Some Common Mistakes to Avoid With Your Toddler – Parenting time

Mistake 1: Being Inconsistent
Toddlers do best when they know what to expect, whether it’s what time they bathe and go to bed or what consequences they’ll face for misbehaving. The more consistent and predictable things are, the more resilient and agreeable a toddler is likely to be.

Fix it: As much as you can, keep regular routines for your child. Consistency can be a challenge when parents (or other caregivers) don’t see eye to eye.

If you’re not sure how best to react when your child dumps food on the floor or ignores bedtime, sit down with your partner to decide ahead of time how you’ll both respond, and then stick with it.

Mistake 2: Overdoing Family Time
It’s fun to spend time with the whole family. But some parents go overboard on family time.

Kids love their parents attention but sometimes they do cherish time alone with one parent. One-on-one time is fun for parents too for bonding and creating memories as well as if they have siblings there won’t be any sibling rivalry to contend with.

Fix it: It’s easy to spend one-on-one time with a toddler. Even if it’s simply getting down on the floor together and playing. At bedtime, enjoy reading a book together or tell stories to your child.

Mistake 3: Offering Too Much Help
Some parents jump in to help a toddler who is having trouble doing something. Before you do, consider the possibility that helping your child complete a puzzle or put on a shirt may send the message that he or she can’t do it alone.
Sometimes is just our instinct of protection but they need to be encouraged to be self-reliant. In fact too much attention and putting him in a bubble is not a good thing, you are in fact sabotaging their capacity and creating low self-esteem.

Fix it: Teach children to tolerate struggle, at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with offering praise and encouragement. Be your child’s cheerleader, and say ‘You can do this!'”

Mistake 4: Talking Too Much
Talking with toddlers is usually a terrific idea, but not when it’s time to rein in errant behavior.

Imagine a mom has just said “no” to her 2-year-old’s request for a cookie. The child fusses. Mom explains that it’s supper time. The child grabs a cookie anyway. Mom takes it away and tries again to explain herself to her now tearful child. Back and forth it goes with mounting frustration on both sides.
Talking can lead to what I call the talk-persuade-argue-yell-hit pattern. Toddlers are not adults in a little body. They’re not logical, and they just can’t assimilate what you are saying to them.

Fix it: Once you tell your toddler to do something, don’t talk about it or make eye contact. If the child disobeys, give a brief verbal warning or count to three. If the child refuses to toe the line, give a time-out or another immediate consequence. No explaining. The more you talk, the more moments you will give them to contest you. Talking will mean to them that they have a change to turn you around.

Mistake 5: Serving Only Kiddie Food
Does your toddler seem to eat nothing but chicken fingers and fries? Are goldfish crackers the only fish he or she eats? As some parents realize too late, toddlers fed a steady diet of nutritionally iffy kid’s foods may resist eating anything else.
RJ eats about everything since I tarted weaning him at 4 months and a half. He even eats tuna or smoked salmon. So basically he eats everything I cook for us at home (minus the hot spices).
But there are some parents that are either afraid or don’t know what to give their kids to eat.
I do not encourage my son to eat when he doesn’t want. if he is hungry he will let you know. If you try to force him… it will create frustration and everyone will be angry or upset. Let him learn from you actions. You have food you can either eat or not… but if you don’t eat, I will not make a 10 course plate so you can try them all.

Fix it: Encourage your child to try “grown-up” fare. A good percentage of kids are willing to try a new food if they see mommy and daddy enjoying it.
If they push back, keep putting it on their plate. Some kids need to try things a dozen or more times before they take to it.

But don’t worry too much if your toddler is a picky eater. Most toddlers are, children love the fight over food. If we make a fuss about it, it becomes a much bigger deal than it needs to be. Don’t worry: as long as there’s something your child can eat on the plate. Do not allow yourself to become your child’s short-order cook

Mistake 6: Getting Rid of the Crib
Cribs do more than keep little ones safe. They promote good sleep habits.

A toddler moved too soon into a “real” bed may have trouble staying in bed or falling asleep and so may end up climbing into bed with mommy and daddy.

Some moms wear themselves out because they have to lie down with their child every night and they don’t realize they’re the ones who set the pattern.

Fix it: The time to get rid of the crib is when your child asks for a bed or starts climbing out of the crib. For most kids, that comes between the ages of 2 and 3 or when a child reaches a height of about 88cms (35 inches).

Mistake 7: Starting Potty Training Too Soon
Some parents cajole their children into using the toilet when they think it’s time and issue harsh reprimands when things go awry. That can lead to a power struggle and low self-esteem making them frustrated.

Fix it: Children learn to use the toilet when they’re ready, this process shouldn’t be rushed.

But you can set the stage. Show your toddler the toilet. Explain its use. If you feel comfortable doing so, let your child watch you use the toilet and offer praise if he or she gives it a whirl.

What if your child is still in diapers at age 4? Don’t worry, no child is ever going to go to college in diapers. 🙂

Mistake 8: Allowing Too Much Screen Time
Toddlers who watch lots of TV often have more trouble learning later on. And studies suggest that kids under the age of 2 can’t really take in what’s being displayed on TV and computer screens.

Fix it: Keep your toddler busy with reading and other creative pursuits. Have conversations and encourage talking as well as listening. Get creative with crayons and why not paint with them: you on your coloring book and him on his, so he can learn with you how to be creative.


Mistake 9: Trying to Stop a Tantrum
Some parents worry that an out-of-control child makes them seem like ineffectual parents. But all toddlers have tantrums. When they do, it’s pointless to try to talk them out of it, even if the drama is unfolding in front of company or in a public place,as an example: supermarket…

When we are in public and dealing with a child, we feel judged, we literally feel like there is a neon sign over our heads saying we are incompetent parents. But is not like that.

Fix it: We as parents must remember that the child matters more than the opinions of other people, especially strangers.

If people glare or offer unwanted advice, simply smile and say something like, “Gosh, do you remember what it was like?” Then scoop up the wailing child and find a place away from prying eyes for the tantrum to run its course. Once it does, offer the child a hug and go on with your day.

Do you see yourself in these mistakes?


Cheerio #parentingmistakes