too assertive. These are tips that I learned the hard way! I think they call it ‘on the job training’.
The important thing is that you understand exactly what is causing your toddler to be bossy, and set up a corrective action plan to address it.
If your toddler is regularly looked after by a family member, daycare, or a babysitter, then it is extremely important that you share your plan to ensure the message is clear from all adults who will be looking after them.
You put your body on the line to carry a child for 9 months, but now it feels like you are being rejected!
It does not have to be that way… In this post, I am going to take a look at why a toddler prefers Dad over Mom, and what you can do to improve it!
Why Does My Toddler Want Nothing To Do With Me?
Reasons why your toddler might not like Mom at the moment.
Are you fun enough?
Toddler love playing, but sometimes life’s chores get in the way, right?
Your toddler doesn’t understand that. I have lost count of the number of times I have explained to my son that:
‘Yes, I have to work, or we can’t afford to pay the bills’ or;
‘I can’t play right now, if I don’t do this laundry then you will have nothing to wear’
Life is easy for a toddler. They do not understand the importance of menial daily chores which have to be done. They only want to play and eat!
Do you shout too much?
A toddler may prefer Dad over Mom because of the way they are treated. It is time to consider whether or not you shout too much.
I totally understand that it is not easy to stop shouting at your toddler, they do their best to poke at you until you bite!
Are you a pushover?
Toddlers also enjoy a challenge. If they see you as a pushover, they may not need to communicate with you too much.
Only times when they want something and they know that Mom will give it to them.
Do you teach them?
Your toddler’s brain is at the development stage where it is optimal for learning. Not only should you be taking advantage to improve their development, but you should also be feeding their hunger to learn.
If your toddler views Dad as a source of all knowledge, they will go to him a lot more, simply to feed their thirst for knowledge.
Do you pay your toddler enough attention?
There are 2 ways a toddler will react to a parent who does not give them the required attention.
Withdraw and seek attention elsewhere, usually in the form of another parent. In this case, Dad.
Do you listen to them?
A few days ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop with a Flat White. Sometimes, I just like to sit and people watch.
As I looked around the room I noticed a few families, most of which look pretty stressful!
One parent had their nose deeply implanted in their smartphone, completely ignoring their child, who was clearly desperate for attention.
Another parent (different family) was doing something much worse. Constantly interrupting their toddler as they were attempting to speak.
How would it make you feel if you were constantly interrupted?
If it were me, I would avoid communicating with that person. If I were a toddler and Mom constantly interrupted me, I would certainly prefer Dad over Mom!
Toddler Prefers Dad Over Mom? Try These 8 Tips
Follow these tips to get back to Family synergy!
Be Fun
This is number one in the list of things you can do if your toddler prefers Dad over Mom!
Toddlers absolutely, 100%, love to play. All of the time! If you are fun, then they will want to play with YOU. I know it is a challenge because a grown-up brain is much less imaginative than a toddler’s brain, but you must give it a try!
Your toddler will have a tremendous thirst for knowledge and it is your job to quench the thirst. By becoming a teacher, and a font of knowledge to your toddler, they will respond with respect and admiration.
Pay Attention
Pay attention to your toddler. If you notice them playing, coloring, drawing on their own, then go over and ask what they are up to.
Be interested in what your toddler is doing, and they will feel much better about life!
Do Not Be A Pushover
It is important that you as a parent do not allow your child to get what they want all of the time.
I know, it is much easier just to shut them up by saying yes all of the time, but it is not doing you any favors in the longer term! You know this, right?
Stand firm when your child is constantly demanding things and they will respect you for it.
Only Shout When It Is Needed
The more you shout at a toddler, the less they will listen.
I know it is difficult. Toddlers push and push until they get a reaction from you!
However, when all you do is shout, it becomes normal behavior and shouting loses its power. Not only will you lose the ability to get a preferred reaction from shouting (i.e. they listen), but your toddler will copy what you do, and will shout back.
It is vital that you empower your toddler to think they have interesting things to say. The only way you can do this is by allowing them to speak.
Do not interrupt what they are saying. Interrupting a toddler will lead to frustration and behavioral issues.
When a toddler is frustrated, it may lead to biting amongst other things!
If your toddler prefers Dad over Mom, then it is worth considering whether or not Mom allows them to speak.
Reason With Them
When Mom is always saying no and Dad is always saying yes, your toddler will prefer Dad over Mom. It is natural.
There is another option though. What if your toddler prefers Dad because he offers reasons why the answer is no?
It is fine to say no because you have to stand firm to create respect from your toddler. However, if you say no and offer a reason why then your toddler will respect you more. Not only that, but it will also teach your toddler to reason, which is a vital life skill.
Be Loving
Please don’t take this the wrong way, I am not assuming that you are not loving!
Sometimes, when a toddler prefers Dad over Mom, it may lead to Mom withdrawing. Because it hurts, right?
Well, suck it up!
Mom, you have to carry on offering love and affection, even when your love is spurned! It is tough, but the more you withdraw, the wider the rift is between Mom and toddler.
Helping Mom Cope With Toddler Rejection
It is Dads job to help Mom cope if she is feeling rejected by her toddler!
When your toddler prefers Dad over Mom, it is vital that Dad offers support to improve the situation.
It is in Dads best interests that your toddler has equal respect for both parents. Sure, it is a confidence booster for Dad, but it is far from ideal. Dad, you risk burnout if you are the go-to parent. Support Mom, and share the load!
It is important that you both sit down and discuss how you are going to approach this behavioral change. Consider the tips above.
Whichever route you are going to take to improve this situation, always stand together and work as a team.
Dad, if you see your toddler playing well with Mom, then go and do something else in a different room. You will be a distraction while Mom heals the rift with your toddler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a Toddler rejecting Mom after new Baby arrives?
A toddler has been used to having Mom all to themselves. Now a new baby has arrived and Mom is busy being a Mom!
This can lead to a toddler feeling like Mom has been taken away, or maybe even rejected. It is going to be difficult, but when you work together with Dad to share the load then it becomes much easier.
Do Toddlers prefer one parent?
Toddlers go through phases in life. One week they will prefer Dad, the next week it will be Mom. This is absolutely nothing to worry about.
It is a concern when a few weeks go by and your toddler has not switched back! Work through the tips on this page to bring them back on track. Parents, you need to support each other throughout this phase. Do not show off, nobody likes a show-off!
Why does my toddler only listen to Dad?
A toddler will only listen to Dad for 3 reasons:
Dad is seen as a font of all knowledge.
Dad is a ‘yes-man’. This needs to change.
Dad has a deep voice. Those with deeper voices are seen to be more powerful and influential.
I suggest that you share the load when teaching your child, and your toddler will respect both parents.
Conclusion
When your toddler prefers Dad over Mom, it can be heartbreaking for Mom, and tiring for Dad. In this post, I have given 8 key tips on how you can improve this particular situation.
It is vital that you support each other during this time. Working together as a team is the only way you are going to get through this.
Talk to each other. Formulate a plan of attack, and don’t give up until you reach the promised land!
You are desperate to get your chores completed, but your toddler will not leave you alone!
I have been there. You end up spending time with your toddler just to shut them up. Chores never get completed, and yet your toddler still demands more of your time!
But, it doesn’t have to be that way! Not at all. In this post, I am going to run through the steps you can take if your toddler demands constant attention.
Hang on, before we start, ask yourself the following question:
Do I pay my toddler enough attention?
If the answer is yes, then we are good to go. If the answer is no then you know what to do!
Why Do Toddlers Need Attention?
There are many reasons why your toddler needs constant attention.
Toddlers need constant mental stimulation. Constant stimulation might be in the form of:
Learning
Conversing
Problem Solving
Imaginative Play
Without stimulation, your toddler will get frustrated, and they will show frustration in many different ways.
It is important as a Parent to give your toddler the mental stimulation they need. If you are not taking care of that, then your toddler may respond by constantly demanding your attention.
Child Attention Seeking Symptoms
Let’s take a look at some of the most common child attention seeking symptoms.
Let’s take a look at some examples of attention-seeking behavior in toddlers. Some are positive, some are negative, and some are just point blank charming!
Excessive Crying
This is the biggest child attention-seeking symptom. Crying. Why? Because they know that you will attend to them when they are crying.
Over time, you get to know your toddlers ‘cries’. You know when they are in pain, you know when they are sick, and you know when they are putting it on.
Excessive Questioning
Toddlers want to learn, they are in the best phase of their life for learning! They will question… everything! When it is all of the time, then it can indicate that your toddler is simply seeking attention.
When my toddler doesn’t pay attention to the answer, I know he is doing it to get my attention.
Excessive Hugging
Hugging is great, right? Well yes, but if it happens all of the time, even when you are desperate to get some food ready, or you are trying to get some chores done then it is going to get tiring.
Toddlers can go one step further and want to be picked up constantly!
I am not going to say stop hugging your toddler, that just will not happen, just keep an eye on it and notice any patterns emerging.
Constantly Hurting Themselves
Does your toddler constantly hurt themselves, or are they prone to exaggerating an injury?
Unfortunately, toddlers are not very steady on their feet, which leads to excessive injuries.
However, if you notice that your toddler is injuring themselves on purpose, or exaggerating and injury, it could be a sign that they are pushing for more of your attention.
Fake Illness
Get yourself a thermometer, some plasters, and some bandages, because one of the symptoms of attention seeking is to feign illness!
Unfortunately, it makes it difficult to distinguish between reality and fictional illnesses!
Overdoing Compliments
Don’t get me wrong, it does make you feel good. It is like having your own positivity soldier!
Overdoing compliments is a sign that your toddler is seeking your attention. They may well have learned that paying you compliments will get your attention.
Toddlers learn fast!
Toddler Demands Constant Attention? Try These Tips
Here are the tips for those of you who have a Toddler demanding attention!
Positive Attention Seeking Chart
Toddlers love behavior/reward charts! If you do not have one, then you need to get involved in this, because it 100% works.
The rules are simple. Be good, and you will be rewarded.
If you are using a ‘star’ reward chart, promise your toddler a trip to the local park, or a new toy when they receive a certain amount of stars.
Be clear about what they are being rewarded for. Set expectations at the start and it will not fail. Remove stars for bad behavior!
Independent Play Ideas
Think of activities which encourage independent play.
Sand and water toys, or lock and key toys are perfect for my son. He will sit there for hours (or what seems like hours) playing with these toys on his own.
It gives me a chance to cover off all of those household jobs my wife has left for me!
Listen To Them
Your Toddler may demand constant attention because they feel you do not listen to them.
Whilst it is true, their constant questions do get on my nerves from time to time, but they are just learning about life. They need to be listened to.
If a toddler is never listened to, it may become learned behavior which will be difficult to break in later life.
Set A Timer When Doing Chores
One little trick that I picked up when my son was demanding my attention was to set a timer when doing chores around your home.
Set expectations, such as; I am going to set a timer for 20 minutes. You let me know when the timer goes off and I will come over and play with you.
A timer also works well for bedtimes too!
Consider Play Dates
If you are drained and you need some help with your attention-seeking toddler, then why not arrange some play dates!
Arrange for a friend to come over with a toddler and unleash them upon each other.
Sure, for most of the playdate you will be refereeing, but at least it frees up some time and gets your toddler learning some vital life skills, such as sharing and conversational skills.
Spend More Time With Them
I know, it sounds counterproductive, but your toddler might just need a little more attention than you are giving them.
Since the invention of smartphones, and our seemingly constant need to check in with friends every 2 seconds, I have noticed something. That is a reduction in QUALITY time spent with Toddlers and children. Just because you are sitting there with your nose glued to your smartphone it doesn’t count as time spent together.
Put your phones down and get involved with what they are doing.
I have done it before, it is easy to be distracted by your smartphone. Whenever I feel that it is distracting me, I’ll leave it in another room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my toddler constantly scream?
Under normal circumstances, screaming will elicit a reaction where you rush over to your child to see what is wrong. Your toddler will learn this!
Another reaction (and one that I am certainly guilty of) is jumping when your child screams. Not only will that get your attention, but they will also find it funny!
Am I paying my toddler enough attention?
If you have noticed signs that you need to pay more attention to your child, then it might be true that you need to.
Consider other tasks you have in life, and try to organize those for when they do not require your attention.
Every Child is totally different in terms of neediness. Only you know your child, and you will know if you need to pay them more attention.
Are there any good ideas for independent play?
Yes, there are some excellent options for independent play, and it is a matter of finding the best ones!
I can guarantee that my Son will play happily on his own with sand and water toys, or lock and key toys. Duplo is another awesome independent play toy. Your toddler may need some help when they first begin building things. Once their imagination takes over, they are away building things on their own.
Why does my Child cry for attention?
Children cry for attention because that is what they are programmed to do. Nobody tells a baby that they need to cry when they are hungry, upset, or scared. They are born with the natural ability to cry.
When a child gets to toddler age, they do not lose that ability. They have learned that crying will get your attention, so that is what they do!
When should I seek help with my ‘attention seeking’ toddler?
The simple answer is; when you feel like you need to seek professional help! Only you will know the situation you are in, and professionals will be able to help guide you through the process.
Conclusion
If your toddler demands constant attention then you can follow the tips on this page to help guide your toddler away from that behavior.
I must admit, I like the idea that my son wants my attention. It means he enjoys spending time with me and wants to do it all of the time. I would miss the feeling if it wasn’t happening.
Whilst a completely independent toddler sounds like a dream, how will it make you feel? Rejected?
There is a fine line between too much attention-seeking and not enough. When you hit the sweet spot, life is very cool!
The amount of building sets on the market is vast! It is vast for good reasons too…
Building sets offer your toddler complete freedom to build whatever they want to. They will put some bricks together and it will fall over. They will learn.
Construction Toys
Construction toys do not have to be building sets, they can be any kind of construction kits!
For example, build your own toy cars, or a box full of nuts, bolts, and bits of plastic they can bolt together. Plastics nuts and bolts, obviously! Hint, see the best construction toys for toddlers below, you can see one there…
Chain Reaction Toys
Chain reaction toys are awesome! Think marble runs, the Mouse Trap game, etc.
With chain reaction toys, your toddler will have lots of fun constructing the routes before unleashing the marble to see what happens!
Dominos is also an excellent example of a chain reaction toy.
This dominos set is the perfect toy to begin your child’s journey into the world of engineering! You can build out, build up, and set up the classic reactional environment before your toddler begins the chain reaction to knock them all over again.
This kit comes with 100 dominos, 7 bonus trick add-ons, and the ability to build up and well as across.
Engineering covers many aspects of science and technology, and dominos will easily cover designing buildings and structures. It is also tremendous fun watching them topple over, hopefully creating an awesome cascading domino show!
My don has progressed through DUPLO and he is now onto LEGO. It is his experience with DUPLO that gave him the perfect start to designing and constructing various buildings and bridges! It really is a joy to watch too.
LEGO and DUPLO sets have moved on from when I was a kid, where we would simply receive a box full of LEGO pieces where we can use our imagination to build whatever we wanted. These days, LEGO concentrate on designing and selling kits when you can build exactly what is shown on the box.
Whilst these include some very nice kits, it takes away a lot of the imagination aspect that I enjoy about LEGO.
When buying DUPLO for your toddler, go for a box with random bits in. They will then need to use their imagination to create whatever structure they have in their heads!
This 300 piece engineering construction kit will allow your toddler to create structures, buildings, and even vehicles!
It really is such a simple, and cheap introduction to engineering…
The various parts are easy to assemble, they simply click together, which is excellent for those heavy-handed toddlers!
This NextX kit will help your toddler with:
Color recognition
Shape recognition
Developing imagination
Developing fine motor skills
This 300 piece set also comes with a carry case, so you can store the sticks, and wheels away when not in use. And don’t worry, these are BPA free and non-toxic too!
This magnetic construction set is perfect for those toddlers who love to engineer and design 3d buildings!
Not only does it have standard pieces which they can use to build whatever structure they want to, but it also has windows as doors too.
It is not simply an excellent engineering toy, it also has some basic learning aspects too. Some of the pieces have letters on to help your toddler learn.
There is also an awesome carry case, which is vital when you have 100 pieces to store away!
I am not going to lie, my son absolutely loves playing with this! It is such a simple idea for a toy that sparks their imagination and allows them to construct various buildings, vehicles, whatever they want!
The idea is that your toddler will use the screwdriver (battery powered – 2 AA’s, not included) to mesh the pieces together to create and engineers whatever they want to build.
All of which can be stored away in the carry case for easy transport.
This is a perfect STEM toy for preschool children because it aids some really important developmental areas, such as:
There are some small parts in this kit, so always ensure that you observe your toddler when they are playing with this.
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3-7
How Engineering Toys Can Help Your Toddler Develop
Creative Thinking
When a toddler is put in front of a toy with no instructions, you are telling them to create something. Your toddler may struggle at first as they get to grips with how the engineering toy works, but when they get used to it, their creativity will flow.
There has been a recent rise in LEGO and DUPLO kits that have instructions for what to build. These are excellent for allowing children to follow instructions but it does limit their imagination. I tend to buy boxes of LEGO for my son, so he can build whatever he wants to.
Innovation
Innovation is what it spinning this wonderful world we live in. Engineering toys will allow your toddler to build whatever they see inside their heads.
With engineering toys, especially the construction types, your toddler can innovate to solve any problems they come across.
Fine Motor Skills
LEGO and other engineering toys are an excellent way of developing fine motor skills!
To start with, your toddler may find it a challenge to pick up the pieces and to attach them together. After some practice, their muscles will develop, and their coordination will improve so they can engineer with ease!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Toddler stem toys?
Toddler STEM toys are an educational toy build with one of the following in mind; Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.
Is my child old enough for engineering toys?
You can start your child’s journey into the world of engineering at a very young age.
A child’s brain has completed 90% of its development within the first 5 years of life, so why wait?
If your child is too young for the toys on this page, then why not consider a book called ABCs of Engineering, by Chris Ferrie.
What other toys are good for my toddler’s development?
How will engineering toys help my toddler develop?
Engineering toys will help your toddler develop some important skills, such as; creative thinking, innovative thinking, and fine motor skills.
Conclusion
Construction toys for toddlers will spark their imagination and improve important skills in the process. The toys on this page are a perfect way to get your toddler involved in engineering at such an important age for learning!
As with all my posts regarding toddler toys, always check the recommended manufacturers age guide. Some of the toys can include small parts that pose a choking hazard to smaller children.
At the end of each day, you feel battle weary and mentally exhausted.
If your toddler exhibits some ‘strong-willed child‘ characteristics, then you can follow the tips on this page to help you discipline your strong-willed 2-year-old!
Strap yourself in, it is going to be a bumpy ride!
Personality Traits Of A Strong-Willed 2-year-old
Common personality traits of a strong-willed toddler.
Let’s begin with the personality traits of a strong-willed 2-year-old. You might be thinking ‘Hitler’ but I am sure it is not that bad… surely!
Ok, so they may behave like an emotionally unstable, pint-sized dictator, but Hitler was worse, I am sure of it…
Inside my home, I can deal with tantrums. It’s easy, walk out of the room, don’t engage.
Outside of my home is not so simple, you can’t just leave them in a street and walk away. I get the feeling they know this too, which is why they love doing it.
If there is one thing that rattles my brain more than anything else in this world, it is the sounds of a toddler screaming!
Seriously… why?
It’s the screams that come out of nowhere that are the worst kind. The screams that make your head hit the ceiling when you leap up like those cat v cucumber videos on YouTube.
Hate it.
Shouting
Shouting is another sign of a strong-willed 2-year-old. The worst thing about shouting is that it is difficult to get your point across.
Even when you have a valid reason why you are asking them to do something, they aren’t listening… they are too busy shouting to care what you think.
Impatience
They want something, and they want it now.
Sounds familiar? It should do… because your toddler is pushing boundaries to see what they can get away with.
How To Discipline a Strong-Willed 2 Year Old
Use these techniques to discipline a strong-willed toddler!
Time Out
Give your 2-year-old time out works.
Not straight away, but it doesn’t work over time.
To set your expectations correctly, you need to be aware that the first few times you try this it will be like herding cats. Here is the process:
Put them in their time out place (naughty step, whatever)
You Walk away
They walk away
You put them back
They run away
You put them back
They shout, scream, argue, then run away
You put them back
Repeat, randomly
The important thing is that you keep at it. Do not give up, or they will lose respect for you.
Toy Removal
This works, although more recently it hit the buffers. Let me explain how it worked in the past:
My son would argue, at anything and everything. I threatened to take a toy away and give it to the garbage men. The argument continued.
Now, because I threatened to remove one of his toys, I could not back down. So, I removed one of his toys.
Meltdown. Dad was being a boss, and he didn’t like it one bit.
After he calmed down, I got an apology, a hug, and a promise to be better in the future. Times were good.
More recently, I followed the same process. After he calmed down, he accepted that he had too many toys and didn’t need that one. Power removed. Onwards and upwards.
Less Screen Time
Some people do not give their toddlers screen time. They think it ruins a child’s development. I disagree, to an extent!
Whilst it is true that too much screen time has a negative impact on development, if you control the length of screentime, it can be very beneficial. Especially as you can use apps to help teach your 2-year-old spelling, math, and color recognition.
There is no doubt that kids love watching other kids play on YouTube. The fact that they love doing this means you can use it as a tool to discipline them if needed.
Stand By Decisions
Backing down from threats of discipline is absolutely the wrong message to give to your strong-willed 2-year-old.
Not only does it negatively undermine your self-respect, but it also undermines the respect that your toddler has in you.
When you say it is time for your 2-year-old to brush their teeth, do not stop until the job is done. If you threaten to remove a toy for bad behavior, do it.
Reward charts are not necessarily a punishment, they are more a part of the punishment process.
For instance, your 2-year-old gets a star whenever they exhibit good behavior. They get a star removed when they are naughty.
At the end of a week, they get a treat if they have a certain amount of stars. If they have less, they do not get a treat.
Again, it is vital that you do not back down from these rules. If they are 1 star away from a treat it is not good enough to get a treat. Don’t make stuff up just because you want them to be happy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you stop a 2-year-old from hitting?
Firstly, you clearly set expectations about what will happen every time they hit someone. You explain why it is not acceptable behavior to hit others.
Tell them what will happen if they fail to comply.
Do not back down from any punishment you threaten to dish out. Stay strong, stand firm. They will respect you more.
Is my toddler spirited, or strong-willed?
It is a fine line between spirited and strong-willed. A spirited child’s bad behavior will not be as constant as a strong-willed 2-year-old. Spirited behavior will also be spirited in positive moments, whereas being strong-willed leans toward more negative behavior.
There is a difference here, and it is really important that you do not attempt to suppress your toddler’s spirit. You want them to have a bit of spirit, it is important in life! They question things, they improve things.
How do you discipline a 2-year-old who doesn’t listen?
If only there were 2-year-olds who do listen, then we could compare! I jest of course.
When toddlers do not listen it makes it more difficult to deal with. By following the tips on this page, you will not go far wrong.
When should I seek help with my strong-willed Toddler?
There are times when you might consider requesting the help of a Child Behavioral Therapist. To be honest, it is extremely unlikely to get to that stage. When you follow a disciplined process for long enough, your 2-year-old with either grow out of the phase, or they will fall into line.
Your situation might be different. If you get to the point where you are asking when you should seek help, then it might be time to seek help.
Conclusion
If you are struggling with a strong-willed 2-year-old then I really feel for your sanity. Follow the tips on this page and stay strong. You will get to the promised land… eventually!
It is worth remembering that many of the symptoms of a strong-willed 2-year-old are learned behavior! Is it time that you checked your own behavior? If you are also showing signs that you are strong-willed, then maybe you need to take that on board and live with it or lead by example!
Anyway, you have spent too long reading this post, get back and deal with your pint-sized dictator!
What do you do when your toddler only wants Mommy?
When a child is overly attached to one parent, it puts a strain that parent, leaving the other feeling left out, discarded…not needed!
It can be worse… When your child is obsessed with their Mother, it leaves poor Mom feeling worn out.
Although it is tough on both parents, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this post, I am going to look at some things you can do to stop your toddler only wanting Mom.
It is worth remembering that kids go through phases, one moment they only want Mommy, the next moment Dad is the favorite parent!
Why Does My Toddler Only Want Mom?
Here are some reasons why your child may be overly attached to Mother!
Because Mom’s are awesome, right?
Well yes, they are… but when your toddler spurns everyone else except Mom, then you have a problem.
There is no doubt that there is a special bond between mother and baby. When you spend the first 9 months of existence inside a person, you grow kind of attached to them… literally. Until the cord is cut!
Then, once you are born, Mom is there to feed you and comfort you. Your Mom is usually the first person you cuddle too. You know Mom has the food, right? Your bond is naturally close, even if you choose to bottle feed, you know it is there.
If you get a lot of attention from only Mom as a baby, then that bond just keeps growing and growing. This is how it should be.
However, if Dad or other carers take it in turns to care for the baby then that bond will grow stronger with all of those folks too.
If you are there when they are scared, with them when they get hurt and help them when they are sick, your toddler will learn that Mom is the source of everything they need. This may lead to them seemingly turning their back on everyone else.
I want to be clear, it is not a bad thing that Mom has done all of this because it is part of being a good parent. Some toddlers know that other people can look after them too, and some kids only think that Mom can. I believe this is where the problem is.
Get a reward chart, and discuss what it is with your toddler. When they are well behaved during times when Mom is not around, make sure you put a start on the chart. Make a big deal about it too!
Do Not Withdraw
One thing you must not do is withdraw from your toddler! That includes any forms of punishment if they are being too clingy to Mom.
Withdrawing can lead to escalating behavior, where they fear losing Mom. In simply means they will want to spend MORE time with Mom, which may lead to the ‘obsession’ category.
You really don’t want that.
Encourage Family Time
By encouraging family time, you are letting your toddler know that you are all involved in their upbringing.
If Dad is ‘on form’, then your toddler will begin to see Dad as a source of entertainment too!
Take Time Off
Don’t let this ruin your plans. If you need to get up and leave to go somewhere else, then go and do it.
If you are all in the same room (Mom, Dad, toddler) then get up and leave Dad to it. You will be around if needed, but make sure Dad and toddler spend some time together too.
Discuss Fears and Anxiety
I know this sounds like a trainwreck, but it is a good idea to (try and) have a discussion with your toddler about things that might be upsetting them.
It could be a number of things… dreams, darkness, loud noises. Whatever it is, discuss it with them as a family. Dad and Mom need to be involved!
Talk Before You Leave
Before you get up and leave your toddler with Dad or another carer, explain what is happening. I would approach it like this:
Hey, Mommy is just going out. I will be x minutes. While I am gone, Daddy is here to look after you. He knows what to do, and if you are scared or nervous, go and ask him to play with you for a while. He will love playing with your toys!
Talk When You Return
When you return from where you have been, the first thing you should do is speak to your toddler to see how they have got on, and what they have been doing.
This is the time to praise any good behavior. Ensure that Dad is present for the conversation too, so you can praise together. Don’t forget to add a star on the reward chard for good behavior!
If their behavior wasn’t good – it is time to discuss that too.
Hand Things Over To Dad
If your toddler is overly attached to Mother, it could be because Mom looks after them when they are sick, or anxious.
Have a frank discussion with Dad to let him know that it is his turn when your toddler is ill. You know Toddlers, the next sickness bug is always just around the corner, right?
The next time your toddler is scared, at night, for instance, then Dad needs to go and placate your Toddler.
Both of these things will begin to build the understanding that Dad is also there to look after and protect your toddler.
What Is Excessive Attachment Of a Mother?
Excessive attachment issues may lead to a full-blown obsession!
Toddler Cries For Everyone Else
You may find it impossible to leave your Toddler with anyone else. As soon as you walk out of the door, you know your toddler will be crying for Mom!
Toddler Will Not Leave Mom Alone
When your toddler is at home with Mom, poor old Mom may not get any time to herself. She may have to constantly deal with a clingy toddler.
Toddler Doesn’t Use The Potty When Mom Isn’t There
If you are potty training your toddler, you may find that they will regress when Mom is not around.
Toddler Asks For Mommy Constantly
When Mommy isn’t there, does your toddler constantly ask where Mommy is?
It is possible that your toddler may become cranky and clingy unless they are in eyeshot of Mommy. Then you have a needy Toddler on your hands!
Toddler Needs Constant Attention When Mommy Isn’t There
When a toddler needs constant attention, it is a huge draw on your inner resources! Especially when they only need attention when Mom isn’t around.
What Causes Attachment Issues In Children?
What is to blame for attachment issues in Children?
I touched upon this briefly at the beginning of this post, but here is a rundown of why a toddler may have attachment issues:
They are worried that only Mommy can help if they are ill
Your toddler thinks that only one parent can save them from being scared
They may think that only one parent can feed and water them
They are not used to being in the company of other people
They feel protected around one Parent only
It is important to get to know the reasons why your toddler is overly attached to Mother. Only then can you fix it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Child love one parent more?
Although it may seem this way, it is unlikely that a child loves one parent more than the other. Usually, when a child exhibits more feelings towards one parent, it is because they are going through a phase!
If there is a genuine feeling that one parent is more loved, then both parents need to work together to resolve the issue before it gets too bad.
Can a Toddler be too attached?
Yes – when the attachment is that bad that it begins to affect the family dynamics then they are too attached.
Families are a unit, and they must work together to share the load. If Dad feels left out then it could be disastrous. The same if Mom feels left out!
Why is my Child so clingy?
There are so many reasons why a Child is clingy. Common reasons are; illness, tired, scared, or just want someone to be around.
Conclusion
When a child is overly attached to one parent it causes strain on a family. If your toddler is overly attached to Mother, then everyone in the family suffers. You can use the tips on this page to resolve the issue.
Think about it. If a child only wants Mom, then Dad is left out and siblings fight for attention. If a Child only wants Dad, then Mom feels left out and the siblings still have to fight for attention!
When implementing the tips on this page, you are going to get some kickback from your toddler, this is expected behavior. Your job is to clearly define what is going to happen and stick with it.
As if having a new baby is not tough enough, your toddler is now wading in!
Bringing a new baby into this world is going to add extra stress to your family, and that includes your Toddler. Toddler tantrums can break you, and they may escalate when an older child is jealous of a younger sibling.
But, how do you know if your toddler is coping ok with the new arrival? How do you know they are cool with it?
In this post, I am going to take a look at the common signs that your toddler is jealous of the new baby, so you can work your parenting magic to make it all better again!
Oh, and saying ‘You were this young once and we had to do all of this for you too’ straight up doesn’t work. This is a toddler you are dealing with, remember that!
9 Signs That Your Toddler Is Jealous Of New Baby
Common signs that your toddler is jealous of your new Baby.
More Shouting
Yeh, I know. MORE shouting. Is that even possible?
One key sign that your toddler is jealous of a new baby is shouting. Your toddler may feel as if you are being taken away from them. In an attempt to get more attention from you, they shout more.
Earplugs are frowned upon by the way, especially when looking after kids!
More Screaming
As if more shouting wasn’t bad enough. Here come more screams!
For the same reason as above, your toddler may scream more than usual to get your attention.
I hate screaming, especially those ‘off the cuff’ screams that you are not expecting!
Constant Need Of Attention
Mom, watch this. Dad, come here and play. Parents, put that baby back where it came from and pay me more attention!
Sounds familiar? That’s because you have a toddler. It could get worse, especially if your toddler is jealous of your new baby!
Withdrawal
For me, this is one of the 2 most difficult signs that your toddler is jealous of a new sibling. Just because I feel sorry for them.
Damn kids, pulling on your heartstrings like that!
Your toddler may withdraw from you as punishment for spending time with a new baby.
Toddler Hitting New Baby
This is the worst sign that your toddler is jealous of a new baby. You toddler may lash out at your newborn.
You need to pay close attention to this. If you think the green-eyed monster is making an appearance, do not leave them in a room together until you are confident that they will play nicely.
Fake Illness – Lots Of Them!
Here is another challenge. How do you know your toddler is sick when they tell you every day about a new ailment?
Bringing up kids is tough, why do we do it again?
If your toddler has suddenly become a hypochondriac then it could be the result of a fit of jealousy. Again, this is another attempt to drag your attention away from the screaming baby.
Hating On Parents
If your toddler suddenly hates you, it isn’t a good thing. It might seem it at the time, especially if they leave you alone, but it needs to be sorted quickly before it gets out of hand.
Your toddler might hate both parents, or they might begin to distance themselves from Mom, or Dad.
Not Eating
This doesn’t usually last long, especially when you wheel our their favorite dish!
As an attempt to grab the limelight away from their younger sibling, your toddler may go on hunger strike. Test their metal with a packet of their favorite candy. Dangle the candy in front of them. Tell your toddler they can have some candy after they finish their meal!
Easy.
Unusual Sleeping Patterns
Your toddler might develop unusual sleeping patterns, including:
You must be proactive when helping older siblings deal with your new arrival!
The best thing you can do to help older siblings cope with their new sibling is to get them involved.
Toddlers love ‘helping’, despite the fact that it is more of a hindrance (sshh, don’t tell them!)
Need to change the baby? Get your toddler to grab a diaper, the wipes, and dispose of the old diaper (kidding).
Improving Toddler Behavior After New Baby Arrives
You only need to do one thing, set up a rewards chart! Kids love a rewards chart, and they love it when you praise them for good behavior.
Stick the rewards chart on the wall and lay down the ground rules. 1 star for good behavior, 1 star removed for bad behavior. At the end of the week, if you are x amount of stars, you get a treat!
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do when your child is jealous of a newborn?
Always observe the time that your toddler and newborn spend together. Use your toddler to do some of the menial tasks such as get the diaper ready, feed the baby, pass me some baby clothes.
Your toddler will feel like they are involved, and that is a very powerful thing!
How do I tell my toddler about a new baby?
Build it up! Does your toddler have any friends with younger siblings? Use that as an example. ‘You know your friend Jack, he has a baby sister, doesn’t he? He loves his baby sister! You are going to have a baby brother or sister too!’
If your toddler does not have any friends with younger siblings, then you could break the news with a gift to welcome the news!
Can a new baby affect a child’s development?
Not unless the parents drop the ball, no. As a parent, it is your job to ensure that you are able to bring another baby into this world without it having a detrimental effect on your toddler’s development.
As long as you continue with their learning path, they will be absolutely fine.
Conclusion
On this page, I have identified 9 signs that your toddler is jealous of a new baby. Now it is down to you to fix that!
As I mentioned on this page, the best thing that you can do to stop the jealousy is to get your toddler involved.
For a start, toddlers love to get involved. It also means that your toddler is receiving your attention still, AND it means that you don’t have to get out of your seat to get the diapers!
Try not to turn them into a slave though, the plan may backfire!
On Davids first day at Daycare, he bit another child’s butt.
Imagine the shame, the horror. The shame, the HORROR! My toddler, BITING another child!
This sentence was uttered to me by a friend of mine, the name has been changed to protect the innocent… or maybe not so innocent, you decide!
After a long conversation about how they dealt with this biting incident, I was intrigued. Although this is not something I have had to deal with, I wanted to know what steps they took to stop their toddler from biting.
So I asked them… and this is post is built from their response, so enjoy!
Is it normal for a toddler to bite?
Could your toddlers biting habit simply be a phase they are going through?
On Davids first day at Daycare, he bit another child’s butt. The teacher swore that he aimed to bite off the child’s balls.
Chaos ensued, and a long meeting in which we were informed of David’s indefinite suspension from Daycare. “Nothing this bizarre has ever happened in the history of this school. Yes, children have bitten other children, but not so recklessly and so severely,” complained the Daycare staff member. “Please consult a child psychologist, buy anti-biting products, or whatever is necessary to transform him into a civilized member of society.”
According to child psychologists, biting is a part of the toddler’s development.
Children grow out of this phase at age three or four.
Sometimes, biting is a toddler’s strategy of coping with the travails of teething. Other times, toddlers weaponize their teeth in self-defense or as a show of strength and curiosity.
Anyway, my spouse and I were desperate to dissuade little David from sinking his little teeth into every skin he came in contact with. After a great deal of research, we uncovered countless strategies that were effective in curbing our toddler’s horrible habit.
Steps You Can Take To Stop Your Toddler From Biting
Here are some steps you can take to stop your toddler from biting.
Rather than resign David to his fate, we started implementing the following steps to dissuade David from biting.
Step 1: Improve your child’s communication skills
According to one child psychologist, David lacked the words to express his frustrations. Biting was the only way he knew to say, “You just hurt my feelings” or “That’s mine; give it back!”
When David learned to communicate his frustrations in simple sentences, he didn’t see the need to sink his teeth into anyone’s body. Things improved further when he learned other non-verbal communication strategies.
We provided stuffed toys and pillows he could embrace and clout, during moments where words proved inadequate. And because prolonged activities made him feel frustrated, we introduced sufficient breaks in-between activities.
Step 2: Use appropriate tools and products
David developed a taste for biting when he started teething. Back then, he soothed his itching gums with his fingers or someone else’s skin. Once the teething phase was over, he began biting to get attention, exact revenge or vent his frustration.
David wouldn’t have morphed into a Daycare vampire if we had used the appropriate products and gear.
For instance, a cool teething ring was effective in soothing his baby sister’s gums when she started developing a taste for biting. A clean washcloth (or napkin) is another effective tool as it stopped David’s sister’s biting habit.
Placing a wet washcloth in the baby’s mouth reduces the sensitivity of the gums.
Step 3: Instruct your toddler in clearer and positive, action words.
While some parents use negative words like don’t and can’t, I have found that active verbs like ‘do’, ‘speak’ and ‘go’ are more effective.
With David, we instructed him on the right actions to take, rather than emphasizing what he wasn’t permitted to do. ‘Don’t bite’ or ‘stop biting’ was communicated in clearer and direct words like ‘what’s on your mind? Speak up’ or ‘go and hug your stuffed teddy’.
Various studiesshow that negations confuse the brain and make it more difficult for humans to follow instructions. The brain responds more to affirmative statements and active verbs.
So when you say ‘stop biting’ or ‘no biting’. The brain takes the ‘biting’ and jettisons the preceding words. Use the right words when teaching your children to stop biting.
Step 4: Resist the temptation to retaliate
If I got a dollar for every time someone asked me to retaliate, I would be a millionaire. But I must confess that there were times when I wanted to grab David’s little arm and sink my teeth in. But as an educational psychologist, I understand that retaliation is only counterproductive. Children might not obey every instruction that leaves your mouth, but they will surely imitate your actions. Again, a recent research study has shown that corporal punishment can cause behavioral problems in children.
As the biting episodes became more infrequent, we introduced another deterrent. We called it the ‘Lemon rule’.
For every bite he delivered on the skin, he received a thoroughly washed, unpeeled lemon to sink his teeth into. And since he didn’t like the bitter taste of the lemon peel, he completely lost his taste for biting.
These steps were very effective for us. Some of these strategies might not appeal to you. Please don’t feel compelled to adopt them. I have listed them here because they worked for my toddler David, the chronic biter.
Should I Worry If My Toddler Exhibits Other Aggressive Behavior?
An aggressive toddler is going to be a huge concern, but should you worry?
It is important to note that toddlers often resist change. At the onset of every new phase, your toddler might exhibit another aggressive behavior.
Rather than worry, it is advisable to take steps to dissuade your toddler from reacting violently.
Here are a few things you can do when your child starts exhibiting aggressive behavior.
Create a safe and positive environment for your child to thrive in.
Be gentle and patient with your toddler. When you exhibit aggression and impatience, they pick up the vibes and retaliate.
Spend quality time with your toddler. Spending quality time with David taught me a lot about his needs. When I satiated his basic needs, he rarely had the urge to show any form of aggression.
Boredom elicits mischievous behavior in children. Be creative. Sing, dance, draw, color and fly a kite.
Recommended Gear To Help Stop Your Toddler From Biting
Here is some recommended gear that will help you put a stop to a Toddler who bites!
My success story will not be complete without the gear I used to help stop my toddler’s biting habit.
In the beginning, I was reluctant to purchase or even use them. I wasn’t sure they would work. And because we were swimming in debt, my spouse and I couldn’t afford to waste money on a gear that wouldn’t stop my toddler from biting.
But desperate times call for desperate measures. We didn’t want our toddler to get kicked out from his next Daycare, so we agreed to invest in some quality gear that could help David quit his bad habit. The following recommended items were the most effective in solving our problems:
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding toddlers who bite.
How can I stop my Toddler biting at Daycare?
Find out why he or she has developed a taste for biting. Cool teething rings and wet washcloths reduce biting episodes in teething children, instruct the daycare administrator to use them on the toddler when he or she becomes irritable.
When your child comes home from Daycare, converse. Ask questions like ‘How was your day?’ or ‘What did you say when your classmate took the object you wanted?’ Engaging toddlers in conversations helps them develop stronger communication skills.
Toddlers are less likely to bite when they possess excellent communication skills.
Why does my Toddler bite when they are excited?
Biting is a phase in every child’s development. Toddlers bite often because they are unable to express their excitement and frustration in words.
According to another theory, toddlers bite because they are curious to know what reaction their actions will evoke. They are just exploring their environments.
Why does my Toddler bite Mom only?
Mom seems to be the sole recipient of all bite attacks probably because Mom is the most familiar and most loved one within the vicinity.
Another reason might be that the toddler craves Mom’s attention most of the time.
Why does my Toddler bite Dad only?
This is likely because the toddler loves Dad too much and is excited to get his attention.
Another reason might be that toddler spends most of his time with Dad, and biting Dad is a toddlers way of pushing the boundaries, exploring the environment and warding off boredom.
Could my Toddler have a medical issue?
According to experts, biting is just a phase in the child’s life. It is very unlikely that your toddlers biting habit are a symptom of a medical problem.
If you are worried, it is best to get your toddler checked out!
Conclusion
Biting is one bad habit that pops up during the first few years of early childhood. As children get older (often around their third and fourth year of life), they generally stop chomping on other people’s skins. But because children mature at different rates, some may take longer to stop biting.
Be patient with your toddler, buy some of the recommended gear on our list and take steps to help your toddler improve.
However, you shouldn’t hesitate to consult a pediatrician or behavioral psychologist, if your child seems to be biting and exhibiting more aggressive behaviors.
Some are exciting, like the first time your child takes a dip in a pool, others are loaded with emotion like their first day at kindergarten.
Then there are the functional ones, like learning to walk and talk.
But one of the most important toddler milestones is when your little one transitions to a toddler bed.
I know from experience that this can be an emotional time. For me, it signaled that my child was no longer a baby, as their first step towards independence, *sniff*.
For other parents in a similar situation, I’ve put together this post to help you identify the signs that your child is ready for a toddler bed. Because getting your Kid to sleep is already tough enough, right?
When Do You Transition To A Toddler Bed?
When is the right time to transition from a crib to a toddler bed?
First of all, there are no set rules. Each child develops at their own pace. However, it’s important to note that official guidelinesrecommend that your baby sleeps in the same room as you for the first six months of its life.
Generally speaking, most children will make the leap from crib to toddler bed between the age of 18 months and three years old.
This can be dependent on a number of factors, including;
Your child’s weight and size
Age limits on your crib (these vary from approx. 9kg up to five years old)
Whether you’re transitioning your child into another room
Expecting another child (a friend of mine had two children under two, forcing her oldest to move out of her crib at 18 months)
The comfort or your child
That said, emerging researchsuggests that toddlers may, in fact, sleep better if they remain in their cribs until the age of three. That’s because cribs can offer comfort to little ones, who enjoy the security that small spaces provide.
Investing in an adjustable crib is advisable since this will evolve with your child. Many on the market are suitable from birth upwards.
Signs That Your Child Is Ready To Move To a Toddler Bed
There are various signs that your Toddler is ready for the big transition to a Toddler bed!
Some parents instinctively know when it’s time to change to a toddler bed. For the rest of us, it’s a case of paying attention to lots of cues.
If you’re unsure what to look out for, here’s just some of the signs that your child is ready for a toddler bed:
Growing up
One of the most telling signs is that your child has literally outgrown their crib. If their feet reach the end, their head bumps the top, or if they appear to be uncomfortable, it’s likely that they have physically outgrown their crib.
Getting adventurous
If your child starts climbing out of their crib, take this as a sign that they are ready for the next stage.
Poor sleep
If your child’s sleeping habits have changed or regressed, this might be a sign that they are ready for a toddler bed.
Potty training
Yep, potty training creeps up on you sooner than you think! When your child is learning to go to the toilet independently, the last thing you want to do is restrict their movement at night time.
Problems When Transitioning From Crib To Bed
What are the common problems you might face during the transition to a toddler bed?
Unless you’re one of the lucky ones, you might experience some challenges when transitioning from a crib to toddler bed, here are a few to look out for:
Unsettled
It’s not uncommon for the first few nights to be exciting and/or daunting for your child. Expect some 2 am wake up calls and disruption in the night. According to the Sleep Organisation, this will usually wane after two or three weeks.
Falling out of bed
Although toddler beds are made for this age group, children are still getting used to no sides. As such, you might experience a few tumbles in the night.
Thrashing duvets
This is one of the challenges we had and still do. Transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed also means no more sleeping bags. With the freedom of bet sheets, children are prone to kicking them off in the night – this is when long pajamas come in handy!
Recommended Gear To Help The Transition To Toddler Bed
Here is some recommended gear to help ease your toddler into their new bed!
Many parents find bed rails a godsend. A safety-approved toddler rail is a great way of giving your child some security and freedom to get out of their toddler bed. You can even get travel bed rails which are handy for holidays.
For children that are prone to thrashing around at night, bed clips can help keep bed sheets in place. Secured with an elasticated band (under the bed), this is a good way of keeping bet sheets in place.
Whilst bed rails are an awesome idea, you may also wish to upgrade to bed bumpers for that extra little bit of security, and luxury. Luxury is an excellent friend when you need to ease the transition!
If your child rolls into the bumper, you will know they are going to get a soft welcome.
My toddler doesn’t get up much for the bathroom in the night. However, if yours does, you might want to think about a night light to help them. There are some awesome night lights available to provide comfort in the dark.
Make the transition to a toddler bed easier by using a night light projector to distract your child at bedtime!
Frequently asked questions
Common questions to ask when transitioning to a Toddler bed.
When can my child transition to a toddler bed?
There’s no one rule fits all, however usually between the age of 18 months and three years’ old is the right time. Certainly not before six months old.
Should I sleep in with my toddler during the transition?
It’s best to keep with your existing bedtime routine for a smooth transition. Co-sleeping is a personal choice but may carry some risks, as outlined by The Lullaby Trust.
Some experts suggest that cuddling them to feel safe enough to fall asleep is no bad thing.
How long should I try before reverting back to the crib?
It’s natural for your child to be unsettled for a little while. Do all you can to make their bedroom an exciting place to be. If, however, you are struggling, then the Babycentrerecommends that you can bring your crib back until they feel ready.
Conclusion
Transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed is an exciting and emotional time for parents and children alike.
It’s natural for children to feel overwhelmed at times. However, by looking out for signs that your child is ready for a toddler bed, you will be better placed to move them at the right time. This is best for a smooth transition.
Involve your child in the purchase of the bed and make their room an enjoyable place to be. Finally, keep your existing bedtime routine – if there’s one thing we know about children, it’s that they’re sticklers for familiarity.
But now your toddler hates baths, and you are left battle-weary after each one.
Sound familiar?
This situation sounds very familiar to me, but my toddler and I got over it. In this post, I am going to explain how I made toddler bath time fun again.
Let’s get rid of these toddler bath time tantrums!
Why Is There A Toddler Meltdown At Bath Time?
Why Toddlers may have a full-on meltdown when it is time for a bath.
There are many reasons why your toddler is refusing bath time. Many of which you will never know.
If you know toddlers well, then you will know they can be headstrong, to say the least!
Dealing with a stubborn toddler can be a challenge, and it is up to you to rise to the challenge before it becomes too much of a problem.
Why Are Toddlers Afraid Of Baths?
If your toddler is afraid of baths, then it is your job to find out why and address it!
I want to cover the fact that toddlers can become afraid of baths separately. The reason I wanted to cover this is that it can lead to increased levels of fear in your toddler.
If your toddler is afraid of baths, then it will 100% lead to a total toddler meltdown at bath time!
It is up to you as a parent to find out what your toddler is most afraid of in their bath, and address it.
The issue seems to get worse each time you force them to have a bath, so address the issue quickly to save yourself some extra grief!
Toddler hates getting hair washed
This is a big reason why your toddler may be afraid of baths!
If your toddler hates getting their hair washed, it may be due to the stinging eye pain that some shampoos cause.
You can address this by using a tear-free shampoo to wash your toddler’s hair with.
Your child is afraid of getting water on their face.
We are all the same. We breathe through our nose and mouth. When water covers one or both of these, it can lead to a brief moment of panic.
This may be the reason why your toddler is afraid of getting water on their face.
You can address this with a shampoo shield for toddlers. These magnificent inventions will stop water from getting into your toddler’s eyes, and will ensure some degree of calmness when it comes to bath time!
Toddler Hates Baths? Use These To Make Your Toddler Loves Baths Again!
Life is a little easier when your Toddler enjoys their bath time, right?
When it comes to bath time, you need to make it as fun as possible, whilst taking away the pain points too.
This list will cover you from all angles!
Bath bombs
This is at the very top of the list for one good reason! It worked for my toddler, and continues to do so!
Bath bombs are cheap, easy, and tremendous fun for your toddler.
My son has lots of fun trying to find the bath bomb as it dissolves. As the water changes color and the bath bomb dissolves, the challenge grows to find what remains!
Crayons
Most Toddlers love art, but all toddlers love to make a mess, right?
From a parents point of view, the best thing about bath crayons is they are easily washed away, AND the bath is close to a water supply. In terms of cleaning up, it doesn’t get much easier than that!
To add in an element of fun and learning to your toddler’s bath time routine, you should definitely consider some bath crayons!
I use any opportunity to teach my son something new, and why stop learning just because it is time for a bath?
My son loves playing in the bath (at least, he does now!). One of the toys he plays with most is the magnetic fishing game I bought him when he was struggling to enjoy his bath time.
Magnetic fishing gamesare fun bath time games that you can use to entertain your toddler.
When your toddler hates getting water or shampoo in their eyes, and all else fails, why not introduce some gogglesat bath time!
Not only will goggleskeep water and soap out of their eyes, but they can also use them to explore their underwater world!
Conclusion
If your toddler hates baths, hates getting water in their eyes, or just wants to cause you a little grief, then you can following the advice on this page to make life easier for yourself!
Ultimately, if your toddler is afraid of their bath then you need to find out why.
It is only when you know why then you can address the issues.
After all, you need to have yourself a clean Toddler, right?
Sand and water have been entertaining toddlers since the dawn of mankind!
Are they simply fun toys, or can they play an important role in the development of your toddler?
In this post, I am going to take a look at the best sand and water toys for toddlers. I will also be looking at some of the benefits that these types of toys will bring to your child.
The Anchors Away Pirate Ship by Little Tikes covers the fun from both angles.
Playing with sand and water toys will certainly give your toddlers imagination a workout. Throw in a Pirate themed toy and their imagination will go into overdrive!
I mentioned above that there is a small danger that you will get wet if you are too close to your toddler playing. The Anchors Away Pirate Ship takes it a little bit further too!
Why?
Because it comes with at least 1 item that squirts water!
First up we have the cannon. Thankfully, the range is not that great. Secondly, we have a totally portable shark squirter. I’ll say that again:
Totally portable!
Which means you are a target wherever you are observing the play from.
The build quality of the Anchors Away pit is outstanding. Little Tikes really do know how to make toddler toys that are built to last!
Let’s take a look from a construction angle first.
This toy comes with a rotation crane and a dumpster to return the sand to the pit. This is a great toy for Toddlers obsessed with construction, and will also help with developing hand-eye coordination.
Now we look at the sand and water play!
What I like most about this playset is the mini waterway which allows easy transportation of sand and water all the way to the other side.
The journey can be a perilous one for the tiny barges. They will need to deal with any waves created by the snap-on wave creator!
All in all, this is an excellent sand and water toy that will keep your toddler entertained for hours.
This extremely sturdy, ultra-fun sand and water toy is perfect for Toddlers.
From a toddler’s perspective, the best thing about this toy is the water tower, which can be combined with the mountain to create a cascading waterfall.
If you know toddlers, then you will already know how much they love pouring water! Over, and over, and over, and over…
Another great thing about this toy is that you can cover the sand if you are not a fan of combining sand and water. Toddlers will happily play with either side for hours.
Obviously, when you have a toy with both water and sand you know they are going to get mixed up, right?
Along with the tables, you will also receive a small bucket, a weird ‘half-shark’ scooper, and a toy rake/spade.
Melissa and Doug are very quickly becoming one of my favorite toy manufacturers! Not only do they appear on this list, but you will also see them on the following posts:
Melissa and Doug are renowned for creating fun, educational toys for Toddlers.
They really are!
Although this last toy moves away from the standard sandpit type toy, I wanted to include it in this post because it is awesome in its simplicity.
It doesn’t matter how big a toy is, it only matters that your toddler is engaged with it. Trust me, toddlers will be engaged with this sand and water toy!
It is simple, sand or water can be poured into the top of the toy and your toddler can watch it cascade through to the bottom.
The best thing is, it is much more portable than any other option on this page.
If you are having a day out at the beach, then why not take it along!
Manufacturers recommended age: 3+
Toddler Benefits – Playing With Sand And Water
Develops Problem Solving
Problem-solving skills are vital. Some of the toys on this page offer your child the challenge of getting water or sand from one part of the toys to another.
It will not be long before they develop their problem-solving skills to overcome this.
Develops Cause And Effect Association
When you pour the water or sand into a funnel, the result is that it comes out the other side.
These toys offer something very similar, especially those with long, winding funnels, or those with buckets or spinning water wheels.
These skills are vital for when your toddler reaches a School age and begins interacting with new friends!
Conclusion
In this post, I have detailed 5 items that I consider to be the best sand and water toys for toddlers. I also threw in some details about how these types of toys will aid your toddlers development.
Let’s take a second to remember one extremely important point here:
Any toy that involves water can be dangerous.
Did you know that there are around 10 deaths per day that can be attributed to (non-boating related) unintentional drowning?
It is VITAL that you oversee any play that involves water! It is a parent or guardian’s responsibility to keep Kids safe.
It is not just drowning that you need to be concerned about either. If you have read a number of articles on my blog, then you will already understand that keeping my toddler safe in his house is right at the top of my list of important Dad duties!
If your toddler is playing with water:
Do not let them run, they might slip over
Keep them away from electrical items, they might get a shock
You cannot even leave a room without a whimper from your toddler. Am I right?
Most of the time they even follow you OUT of the room! Suddenly, a fear hits you, ‘Why is my toddler clingy??? Will it ever end???’
There are many reasons why your Toddler has changed from the outgoing, independent child, to a clingy – will not leave you alone – child. Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons now.
When you have got stuff to do, having a Toddler gripping onto your legs it NOT going to help.
7 Common Reasons Why Your Toddler Is Clingy
Here are the 7 most common reasons why your toddler is clingy. It is very important to have an open discussion with your toddler to narrow down the reasons until you find the reason why.
Sure, it will be tough, communicating with a toddler is often a challenge! You do not need me to tell you that, right?
Fear of Change
Change is the biggest reason why your Toddler is clingy all of a sudden! Find out what the change is.
Are you in the process of moving home? Have you recently got a new pet? Have they started daycare? Do they have a new sitter looking after them?
A toddler’s life is full of change and as a parent, it is your job to help them through. They are growing up quick at this age, and there are changes around every corner.
Potty training is one of the biggest changes a toddler must face. A huge change to their usual routine may cause them to become clingy, and now they have to remember to go to the potty instead of just doing it!
Openly discuss any big changes with your Toddler. It will add more comfort to their lives and will teach them the benefits and comfort of change.
Pregnant Mom or New Baby
The imminent sibling may cause your Toddler to be extra clingy!
This is a HUGE reason why your Toddler may be clingy!
For a start, they are now old enough to understand what is going to happen.
By now, your toddler will have a number of friends, and some of those might have younger siblings (crazy parents!). If Mom is pregnant, your toddler will know what is about to happen. They will see it as competition for your affection.
Not only will your toddler be battling for your affection by being clingy, but may also begin acting up. This is very common when new babies arrive too, so best get used to it!
You can fix this by reassuring your toddler that they are still loved. Spend more time playing with them and ensure they get enough of your time doing fun things.
Sometimes, simply reassuring a toddler who is clingy to pregnant Mom is all that is needed!
Not Well – Sick
Your Toddler may be clingy because they are coming down with a sickness
Kids become fussy when they are sick, period.
I always know when my Son is coming down with an illness at least a day before other symptoms are displayed!
Each and every time, it begins with him being clingy. He is not interested in playing, he just wants to sit down with me or Mom. He is quiet and becomes a little whiny when we try to leave the room. Classic symptoms!
If you think your toddler is coming down with an illness it is time to begin preparations! Ensure you have the following classic sickness tools at your disposal:
As kids get older they are introduced to new things to fear. That may cause them to be ultra clingy.
Your Toddlers imagination is at record levels right now! That is a good thing, and it is a bad thing.
It is a good thing because it is a vital part of their development. As a parent, your toddler will leave you in total amazement with some of the ideas they come up with, especially during playtime!
It can also be a bad thing too.
Now is a time when you might think about introducing your toddler to some of the dangers in life, such as stranger danger. Teaching your toddler about stranger danger such an important task. It needs to happen, but in a perfect world, it is not something we should have to do!
When you introduce your toddler to dangers in life, they will begin to shift from a carefree toddler to one that now understands that there are dangers to be aware of. That shift will raise a level of anxiety in your toddler and may lead to them being a bit more clingy.
Consider a toddler that has just learned about a certain danger, and then add in the fact that their imagination is extremely high. It is a perfect storm of anxiety, right?
Reassure your toddler that they are safe as long as they listen to your advice.
Being Bullied
Being bullied is a strong reason why. As a parent, your job is to get to the bottom of it and resolve it.
When I think about the possibility of my son being bullied, my blood begins to boil! It is not just a Dad thing, it is a parent thing.
I remember when my Son first come home from one of his first days at School. He had a form from his Teacher to explain that he had been scratched by someone in his class.
My first emotion was anger!
I wanted to find the kid who scratched him and hold him down while my son taught him a lesson!
Obviously, I didn’t. But it gets to us protective parents, right?
If your toddler is being bullied, it is important for you as a parent to get that information out of them. Unfortunately, as their imagination levels are high, you have to extract the facts from the fiction!
If your toddler is clingy at home, or cranky after daycare then it could be a case of bullying. Time to check with the daycare staff. Ask them to keep an extra eye on your toddler to see if anything untoward is happening.
Phase – My Theory
It could just be a phase they are going through and is part of their development.
Separation anxiety, attachment issues, your toddler may just be going through this as a phase.
I have a theory that will explain it better:
When you are a baby, you are totally useless, right? You have to rely on your parents for everything, food, clothes, changing your diaper, taking you places. You do not have many decisions to make. Parents will make all decisions and you have to live with them.
When you get to the toddler stages, you are more independent. You begin to make your own decisions.
You can pick the toys you want to play with, you can go into any room you want to. When you get to this stage, you are more independent. Your parents respond by cutting you some slack and will let you make some decisions for yourself.
How does that make a toddler feel?
When your toddler gets to this stage, they may begin to exhibit some separation anxiety symptoms (including being clingy, fear of sleeping alone, etc), because the bond between you both feels like it is loosening. Of course, it is not loosening. You and I know that, but a toddler may not.
This feeling can easily be resolved by spending more time with them during their independence.
If your toddler has disappeared into their room to play, give them 5 minutes alone and go join them. That way, your toddler will realize that their independence does not mean separation from parents.
Conclusion
Figuring out the reason (or reasons) why your toddler is clingy can be a huge challenge. The important thing is that you consider everything going on in their life.
As you go through the process, crossing out each reason as you go, then you will eventually get to the reason why.
When your toddler is being clingy, it can cause some parents to push further away, which only makes it worse. It is vital that you spend time with your toddler. Discussing their issues (I know it will be tough) really is the biggest weapon in your arsenal.
Together, we can sort out this toddler clinginess!
No, didn’t think so. Each time my son has night terrors, I want to leap into his mind and beat the hell out of whatever is scaring him.
BUT…there are some things you need to know that will reassure you, and give you an idea on how to deal with night terrors in toddlers.
What is a night terror?
How do you know if your Toddler is having a night terror?
A night terror (sleep terror) is an episode of intense fear, where your toddler is asleep and is absolutely petrified in otherwise relaxing surroundings. They may display symptoms of being awake but they are not. It is a sleep disorder.
The chances of your Toddler suffering from night terrors are greater if there is a family history of night terrors or sleepwalking.
Usually, if a night terror is going to occur, it will happen approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. Having said that, my sons night terrors are usually around 3 hours after falling asleep.
Night terrors can last up to 30 minutes too! I have never witnessed a 30-minute episode, my son’s usually last between 5 and 10 minutes. I guess I must be one of the lucky ones, right?
Symptoms of night terrors
There are many signs of night terrors. With the exception of sleepwalking, my son exhibits the following:
Screaming
Panic
Open Eyes
Lashing Out
Sleepwalking
Sweating
Quickened Heartbeat
Causes of night terrors
Here are some common causes of night terrors.
In reality, it is a huge challenge to understand why your toddler is having night terrors. There are some common causes though, which will help you to identify any potential reasons.
This ties in with the timings I have seen with my son and his night terrors. Bad Dad (guilty) gave him some sweets 30 minutes before bedtime. 3 hours later he was having a night terror!
Imagination
Kids aged between 3 and 12 is the age range who suffer most from night terrors. There is a theory that is due to an overactive imagination.
Problems at School/Pre-School
Your toddler may be going through a tough time in life. When kids start School or Pre-School it is a huge life-change for them. If your toddler is suffering from regular night terrors, it is worth speaking with the staff to ensure they keep an eye out for any bullying activity.
Problems at home
Consider your toddler’s home life. Do they have any issues here? Do they have siblings, and are they bullying your toddler? Keep a watch over playtimes and interactions to see if you can identify anything that should not be happening.
Overtired
Being overtired can force your brain to behave in strange ways! A toddler’s brain is not different. You already know how much tiredness affects a toddler, they begin to act up when it is close to bedtime, right?
I know it is not what you wanted to read! It has to be added in as a potential cause though.
If your toddler has repeated night terrors and you are concerned, then you should seek guidance from a medical professional. This post is based on my own situation and the research I have completed to get to the route of my sons night terrors. It should not be taken as medical advice!
Night terror v nightmare
A nightmare is a bad dream that can be scary and cause anxiety in a dream.
Symptoms may manifest themselves with twitching, heavy breathing, increased heart rate, and fearful noises (whining, crying, etc).
A night terror is completely different, and manifest themselves with much more physical activity, such as screaming, lashing out.
With a night terror, your child will look and act much more lucid and is likely to have their eyes open.
When you know the differences, it is easy to understand whether your toddler is having night terrors or a nightmare.
What to do during your toddlers night terrors
When your toddler is having a night terror you should give them love, comfort, reassurance, and above all keep them safe!
Keep your Toddler safe
During a night terror, your toddler may lash out, walk, or jump out of bed. Wherever he is having the night terror, check the surroundings to ensure there is nothing around him that he can hurt himself on.
If your toddler has regular episodes where they sleepwalk too, then toddler-proof your home. You do not want your Toddler to fall down a stairway!
Personally, I cannot bear to leave him alone or watch him in so much distress. My Super Dad powers kick in and I reach to pick him up and cuddle him.
Even when Mom is holding him I have an overwhelming urge to hold him and offer words of reassurance.
Remain calm
You need to remain calm. I know, it is not easy at all!
Seeing your child go through something that is clearly terrorizing them is going to get your heart pumping.
You feel terrible that they are going through it, and you feel powerless to do anything to help them. All you can see is your toddler going through an absolutely horrifying experience, and your first job is simple. Remain a calming influence.
Nobody knows if your toddler can hear you, or even know that you are there, but if they can, and they pick up your stress it will just make their night terror worse.
Remaining calm is vital, even if they begin shaking or shouting at you. In their terror state, they may see you as a threat.
Calming a Toddler during a night terror
I always do what I can to calm my son during one of his night terrors! It might work, and it might not work. It does make me feel better, and because it calms me, I hope that it calms my son too.
During his night terror, I cycle through some phrases such as:
Daddy is hugging you
You are safe
You are dreaming
Everything you are seeing is not real
You are safe
Mom is here too
No one can hurt you
You are at home
I like to think that he can hear what I am saying to him as I whisper these phrases in his ear. I hope that it is affecting his dream and he begins to calm down and reduce the anxiety he is feeling.
Should you wake your child during a night terror?
No. I know it is difficult, believe me I know! When my son had his first-night terror I was desperate to wake him up. You must let your toddler ride it out until it is finished. A night terror does not last as long as it feels!
This will lead to some difficulty getting them back to sleep and may lead to them being fearful of sleeping alone.
Switch the lights on
As it is difficult to know what is going through their minds you have to assume certain things. I assume there are objects in the room that scare him. Shadows, hanging clothes, amongst other things. I switch the lights on to clear away some of the shadows.
It may also help to bring him out of his sleep too.
How to prepare for a Toddler night terror
When your toddler has regular night terrors, it is vital that you prepare for times when it happens.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine
When you are putting your toddler to sleep, always follow a relaxing bedtime routine to ensure they go to sleep in the best possible mood.
Reduce the chances of any disagreements. If you do have an argument (common when putting a Toddler to sleep!) then take some time to relax them before they go to sleep.
A relaxing bedtime routine is important if you want to get your toddler to sleep, and it is extremely important if you want to reduce the chances of your toddler having a night terror.
What you should do after your toddlers night terror
Write down everything you remember from your toddlers night terror.
Keep a record
Here is a list of questions to complete each time your Toddler has a night terror:
Date
Food and drink consumed in the 2 hours before bed.
Did your toddler watch anything before bed?
Which story did you read your toddler before bed?
What time did they go to sleep?
Did they go to sleep happy, sad, angry, or others?
What time did the night terror begin?
How long did it last?
What, if anything, did you do to calm your toddler?
Details of the night terror – what were the symptoms?
Keeping these details of your toddlers night terror will help you to identify any commonalities. For instance, if you notice they have a night terror every time they eat a specific food within 2 hours of bedtime then you can make some changes.
One of my Sons night terrors – my notes
Here are the details of my sons last night terror:
Date
8th May
Food and drink consumed in the 2 hours before bed.
Candy – my bad!
Milk – As per normal
Did your toddler watch anything before bed?
No
Which story did you read your toddler before bed?
No story that night
What time did they go to sleep?
19:15
Did they go to sleep happy, sad, angry, or others?
Happy
What time did the night terror begin?
22:40
How long did it last?
5 minutes
What, if anything, did you do to calm your toddler?
Explained that Dad and Mom are here, you are dreaming. Nothing can hurt you. Repeated phrases.
Details of the night terror – what were the symptoms?
Woke up making noise, I went to his room to see if he is ok. He was asleep still, but scared. So I picked him up and he hugged me. I began the calming phrases (see above). I took him out of his bedroom into the landing, and I switched the lights on. He began screaming with fear, tensing his body. His eyes were open. He was observing his surroundings, in sheer panic. He lashed out at thin air. I took him to the living room and I switched the light on. This carried on for 5 minutes.
Let them sleep
The first thing I notice at the end of my sons night terrors is he can look me in the eye without being petrified. I know it is finished and I can stop worrying!
After a 2 or 3 minute cuddle, he is either straight back to sleep or he is wide awake, laughing at me trying to make him happy again.
Ultimately, if your toddler falls straight asleep after their night terror, then simply let them sleep. You can relax knowing that it is extremely rare to happen twice in one night!
Get some sleep…
Ask if they remember anything in the morning
Do not force the questions. Simply ask once and if they do not remember, stop asking.
If they do remember the night terror, give them a bit of advice.
Remind your toddler that they were dreaming and they were never in danger. In real life, they were in safe, secure, and no one could hurt them.
When your toddler is having a night terror it can be extremely distressing. I know, I have been there a few times!
You can follow the tips on this page to reduce the chances of your toddler having a night terror. It will also give you some tips on how to deal with them during, and after they happen.
Consider any reasons that could be triggering your toddlers night terrors. The more you note after each episode, the more chance you will have of identifying a commonality for each time they happen.
If you have read this post then you will see the section that clearly shows that I gave my son some sweets to close to bedtime. I am now convinced that the sugar high, or another ingredient in those sweets triggered a night terror.
Bad Dad!
The important thing is that you remain calm and keep them safe!
There is no greater feeling than the feeling you get when watching your toddler playing. But, when they are into diggers, which toys are best for them?
In this post, I am going to take a look at some of the best digger toys for toddlers.
The best thing is, there are tons of different types of digger toys available. Some are simply toy diggers, and some are functional diggers! I must admit that my son loves the functional types best, but when the weather isn’t great he will pick up the indoor versions.
I am going to cover both options right here and let you choose!
Functional Digger Toys For Toddlers
Functional digger toys are basically small diggers that are used to pick up sand or dirt, before dumping it somewhere else.
The benefit of these type of digger toys is they allow the toddler to immerse themselves in being a digger operator. Throw in a hard hat and they are in their own little world, they ARE a digger driver.
Here we have the awesome Big Dig ride-on fully working digger that will be adored by your toddler!
The best thing about this digger toy is its durability. In fact, all of the toys on this page have been selected for their durability. When shopping for toddler toys, I always check to see how sturdy it is before buying.
I know what toddlers are like…Girls, or Boys, toys do not last long if they are not durable!
These ride-on digger toys are not only awesome for toddlers who need to develop their hand-eye coordination, but I have also seen Kids queuing up to have a go in a local park 6 deep. None of them were under the age of 5! These are toys that will last for years.
It was this moment that prompted me to buy one of these for my own son.
The highly durable Dig and Roll sand digger is an excellent toy that will keep your kids entertained.
Many of the sand diggers available are on a base, which means they are difficult to move when you are small. This option allows your child to move the unit around with ease! If you recognize the design, it is because it is the wheeled version of the Big Dig working crane above!
If they have run out of sand or dirt, they can simply wheel it over to another spot and begin digging again.
With dual hand control, wide base, and a working shovel, your kids will love playing with this super sand digger.
There is one major benefit to this sand digger…it can be packed away and stored neatly when it is not being used! Which is great for those who have small yards, and it is also great if it looks like it is going to rain.
The fact that it is easily stored means you can even pack it away and take it on any beach trips.
Toddler toys that can be taken apart and put together BY A TODDLER (I have to add that bit) are an excellent way of developing hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills.
My son has a take-it-apart toy car, and he absolutely loves playing with it.
This take-apart digger toy is an excellent choice and has many different types to choose from too.
They will begin with 18 objects that need to be placed in the correct order. Using the screwdriver, they need to add these objects together to build the digger. Once it is built, they get to play with it.
This take-apart digger is very robust and durable, which is great news – we all know what toddlers are like when ‘playing’! Even when they are not toddlers anymore, they will keep coming back to these take-apart toys.
When you are looking for toddler toys, you need something durable, right? And, when you are thinking about durability, then CAT fits the bill.
The Bruder Caterpillar Steel Loader is highly durable has been built to last. It is a basic digger toy that will work on any surface.
The only moving parts on the Skidsteer are the bucket and the 4 tires. Having said that, when you are a toddler and you LOVE diggers, then they can while away the hours picking up sand, water, dirt, or random pieces of LEGO!
Manufacturers recommended age: 3+
Toddler Benefits – Playing With Diggers
Develops Motor Skills
For the ride-on toddler digger toys, they will need to get used to the controls and understand the consequences of what happens when they pull the lever. This type of toy will help to develop some important motor skills. Specifically, these toys will help develop gross motor skills.
Develops Problem Solving
Problem-solving skills are vital, and giving a toddler a digger toy, especially a ride-on type, will help them to develop their skills.
Think about it, after digging a hole in the sand, they will want to fill it back up. What is the solution? Use some of the excess sand in the pile they have just made!
Develops Spacial Awareness
Spatial awareness is an important life skill. I should know because my wife has absolutely none!
When a toddler is using a ride-on digger toy they will need to get used to the distance between the sand and the levels. When they first sit on a sand digger they will not be able to hit the spot straight away.
Given time, they will learn about space between, and their skills will improve.
So many items around your home are dangerous for toddlers, and I am betting that you don’t know about half of them!
In this post, I am going to show you the steps I took when toddler proofing my home. Because it is our job to keep them safe!
I admit it, I am a little obsessed with making our home completely Toddler proof…
Since my son was born, I only see the worst-case scenario, and I am sure that I am not the only one! For instance, around 2000 deaths per year are a result of a home injury to a person 14 years or younger.
As he steamrolls throughout our home like a bull in a china shop, my eyes are scanning the environment for breakable items, things he can hit his head on, and things he can trip up of stand on (mostly his toys by the way).
Even when he is sleeping, I am worried about him falling out of bed, sleeping walking out of a window, or accidentally strangling himself on a random bit of cord that he found somewhere! It is tiring…
Whilst we cannot protect our children 100% of the time, especially for the rest of their lives, it is our job to make the house safe and protect them as much as we can. In this post, I am going to run you through what I do to toddler-proof our home, primarily for their safety, but also because it costs too much to replace breakable items!
Your First Task – Stalk Your Home
As I walk into each room of my home, I run a quick scan of the area to identify anything that we (my wife and I) may have inadvertently left out that may be dangerous to our Son. That is simply an ongoing process that I will probably never stop doing!
If you have never toddler proofed your home then you will need to do this for each room, but what are the things you need to look out for?
Luckily for you, I have put together a list of the common things I checked when I started to toddler proof my home because at first, it is difficult to notice things when you have been used to leaving items out since before you were a parent.
How To Toddler Proof Your Home
Electricity Sockets
Blank your electric sockets to stop objects being inserted into them.
Phones, tablets, lights, your toothbrush, all of these items will need to be charged. Constantly. Sometimes, especially when you are in a rush, you may leave the charger plugged into the wall socket, but not actually charging anything. This can pose a significant health risk to a toddler or a young child. Especially one who likes putting objects into their mouth!
Always unplug electrical items when they are not in use. Better still, move them out of harm’s way completely.
Kids and knives do not match well! Always store knives away from the reach of a toddler.
Knives and other sharp items (scissors etc) must be stored away from your toddlers reach. It is vital that they cannot reach knives if you want a toddler-proof home!
I have already discussed what you can do to make your kitchen safe for toddlers, but here we take a look at knives.
Store knives and sharp objects too high for your toddler to reach.
Sharp objects include knives, scissors, meat skewers, peelers, meat thermometers, and many other things. Take some time to go through each drawer that your toddler can reach and move everything sharp up high.
If your toddler runs headfirst into the corner of a table, it can cause some serious damage!
When I enter a room, I begin by scanning it for potential dangers. I even do it in other people’s homes, whether they have kids or not!
One of the most easily missed dangers is sharp edges on furniture. You know toddlers as well as I do, they are not very steady on their feet, and they have absolutely no spacial awareness! You need to prepare for it by protecting each corner to ensure that any bumps are not as bad as they can be.
I must mention here that I know toddlers need to go through the bumps to enhance their awareness of their environment. The goal here is to minimize the damage of a toddler running full sprint into the corner of a table.
Always ensure that you can lock your windows to keep your home Toddler proof.
It is very important that you have the ability to lock your windows. Not only for security, but also for inquisitive toddlers who just love to open and close anything they can find. More than 4000 children are injured by falling out of a window each year.
Take some time to consider this: Your toddler begins to sleepwalk, which brings with it a whole world of potential hazards! During their sleepwalking episode, they open a window and fall out. You are asleep,
I know that is extremely unlikely to happen, but why not prepare for that anyway? Why not implement a lock on each window of your home? Not only will this stop your toddler from opening the window during the day, but it will also stop them from opening the window at night too.
Also having the ability to lock your windows will help to stop the bad guys from getting in!
Whilst we are on the subject of windows, you may also want to cover your windows and glass doors with shatterproof film because toddlers can run pretty fast and their heads are tougher than they look.
Doors
If you want a Toddler proof home, ensure that you can lock your external doors with high locks.
This is very similar to locking your windows and carries almost as much risk to your toddler too (it will not hurt as much if they fall through a door).
Any entrance to your home must be secure and your toddler must not be able to open them without you being present. There is no point having a toddler-proof home if they can escape!
I mentioned above about the dangers of toddlers sleepwalking, and if they manage to get to an external door which is easy to open, they could find themselves outside in the middle of the night. Surely I do not have to explain how dangerous that can be, especially if you live near a road!
You must be confident that your toddler cannot open an external door.
Secure each entrance with a hard-to-reach lock and sleep soundly!
Hot Water Faucet
Hot water can scald a child and result in permanent disfigurement.
If the temperature is high enough, your toddler will be scalded with hot water. For those of us who have picked up a hot plate without realizing, we know how it feels!
It is a challenge to secure any hot water faucet from being used, especially as you cannot raise the hot water tap out of your toddlers reach!
Again, I know that it is important to realize that kids sometimes need to learn the hard way, but I would prefer it if they did not hurt themselves in the process!
Stairs
To stop your toddler falling down the stairs, add a stair gate to the bottom and top.
As soon as your little one begins to crawl you should be arming each flight of stairs with a stair gate, it is common sense!
When I was deciding how many stair gates I need, I considered all possibilities. What if my son went sleepwalking in the night? Would I be happy if he left his bedroom? If he did, is there a room that I prefer for him not to go? Are there any rooms in the house that I do not want him to go into even if he is awake?
I opted for 3 stair gates. One for the bottom of the stairs, one for the top, and one for his bedroom. That may be overkill but hey, I am all about safety!
Glass Objects
Always ensure you clear away glass objects, so they cannot be smashed or used as missiles!
When I enter the home of a friend, I stalk the living room to see what is easily breakable. The most common items are all made of glass, which is especially true if they do not have any children.
Have a look throughout your home for any glass objects that your toddler can reach up and grab. If there are any objects, then you can bet your bottom dollar they will be broken within weeks!
A toddler proof home must not have objects that can be used as missiles!
Batteries
Any battery can cause serious health concerns when swallowed, especially button batteries.
It is extremely important that you do not let children play with batteries or any devices where batteries are easily accessible.
If your toddler swallows a battery, they could end up with severe burns in their throat or stomach, or even worse they could die from their injuries.
I always store batteries on a top-shelf. Sure, I get some complaints when my wife cannot reach them but it is better to be safe than sorry, right?
Blind Cords
To keep a Toddler safe from strangulation, always use the safety catch for blinds.
This is not simply cords which are attached to blinds, there are many household items that have a cord attached to them which could cause an accident where your toddler is strangled. It doesn’t bear thinking about!
Most blinds already have a safety item which needs to be installed with the cord to ensure that it will not strangle anybody. Use it. Always install it.
Take some time to check through your home to identify any loose cords which can be reached by your toddler and secure them, or remove them completely.
Fairy Lights
Cheap fairy lights have been known to cause fires. Switch them off at bedtime.
Fairly lights are pretty, and my wife has a mild obsession with them, but they can be dangerous if they are not secured or stored correctly.
For a start, your toddler will be attracted to the pretty lights and may decide to wrap them around their neck. See above, I do not need to tell you how dangerous that can be.
I always ensure every fairly light is switched off before retiring to bed! It is worse around the Christmas period, where it can take some time to go through them all!
Picture Frames Falling
Falling photo frames can hurt if they fall on your Toddlers head.
This one is unlikely to happen however, it is something that I thought about some time ago. It is a potential hazard and something that you really should prepare for, just in case.
I first noticed this when my wife decided to create a photo wall. Exactly 2 hours after the decision, she had put up over 20 photographs on the wall, all inside photo frames. I must admit, it looked good then, and it looks better now that we have added more as time has progressed.
A few days after the initial set up, my son was playing underneath the photo wall and bashed into it, as these boisterous male toddlers do, right? Immediately after impact, the wall shook and I thought some of the frames were going to tumble down onto my sons head. They didn’t…but they could have!
When placing photo frames on the wall, always ensure that you put the frames up correctly. Secure them to the wall. My wife used 1 nail for each frame, which was not enough. I secured the frames by adding 2 screws into the wall.
When you want to toddler-proof your house, it is these little things that you need to notice, along with the big things that everyone knows about!
Sharp Objects
Sharp objects can hurt if your toddler falls over with one in your hand.
Pens, pencils, needles…sharp objects are commonplace in most homes, but it is only when you have a toddler to control that you realize just how dangerous these objects can be!
Take a look around your home and make a note of all the sharp items that your toddler can reach. Now imagine your toddler picking it up and running down a hall, still not very steady on their feet. Does your stomach turn? Mine does just thinking about it.
Remove all sharp objects and place them high enough so they cannot be reached by Toddler’s hands.
As I look around now I can see sharp pencils and pens, along with a fork that somehow made it out of the cutlery drawer.
Cleaning Equipment
Always ensure that you store cleaning equipment out of reach!
If you want to toddler-proof your home then somewhere near the top of the list should be moving all cleaning equipment, especially the Bleach! Each year, 25,000 Children attended hospital after ingesting poison.
I simply moved everything to a storage unit at head height (that’s my head, not my sons). I do not want him to reach them, and now he cannot.
Alcohol
Hide your alcohol! Because it would be such a waste if someone else drank it!
It is second only to cleaning equipment, there is also another liquid that you do not want your toddler drinking. Mostly because it will make them poorly, but also because you do not want them to drink YOUR alcohol, right?
Store alcoholic beverages well away from your toddlers reach. Again, I suggest moving them high enough so they cannot reach.
Bed Falls
Ensure that you protect your Toddler from falling out of bed with a bed guard.
Bed falls are very common with toddlers because they literally DO NOT stop moving when they are asleep. You would have thought they would have burnt all of their energy running around all day, right?
A bed guard is an important tool in your quest for toddler proofing your home.
They are easy to install and easy to use. You can be sure that your toddler will not fall out with a bed guard in place. Plus it means you get more quality sleep because it is one thing that you do not have to worry about!
Conclusion
Toddler proofing your home is either something that you learn over time, or it is something that you take advice on. In this post, I have run through the common ways of ensuring your house is toddler-proof and much safer than an average house for your toddler to play in.
When we are visiting friends I usually have one pass through each of the rooms my son is likely to play in, removing various objects that he will hurt himself on. It is even more of a challenge when we visit friends who do not have children!
It happens every time I get a screwdriver or a hammer out! My Son wants to use it…
The first time it happened, I used it as an excuse to NOT do the DIY job I was given. Boy did I call that badly…I had holes in the walls, and scratches on the floor! He needed his own DIY kit, and it needs to be tough enough to be used by a Toddler, but not tough enough to make holes in my walls! Here I take a look at the best 5 DIY toys for Toddlers.
This DIY tool toy bench has 120 pieces, which is too many to mention all of them in this post! But here is a rundown of the most important tools in this toy DIY kit:
Saw
Nuts
Bolts
Screwdriver
Hammer
Safety Glasses
Pliers
…and much more!
Let’s begin with the DIY bench. The most important thing here is the bench needs to be sturdy because Toddlers will be leaning all over it. If it is a flimsy build, then it will soon become yet another pile of toys on your Toddler’s floor.
You will be pleased to know that the build quality of the Choi’s DIY Toy Bench is excellent! It is extremely sturdy and clearly built by people who totally understand just how destructive a Toddler can be.
You will need some batteries for the drill by the way…
I love the color theme of this DIY Toddler toy, although you may recognize the branding if you have a keen eye!
When a Toddler is choosing a toy, they are first attracted to colorful objects, which makes the bright yellow the perfect choice.
I mentioned early about the danger of ending up with a pile of toys on the floor, but there is no need to fear with Choi’s DIY Toy Bench because it can be packed away easily, ready to carry to another DIY location. This is easily one of the best construction toys for Toddlers!
This toy is the beginning of a full-on building set!
The Think Gizmos DIY Pretend Play Set has 40 items, but it is still too many to list here!
A basic rundown is:
Drill
Screwdriver
Hammer
Wrench
Pliers
Nuts
Bolts
…and much more!
Similar to the Choi’s DIY bench above, the Think Gizmo option also has a battery-powered drill, which is going to be the most popular tool that your Toddler will want to play with! I would put money on that…
In terms of portability, this DIY toy comes with a carry case so your Toddler can march around the house looking for various things to fix, or break further!
This Think Gizmo DIY toy is well built and definitely strong enough to stand up to Toddler play time.
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3+ (There are some small bolts)
Melissa and Doug pride themselves on providing a wide range of well-built toys aimed at developing your Child’s motor skills. The Take-Along Tool Kit is no different.
What stands out most about the Take-Along tool kit is that it is built from wood, which offers slightly better build quality than those made from plastic, but heavy play may damage the wood.
The Take-Along Tool Kit has a functional toolbox, which already has pre-drilled holes that your Toddler can use to practice using the nuts and bolts that come with the kit.
You may have also noticed that I rate Melissa and Doug toys very highly! In fact, I have recommended the Lock and Roll set in my search for the best lock and key toys!
Here is another awesome toy workbench that is easily packed away to be carried over to the next important DIY task!
Filled with 12 toy tools, your Toddler will be fascinated with how they all work and what they can do with each.
The drill will need batteries, and as I mentioned above, this will be the most used tools in the set, so load up on batteries, because you are going to need them!
In terms of price, this workbench offers the best value for money. When compared with the Choi’s DIY Toy Bench, there are certainly fewer toys but the build quality is the same. That is extremely important when your Toddler is going to be playing with it, right?
The only other difference is the manufacturer’s minimum age recommendation. This DIY toy is recommended for 2+, which allowed a smaller Toddler to begin learning about DIY and construction!
It is an excellent starter kit to develop your Childs interest in DIY and construction. It does not include items such as nuts and bolts, which are key to developing fine motor skills, but it is awesome for them to use these while you get on with the real DIY!
All items can be carried inside the toolbox to the next important DIY task, and the build quality is excellent.
I had to put this as an option, simply because it has a lower minimum age, which makes it great for smaller Toddlers.
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 2+
Why a Toddler WILL LOVE A DIY Construction Toy Kit
Let me begin by naming just some of the skills that a DIY toy can develop in your Toddler:
Personally, I rate DIY construction toys as the best way to improve hand-eye coordination, simply because Toddlers love playing with them, and the nuts and bolts require them to slow down and match up both items perfectly. Sure, there will be some frustration at first, as there always is when a Toddler cannot do something! The more they practice the better they will be, and they can then apply the same patience and coordination to other areas of life.
Ultimately, Toddlers want to do everything that a grown-up can. When they see a grown-up performing some DIY construction tasks, they will want to help, and the best way of getting them to keep quiet is to give them their own set of DIY tools to perform the same jobs that a grown-up is doing!
There are a few optional extras which you may want to consider when looking at DIY toys for Toddlers:
It is not simply the construction based DIY toys that grip a Toddlers attention. My Son spent hours as a Toddler playing with two other DIY based toys because he absolutely loves them:
It is well worth considering both of those as an option too, although there is a common theme for both of those, and that is a working drill!
Conclusion
If you are looking for DIY toys for a Toddler, then this page has identified 5 of the best, and 5 that will suit any budget.
You can go for a full-on workbench, or simply opt to go for a smaller toolbox. Either one will be absolutely adored by a Toddler!
There are three things to bear in mind though:
Teach your Toddler to pack the items away after use (I know, easier said than done!)
Watch how they use the tools, and make sure they are not doing anything dangerous with them!
Always check the manufacturer’s recommended age.
Take the opportunity to teach them how to use tools correctly. Have a goal in mind too! My Son wanted to use the real tools, and I promised him a small turn only when he had learned to use his tools first. That was clearly a bribe to help develop his motor skills a little more.
If your toddler is anything like mine, then they will have a fascination with an emergency service of any kind! My Son has been through the Fire, Police, and Ambulance Service, with the Coastguard thrown in for good measure. Here we take a look at some of the best Fire Station toys for toddlers.
Anyway, onto the actual Fire Station toy! The Duplo Fire Station toy has some very exciting features:
Realistic flashing lights/siren
Fire Chief mini figures
Pop-up fire
Fire Truck
The Fire Station is easy to build (being Duplo, it always is!), and is a great way to introduce your toddler to the concept of building and creating their own toy.
Your toddler will spend hours popping up the fire in random places, before rushing the Fire Truck over to be the hero and save the day!
Also included in this kit is an adjustable ladder and a dog figure.
Please remember to put the Duplo away if it is being stored! I have stood on too many pieces to neglect that rule!
Made of non-toxic ABS material, the Happkid Fire Station has realistic lights and sounds, along with some other emergency service toys that your toddler can enjoy.
With the Happkid Fire Station you will receive:
Fire Station (with spinning pole)
Control Centre
Fire Truck
Police Motorcycle
Helicopter
Figures
Fire Station Entrance
Ambulance
Right from the off your toddler can immerse themselves with the roleplaying. As soon as the fire is reported, the fire chief can use the spinning pole to get to the fire truck or helicopter. After rushing to the scene of the fire, your toddler can use their imagination to bring in the rest of the emergency services to ensure the job is complete!
The Happkid Fire Station is an excellent opportunity for roleplaying, and may also drive your child’s future career options!
If there is one thing I remember from my toys as a child, it is the classic road/toy sets, just like this Toot-Toot Fire Station toy from Vtech!
Your toddler can use the many vehicles to navigate through the roads putting out the pop-up fires which are scattered around the track.
There are options to play with the helicopter, ambulance, or fire truck rescue vehicles.
Many toys such as this option are flimsy and break very easily, but you will be pleased to learn that the Vtech is extremely well built. It is clear that the manufacturers understand just how destructive a toddler can be!
In terms of sounds (to keep your toddler entertained further), the Vtech has 2 sing-along songs and 6 melodies that are sure to get on your nerves!
The Vtech Fire Station can also be used to develop your toddlers motor skills as it comes with 6 interchangeable track pieces to spark their imagination.
Although there is no Fire Station that comes with this Duplo version, I had to put it on this list simply because it is Duplo! Let’s not forget that your toddler has an incredible imagination, so anything can be the Fire Station!
This Fire Truck is very easy to build, and I know I have mentioned it a few times on this post but building this Fire Truck will help to develop your toddler’s motor skills.
The best thing about this Fire Truck is the crane on the back which is adjustable and allows the Fire Chief to get to those hard to reach places when tackling a fire.
As the recommended age is 2+, I highly recommend this as an awesome fire truck toy for toddlers! They will have hours of play with this rescue vehicle.
Along with the Fire Truck, you will also receive a pop-up fire and a window. I am not sure why the window is included…but I am not the one with an incredible imagination!
I have covered this toy in my post about lock and key toys for toddlers, but as it has a fire truck and fire station, it had to be on here too.
Toddlers absolutely love playing with locks and keys, almost as much as they love hiding the keys so you will never find them again! Mental note – always put the key away when they have finished playing…
Melissa and Doug is renowned for creating fun, educational toys for toddlers.
Along with the Fire Station and truck, this toy also comes with a Police car and an Ambulance. The toy has a sturdy carry handle which can be used to transport it with ease.
The vehicles are very well made and glide across the floor with ease (a huge plus for those who do not want their floor damaged!).
Recommended Age: 3+
Why a Toddler WILL LOVE Fire Station Toys
Toddlers love roleplay, especially when it comes to emergency services!
Roleplaying an emergency service is very rewarding and allows your toddler to flex their troubleshooting muscle whilst also playing the hero.
A Fire Station toy, along with the additional items will give a toddler many scenarios to play through, and considering their imagination they will never run out. Most of the toy options on this page also include mini-figures, a Fire Truck, and a pop-up fire. Your toddler will spend hours pretending to respond to various fire emergencies.
Not only is a Fire Station an excellent toy from an imagination point of view, but it will also begin to teach your toddler to respect the services and the people working for them. It will also begin to build cause and effect relationships.
Conclusion
If I were looking for a Fire Station Toy for a toddler then any of the options of this page are an excellent choice!
When looking for a new toy, always consider what your toddler is already into.
My Son loves Lego/Duplo and spends a lot of time playing with figures. For this reason, I put the Lego Duplo Fire Station toy at the top. Your toddler might be different, so take a look through all of the options and decide which one is better suited.
There are many toys that my son keeps going back to, time and time again. He loves rescue vehicle toys, and digger toys too!
