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Toddler guide - toddler behavior, toddler discipline, toddler health
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The
toddler years are often very rewarding for the parents as they watch their
infant become a small person. Normally health should not be a major concern
after the first year. The child's immunity is fairly well developed by
now. However there are some concerns common to most children of this age
group -
Aggressive Behaviour
Many toddlers
indulge in aggressive behaviour such as hitting or biting. Such behaviour
is normally only characteristic of their age and not an indication of
their behaviour as an adult. There are many reasons for such behaviour
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- An increasing drive towards having an independent identity.
- Frustration at the inability to control and manipulate the environment
around him.
- Lack of empathy - he just does not know that others have feelings
or can get hurt.
- Lack of control over his own impulse to hit out in anger or frustration.
- Lack of verbal skills make it easier to resort to physical methods
of expression.
- Tiredness, hunger, illness, inadequate attention.
- Unsettling environment or major changes happening around him.
What can
you do?
- Set clear limits on physical aggression and make it crystal clear
that it is non-acceptable and punishable.
- Don't lose control. Don't retaliate
or use physical methods of expressing your own anger.
- Praise good behaviour.
- Validate your child's feelings by listening attentively and empathizing.
- Provide safe opportunities for venting frustration or anger. Help
him learn coping skills to minimize frustration
- Soothe with a book, music, cuddling etc.
- Recognize and avoid aggression due to tiredness and hunger.
- Don't take sides or embarrass your toddler in front of others, especially
other children
- Always supervise play with other children.
- Encourage verbalizing of disagreements by setting an example and encouraging
her to express her feelings (including negative ones) without fear of
disapproval
| Often
parents encourage aggressiveness unknowingly. Whenever a child
falls down or gets hurt most parents try to distract the crying
child by making him 'hit' the ground or chair or whatever caused
him to fall. Not only are the parents encouraging aggressiveness
they are also teaching the child to hit when hurt. The child
also learns to shift the blame from himself to others . |
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 Ear
Aches
Ear Ache
is one of the most common childhood ailments.
Common symptoms
are: -
- Fever
- Crankiness
- Complaints
of ear pain
- Constant
rubbing of one side of the jaw near the ear
- Discharge
from the ear
- Loss of
hearing (This is an occasional symptom)
- Any of
the above symptoms proceeded by a cold.
- Crying
during feeding.
All these symptoms can be symptoms for other illnesses also. An accurate
assessment can be made only by examining the eardrum.
To minimize
chances of ear infection: -
- Practice good hygiene to stop the spread of germs that lead to cold's
which in turn cause ear infections.
- Avoid exposing the child to passive smoking, which may increase a
child's risk of ear infections.
- Hold the child's head up a little while feeding to prevent pooled
milk from obstructing the Eustachian tubes.
If you suspect an ear infection
- Call the Paediatrician immediately.
- Don't put eardrops or cotton swabs into the ear unless a doctor has
specifically recommended it.
- Don't give self-medicate
- Keep your child upright to lessen pressure on the middle ear.
Thumb
Sucking
One of the earliest behaviours shown by newborn is thumb sucking. In fact
thumb sucking often begins in the womb at 29 weeks plus.
- Sucking is vital for survival and is a reflexive response to any nipple
shaped object brushing the cheek or lips.
- It is a natural coping mechanism for children.
- Most babies stop spontaneously by age 4-5.
| Most
dentists agree that if thumb sucking stops by 5 years of age,
there is no real need to be concerned about tooth development. |
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Thumb sucking
may not pose much of a problem if a child is not a vigorous thumb sucker
and uses it primarily as a means of self comfort at certain times during
the day. Worry however, if
- the child is older than five
- sucks intensely and through the night instead of just when going to
sleep
- if there are visible signs of tooth impairment or speech impediment.
Sometimes
thumb sucking occurs as regressive behaviour when the toddler becomes
insecure. In such cases the habit will probably vanish with the cause.
Take extra care to be loving to the child since this is his way of telling
you that all is not well with his world.
There are numerous home remedies prescribed for getting rid of this habit
but opinions are divided on their efficacy. Sometimes remedies such as
tying a bandage on the thumb or putting chilly powder on the thumb, backfire,
making the child more insecure. If it is urgent to dissuade the child
in a hurry, ask advice of your doctor or our expert.
Otherwise keep gently reminding him to stop without turning it into such
a big issue that he either rebels or becomes insecure.
Right
Hand Vs Left Hand
Handiness
is not usually apparent until at least age three and sometimes beyond.
In the early stages, it is common for children to appear ambidextrous.
Left-hand or right-hand is determined by nature and should not be tampered
with. There is nothing in left-handiness for either parent or child to
be concerned about, apart from the difficulties of negotiating a world
meant for right handed people. Moreover research shows that on an average
lefties do better in certain fields such as art, architecture and athletics.
Bed Wetting
This is a very common problem till around 5 years of age. Long after a child
has learnt to use the bathroom during the day, he may continue to wet the
bed at night. Bedwetting usually occurs more when attempts at toilet training
are introduced too early. It may also occur when the child is insecure as
a form of regression of attention seeking behaviour.
- Put a plastic sheet under the bed sheet. This will protect the mattresses.
- Don't avoid giving the child water before going to bed. This is not
going to solve the problem and may make it worse.
- Distinguish between keeping the bed dry by physically taking the child
to the bathroom every few hours, and helping the child to learn to keep
himself dry.
- Don't scold him for wetting the bed - he can't help himself.
- If the child is wet because of a continuous dribble of urine, there
may be a medical problem and a checkup should be done.
- Don't let the child begin to worry about wetting the bed or his anxiety
may delay achievement of control.
- Accept that even if the child is normally able to keep dry at night,
accidents will occasionally happen.
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