From baby to toddler.. all tips gratefully received!

[moomer]

Looking back there are quite a few things I would have done differently through my son's first year. I'd love to hear from those experienced parents who've survived the toddler years.. my little boy is now 12 months and fast asserting his independence and (I fear) his stubbornness! Are there any toys, groups, methods etc that have proved invaluable for your toddler?

I used to get so frustrated with my first when he put loo rolls down the loo, smothered himself with sudocream, emptied the bins etc, thinking he was naughty, when my second (and third) did similar things i realised that he wasn't naughty just curious, and i really should have provided activities that were safe but similar for him!

Oh I agree, expect an enormous amount of mess.Hard as it is sometimes it's much better to just laugh at t.

Also treat your toddler like a dog, long walks and lots of activity are very neccesary.

I'm not through the toddler years but right in the middle of them with ds (19 mo) but my survival tactic is to wear him out completely. Weather permitting we're out of the house for at least 4-5 hours a day.

We only have a tiny flat so it's mostly for my sanity but I have found taking him to the park, letting him go mental with a football/go on the swings/down the slide 4 million times etc make him too tired to do too much destructive stuff at home. It's not always practical, and if your ds isn't walking yet you may find it hard, but other things like soft play work areas work well too, esp if the weather's bad.

It's great when the weather's good though, yesterday I took ds out late morning, we had a picnic in the park, he crashed out in his pushchair while I browsed the shops, then charged around like a looney in the afternoon. He was so tired that night he went to bed without a murmer, even asking me at one point... bed mama.

Sticker/reward has worked well for us. DS gets a sticker every time he is a good boy (normally to do with bedtimes) and 5 stickers mean he can choose a toy out of a lucky dip bag we have locked in a cupboard. He's found it really exciting to do.

Totally agree re. wearing them out though.

thanks for the replies, I'm getting the impression that (some) lazy days around the house may become a distant memory! I've started taking him to the local park but he seems just as content crawling about the house at the moment (not walking yet.) We're thinking of buying some play stuff for the garden but am worried this might be a waste as he doesn't seem interested in any of his toys for longer than about 3 minutes, just wants to be exploring all the time! I like the idea of treating your toddler like a dog TDWP

I found that a tub of Megabloks was massively entertaining for my boys! As I speak my youngests is building towers and pulling them apart and back together again. definitely worth getting if you haven't already. Aaide from that, jigsaws are a good one.
Agree with other posts that wearing a toddler out is the way to go in terms of keeping your sanity and them happy - but tricky when DS is still crawling. Once he's walking about, it opens up a whole new world of things to do!
I also found that making little dens kept my lot happy - two chairs, back to back, hang a sheet over the top, a cushion to sit on - a den/house/tent for endless games of in and out....and they enjoyed having a little snack under there too!

Def lots of exercise! Also things to play with that are like the items you use (pots/pans/plates/plastic cutlery.) Don't necessarily need 'toys' but 'ideas' i.e lots of different leaves/sticks/stones or types of materials or foods (jelly to feel). Get them cooking very early...messy but they love it.

Pick your battles. Your toddler will do things that you don't want them to but before stopping them, you need to ask yourself why you don't want them to - if it's just that it's messy or noisy, or not the done thing, let them get on with it, otherwise you'll spend your whole life saying "no"...and being ignored!

TBH most toys have proved a waste of money for dd (17 months) shes much more intrested in pots/pans and everything that doesnt belong to her!
She does enjoy her buggy and her wodden walker to push things around in so they were worthwhile.
I agree that the only thing you can do is wear them out. She only started walking at 16 months but its made life so much easier.
Yesterday we went to a farm and today to a local discovery centre type place. We also regualry do Rhymetme at the libary, feed the ducks, parks - anything that means I havent got to sit inside watching her go stir crazy. Most mornings I cant wait to get out

In terms of things DS loves to play with - jigsaws, cars and his garage, train set, dressing up clothes. He also loves cooking and dancing along to music.

One of our best buys was a big, fold up tumble mat. Him and his daddy spend hours running across the kitchen and jumping on it, doing rolly pollies (sp) etc.

Moomer: what a fab question youve asked! I have found the responses really helpful and lots of fab ideas. DD is coming up for 11 months and she's pulling herself up this week for the first time. Time is rushing by and its a great idea to think ahead about the coming years!
I shall watch this thread with interest.

Mainly as I wish I'd followed more advice when he was a young baby, and I didn't feel remotely prepared for any of it! I'm always really interested to hear how other Mum's handle it all, and I was a bit worried by hearing what a nightmare toddlers can be, but it sounds like it will be good fun too. Mine used to be a fab little sleeper but now wakes himself up doing all kinds of weird acrobatics in his cot, can anyone reassure me that this is just a phase he'll grow out of..?

Moomer, FWIW, I'm really loving the age DS is now (18 months). I found his first year really hard, especially the mewborn bit but now he can communicate, it's much easier.

DS is stubborn, like your son, and the constant negotiation is really wearing (I miss the times when I could just pick him up and take him from place to place, rather than having to persuade him to move!) but you soon develop tactics for getting them to do what you want...not that it always works! And the resulting tantrums when you don't give in can be hard going...

But I love that he's talking, that he's interested in the world (seeing a motorbike is just the Best Thing Ever!), and how funny he can be. He cracks me up every day and we have lots of fun together.

Of course, it may all go tits up when he hits the terrible twos but so far, I like the toddler stage.

I second everything HensMum said.

I'm also finding this stage a lot of fun and easier than the first year, I think its because we can communicate now.

some of these a nice and encouraging! Mine had a mini tantrum over sitting and eating his breakfast this morning which tried my patience, so gawd knows how I'll cope with anything full blown, say, in the middle of the shopping centre! Any other babies/toddlers doing bed time workouts? Went in four times last night to straighten him out and then listened to him caroling for half an hour at five am