Providing Care for Toddlers

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Providing Care for Toddlers

• Years 1-3

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Feeding Toddlers

• Between the first and fourth birthdays, children
  acquire food habits and attitudes that influence
  their eating throughout life!
• They also learn to feed themselves helping to
  improve their small motor skills.

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Food or Play Time?
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Finger Foods

• Finger foods are popular with young children.
  Finger Foods allow children to feed themselves
  because the foods can be easily handled.
• This increases coordination and independence.

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Appropriate Finger Foods for One Year Olds

• Cheese chunks
• Peas
• Cooked carrot Slices
• Melon or Banana Pieces
• Scrambled Eggs

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Should I force my child to eat certain foods?

• NO!! During the second year, mealtimes can become
  a battle of wills between a toddler and parent.
  They want to choose what they will eat.
• Rather than forcing the child to eat a particular
  food, wait until the next meal and offer a
  substitute food until the phase passes.

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At 3- children need three meals a day plus
nutritious snacks

• By the age of 3, children should be able to eat
  the same foods as the rest of the family?
• With a full set of primary teeth, they can chew
  foods. Meats and other tough foods should still
  be served in small pieces.

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Food Serving Sizes for Toddlers

• The amount an individual child eats will vary
  from day to day, depending on appetite and
  activity level.
• A general rule is serve about one tablespoon (15
  ml) of fruit, vegetables and meat for each year
  of life.

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Choosing Foods for Children

• Colorful foods add interest to a meal.
• A variety of textures makes the meal more
  pleasing.
• Shapes- children a variety of shapes interesting
  and it helps them identify shapes! (try using
  cookie cutter shapes to makes interesting
  sandwiches)

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Choosing Toddler Foods

• Temperature use moderate temperatures, since
  most children do not like extremely hot or cold
  foods. (except ice cream!)
• Choose easy to eat foods to avoid frustration
  (ground beef easier to eat than steak). PS-
  Children love spaghetti!

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Mealtime Tips!

• Mealtimes should be fun and an opportunity for
  toddlers to socialize.
• Keep mealtime pleasant- uses praise and avoid
  criticism (manner improve with age)
• Keep mealtimes on a regular schedule.
• Use child size, sturdy, unbreakable dishes.
• Choose a cup the is easy to hold (not tippy!)
• Remember children imitate others . Set a good
  example in manners and healthy food choices.

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Enjoy Mealtimes with Toddlers!

• Never use food as a punishment or bribe. Eating
  healthy food should be an expected behavior.
• Saying, You cant have a cookie until you eat
  all your vegetables gives the impression that
  vegetables are bad and cookies are good.

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Bath Time

• Parents need to develop good attitudes and
  cleanliness skills in children.
• All young children need attention and supervision
  while in the tub. Never leave a child in tub
  alone- even for a minute!
• Toddlers have fun in the bath and consider it
  more play than a place to get clean.
• Toddlers can learn to wash rinse and dry
  themselves fairly well (except the neck and back)

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Dressing Toddlers

• Self- dressing skills is a long process for
  toddlers because it requires large and small
  motor skills which must be learned one step at a
  time.
• Patience is important!

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Choosing Childrens Clothing

• Comfort- clothes should allow for free movement (
  clothes that stretch and move).
• Durability Childrens clothes receive hard wear
  and frequent laundering (denim good choice for
  overalls).
• Economy- Children outgrow their clothes quickly
  (look for hems or cuffs that can be altered as
  the child grows).

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Cotton Fabric

• Cotton is a good fabric choice for childrens
  clothing because it launders well ( but may
  shrink), does not irritate skin, and absorbs
  moisture so it is comfortable to wear.
• Cotton is a natural fiber- made from plants or
  animals. (wool, silk and linen are also natural)
• Synthetic fibers- (e.g., polyester, nylon)
  manufactured from chemicals rather than natural
  sources, are often used in childrens clothes.
  They are durable, wrinkle resistant and
  quick-drying, and require little to no ironing.

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Sleeping/ Bedtime

• Toddlers require less sleep than babies and they
  may not want to sleep easily or willingly.
• Two year olds still require an afternoon nap. By
  three, most children give up naptimes.

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Make sure childs needs are met at Bedtime.

• Be patient and gentle, but firm and consistent in
  bedtime routines (may call back to parents
  repeatedly for a drink, another story, or trip to
  the bathroom).
• Use a nightlight (may be afraid of the dark)
• Nigh time fears may cause a child to wake up in
  the middle of the night or get out of bed. Love
  and understanding are essential!

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Successful Toilet Training!

• Most children begin toilet training between 18
  months and 3 years.
• However there is no set age- children reach the
  needed physical maturity at different ages.
• Parent attitudes toward toilet training are very
  important-(being overly strict may cause
  long-lasting emotional problems for a child).
  Interest and calm encouragement are more
  effective than rules and punishment.

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Readiness for Toilet Training ?

• A child must be physically mature enough to
  toilet train. A child must be able to control
  his/her sphincter muscles (muscles that control
  elimination).
• A child must be able to recognize body sensations
  that precede elimination.