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| Wearing his new Attipas shoes. |
In short, he has gotten 6 new teeth (2 top molars, 2 top canines, 2 bottom molars); he had his first bout of viral throat infection last month; and now, he's almost recovered from stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). Quite a handful huh?
Monthly recap @ 16 months
Monthly recap @ 16 months
From babycenter.com:
Week 1
Where, oh where, has your baby gone? You have a full-fledged toddler now. Walking and running still top the agenda, but take note of how complex his movements have become. When he crosses a room, he'll squat to pick up an interesting toy or stop to stack some blocks. He may even push a stool or chair over to the kitchen counter so he can climb up for a better look.
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| He loves balloons! |
Week 2
Your toddler is learning how to get a laugh out of you and what brings your disapproval. He's studying your reactions, so now's the time to start teaching right from wrong by cheering on "good" behavior (picking up a toy and putting it in the toy box) and frowning on "bad" (throwing the toy across the room). And don't forget to watch what you say and do. He learns how to behave by imitating others close to him.
He's beginning to develop a sense of what's okay and what's not. Much of his "naughty" behavior is not intentional defiance. He's testing your limits to better understand what they are. Sometimes it's simply curiosity: "Mommy said not to play with the DVD drawer – did she really mean it?" Or "I'm not allowed to throw peas off the highchair, but what about crackers? What about milk?"
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| "Dueling" with the Energizer Man. |
Week 3
Your toddler is getting better at using his five senses. He may suddenly stop to listen to the sound of a dog barking, squat down to get a better look at the ants crawling on the sidewalk, or take delight in running sand through his hands. Whenever you can, get down on your toddler's level and play in the sand (or peer at an anthill, or poke at an earthworm) with him. You'll remember what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a child.
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| Playing his Duplo "guitar" while watching nursery rhymes. He loves music very much! |
Is "screen time" really bad for a young toddler? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time at all – whether it's viewing a television show, a DVD, or something else – before age 2. Obviously, a viewing session here or there won't damage your child. And it can be a lifesaver when you're desperate to keep your little one occupied for once in a while. But ideally you'll keep screen time to a minimum and not use it as a regular babysitter. If you do let your child watch, select specific shows that are targeted at young children and have a gentle pace.
According to the AAP, any positive effect of screen time on infants and toddlers is still open to question, but the benefits of parent-child interactions are proven. Under age 2, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child's development than any show.
Week 4
Toddlers live large, play hard, and love big. When they get upset, they can act irrationally, just like adults do. And they often have emotional outbursts to clear out the bad feelings – which can be difficult for you to endure without erupting yourself. Before losing your cool, remember that your child's lack of self-control is normal. He'll eventually learn what's socially acceptable by the way you and others react to his antics. Try to respond calmly and enforce the limits you've set so things don't escalate.
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Dealing with tantrums
This is a new and tough learning curve - one that I have no choice but to learn to deal with it.
Dealing with tantrums
This is a new and tough learning curve - one that I have no choice but to learn to deal with it.
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| In the midst of protesting. |
Temper tantrums: a response to frustration due to limited language skills
Children between the ages of 1 and 3 are especially prone to tantrums. However, it's unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, he's having a meltdown in response to frustration.
Toddlers are beginning to understand a lot more of the words they hear,
yet their ability to produce language is so limited. When your child
can't express how he feels or what he wants, frustration mounts.
How to handle a tantrum
1. Don't lose your cool
- Just sit down and be with him while he raged.
- Don't stomp out of the room – this makes him feel abandoned. The storm of emotion he's going through can be frightening to him, and he'll appreciate knowing you're nearby.
- Calmly leave the room for a few minutes and return after your child has stopped crying. By staying calm, you'll help him calm down, too.
- Consistency is key to making it work.
2. Remember that you're the adult
- No matter how long the tantrum continues, don't give in to unreasonable demands or try to negotiate with your screaming toddler.
- By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that throwing a fit is a good way to get what she wants, which sets the stage for future conflicts. Besides, your child is already frightened by being out of control. The last thing she needs is to feel that you're not in control either.
- If your child's outburst escalates to the point that she's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick her up and carry her to a safe place, such as her bedroom. Tell her why she's there ("because you hit Aunt Sally"), and let her know that you'll stay with her until she can be calm.
- If you're in a public place – a common breeding ground for tantrums – be prepared to leave with your child until she calms down.
3. Talk it over afterward
- When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Discuss the tantrum in very simple terms and acknowledge your child's frustration. Help her put her feelings into words by saying something like, "You were very angry because your food wasn't the way you wanted it."
- Let her see that once she expresses himself in words, she'll get better results. Say with a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't understand you. Now that you're not screaming, I can find out what you want."
4. Let your child know you love him
- Once your child is calm and you've had a chance to talk to him about his tantrum, give him a quick hug and tell him that you love him.
- It's important to reward good behavior, including your child being able to settle down and talk things over with you
5. Try to head off tantrum-inducing situations
- Pay attention to which situations push your child's buttons and plan accordingly. If he falls apart when he's hungry, carry snacks with you. If he gets cranky in the late afternoon, take care of errands earlier in the day.
- If he has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give him a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting him to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives him a chance to adjust instead of react.
- If you sense a tantrum is on the way, try distracting your child by changing locations, giving him a toy, or doing something he doesn't expect, like making a silly face or pointing at a bird.
- Your toddler is becoming more independent, so offer him choices whenever possible. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!"
Nice quote: "The JOY of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times. But amid the challenges, there are SHINING moments of joy & satisfaction."
So true! :)
1. Don't lose your cool
- Just sit down and be with him while he raged.
- Don't stomp out of the room – this makes him feel abandoned. The storm of emotion he's going through can be frightening to him, and he'll appreciate knowing you're nearby.
- Calmly leave the room for a few minutes and return after your child has stopped crying. By staying calm, you'll help him calm down, too.
- Consistency is key to making it work.
2. Remember that you're the adult
- No matter how long the tantrum continues, don't give in to unreasonable demands or try to negotiate with your screaming toddler.
- By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that throwing a fit is a good way to get what she wants, which sets the stage for future conflicts. Besides, your child is already frightened by being out of control. The last thing she needs is to feel that you're not in control either.
- If your child's outburst escalates to the point that she's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick her up and carry her to a safe place, such as her bedroom. Tell her why she's there ("because you hit Aunt Sally"), and let her know that you'll stay with her until she can be calm.
- If you're in a public place – a common breeding ground for tantrums – be prepared to leave with your child until she calms down.
3. Talk it over afterward
- When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Discuss the tantrum in very simple terms and acknowledge your child's frustration. Help her put her feelings into words by saying something like, "You were very angry because your food wasn't the way you wanted it."
- Let her see that once she expresses himself in words, she'll get better results. Say with a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't understand you. Now that you're not screaming, I can find out what you want."
4. Let your child know you love him
- Once your child is calm and you've had a chance to talk to him about his tantrum, give him a quick hug and tell him that you love him.
- It's important to reward good behavior, including your child being able to settle down and talk things over with you
5. Try to head off tantrum-inducing situations
- Pay attention to which situations push your child's buttons and plan accordingly. If he falls apart when he's hungry, carry snacks with you. If he gets cranky in the late afternoon, take care of errands earlier in the day.
- If he has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give him a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting him to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives him a chance to adjust instead of react.
- If you sense a tantrum is on the way, try distracting your child by changing locations, giving him a toy, or doing something he doesn't expect, like making a silly face or pointing at a bird.
- Your toddler is becoming more independent, so offer him choices whenever possible. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!"
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| Source |
Nice quote: "The JOY of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times. But amid the challenges, there are SHINING moments of joy & satisfaction."
So true! :)
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Glad he is alright and recovered now. My boy also turning 16 months old tomorrow. He has more than 8 teeth now, hard to count with him reluctant to open his mouth for me.
ReplyDeleteHi little J! One day let's meet for play date. :)
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