Language Development in Toddlers

Two-year olds are generally talkers, though most of the time we do not even know what they’re saying. However, their words mean something to them. The toddler’s mind is ahead of their mouth literally. Their new motor skills are not coordinated with each other. In the mind of the toddler, all the words are right, but when they try to convert the thought to speech, gibberish comes out. Don’t worry if sometimes they sound like they are saying complete sentences in a foreign language. Most toddlers will gradually get better at forming their words in due time. To assess a … Continue reading →

Is Your Toddler Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Probably not… at least according to medical experts. A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals that at least 40% of American infants and toddlers aren’t getting enough vitamin D. What’s more, the study also found that there has been an increase in the number of rickets (a vitamin D deficiency disease) cases in several states in the last few years. Doctors say millions of American children are vitamin D deficient and that number is likely to increase if parents don’t start adjusting their kids’ diet or modifying their schedules to allow toddlers to spend … Continue reading →

Medicine Cabinets and Toddlers

What’s in your medicine cabinet? If you have a toddler, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of items you should have stocked in your medicine cabinet, including: Thermometer: Pediatricians recommend that you invest in a rectal thermometer, as it provides the most accurate readings. However, most doctors also realize that many parents are weary of using one, so they suggest taking your toddler’s temperature in a way that you feel most comfortable. Be warned, though, digital ear thermometers are notoriously inaccurate. What’s more, trying to cajole a sick tot into holding an oral thermometer under his tongue or … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Lyme Disease

Tis the season to be looking for deer ticks. Now is the time to educate yourself about the dangers of Lyme disease, so your toddler’s romp in the woods doesn’t end up in a trip to the hospital. Lyme disease is an extremely painful condition that can affect a person’s skin, joints, nervous system, and other organs. Symptoms, and their severity, can vary from person to person, but if left untreated the disease can prove deadly. Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is not transmitted from person to person, and the risk of a child contracting the disease is minimal, … Continue reading →

Encouraging Your Toddler to Talk

When my daughter was a baby I spent countless hours encouraging her to say new words. Now I can’t get her to stop talking. EVER. Still, I don’t regret a single second I spent reading to her, sounding out words or simply describing each item we encountered during our walks through the neighborhood. If you are looking for ways to encourage your toddler to express himself through words, then consider the following tips: Nix the baby talk: Use real words. Don’t confuse your toddler with made up baby talk or weird sounds. Instead, use adult language in a pleasing tone. … Continue reading →

Decorating Tips for a Toddler’s Room

When my daughter was a toddler she was obsessed with Blue’s Clues. However, I refused to wallpaper her room with a blue dog I knew she would lose interest in by her third birthday. Still, I wanted to spruce up her bedroom with something associated with her beloved animated character. The solution: A large felt board ala Freddie the Felt Frame Boy. Not wanting to drop a bundle on a pre-made felt board I decided to make my own by visiting a craft store and purchasing an extra large foam board, which I covered with felt myself. I then bought … Continue reading →

New Products That Help You Keep Track of Your Toddler

Did you know that more than 2,000 children in the United States are reported missing each day? What’s more, during the summer months, studies show that number increases by 10 percent. I’ll never forget the gut-wrenching moment when I was in the grocery store with my toddler rearranging items in my shopping cart to accommodate a case of bottled water. When I turned around my daughter was gone and I experienced terror like I had never known before. Fortunately, she had only toddled a few feet away and I found her happily squatting behind a life-sized cut out of the … Continue reading →

Ways to Engage Your Toddler

How much time did you spend playing with your toddler today? Childhood development experts recommend that parents spend at least a couple of hours a day engaging their toddler in meaningful activities. If you failed to make your one-on-one quota today, then consider incorporating these simple toddler activities into your schedule tomorrow: BLOCKS Toddler activities don’t have to be expensive or complicated. If you are short on time, then grab some basic blocks and start building structures with your toddler. Another idea is to use the blocks to make patterns. This requires some concentration on your toddler’s part, so plan … Continue reading →

Simple Toddler Activities

It doesn’t take a ton of money or fancy toys to engage your toddler. With a little planning and a lot of imagination you can make toddler play time a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Here are some simple activities to get you started: USE YOUR EARS Take advantage of the beautiful summer weather and head outside with your toddler to exercise her hearing. Spread out a big towel or blanket in your yard and sit down with your toddler. Have her close her eyes and listen carefully. After a minute or so as her what she could hear, then … Continue reading →

Why You Should Keep Your Toddler’s Picture in Your Wallet

According to a new study, it’s not so that you can show off your tot’s adorably chubby cheeks to family and friends, or to have in case she gets lost at the grocery store and you need a photo to provide to police. Rather, researchers found that if you lose your wallet you have a better chance of getting it back if you have pictures of your young children in it. Recently, a team of scientists dropped 240 wallets in the streets of Scotland, with an even number of the following photos clearly visible: a smiling toddler, a cute puppy, … Continue reading →