3 Transition Tips for Taking Your Baby to Toddler
Every parent knows that the transition from baby to toddler is full of adventure, and challenging times, but it is one of the most pivotal moments for your child’s development.
Navigating the joys and challenges of this period can help your baby make the next steps of growth and development in the smoothest way.
If you want to make sure that your baby embarks on a smooth transition into being a toddler, then check out these three essential tips.
1. Embrace their Growing Independence
Although toddlers are a fair distance away from being called teenagers, they will start to act like them pretty quickly.
Research has shown that babies’ brains grow to around 80% of their adult size by the age of three, and with the growing control of their motor skills, many toddlers will explore their environment by touching and tasting objects - even those you would rather they didn’t!
For this reason, once your toddler starts crawling and walking, their curiosity will soon expand to reaching for everything in sight around them. To combat this, build a safe environment where they can sit or lie, surrounded by objects they can safely explore without being in danger of choking or trapping their fingers.
For example, you can keep your toddler entertained at the table by sealing textures like rice, dry spaghetti, and sugar into a transparent envelope that is secured to the table.
Toddlers can then explore textures without making a mess, but can have the freedom to move the foods around. You can also replicate this method with paint to teach your child about colours.
2. Prepare to Change their Bed
Between the ages of around 18 months and 3 years old, children will transition into their own small bed for the first time. This can be a daunting time for many parents, as children will often explore their new found freedom at bedtime.
When transitioning your toddler into their new bed, you might want to bear in mind that it’s a huge change for them, and many may find the idea of sleeping in a bed difficult to tolerate at first.
To help your child transition, you could get them involved in choosing their very first bed. Companies like Archers Sleep Centre offer a range of novelty children’s beds from a princess carriage, to a racing car. These can help to bring a bit of fun to your child’s bedroom, and give them the good night’s sleep they need.
3. Teach As They Explore
As toddlers become curious about the world around them, they may start to fixate on objects, or return to them repeatedly to explore texture, colour and size.
You can start introducing them to words associated with what they’re exploring with the help of tools like flashcards, which can help children to associate words with pictures.
When you make learning a game, not only will it create a fun activity, it can be a great way to make memories that will last you a lifetime.
Do you have any tips for preparing your baby for the transition into being a toddler? Leave your answer in the comments section below!