Health Topics
Caring for Your 2 Year Old Child
There is a reason they are called the Terrible Twos! By two years of age, most children are attempting to exercise their freedom by frequently offering their favorite response - “No” and their favorite comment “I want to do it myself.”
Diet: Your child is still a picky eater. (If you have a child who eats — lucky you!) Feel free to switch from whole milk to skim or whatever the family drinks. If your child refuses to eat green vegetables, you may want to start her on a chewable or liquid vitamin with iron. Iron is one of the biggest building blocks that children often do not get enough of in their diets. Have your child take the vitamin with juice because juice helps the body to better absorb the iron. (Avoid giving your child too much juice. They really only need 4 oz. of juice per day. Try giving juice and/or milk at mealtime only and give water in between. You may want to keep a little water bottle in the refrigerator so that it’s always ready and cold.) Remember...your child will probably only eat one good meal per day and they will eat when they are hungry. Encourage family meal time and try to sit down together.
Sleep: If your child is still happy in a crib, leave her there. It will be much safer for her. Your child should still be taking a nap. To help relieve stress and encourage sleeping at naptime, try to keep to a bedtime routine and daily schedule as much as possible.
Safety: Your little one is still getting into lots of trouble as she explores her world. Do not let your guard down! Remember that children 20 lbs. - 40 lbs. must sit in forward-facing car seats in the back seat of the car. Children over 40 lbs. must sit in a booster-style car seat until they outgrow the seat.
Behavior: Hopefully, you have made it through the worst of the “Terrible Two’s.” We usually like to refer to this as the “Terrific Two’s.” Hang in there, remember that all things will pass. Be positive, creative and make sure you get plenty of rest!
Toilet Training: Please refer to the Toilet Training section.
Development: Your child is beginning to put two words together — his first sentences! Children at this age do not actually play together, but do play next to each other (parallel play). As for motor skills, your child can now dress himself (but may still need help with zipping and snapping) and is also able to scribble, finger paint, and complete simple, free form art projects.
Dental: Make an appointment with your family or pediatric dentist. If you can start your child with a positive dental experience, hopefully you’ll lead to a lifelong positive attitude toward dental care! Do not forget to help them brush at least once a day.
See Also:
Speech Development in 2-5 Year Olds
