Parents often stay concerned about kids and this is a feeling which is quite apparent. However, the concern goes a bit higher when the baby turns a toddler. At this stage, most parents find themselves dealing with some major issues in regards to toddlers’ health and behavior.
To ease your life a bit, we have got for you this list of 6 common toddler parenting issues and their best possible solutions. If you feel you happen to be stuck with any of these, just read on to know how you can make the further move.
Check these out:
1. Proper nutrition: This stands to be the prime concern among all new parents. Till now, your baby’s sole source of nutrition was mother’s milk. But now that he turn a year old, it’s time to introduce him to different other food types and help him get the needed nutrition for growth from other food sources too. Parents fail to understand how much the toddler needs to be fed with and how his nutritional needs will be fulfilled.
Solution: Your little one is yet to master the art of eating and his diet isn’t going to be anything like yours. You will need to serve him with different types of fruits and vegetables but all in a very small amount; however, at regular intervals. Milk will still be a part of his diet but avoid full fat milk. Limit fruit juice and focus more on whole fruit eating. Make sure fruits and veggies are smashed well so that they don’t cause any choking problem.
2. Fussy Eating: It’s hardly been a while that your toddler is exploring the food world around and you notice that he is already being very picky about foods. Picky eating is an extremely common thing among toddlers and a big time worry for the parents.
Solution: First of all, you need to see if your toddler is going upright. If his body growth is all fine, you don’t necessarily need to worry about his diet. In general, when dealing with picky eaters, you will have to be a little creative and on your feet all the time. Experiment with different food types, serve them food in some attractive dishes, allow your child to feed himself as it’s likely to hold his interest.
3. Protecting the right way: With the toddler becoming more and more mobile and active with each passing day, parents live with an uncertainty about the little one’s safety. This is because the child now can move around the whole house and might land up in some risky situation.
Solution: Keep your house fully child-proof. Check for every corner in the house and see if there’s any object like furniture that can cause any harm to your toddler. Electrical appliances, switch boards etc. must be looked for safety measures. Baby-proof all gadgets in the house.
4. Disciplining: Toddlers often tend to be cranky and it gets really difficult to manage them; especially when out in public. Parents worry thinking how the little ones can be disciplined without forcing upon rules on them or being harsh.
Solution: Disciplining must surface at this stage. You will have to ensure that you make some behavioral rules and help your toddler understand the same. Never yell at them as their little minds would never understand what has made you lose your temper. Be calm, patient and deal with them very lovingly.
5. Potty Training: Well, this is another of the issues that parents face with toddlers. Some toddlers show signs of potty training as they turn 18 months old, however; a lot many might not budge into the same and would be difficult to potty train.
Solution: You will have to be highly observant and see if the child is willing to undergo potty training. If you feel the child is not much willing, try using different potty training methods. It would be best if you can form a routine for the same as this will be helpful in training toddler mind.
6. Physical developments: The child is heading towards some major physical developments. Speech development, crawling, teething etc. will happen in the months to come. But it’s not necessary that every toddler will show same signs of development.
Solution: Your toddler may take time to develop his speech or attain any other physical development. There’s absolutely nothing to panic about and you must not compare your toddler’s growth to other kids of his age. Remember, every toddler grows at a different rate. Instead of panicking, you can always consult your child’s health care provider and get to know if at all there exists any problem.
Life with a toddler will surely be a bit challenging as you will have a lot to cater to your little one’s growth needs. But being aware of the right facts, you will always be in a position to take the needed steps that will benefit your toddler for sure.