No one said parenting would be easy. It is difficult from the start, but some days are way harder than others. I think most parents would agree, that magical age twelve and twenty-four months is the most complicated. It’s also when a huge level of a toddler’s development happens.
One Mom exclaimed to me, “Some days it seems the only word I utter is NO! I don’t want to be that parent, but when our toddler begins eating the cat’s food out of the bowl, or painting the walls with his poop, the word explodes out of my mouth before I can stop it.” Any parent of a toddler gets it.
Still, experts keep suggesting happier ways to foster your toddler’s development, independence and curiosity. It starts with rest, nutrition, and activity and we’re going to share some of those tips.
Rest Rhythms
Regarding your toddler’s rest, the consistency and quantity of it can be the secret to an even tempered, happy toddler. You may have noticed tantrums on the day after your toddler got to bed late. It happens. Maybe you were on the trails or at the beach and got home late. But toddlers still need between 11 and 14 hours of rest according to the sleep foundation. Around twelve to eighteen months old, your toddler may be ready to transition to a shorter nighttime sleep, and a nap during the day. You will know, by the way they stay awake, chat to themselves, get fidgety, or cry at normal bedtime. Instead of a morning and afternoon nap, they may be ready for one nap right after lunchtime.
Nutrition for Your Toddler’s Development
WebMD reminds us that toddlers need about 1000 calories a day from a balance of food groups. They aren’t growing as much as they did when they were infants. They are developing those motor skills and cognitive skills. Sammy’s Milk is a blend of nutritious ingredients for healthy development in toddlers.
The Sammy’s Milk nutrition begins with Goat Milk, which is easier for undeveloped digestive systems to break down and absorb than Cow’s Milk. Goat cheese is also higher in vitamins, including vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, and calcium and phosphorus. This ingredient is so popular around the world, that even with the US lagging far behind, 65% of the world consumes goat milk as it’s primary dairy source. We love the goat milk advantage for toddlers, but we think the variety of other healthy ingredients deserves some attention too.
We use fish oil sourced from wild caught fishing. This supplies omega oils so important for brain development and heart health. Avocado oil is a powerhouse of antioxidants & oleic acid which is a monounsaturated fatty acid. It is high in lutein, which is a carotenoid that’s naturally found in your eyes. Avocado also contains Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Fiber and small amounts of magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus and vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).
In Sammy’s Milk, methylated vitamins ensure easy digestion by developing tummies. Then we add a little molasses with its benefits of iron, vitamin B6, magnesium and even calcium. Each ingredient in our formula is purposeful, but none are for chemical preservation. Our ingredients are from natural sources and Sammy’s Milk formula is pediatrician approved.
Once infants become toddlers, the USDA recommends adding in solid foods. Bite sized pieces should be easy for toddlers to pick up with their fingers. Remove seeds and pits from fruits and cook vegetables until soft. Any food for toddlers should be cut into pieces no larger than ½ inch to avoid choking hazards.
Encouraging Healthy Toddler Activities
Every child has their own activity pace, and it needs to be respected. Still, you can encourage activity. Here are just a few ideas to try. After you babyproof your home, you use pillows to make safe obstacle courses for baby to navigate. (Try not to yell when they want to run the opposite direction). When you read a story, allow your child to turn the pages of the book, even if it means skipping whole sections.
Use videos that encourage movement. One of these videos, Dr. Jean’s Banana Dance, aka The Guacamole song is a weird favorite with kids. Preschool teacher friends have told me the easy movement and song helps kids burn off the fidgets. I’m sure there are other videos you will discover. The idea is to encourage movement, without forcing it.
Those are today’s tips on toddler’s development. Every day during the toddler phase children seem to show off brand new skills and growth. This article is just about giving them the tools to do that without losing your sanity. Stay cool out there toddler parents, and keep stocking the Sammy’s Milk.
