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Parenting Babies and Toddlers

Adult playing with child

Let your child play, help your child grow, and keep your child safe.

Giving your child simple choices throughout the day gives them confidence and teaches them problem solving skills.

More parenting tips from local famillies are available on our YouTube channel.

Help your child grow | Give them choices (transcript)

Video description

Woman and child in kitchen.

Text on screen

Let your child play

Woman's voice

Feeling powerless can be really frustrating for kids so I try and give my daughter choices throughout the day to help build her confidence and work on her problem-solving skills.

Choices like do you want monkey or owl?

Child's voice

Monkey...Owl!

Woman's voice

Blue cup or yellow cup?

Woman's voice

Blue....Yellow!

Sometimes, what do you want to wear today? But maybe let's leave that up to mommy for now.

Text on screen

Let me play. Help me grow. Keep me safe. kflaph.ca/Parenting

Almost all parents find it difficult to balance safety and a child's need to move and explore. Children need freedom to play and move. When we restrict activity, there are many lifelong consequences. Encouraging play at every age is important. The way you parent your child changes as they age, go through developmental stages, and based on their temperament.

Let your child play

Play helps your child's brain and body grow and thrive.

Imitate your baby's sounds when playing with them. This is the start of conversation. Try imitating faces your baby makes too.
Play with all of your child's senses. Incorporate sound, touch, and colour into your play.
Provide your child with tummy time. Put your baby down on the floor for tummy time. Place soft balls and toys near your baby for him to reach and grasp. Even newborns need time to stretch their muscles and move their arms and legs.
Have fun with your child. Get on the floor and be silly with your child. Kick or roll a ball back and forth, and dance to music. Make funny sounds and laugh together.

Help your child grow

Babies and toddlers need sleep, healthy food and activity to grow.

Create a routine. Having a routine can help make a child feel secure, and can help your child get enough sleep.
Offer healthy food choices. Offer meals and snacks every 2 and a half to 3 hours to prevent your child from getting upset because they're hungry. At 1 year of age, children need three meals and two to three snacks each day. Allow your child to decide how much to eat.
Provide choices. Whenever possible, give your toddler options. For example, "Would you like the red cup or the blue cup?"
Move with your baby. Babies under 1 year of age should be active several times every day, and toddlers should move for 180 minutes a day for healthy growth and development. Any movement counts - more activity is better.
Limit prolonged sitting or being restrained such as in strollers, swings and car seats. Prolonged sedentary time affects healthy growth and development.
Avoid screens. Screen time is not recommended for children under 2 years of age.

Keep your child safe

Adult and toddler playing at the park on rocks

Babies and toddlers need active supervision to prevent injury.

Pay attention. Babies and toddlers can move fast and cannot understand danger. They need parents to be present and pay attention.
Make your space safe. Consider what your baby or toddler can reach and any possible hazards.
Use distraction. Babies and toddlers can't remember rules. Instead, offer a different activity. For example, if your child is playing with the remote control, put it up high, and give your child some blocks instead. Your child might be upset for a moment, but will enjoy playing with you even more.
Do not spank. Spanking can teach children that hitting is okay, and cause them to distrust their parents.

Resources

Active for Life
Outside Play
Nipissing District Development Screens - Looksee Checklist
Nutri-eSTEP - a fast and simple way to check if your toddler age 18 to 35 months old, or preschooler age 3 to 5 years old, is a healthy eater.
Safe Sleep - Government of Canada
Consumer products and cosmetics - Government of Canada
Unlock Food
Your child's development: What to expect - Caring for Kids
Comfort, Play, and Teach Parenting Moments (PDF) - Infant Mental Health Promotion

It's okay to take care of yourself. It's part of parenting

You are a parent, and you are important. Sometimes parents think that they don't have time to take care of themselves, or that they don't matter as much as their children. Taking care of yourself makes you a better parent. You'll have more energy and patience. Children learn their lifestyle behaviours from their parents and caregivers, so you'll also be teaching them how to take care of themselves.

Taking care of yourself doesn't always mean taking time to be alone or away from your children. While some people find time away refreshing, it can be very difficult to arrange. Try making self care part of your daily routine. This can be as simple as taking a walk on your break at work, making sure you get to bed on time, or taking 5 minutes in the morning to eat a healthy breakfast.

Reach out for support

Adults and babies in a classroom playing

You've probably heard the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child". This is true! It is okay to ask for help from your family, friends, and community.

Attend a parent drop-in. You may meet other parents with children the same age as yours.
It's okay to ask for help. Ask family, friends, or people in your community. Sometimes people want to help but don't know how. Be direct, for example "Can you please throw a load of laundry in for me?" or "Can you please bring dinner when you come to visit?".

Learn about parenting

Parenting isn't always easy. It's a skill you learn.

Attend a workshop. You may hear a new idea that you haven't tried before.
Learn about ages and stages. Sometimes parents want their child to behave in a way that is not realistic for their age of a child. Knowing what is typical behaviour for your child's age is helpful.

Take care of your physical well-being

This means eating well, getting enough sleep, and being active. While this isn't always easy to do, it's important for parents.

Make healthy eating and physical activity a priority. Take a family walk in the evening, or cook a family meal while your baby plays beside you.
Have a set bedtime and stick to it. Bedtime routines are great for kids and parents.

Take care of your mental well-being

Your child is affected by your mood and emotions, good and bad. While you cannot eliminate all stress from your life, it is important that you find ways to cope with stress.

Learn to let things go. Crumbs and over flowing laundry are normal when you have small children. Be easy on yourself and let go of the idea that you need to be perfect.
Talk to someone if you have concerns. If you aren't feeling yourself, talk to your doctor, your friends or family.
Take care of your relationships. Healthy relationships with friends and partners are important to your mental health. Check-in with friends when you can, and have open and honest communication with your partner.
Know the importance of parent mental health.

Listen, respond, and connect with your child

Your child's relationship with you is key to their health, development, and well-being. Warm and responsive parenting builds a strong foundation for developing trust, confidence, self-control, and healthy relationships. The relationship that is built between a baby and their caregiver is called attachment.

Listen to your child

Even though babies and toddlers may not have many words, they still communicate:

Look for cues. Babies communicate in many ways, including facial expressions, body actions, and sounds. For example, a baby may look away from you if they are overwhelmed, or suck on their hand when they are hungry.
Be face-to-face with your child. Talk to your baby during feedings, and get on the floor and play with your child.
Be easy on yourself. It takes awhile to learn your baby's cues. Remember, you and your baby are learning together.
Learn more about your child's speech and language.

Respond to your child

When you respond to your baby's needs in a warm and loving manner, your baby learns that you will be there to help, and may cry less often.

Comfort your baby or toddler when they are sick, hurt, or upset. By comforting your child when they are upset, you are teaching them that you will be there when they need you. This helps your child feel safe.
Respond with both facial expressions and words. For example: when your baby looks to you, smile back.
Talk to your baby. Speak in a soft and gentle voice. Tell them about the world around you.

You cannot spoil a baby with love and comfort.

Connect with your child

It may take time, but you and your child will form a special bond.

Read, sing, and talk to your child. This will strengthen your relationship with your baby, and will help your baby's brain to grow.
Focus on feedings. They are a great time to connect. Limit distractions when you feed your child. Be face to face and talk to them.
Be present. Limit distractions such as phones, tablets, and television.
Get to know your baby. Discover what makes them happy or sad. Learn what comforts them, and how they like to play.

Resources

Parent Further
Healthy Baby Healthy Brain (video)
Speech and Language Skills - What You Can Do Now - KFL&A Public Health

Help your child recognize and work through their emotions. All feelings matter.

All emotions are healthy and important - even negative ones such as anger, frustration, and sadness. As a parent, you can help your child learn to cope with strong emotions. When children can identify their feelings and work through their emotions, they will be better able to cope with life's ups and downs.

Help your baby or toddler recognize their emotions

When children can identify their feelings, they are better able to cope with them. Try the following tips to help your child cope with their feelings:

Name your child's emotions, for example, "It looks like you are frustrated with that toy."
Give your child the words or signs to ask for what they want or need.
Acknowledge that their emotions are okay, for example, "I know it can be sad when your milk spills. I'd be sad too."
Teach your child about other's emotions. Read stories showing pictures of people with different expressions. This helps them learn about their own emotions and helps them learn to cope with new experiences.

Help your baby or toddler work through their emotions

Child laughing, smiling, and angry

Make sure your child gets enough sleep and is offered enough healthy food choices. When your child is hungry or tired, it is hard for them to control their feelings.
Let your child know that it is okay to ask for help, and that it's okay to make mistakes.
Offer choices. Allowing your child to make simple decisions will help build their confidence.
Role model how you cope with emotions. When parents stay calm and positive, they teach their children how to respond to stress.
Teach your child ways to cope with big emotions. Taking deep breaths or slowly counting to five, for example, will help teach your child how to respond to stress.
Hug your child. Let them know you are there for them when they need you. With babies and toddlers, sometimes a cuddle and attention from you can fix anything!

Resources

Parenting in KFL&A play list - KFL&A Public Health.
Emotions - KFL&A Public Health
Children See, Children Learn
Building Resilience in Young Children (PDF) - Best Start

Parenting in KFL&A community videos

Community members submitted their own videos sharing tips on how to listen, respond, and connect with your child. View all of the videos on our agency's YouTube channel.