A healthy diet is a prerequisite for a healthy toddler. As infants grow up to become toddlers, breast milk and baby food becomes insufficient to take care of their growing nutritional needs. The time has now come for them to eat some solid food almost similar to what their parents eat. They are now ready to eat three balanced meals a day and some nutritious snacks. The meals can consist of grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and proteins in sufficient quantity. Moreover, they need a daily drink of one or two tea cups of pure fruit juice. Additionally, give the toddlers 2 to three tea cups of whole milk every day if they are not breastfeeding sufficiently.
Some toddlers seem to be picky eaters, but parents need not worry if their growth is normal, and they are healthy and energetic. It means they are getting sufficient nutrition from what they eat. Or, they may be eating too much snacks, or drinking too much milk or fluids before meal time. Toddlers cannot eat as much as their parents, which is normal. At most they can eat or drink only a quarter of what an adult can accommodate. Give them a chance occasionally if they want to eat by themselves or want to sample your food, if it is okay.
Safety of their toddlers is a major cause of worry for all the parents. Make sure that the house and the surroundings are 100 per cent safe for the child. Remove all the dangerous objects in the house that are dangerous to the child. Tools, knifes, climbing hazards and so forth should be put in safe places away from the kid. Heavy objects such as iron safes, wooden shelves and TVs should be properly fixed so that they won’t fall on the kids if they try to climb over them.
Install a fire and air testing system in the house. Cover all the hard and sharp edged objects in the house with soft clothes. Keep the child away from balconies and stairs. Make doorknobs child proof so that the toddler won’t go out on their own to dangerous areas both inside and outside the house. If your toddlers are below one year, and if you take them for ride in the car, make sure that they are properly placed in their seat at the back facing forward. Toddlers over one year can continue to be placed in the same position or facing backward until they outweigh their seat capacity.
Temper tantrums and speech delays are some other problems faced by toddlers. Although these problems are common in many kids, they seem to out grow it in due course of time and become children by the age of 3 or 4. However, if the problems are carried over beyond 3 or 4 years, then you need to consult a doctor. Potty training can wait till the toddlers are ready for it which is usually between 1.5 to 2 years. If they can’t understand your instructions, there is no use in rushing them.
Finally, for more information on the above issues and related topics consult a professional, or log onto online sites specialized in child problems.
Posted on February 14th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby, Child Care, Diet, Toddler
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