Bladder and bowel control can only occur once the nerves and muscles involved are fully developed. This occurs at approximately 24 months of age. Your toddler will begin to make the connection between her inner sensations and the physical reality of passing a stool or urine. The nerves to the bowel and bladder need to […]
As soon as your toddler outgrows his cot, and makes the transition into a ‘big bed’, there may be some high jinks at bedtime. Most parents do want to foster night-time independence in their toddlers, and really do feel quite desperate at the thought of another night spent negotiating with a roaming toddler. Some children […]
Many of the common baby bedtime mistakes parents make, are carried through to toddlerhood. Whether your toddler’s sleep issues have always been there, or whether they are a new phenomenon, with a bit of work and perseverance, they will soon be a distant bad memory! Ann Richardson, author of Toddler Sense, discusses the common bedtime […]
There is nothing more blood chilling than your baby waking abruptly screaming. As you bolt awake from a deep sleep, the thoughts racing through your mind will include what bad dream has she had now and how can I comfort her. The question is when do nightmares start and are they traumatic for your baby? […]
No one tells you even half the story when you are pregnant! No one mentions what it’s like to hold an inconsolable baby – not knowing why she is crying. No one mentions or if they do you have no idea how tearful it can make you. And no one mentions maternal guilt – the […]
How many of us (pre-kids) stood in a shop and shook our heads at the apparent lack of control ‘some parents’ have over their toddlers. Naughty, rude and badly behaved may have been our natural thoughts. Of course, just as many of us have stood in the same shop with our own toddler, the blood […]
Summer is nearly upon us and I have been thinking of all the activities I am looking forward to with my children. Luckily in South Africa we can take advantage of our good weather and be out and about with our tots. I am a believer in Nature as our best teacher. It stimulates all […]
Herewith, an easy to use table outlining your little one’s sleep for the first 4 years covering hours of sleep required, number of day sleeps, and common problems to rule out. “When will my baby sleep through the night?” “Why is he waking at night?” “When should she sleep during the day?” These are just […]
Sr Ann Richardson answers the most common questions from mothers of toddlers and how to remedy their toddler sleep issues: My 17 month old daughter still sleeps in my bed This needn’t be a problem if you enjoy it, but if it is impacting on the quality of sleep that the family is getting, then […]
Expanding your family is exciting and a great cause of joy, but it won’t be without its ups and downs! Here are some tips to prepare your toddler (and yourself) for the new baby. It is perfectly normal for you to be worried about managing to have enough love for another child, so don’t fall […]