Toddler

A few months ago, our son turned one and entered the next stage of his life, toddlerhood.

The changes have been coming fast. Whether it’s physical or emotional or intellectual, there are so many different things going on each day it can be hard to keep up!

I love watching him explore and discover how things work or fit together. Whether it’s something in the kitchen cupboard, a different way to use one of his toys or a musical instrument, he is always figuring out something new, and it can be fascinating to watch.

I started back at work around the same time as his first birthday, working a small number of hours per week. It’s been good to reconnect, although I can’t ever imagine being full time again. There is nothing better than spending time with our son; reading, playing, singing, eating or having fun outside. By the time he has had one or two naps and some days an activity, the day is full and he is ready for bed again. There is not a lot of time for work!

The art of distraction

And just as I was getting used to my sons demand for food, he turned into a somewhat fussy eater with less of an appetite. Apparently, this is what happens as their growing starts to slow. My ways around this are smaller portions, always having a ripe avocado and some cheese on hand or distracting him with water or milk if I have to.

Nappy change time and even just getting dressed can also be a challenge. I make sure I have a box of sensory objects nearby so that he can keep himself busy playing with a bottle full of rice or a potato masher. I try to sing to him and explain what I’m doing but depending on his mood this doesn’t always go down so well.

The transition to one daytime nap is an interesting one. Especially when your toddler shows signs of tiredness in the early afternoon after only a small sleep in the morning but refuses to go down for a decent chunk of time. I don’t think he’s ready to skip his morning nap altogether, so I have been persisting with it for now. I have found that a snack before his morning sleep often makes a difference which would suggest a full belly means he finds it easier to link one sleep cycle to the next but it doesn’t always work like this. Every day brings something different and even at 15 months, we are not quite at the one nap stage yet.

New places

Luckily, our son seems to adjust pretty well to most situations.

It makes me wonder how he will go on a trip overseas. After a couple of years of holidays limited to Australia, we are almost ready to travel abroad again. We’re not planning on venturing too far away just yet, perhaps New Zealand, but the thought of doing it as a family is exciting. Our son loves being exposed to new things and different people, and I can’t wait for him to experience another country. Travel is said to significantly impact a child’s development with them experiencing new things – from people to places to food – at a rapid rate.

I love watching our son react and learn. He generally chooses to take his time with things, appreciating his surroundings then responding (most of the time) with a smile.

In a world that is constantly changing, the way we absorb information and choose to react can have a huge impact on our daily lives, whether it is by watching and learning as toddlers do, or through some form of educated action. So next time you find yourself in a new place or situation try to take a moment to appreciate where you are and think of the possibilities that lie ahead.

If you’d like to share a story or can relate to anything in this post, I’d love to hear about it so please leave a comment!