Although some might want their baby to remain perfectly tiny forever, time marches on for all of us, which means that you should expect the changes that are going to come as a result. There are perhaps no changes that feel quite as drastic to new parents as when your baby becomes a toddler, with the transition into the teens being second. There’s a lot that can change, and, as such, it’s important to know what you can prepare and how you need to be ready, so let’s explore some of those changes.
Independence At Last
When your baby becomes a toddler, you’re going to start noticing that, rather than clinging to you 24/7, they’re going to want to do a lot more without help. From feeding themselves to choosing their own clothes and walking without being carried, not only will they want to do more themselves, but they may actively deny your involvement.
Don’t take it personally, however, but offer safe and toddler-free options for them, such as a safe chair that’s easy for them to climb into or a spoon to eat their own dinner. This independence is a healthy developmental stage for them, and by helping pave the way for success, rather than doing it for them, it boosts their confidence and encourages them to try being more independent with more things.
This can be especially important leading up to their time at school.
The Tantrums Are Coming
We call them the “terrible twos,” but, in reality, it counts for most three-year-olds, too. As their brains develop, toddlers experience emotions much more intensely than they did as babies, but haven’t yet learned how to regulate them. As such, expect things to get loud, whether they’re frustrated, excited, disappointed, or otherwise. And don’t forget the tears.
Tantrums are common because their language and coping skills haven’t caught up with their feelings yet. A calm response from you models emotional regulation and helps them feel safe. Offering comfort without giving in to unreasonable demands teaches boundaries.
Don’t be surprised that their emotional volatility can affect you, as well. Have some stress-relief techniques at the ready to keep things on an even keel.
Look Who’s Talking
Although the exact timing differs from child to child, most toddlers are going to start exploring and learning language at an explosive rate compared to when they were babies. You might be surprised to find new words popping up all the time, and full thoughts and sentences developing very quickly, as well.
As your toddler becomes better at expressing needs, wants, and their observations, you should help that skill develop. Narrate your daily activities, read together, and listen carefully when they’re chatting, responding when you understand what they’re saying, so that they start to naturally see and explore the benefits of communication.
Watching your child learn to speak has the benefit of you discovering their personality and individuality, so it’s definitely worth helping it along.
The Big Bedtime Transition
One of the biggest changes in your child’s routine as they reach toddlerhood is when they move from a cot or crib into a bed. This typically happens between 18 months and 3 years. It’s wise to prepare as best as you can for this with a bed that fits a twin mattress for kids and a guard rail to make sure that their space is more age-appropriate while still staying safe.
You can make the transition more gradual, helping them explore the bed during the day before they spend the night in it. Using familiar bedding can help maintain some level of comfort, as even something like a new bed can be a pretty intimidating change for a growing toddler.
The Seemingly Endless Energy
You are practically guaranteed to, at some point, wonder if your toddler is ever going to stop. As their muscles grow and their coordination improves, they are going to run, climb, jump, and dance. While this means they can be a lot more fun and explore more freely, it also means that you have to step up the safety efforts throughout the home.
Child-proofing measures like baby gates, anchored furniture, and childproofing are still essential. Physical play not only builds strength but also supports cognitive and emotional development, so you should expect that the more they play, the more lucid and thinking they seem at the same time.
Your child’s role is to explore play and grow as much as they can; your role is to enable as much as is safe and to protect them when they might try pushing the boundaries too far, too fast.
They’re Going To Have Their Own Opinions
Alongside that growing sense of independence, you’re going to see something resembling real preferences and opinions from your child as they develop more of their self-awareness. They’re going to have their own likes and dislikes when it comes to food, clothes, toys, and parts of their daily routine.
This might mean that they suddenly turn on something that has been a part of their normal everyday life for months or years, and stand-offs can become common. The best way to manage them is to have options at the ready. If they don’t want to drink from their red cup, perhaps their blue cup would be better?
You don’t need to cede control entirely, but now is where you start picking your battles. Get used to that, it’s going to continue for years.
Becoming Social Creatures
Another clear transition happens in how toddlers play with others. Babies and those just starting to get into toddlerhood tend to prefer solitary exploration of their toys and environment. As they get older, they tend to enjoy parallel play more, which means playing near other children but not exactly with them.
Finally, they will start playing more cooperative games, and it’s important to help them build these social skills with gentle guidance, lessons on kindness, and giving them plenty of opportunities to play with others their age.
From baby to toddler is a pretty big jump, indeed, and if it catches you off guard, then you can find yourself on the back foot, overwhelmed, and uncertain how to handle it. Keep the tips above in mind and be ready for some changes.
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