Diet:
·
Offer a variety of healthy table foods diced into small pieces.
Let your child feed himself with a utensil or fingers. 1 tbsp
of food per year of age is a fair measure. He should be
exclusively using a cup.
·
Avoid giving any large pieces of food, raw carrots or celery,
chips, popcorn, nuts, seeds, whole grapes, or hot-dogs that your
toddler may choke on.
·
Growth in toddlers is sporadic and their appetites follow.
Expect appetite slumps and food jags (preference for the same
foods at every meal). Do not force your toddler to eat. Meals
should not be a battleground. Offer healthy choices. Limit fatty
foods, sweets and juice intake. No sticky fruit snacks!
·
During these appetite slumps, do not play short order cook and
prepare another meal in hopes your toddler will eat it. Wait
until the next meal to feed him. Make sure she comes to the
table for meals and is offered whatever foods the family is
eating.
·
Your toddler should drink 16-20 oz. of 2% milk each day. Too
much milk can lead to picky eating.
·
Multivitamins may be used if your toddler’s diet is consistently
inadequate.
·
If you have a family history of food allergies, please consult
our office before introducing foods that contain peanuts.
Sleep:
·
A regular bedtime routine is very important to
toddlers. The average toddler sleeps 13 hours per day.
·
Most toddlers take 1 nap per day. If your toddler is resistant
to the nap, it is still important to have a quiet period of rest
at a scheduled time each day.
Development:
(24-30 months):
·
Runs, jumps in place, walks up & down stairs, throws a ball
overhand, dresses with help, brushes teeth with help, may turn
pages of a book one at a time.
·
Puts 2 or more words together, speech becoming more
intelligible, may count to 3 or know a few ABC’s, follows
two-step commands, recognizes colors, shapes, animals by
pointing in a book, may ask a caregiver to read a book
·
Uses spoon/fork, uses cup, opens a door, makes or imitates a
horizontal/vertical line with a crayon, stacks 5 or 6 blocks,
may imitate food preparation or cleaning the house!
·
May go up and down stairs one step at a time, kick a ball, and
jumps up
·
A
little more social with other children (still parallel play),
plays pretend games, talks on phone
·
Listen to your child and expand on his language. Use well formed
sentences that use his words. Read to your child. Express
emotion in your reading! Many toddlers like the same book over
and over again! Ask your child to point to pictures of objects,
animals, or people on the page. Many children need time at this
age to respond without pressure.
·
Pretend play. Play hospital, zoo, store, barber shop,
restaurant, or airport with your child. Use puppets. These
activities help build creativity and help your child with life
situations.
Safety:
·
Your child is ready to be taught simple rules about safety and
behavior in the family, but is only beginning to be able to
follow them. Ensure the safety of the environment for your
toddler. Provide gentle reassurance, calmly and consistently
maintain limits despite repeated tantrums, and reinforce
positive behaviors will help develop healthy self-confidence and
social skills.
·
Lock cabinets and keep cleaners, medications, plastic bags, and
small objects away from your toddler. Secure blind cords and use
wall mounted stair gates. Install 2nd floor window
gates.
·
Burns, falls, choking, drowning, and poisonings are still the
biggest hazards in your toddler’s environment.
·
In case of accidental ingestion or poisoning or for free poison
prevention information, call the Illinois Poison Center at (800)
222-1222.
·
Use a properly fitted bicycle helmet if you take your toddler on
a bike ride. Wear a helmet too!
·
Bubble baths are not recommended-they are associated with
urinary tract infections.
Other Things to Keep in Mind:
·
It is now time to schedule the first dental visit.
·
Use a small soft toothbrush and a dab of fluoridated toothpaste
to clean your toddler’s teeth everyday.
·
Use television to its best advantage. Limit its use to good
programs and spend more time as a family. Read books to your
toddler everyday.
·
Use PABA-free sunscreen with SPF
≥15.
·
Your toddler loves peer interaction but may find it very
difficult to share. According to him, the world revolves around
ME! Toddlers learn by watching their caregivers. Encourage
courteous behavior by becoming a “sharing role model”. Don’t
expect your 2 year old to sit for circle reading time.
Potty Training:
·
Signs of readiness to use the potty or toilet usually are seen
by 27-30 months of age. Mastery of the potty may not come until
3 years of age.
·
To successfully potty train your toddler needs to… WANT TO BE
TRAINED, knows the difference between wet and dry, is dry for 2
hours at a time, be able to pull loose fitting clothing on and
off, be able to climb on and off the potty chair, and can tell
you when she is about to have a bowel movement.
·
If you are not sure about whether your child is ready, have a
potty chair available to your toddler, but do not push your
toddler into training.
Behavior/Discipline:
·
Encourage your toddler’s independence, offer acceptable choices
when possible while retaining your parental authority and rules.
He likes to make choices, however it may be difficult for him to
choose in some instances and then often wants to change his
answer.
·
Although he is yearning for independence, the 2 year old may
hide behind his parent’s when approached by other adults. He may
develop fears! Unexplained events may strike fear in your
toddler. Fear of thunder and lightning, fear of going down the
drain with the bath water are common fears. With steady parental
support and reassurance, your child will gain confidence and
overcome the fear.
·
Be consistent. Praise good behavior. Avoid too many rules. Say
“No” then physically move your child from a dangerous
situation. Do not yell or spank. Be a good role model.
·
Tantrums are your child’s way of expressing anger and
frustration. Tantrums increase when your toddler is tired,
sick, or hungry. Ignore attention-seeking tantrums – do not try
to reason with your toddler. Use time-outs for disruptive
tantrums or unacceptable behavior. You may need to physically
hold your child during the time-out. A minute per year of age is
a good guideline.
·
A good reference for reading about discipline is 1-2-3
Magic.
·
To fully understand new activities, he will try new activities
repeatedly. What does mud feel like? What happens when water is
splashed out of the tub? What does mommy do when I touch this
piece of china or this wobbly book case? (make sure objects are
secure!) It is difficult to realize that curiosity and not
disobeying compels your child’s repetitive explorations.
·
If you let your child watch TV, watch together and talk
about what you see. Encourage physical activity by taking part
as a family. Walk, hike, bike, play tag.
Tests/Immunizations for Today:
·
Hepatitis A may be given today (with other catch up vaccinations
if necessary)
·
Your child will have another test to detect lead in the blood.
·
You will be given 2 developmental questionnaires to complete at
home and mail back to our office.
At the 2 ½ year check-up:
·
Your toddler will have a physical examination.
·
Your questions and concerns will be answered.
·
You will be given a developmental questionnaire to complete at
home and mail back to our office.
Children’s Acetaminophen Dose:
Every
4-6 hours & no more than 4 doses/day
24-35 lbs. = 1 tsp.
Children’s Ibuprofen Dose:
Every 6-8 hours
24-35 lbs. = 1 tsp.
Additional Instructions:
