Did you know that toddlers sometimes regress and act like babies even if there is not an actual baby around the house? Whether the regression in your toddler’s behavior is due to the arrival of a sibling, a major change like a move, starting preschool or day care, a divorce, or even just simply feeling overwhelmed by being a big boy or a big girl it is perfectly normal. It is also okay for you to play along and baby your toddler by letting him or her drink water from a bottle, snuggle on your lap, have extra hugs and kisses, play with baby toys, or whatever other baby behaviors he or she has returned to. Playing along will not encourage the regressive behavior to continue, rather, your sensitive and nurturing response will help your toddler feel the safety and security that he or she was seeking in the first place. This reassurance, along with plenty of praise when your toddler does do big boy or big girl things will enable your toddler to bounce back to his or her big boy ways.
In our case, there is a new baby. Over the past week for a few times each day, I have been laying nine week old Blake down on a blanket for tummy time or time to wiggle around on his back. I carry him around in a baby sling for much of the day so that I can keep up with two and a half year old Dylan, and I think that it is important for Blake to spend some time outside of the sling in order to experiment with moving around. Ever since the first time that I put Blake down so that he could wiggle around, Dylan has wanted me to put another blanket on the floor so that he can wiggle like a baby.
The funny thing is, although Dylan likes to wiggle on a blanket like a baby and play with all of Blake’s toys instead of his own, he insists on wearing Pull – Ups. He discovered them a couple of weeks ago when a friend was visiting for a play date, and he will not wear diapers. Only Pull – Ups. He has not really started potty training yet, but he seems to be heading in that general direction because he will often though not always ask me to change him when he feels wet. I do indulge his requests for baby things because I want him to feel reassured, but I make sure to let him know that I am proud of him when he uses the potty or asks me to change him right away. It’s hard to leave the familiarity of babyhood behind and become a big boy or a big girl. If your toddler goes through a period of regression, try to respond sensitively. If, however, the regression persists for quite some time and you have a gut feeling that something is wrong check in with your pediatrician just to make sure that everything is okay.