All the Single Fathers
Toddlerhood (1 to 3 years)
Development
Nutrition
Health and Sickness
Safety
Your toddlers are probably getting the hang of walking and may have even started zooming around the house! It is crucial to childproof your home. Some tips about child proofing were talked about under the "Safety" tab on the Infant section. Here are some more tips when baby proofing your home for you rambunctious toddlers!
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Instal locking latches on cabnet doors
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Make sure the water heater temperature is turned to a safe level
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Keep balloons and plastic bags away from children
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Use anti-tip brackets to stabilize any frnature
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Is it safe to use hand-me-down baby gear?
Depends. Most of the time it is safe to assume no. However, if it had been in use recently, it should be ok. Always check for missing or broken pieces. If any part is missing or broke, do NOT use it! Usually baby gear will have "best-by" dates on them. All though the furniture doesn't expire like food, it is probably a good idea for your child's safety to buy new updated gear.
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Bathing
Under no circumstances should you ever leave your child unsupervised around water!!
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Pets
No matter how much you trust your pet, never leave your child and pet unsupervised alone. The baby could unintentionaly annoy the pet, causing the pet to hurt the baby.
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Car safety
Now is a good time to also teach your child about how to safely act around cars. Teach them to never play in the street and not to walk in front of cars. They might not understand why at first, but this is a good lesson to start teaching them. Also, as your child grows make sure they are secured in the correct car seat!
You will need to talk to your child's physician for your specific child's nutritional needs. For this stage in life, it is important you begin teaching your child healthy habits. This will affect the rest of their lives! Some good habits to give your child is learning to eat together at the dinner as a family, making healthy choices, and also getting them use to a schedule.
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Hazards
Toddlers can still easily choke on pieces of food. It is important that their food is still cut up into small enough pieces. Here are some of the foods they should not eat at this age:
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Whole hot dogs
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Gum
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Chunks of peanutbutter
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raw carrots or celery
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Whole grapes
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Seeds
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Round hard candies
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Raw cherries with pits
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Keep in mind, these are only some of the foods that should not be eaten by a toddler.
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Your child's diet should contain the following:
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Meat, fish, poultry, eggs
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Milk, cheese, and other dairy products like yogurt
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Fruits and vegetables
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Cereals, potatoes, and rice
Bumps and Bruises
Toddlers who are just understanding how to walk are going to fall and accumulate many bumps and bruises along the way. Most of these are of no concern. They will go away on their own. If swelling and pain persists, see your physician.
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Common Illnesses
As your child begins to socialize more and be around other kids and adults, they might begin catching common illnesses like the cold more often. some common illnesses are ear infections and colds. If your child gets sick, seek help from your physician. Teach your child to wash their hands and cover their nose/mouth when sneezing or coughing.
Their Tiny Teeth
As their teeth continue to grow, this is a great time to teach them good dental hygiene. Starting off, feel free to help them. They will not be good at brushing their teeth at first, but all it takes is a little practice! You should use non-fluoride toothpaste, because your toddler does not yet understand to spit out the toothpaste. A child should see a dentist around their first birthday.
