Being a toddler mother or father is HARD. Day by day is a brand new problem, however on the similar time, day by day is a brand new journey and it’s so wild to see how rapidly they develop, be taught, and evolve! It’s true that each age is the very best age, and it simply retains getting higher–however with new phases all the time come new challenges, too! I can’t imagine in simply 4 months, June might be two. 😭 She’s feeling and appearing each little bit of a two yr previous already, so I assumed I might pull collectively some suggestions and tips which have helped me, in addition to some crowd-sourced life-hack suggestions from you all, too! (Should you missed half one in all the crowdsourced life hacks, see this put up!)
Should you’re within the thick of toddlerhood, I hope the following tips may help you too! Keep in mind, no person ever has it discovered. And in the event that they declare they do–they’re mendacity. 😂
1. Streamline transitions at a lot as potential:
Transitions are actually onerous developmentally for toddlers. Think about if somebody simply got here as much as you in the course of you doing one thing, picked you up towards your will, and made you do one thing else. Now take into consideration having to cope with that 15 occasions in a single morning, besides which you could’t converse, and also you haven’t developed the appropriate instruments to course of the transitions emotionally and it looks like your world is melting over and over and over. That sucks!
There are many methods to assist deal with transitions to make them simpler (this can be a useful article) however June remains to be so little, it’s onerous to implement these in a manner that make sense for her simply but. After all, we attempt, however the actuality is that there are SO many transitions inside only one morning routine alone, that I assumed it might be simpler for each of us to attempt to pare down the transitions as a lot as potential, whereas nonetheless serving to ease her by means of the transitions which can be inevitable. It’s a lot much less formidable to cope with, say, 5 transitions as a bit of child than 15.
That is principally the theme of most suggestions you’re going to see on this put up–methods to kill two birds with one stone, so to talk. This has made our lives SO a lot simpler recently, and I hope these assist you to too! Approaching each “routine” by means of the lens of “paring down” the transitions, the simpler it has been for each of us, and the much less anxious, and extra rewarding parenting is!
2. Put your toddler to mattress of their outfit for the following day
Various: lay their outfit out the night time earlier than, and alter their garments FIRST factor while you’re altering their diaper.
One of many hardest transitions of our morning routine is getting June dressed. Making an attempt to get her modified after breakfast was all the time like a 3 ring circus filled with meltdowns, however this trick has modified our mornings. Do away away with pajamas and simply put them to mattress of their garments for the morning. Actually, this sounds weird, and I even thought it sounded a bit of terrible the primary time I heard of a mother or father doing it, however then I spotted, the garments I ship her to highschool in are principally glorified pajamas anyway. (She’s carrying cozy matching units, it’s not like she’s carrying denims!) so if it’s going to really feel the identical to her, and make our lives simpler, why would’n’t I give it a attempt?
It’s a GAME CHANGER. Strive it. Once you stroll out of their room with them ALREADY learn to exit the door, you’ll really feel like an excellent hero and it simply eradicated like 10 terrible steps out of your morning routine. I lastly satisfied my pal to do that and she or he texted me the following morning like 🤯.
Added bonus: this cuts down on laundry huge time, since you aren’t washing pajamas almost as a lot!!
(Tip: In the event that they’re consuming one thing messy for breakfast, simply take their shirt off to eat and put it again on earlier than you pull them out of the excessive chair.)
3. Get your self dressed and prepared earlier than getting them out of the crib
That is the opposite factor that was actually stressing me. I used to be having to battle together with her to get her modified and prepared, after which having to determine methods to watch her whereas I used to be getting myself prepared (whereas she inevitably tore up all the home and left an enormous mess). Now, I get off the bed, instantly change and make myself presentable sufficient for college drop-off. Ideally I might be up earlier than her to have a bit of time to myself within the morning. Different occasions she wakes up early and is fussy and needs to get out of her crib earlier than I’m even off the bed. That’s high-quality, she will be able to wait, and it’s a useful train in endurance anyway. If she’s actually cranky, we are going to give her a milk cup to drink to purchase us a while whereas we pace change. Backside line is which you could’t all the time management whether or not or not you’re up earlier than they’re, however you may management whether or not or not you’re prepared while you go to get them!
4. Give them milk or a wholesome pouch when you’re altering their diaper very first thing within the AM
Talking of milk, and issues that triggered meltdowns, June REALLY hates having her diaper modified nowadays. She doesn’t wish to lay on her altering desk, and she or he would instantly begin kicking after we took her out of her crib and laid her on the altering desk within the morning. Once more, that is the place one thing like a bit of milk in a sippy cup or a wholesome pouch will are available to maintain her busy and curb her hanger. (I really like As soon as Upon a Farm’s pouches–they assist sneak in veggies and haven’t any added sugar! JESS30 will get you 30% off on their web site! They’re an Instagram sponsor however this weblog put up isn’t sponsored, by the way in which!) As quickly as I began doing this, voila–no extra energy battle on the altering desk!
Tip: You may also do that with a bottle in case your child is youthful and beginning to hate having their diaper modified!
5. Placed on music within the morning and at night time (or anytime they’re often cranky).
I’ve but to fulfill a toddler who doesn’t love music, and it has the facility to shift June’s temper immensely. She loves singing and dancing, and it helps US begin the day in a greater temper too! (We often play our personal favourite upbeat songs, however generally will combine in some Frozen or Encanto or no matter she’s loving recently. It doesn’t must be child music!)
6. Make a smoothie to sneak in additional protein and veggies within the AM or snack time.
A few of you stated morning smoothies are a necessary a part of your routine to sneak extra veggies into your toddler’s food regimen! I really like making a inexperienced smoothie for myself and June, too! (When I’ve time.) I really like the Blendtopia smoothie starter kits from Entire Meals.
FYI, it’s also possible to batch them and pour them in your toddlers cups (I’ve these smoothie cups for June) forward of time and retailer them within the fridge!
7. Do their hair (or another ending touches) whereas they’re consuming breakfast
Clear their face, do their hair, even placed on their socks and sneakers–no matter–use the time once they’re distracted by consuming breakfast and contained of their excessive chair to your benefit!
8. Serve veggies and hummus earlier than their important for dinner
Once you first put them of their excessive chair for dinner, give them veggies with a dip like hummus or tzatziki (or ranch, or ketchup, or no matter will get them to eat their veggies!) FIRST. This clearly received’t work for each child, however it undoubtedly works for us! (A whole lot of occasions, not all the time–all the time attempt one thing a number of occasions. It’s all the time a crapshoot! 😂) They’re extra prone to eat veggies when: 1. they’re the one choice accessible they usually’re hungry. In any other case, clearly they’ll select to replenish on noodles and solely noodles, for instance. (I discovered this trick in Bringing Up Bebe.) and a pair of. When the veggies are accompanied by a tasty dip. June loves hummus and I really like that it’s wholesome, however Tzatziki is one other good choice–and naturally, ranch if all else fails.
9. Sprinkle LOTS of paci’s of their crib at night time
I discovered this from my pal Kate and it’s a trick additionally endorsed by Peaceable Littles. As quickly as your child is sufficiently old to achieve for their very own pacifier, it would be best to put this trick into motion. In the event that they’ve been waking you up at night time crying as a result of they’ll’t discover one–litter and I imply LITTER their crib with pacifiers. Like, 8-10 of them. Each Paci you personal–throw in there, and you should have no extra night time wakings for pacifiers!
10. A number of suggestions for brushing tooth:
- Brush tooth within the tub to knock out two issues without delay (once more, lowering transitions!)
- The Wiggles tooth brushing app and the Elmo tooth brushing music on Youtube will assist get your little excited to brush tooth! (Do it with the movies!)
- If brushing within the tub doesn’t work, attempt having your child lay down on the ground like this to brush their tooth.
11. In the event that they’re unzipping their sleep sack and taking off their diaper, put the sleep sack on backwards.
This one is fairly self explanatory however it looks like loads of toddlers undergo a section the place they strip off their sleep sack, garments, and diaper. (JOY.) 😂 Placing their sleep sack backwards to allow them to’t attain the zipper is an excellent simple clear up!
12. Learn them their bedtime story after you set them down within the crib
Regardless of having a reasonably constant bedtime routine, recently June has been having a REALLY onerous time transitioning when it’s time to truly get within the crib–a lot in order that she melts down after we ask her which e book she needs to learn, as a result of she is aware of what’s subsequent is mattress. She additionally was having a extremely onerous time quieting down/sitting to learn (and was nonetheless making an attempt to dash everywhere in the home like a mad lady) so I attempted placing her down within the crib after which sitting subsequent to her crib to learn the e book. (This manner she was contained AND she had one thing to sit up for after getting within the crib–it wasn’t the final step anymore) and this appears to have labored very well! Could be value making an attempt in case you are having comparable troubles!
13. Ask for assist, faucet out when you could, and take time for your self
I do know that is simpler stated than performed, however it’s so necessary to outsource wherever you may, rent the babysitter when you may, work out methods to get time away with your self and likewise together with your companion. Schedule it or it is going to by no means occur. Finances for it nevertheless you could. Get inventive (if a sitter isn’t within the finances, may you babysit a pal’s child one night time after which commerce off each different weekend so you may each have common date nights?)
Backside line: You can not construct a superb life in your youngsters on a shaky basis. Society may need you to suppose in any other case, however caring for your self isn’t egocentric and it’s not non-compulsory. A childhood of being raised by comfortable, wholesome dad and mom is the very best present you can ever give them. So cease with the mother guilt already and get some enjoyable, restorative issues on the books!
Additionally, in case you are shedding your thoughts mid-tantrum, and you could faucet out–accomplish that. (Should you’re in a position). TELL your companion that you just want them to take over and also you want a second. (My pal Molly even has noise cancelling earphones she places on when she must, and has her husband take over!) Everybody has their limits and fogeys get overstimulated, similar to toddlers! Understanding your limits and planning round them shouldn’t be a weak point, it’s a present.
14. Repeat this mantra to your self once they’re having a tough time: It’s onerous to be a toddler!
I wrote a complete weblog put up on this, however mindset is absolutely the simplest factor in my toolbox when coping with an emotional risky toddler. It’s very easy to look at your child melting down for the fifth time that morning (over NOTHING) and suppose they’re being a manipulative terrorist–however they aren’t!
It’s HARD to be that little–to not be capable of voice your frustrations, to speak what you need, and to not have the flexibility to control your self. (Hell I’ve had virtually 35 years of observe and I nonetheless have a tough time regulating my feelings generally, why would I ever count on that of a tiny being who has been on the earth lower than two years?)
I’ve discovered that taking a deep breath, bodily getting down on her stage, saying OUT LOUD and in a loving voice, “I do know, it’s onerous to be a toddler” (one thing about saying it aloud is essential) permits me to empathize together with her slightly than give in to the urge to battle towards her. I do know that is simpler stated than performed, however it actually works! Should you can’t Jedi thoughts trick your toddler, Jedi thoughts trick your self! 😂
It’s unattainable to cause with a toddler who’s flipping out, however you can assist them relax by being calm your self, and assist them transfer by means of it quicker, which is good for everybody concerned!
(Ask me how that is going when she’s in a position to discuss again and inform me I’m ruining her life–I’m solely anticipating it to get more difficult, however hopefully the extra observe I’ve, the simpler it will likely be? 😜)
I hope the following tips are useful–because of everybody who weighed in, and you might be doing wonderful! I do know, since you took the time to learn this, and which means you’re making an attempt, and that you just care! Your child is so fortunate to have you ever. Sustain the nice work. Cheers!
You may also like: planning a trip with a child and the e book that made me much less fearful about “shedding myself” in motherhood
