Month nineteen

This month your toddler seems to have as much go as the Energizer bunny as he tears around, desperate to be let out of the house so he can run free!

However, the weather generally dictates your toddler’s day-to-day activities and if it snows or rains, you might be stuck inside.

Try putting on some music and dancing with your toddler. Choose songs that direct your child to do something (head, shoulders, knees and toes), you could speed up each verse so your toddler has to speed up his actions. Or try a copycat game, where he has to copy your dance moves. (It’s a good workout for you too). Painting, crayoning and molding play-dough can also use a bit of energy up, especially if you protect your room and lay a huge sheet of paper down for her to experiment with. ??If all else fails, wait for a break in the rain and seek out some puddles to splash in. See toddlers and play.

Do you have an early riser on your hands? Pleased parents may rejoice in being able to sleep soundly through the night but shudder at the thought of a 5am wake up call. If your toddler routinely wakes you up, you may want to re-evaluate when he naps. An early morning nap (at 8-9am) may not be a good idea anymore, so consider pushing it forwards by ten minutes each day or switching to one nap a day. You can read more on this at our article dropping naps.

Give your toddler lots of time outside so he has fresh air and can run about, then consider putting bedtime back a bit later in the hope that he sleeps longer in the morning. See coping with an early-riser for more useful tips on getting those extra ZZZZZZs.

Are you thinking about having another baby or have you decided one’s enough for now? Some parents want their children in quick succession so they are close in age; others wait till their children are in preschool or kindergarten before thinking about another. Of course, we’re all relying on mother nature and getting pregnant again may be quicker than last time, or take longer… whatever you decide, visit our Another Baby section to help you plan for a second child.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 16/06/2008

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