Toddlers and Tantrums

As you child grows in confidence and independence, there comes the natural need to test boundaries and assert themselves.

Your toddler might have a screaming fit one minute and then be absolutely a sweet as pie the next. It can be as confusing as that and for parents it is sometimes difficult to know how to react. The best way is to be consistent with your behaviour and reactions as much as possible, and as difficult as it may be, try and stay clam no matter what they throw at you!

Eating

As you introduce new foods to your child, there are bound to be some that they don't like or refuse to try. There are some basic principles that may help you get through this time.

• Try and set a pattern for eating with regular mealtimes.
• Wherever possible, try and feed your child in the same place, somewhere comfortable and safe.
• Give your child small portions of simple, healthy food.
• A two-year-old won't know what they want to eat so don't ask them.
• Tell your child 'well done' when they finish their food. then offer more. Don't offer a completely different meal if the first choice is refused. Give tried and tested foods alongside anything that is new so that the meal looks familiar.
• Don't feed your child the same things the whole time - this will only cause problem in the future. If a child is introduced to a wide range of food as a toddler, they will be more adventurous with food in the future.
• Sit down and eat with your child. IF you eat with your child, it will be more enjoyable and takes all the attention off them which can cause them to play up. Share food between you and visibly enjoy your food in front of your child.
• It's fine to take some time over mealtimes, but don't prolong meals beyond 30 minutes or you'll all get bored!.
• Some treats such as chocolate or biscuits are fine occasionally as long as they're offered after a meal.
  

Sleeping

It's very common for toddlers to be difficult at bedtime. It's another area that they can test the boundaries of and test your patience and resolve. Like everthing else, it's good to try and remain calm and keep to the set routine as much as possible.

• Teach your child to fall asleep alone. Try and put your child to bed while they are still awake. If she/he gets too used to you always being there as they fall asleep, they won’t learn how to fall asleep on their own. This will cause problems later on.
• Set a bedtime routine. Get into the same routine every night, starting with a bath, then story time and then bed for example. Make sure your child knows that this is the routine so that they get used to it. You can always reassure your child that you are only in another room, but that they must go to sleep now.
• Don’t spend too long over bedtime. Toddlers will try and delay bedtime by various methods. You should try and stay firm and don’t let your child dawdle. There will be requests for water, another story, a trip to the loo, complaints that she/he is hungry and many more! Try and be prepared: have water ready for your child, take them to the toilet just before bedtime and make sure that you have already set the story limit and agreed this with your child. You can always tell them that whatever it is they want to do, they can do tomorrow as it is bedtime now.
• Give your child some choices. Toddlers are testing their independence all the time and it’s good to let them learn to decide some things. You can offer two or three choices for each thing such as which toys to have in the bath, which storybooks to read and which pyjamas to wear. That way, she/he makes a choice but it is within set limits which you control.
• Stay calm and be firm. Your child my cry or plead for you to let them do whatever they want to, but you must stay firm. Remember to speak calmly and quietly but be clear about the rules. If it becomes too much, ignore the behaviour as paying attention to her/him will only encourage it.