Your Baby Turns 2!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR CHILD: TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Your child has made many important strides this year.

In just one year, your little one has gone from being a crawling baby to a running, jumping toddler. He's discovered new, more complex toys and games, learned to speak many words in a language you can understand and graduated from the bottle to table food.

He's become increasingly independent and now delights in showing off his knowledge and physical abilities. As you get ready to celebrate his second birthday, reflect on the advancements he's made and the challenges you've overcome in the past 12 months. Then prepare yourself for another eventful and equally amazing year to come.

2. You child is learning through play. If you are concerned that your toddler isn't receiving enough organised instruction, don't worry. Free play is a terrific way for children to learn about their environment and improve their motor and language skills. Feel confident that if her creche or playgroup focuses on free-play learning, the approach will help your child see that school and learning can be fun.

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YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH AND SAFETY

You may be concerned about your toddler's thumb-sucking habit. But experts advise not to try to break it just yet. At this age, your little one is still using sucking as a form of comfort. Forcing your child to give it up too soon may ultimately cause her to develop a lifelong nail-biting habit. Eventually, she'll discover other comforting techniques, such as holding a favourite doll or toy, and the thumb-sucking will subside. Keep in mind that some children will stop before others. And although you might have concerns about dental problems, most children are able to give up the habit before it becomes an issue.

Make sure your child is always buckled up in her car seat. Have you noticed that seat buckles and restraints are not always childproof? A resourceful youngster may be able to unlock the safety belt that's holding her securely in her seat and squirm to freedom as you drive down the road. Stop your car and re-fasten the belt if your child manages to get loose. Explain that she must be buckled in. Do not allow her any room to negotiate on this point. Help her understand that it is the law and for her own protection. To ensure her safety, check with the manufacturers of your car and your child's car seat to see if there is a device available to make the belts more secure. You may be able to employ an electronic alarm that will sound should the belt become unbuckled. While this may not stop the child from unfastening herself, you'll know about it sooner.

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FUN ACTIVITIES

Look at the family album together. You spent hours taking pictures of your precious little baby, organising the images and putting together a scrapbook to look at in years to come. Invite your youngster to look back over the images from his nearly two-year-old life with you. He'll enjoy looking at the baby in the pictures and hearing about how he's grown into such a wonderful big boy. Pull out pictures of you and your partner when you were little and explain how you got to be so big. Children love hearing stories about when their mummy and daddy were little. You'll enjoy the stroll down memory lane, and your little one will revel in the fact that you were once his size.

Visit a local craft store. For just a few pounds, you can replenish your stock of craft items. Keep the toy cupboard filled with a variety of items, and pull out new materials each time your child needs a different activity to occupy his afternoon. Things you don't want to be caught without include: construction paper, non-toxic paints, paintbrushes, paste, crayons and chalk. As your child grows, consider adding buttons, pipe cleaners, safety scissors, white glue, wool, felt squares and fabric remnants. Remember to supervise your child closely while he creates a new masterpiece. Or join in the fun and teach him your favourite craft.

SIMPLE WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Make sure your toddler gets the extra fat she needs, while staying slim yourself. You know your little one needs a diet higher in fat than you'd care to consider for yourself. Here's how you can blend her needs with the needs of the rest of the family and avoid turning into a short-order cook:

Consider adding fat to your child's snacks rather than to the entire family meal. Cheese cubes or full-fat yoghurt are two choices.