Random Observation/Comment #611: When did my cute baby become a mad (but still cute) toddler?
Why This List?
It happens slowly with signs of defiance and then all at once – your crawling & cooing infant has become a running & screaming toddler. It’s still extremely enjoyable and immensely rewarding, but very different. I’ve been putting together some personal toddler management strategies and ways to make sure years 1 to 3 are filled with important learning, but before sharing that I think we need to know when you have a toddler.
- Speaking: Repeat of random words and better understanding of context
- Speaking: Repeat of words you do not want her to repeat due to reactions
- Phrases: Words like “more”, “uh-oh”, and “all done” get cuter and cuter
- Phrases: Words like “no” and “stop” will be used for everything
- Crying: Babies cry. Newborns cry. Infants cry. Toddlers cry.
- Crying: Toddlers also whine and fake cry. It’s a thing.
- Eating: Ability to not just eat puree foods, but lots of other goodies
- Eating: Ability to throw everything off their high chair if they don’t like something
- Chewing: Ability to chew larger chunks
- Chewing: Ability to ignore chewing and shove all smaller chunks you cut into their mouths
- Teeth: Lots more teeth and gnawing on things
- Teeth: Random fevers and sleep regression
- Teeth: Teeth-brushing and all the joys of figuring out what works
- Eating Preferences: Love of different tastes and curiosity on trying new things you’re eating
- Eating Preferences: Hate of different tastes and stubbornness to try something again that looks similar
- Moving: Less crawling and more walking
- Moving: Sometimes less walking and more falling
- Learning: Love of puzzles and buckles to see how it works
- Learning: Love of taking everything apart
- Learning: Sponge-like ability to soak up everything with more abstract areas like colors and shapes
- Reading: Helping you turn pages and follow along with pictures
- Reading: Losing interest and just wanting to take out all the books
- Sleeping: Some sleep regression is normal during teething
- Sleeping: If you use the “cry it out method”, let’s just hope you have forgiving neighbors
- Manipulation: I don’t get what I want, so I’m going to cry
- Manipulation: If I sit down and cry, you will probably pick me up. You are weak. You love me.
- Manipulation: If I play with dirty shoes while you’re cooking then you will stop cooking and pay attention to me.
- Manipulation: If I wriggle like a worm while you strap me into the stroller, you will give me a cookie to calm me down
- Manipulation: If I grab your glasses then you’ll know I’m hungry or sleepy or uncomfortable or anxious around people or gassy or generally unhappy (check all of those)
- Smiles and Laughs: Much more of these
~See Lemons with a Toddler
