Sleep Aids For Toddlers

Part of helping your toddler learn good sleep habits is teaching him to fall asleep on his own. But even the best sleepers sometimes need a little extra assistance — which is where sleep aids come in. These techniques and products run the gamut from a teddy bear to a glass of warm milk, but all share a common purpose: helping your toddler get to sleep. But although sleep aids are often useful, some come with a downside, too. You want your child to learn to get to sleep by himself, not depend on the presence of a particular product or condition.

Look below to find a sleep aid that's right for you and your toddler. (A word of caution: Never give your child sleeping pills or other drugs that encourage sleep without consulting his doctor first — it may not be safe or effective. Most experts also frown upon giving herbs to toddlers, since no safe pediatric doses have been established and they could be toxic in high doses.)

Tried and true
Choose one of these sleep aids and you can't go wrong — all will help your toddler fall asleep without leading to any problems or bad sleep habits.

Thumb sucking
Thumb sucking is a perfectly acceptable way for your child to comfort himself, at bedtime or any other time — although it can lead to dental problems in older children. Thumb sucking is a way for a toddler to soothe himself, not only when he's sleepy but also at other times of the day.

Nightlight
Many toddlers get disoriented and upset when they wake up at night in a dark room and can't see anything they recognize. Luckily, there's a simple solution: A night-light will reassure your child that he's in familiar surroundings and help him settle himself back to sleep. Get in the habit of flipping it on as you're getting him ready for bed. Any kind will do, though some fancy models include a tape or CD player you can attach to your toddler's crib.

Bedtime ritual
The experts all agree: One of the best ways to help your child make the transition to bedtime and sleep is to establish a calming, consistent bedtime ritual. Your ritual can include any (or all) of the following: giving your toddler a bath, playing a quiet game, helping your child into his pajamas, reading a bedtime story or two, singing a lullaby, and giving him a kiss goodnight. Whatever routine works for your family is fine, as long as you do it in the same order and at the same time every night. Setting and sticking to a consistent bedtime — on weekdays and weekends alike — is key to establishing good sleep habits.

Transitional object
Your toddler may fall asleep more easily if he has a soft, cuddly blanket or stuffed animal nearby to keep him company. According to T. Berry Brazelton, author of Touchpoints, toddlers who learn to comfort themselves with loveys (as he calls them) are demonstrating their inner strength.

Warm milk
Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed is a time-tested way to fall asleep. The amino acid l-Tryptophan (found in milk and other foods, such as turkey and eggs) is thought to play a role in making you sleepy by raising the level of serotonin — a sleep-inducing chemical — in the brain, though the benefits may be purely psychological. Be sure not to let your toddler take a bottle or sippy cup of milk or juice to bed with him, though, since that can lead to cavities.

Maybe, maybe not
Although some parents swear by the following methods and products, the experts are divided on their usefulness. Pediatrician William Sears endorses doing anything that helps your toddler fall asleep, but other sleep experts, such as Richard Ferber and Jodi Mindell, advise against any practice or gizmo that leads to your toddler depending on its presence to nod off. Read through the following list with this thought in mind: The ultimate goal isn't just a sleeping child, but one who knows how to get to sleep by himself every night.

Rocking or breastfeeding
Rocking or nursing your toddler is a wonderful way to parent him to sleep, says Sears, author of Nighttime Parenting. Ferber and Mindell don't recommend rocking or nursing to sleep, stating that you'll only be teaching your child to depend on it to get to sleep. (Also, shifting your growing toddler from your arms to his crib without waking him is often a tricky matter.)

Pacifier
Although pacifiers help many toddlers comfort themselves back to sleep if they wake up during the night, some experts agree they're not the best sleep aid. Why not? If your toddler learns to depend on one at bedtime and it falls out of his reach, he won't be able to go back to sleep until he finds it. Of course, suggests Jodi Mindell, you can try to avoid that problem by strategically placing several pacifiers in his crib.

Ambient noise recording / machine
You can buy or make simple compact discs and cassettes of regular household "music" (vacuuming, water running, or windshield wipers) or invest in a white noise machine. These products supply calming background sounds to help your child fall asleep. All these remedies should be considered short-term solutions, though, since your toddler needs to learn to fall asleep on his own rather than depend on special noises — or any of the other products discussed below.

Music
In the same family as ambient noise are tapes and discs of lullabies, classical music, and other kids' favorites. Of course, singing a lullaby yourself before he falls asleep is always a great option, since your toddler responds best to your voice, but popping a tape in after you've warbled your favorite tune may help him drift into dreamland. A music box or musical lamp may also work.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Our Favorite Bedtime Stories For Toddlers

Reading any book is a soothing way to send your toddler off to dreamland — but stories about going to bed, sleeping, or dreaming are particularly suitable for bedtime, and can even help your child understand and accept bedtime rituals. The right book will also help your toddler view going to bed as a natural part of her day, and the recitation of daily activities will help her link words with objects and activities, as well as build her vocabulary. No matter which book you pull out at bedtime, read it in a soothing voice to help calm and reassure your toddler.

Once your child is 2, even a sleepytime book may need a bit of plot to hold her interest. But don't choose something too action-packed or one that introduces new concepts. After all, you want your child to be putting aside thoughts and worries before sleep, not grappling with new ones.

Here are some of our favorite books for toddlers, guaranteed to make at least one of you sleepy:

• The Big Red Barn, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Follow the charming story of a day in the life of a group of farm animals told with appealing color illustrations and simple rhymes that even the youngest toddler can enjoy. A pink pig learns to squeal, a mouse is born in a field, and by the last page the baby animals are snuggling up with their parents for the night. If you're looking for bedtime books, this gentle tale is one of the best.

• Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann
When the zookeeper makes his nighttime rounds, one mischievous gorilla steals his keys and follows him, releasing the other animals from their cages one by one. Under a moonlit sky, they parade silently behind the sleepy zookeeper and follow him into his house, where the keeper's wife discovers them and escorts them back to their beds. Practically wordless, the book tells a delightful going-to-bed story with magical illustrations that will enchant your child.

• Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
For decades children have taken the story of the little rabbit in Goodnight Moon to heart as he performs his evening ritual of saying goodnight to every object in his room, including "a comb, and a brush, and a bowl full of mush." Clement Hurd's illustrations start out intensely colored and gradually fade to shades of gray as the bunny grows drowsy. Many parents tell us they depend on this quintessential bedtime book to help their children nod off at night.

• Mama, Do You Love Me?, by Barbara M. Joose, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
When you want your child to know your love is forever, this book offers a warm way to get that message across. A little girl poses a series of questions such as, What if I broke something? Played a trick on you? Ran away and lived with wolves? Her mother replies that no matter what, "I will love you, forever and for always, because you are my dear one." What better message to send your child off to dreamland with? Dashes of humor ("What if I put salmon in your parka ... and lemmings in your mukluks?") add a light touch, as do the joyful illustrations depicting a snowy landscape of sleds and sled dogs, wolves, walruses, and other animals.

• The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
When a young bunny threatens to run away and become a rock ... a fish ... a flower ... his mother joins him in his imaginary flight and assures him that she'll follow wherever he goes. It's a sweet story of the unconditional love of a mother for her child, told in soothing rhythms — an ideal book for helping your toddler go to sleep feeling safe and cared for.

• Snoozers: Seven Short Short Bedtime Stories for Lively Little Kids, by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton's charming Snoozers serves up seven bite-size tales sweetened with humor to help reluctant sleepers get to bed with a giggle. Each little story takes a minute or less to read — so you can tailor bedtime reading to your child's attention span. Colorful tabs help kids turn the pages themselves. And the wonderfully absurd "Silly Lullaby" at the end just might become a family favorite: "Go to sleep, my zoodle / my fibblety-fitsy foo / Go to sleep, sweet noodle / The owl is whisp'ring, 'Moo.' "

• Sylvia Long's Mother Goose
Lavish illustrations filled with gentle animals create a magical backdrop for all the familiar Mother Goose rhymes, plus some you've never heard before. Scary images have been carefully softened: When Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall, a duckling emerges from his broken egg. And instead of whipping her children, the old woman who lives in a shoe "kissed them all sweetly and sent them to bed."

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Bedtime Battles

Why it happens
You put your toddler to bed at 8:30 at night. You hug him, kiss him, and wish him sweet dreams. It's been a long day. The dinner dishes await you, your spouse has to pay the bills, the dog needs to be walked, the cat needs to be fed, and you haven't had a moment to sit down and put your feet up. But nope — instead of spending the rest of the night catching up on your chores and spending some precious time with your partner, you're in and out of your child's room, cajoling him to go to sleep. He finally does — three hours later. Sound familiar? You'd be surprised at just how many of your fellow parents face this scenario night after night.

Sometimes you can tell your toddler's fighting sleep — he rubs his eyes, yawns repeatedly, and falls apart at the merest hint of frustration. Other times he may seem wide awake, even hyper, but this can be another form of exhaustion. What's happening is the toddler version of "so much to do, so little time"; there's so much going on around him — Daddy's in the living room poring over the mail, the pets are scuttling about, and you're moving from room to room — that he wants to be part of the action. Also, just like other toddlers, your child is beginning to understand that he's separate from you and is his own person, so he wants to assert his independence. Refusing to go to bed at night is one way he asserts control.

What to do
Teach your child to fall asleep alone. If your child will to go to bed only if you're around, he's forming bad habits that will be hard to break later. The best lesson you can teach him is how to soothe himself to sleep. Follow a nightly bedtime ritual (bath, books, and bed, for example) so he knows what's expected of him and what to expect at night. You can tell him that if he stays in bed you'll come back in five minutes to check on him. Let him know that he's safe and that you'll be nearby.

Don't let him dawdle. Toddlers are great negotiators, and they're no different when it comes to bedtime. And because they so enjoy the time they spend with you, they'll do what they can to prolong the time they have with you. Your child may take his time doing his usual nightly routine, ask repeatedly for a glass of water, or keep requesting that you come to his room because he needs something. If you suspect he's stalling, don't let him. Tell him it's time for bed and that he can finish working on his art project the next day or find the stuffed bunny the following morning.

You may want to anticipate all of your child's usual (and reasonable) requests and make them part of the bedtime routine. Fill up a glass of water before bed and have him put it on his night table, remind him to use the potty one more time, and give him lots of extra hugs to last him the whole night. Then allow your child one extra request — but make it clear that one is the limit. He'll feel like he's getting his way, but you'll know you're really getting yours.

Offer him acceptable choices at bedtime. These days your toddler is beginning to test the limits of his newfound independence. To help him feel empowered, let your child make choices whenever possible at bedtime, from which story he wants to hear to what pajamas he'd like to wear. The trick is to offer only two or three alternatives and to make sure you're happy with every choice. For example, don't ask, "Do you want to go to bed now?" He could very well say no, which isn't acceptable. Instead, try, "Do you want to go to bed now or in five minutes?" He still gets to make the choice, but you win no matter which option he picks.

Be calm but firm. Stand your ground even if your child cries or pleads for an exception to the going-to-bed rule. If you're frustrated, try not to engage in a power struggle. Speak calmly and quietly but insist that when time's up, time's up. If you give into his request for "five minutes more, please" once, you'll hear it again and again. If he throws a fit, ignore it as you do other tantrums. By paying attention to him — even if you're displeased with him — you've reinforced his behavior.

Moving him to a big-kid bed. Between the ages of 2 1/2 and 4, your child has probably outgrown his crib and is ready to give it up. Moving from his crib to a bed signals to him that he's becoming a big kid. You can tell him that part of getting older is learning how to go to bed when he needs to rest and doing so on his own. Once he's using his new bed, be sure to praise your child when he stays in it at bedtime and overnight. After the confinement of his crib, your child may get out of his big-kid bed over and over just because he can. If your toddler gets up, temper your reaction. Simply take him back to bed, firmly tell him that it's time to go to sleep, and leave. If he still won't stay in bed, you can try one of several strategies recommended by the top sleep experts.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Easing Your Toddler's Fears (12 to 24 mo.)

Toddlers and fear
It's normal for your toddler to be fearful. After all, anxiety is a natural condition that helps us cope with new experiences and protects us from danger.

Some toddlers are frightened of very specific things: bugs, dogs, the dark, or loud noises, like the vacuum cleaner. Others are afraid of new situations or meeting new people. Most of your toddler's fears will fade as she becomes more secure in herself and her environment

What you can do to ease your toddler's fears
The following strategies may help, but don't expect your toddler to overcome her fears right away. It can take months — even up to a year — before a child gets over a fear. In the meantime, it's normal for your toddler to obsess over the thing that frightens her by showing fascination with it, modeling it in play, drawing pictures of it, or talking about it incessantly. It's her way of working through the issue.

Don't make light of her fears. They may seem silly and irrational, but they're very real and serious to her. Try not to smile or be dismissive when she reacts with fright to, say, a flushing toilet or a siren. Let her know you understand how it feels to be afraid of something. If you're reassuring and comforting, she'll learn that it's okay to feel afraid and it's best to deal with her fears.

Trying to convince your toddler that there isn't any reason to be afraid will only backfire. You'll probably just make her more upset if you say, "Don't worry, there's no reason to be afraid of the dog." Instead, offer security and reassurance: "I understand that the dog frightens you. Let's walk past him together. If you don't want to do that, I'll hold you while he walks past us."

Use a "lovey." A so-called comfort object — a raggedy baby blanket, perhaps, or a well-worn teddy bear — can help some children with their fears. An object like this can offer an anxious child familiarity and reassurance, especially at times when you need to leave her, such as when you drop her off at daycare or tuck her in for the night.

A lovey can also make it easier for a child to do potentially scary things like meet new people, attend a play group, or visit the doctor. So allow your toddler to hold on to her special toy or blanket. She's likely to stop carrying around that mangy-looking monkey by the time she turns 4. By then, she'll have learned other ways to soothe herself when she's frightened.

Explain, expose, and explore. A scared toddler can sometimes get over a fright if you provide a simple, rational explanation for what's worrying her. You may put an end to her fear of being sucked down the drain along with the bathwater by saying, "Water and bubbles can go down the drain, but rubber duckies and children can't." Or explain that an ambulance has to make a really loud noise so that other cars know to get out of the way.

For some toddlers, a demonstration can be reassuring. Your child may be relieved to see that while a vacuum cleaner can suck up crumbs, sand, and dirt, it can't inhale her toy train or Daddy's toes. A walk at dusk can help make nighttime seem more magical than scary. Or if your toddler's trembling at the thought of getting a hair cut, let the hairdresser snip a strand or two of your own hair to show that it doesn't hurt.

If past experiences are fueling your child's fears — previous vaccinations, for instance, making her panicky about a trip to the doctor's office — don't sugarcoat things. But don't dwell on the bad stuff, either. Gently tell her that while the shot may sting at first, it'll be over quickly, and that the two of you will do something fun afterward. The promise of a reward can help to distract her from the scary event.

You can help your child learn about frightening things from a safe distance, too. She may get over her fear of Halloween characters if she sees a picture book or video about good witches, kind ghosts, and friendly black cats. If she's scared of animals, a trip to a petting zoo, where the creatures can be stroked and fed, may help.

Another way to reassure your toddler is to tell her an uplifting story about another child who does what he's afraid to do and survives the experience unscathed. Make up something off the top of your head, or browse the library for books on the subject.

Problem-solve together. If your toddler's afraid of the dark, get a nightlight for her room. Other tactics you can use to banish bedtime fears include a designated guard (a beloved stuffed animal), "monster spray" (water in a spray-bottle), or a magic phrase that wards off unwelcome visitors.

Through trial and error, you and your toddler will figure out together what helps to increase her sense of power and control over things that frighten her.

Practice through pretend play. If your child is terrified of the doctor, she may benefit from role-playing what happens at the doctor's office (a toy doctor's kit can help). Some toddlers feel more confident when they actually visit the doctor if they come with their kit in tow.

If your toddler shrinks at the sight of strangers, she may feel less frightened if she acts out such encounters using dolls or stuffed animals. If people in costumes scare her, dress up together to help ease her fears.

Don't share your own fears. If your toddler sees you break out in a sweat because there's a spider in the bedroom or cringe when you walk into the dentist's office, then she's likely to feel scared of these things, too. So try to work through your own anxieties or at least try to downplay them.

It's okay, however, to confess that you didn't like going to the dentist as a kid, but you went to keep your teeth healthy. It helps a child to know she's not alone, and that you, too, learned to overcome something scary.

Seek advice. Talk to other parents about your toddler's particular fears and how to handle them.

What to watch out for
If your toddler's fears routinely interfere with her normal daily activities — if she won't wash her hair because she's afraid of water, or she resists going outside for fear of encountering a dog — talk to her doctor about the problem, especially if her fears have intensified over time. She may have a genuine phobia (an intense and persistent irrational fear) or an anxiety disorder.

It's also a good idea to seek a doctor's advice if your toddler reacts to a fear so severely that she simply can't be calmed.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center--Toilet Training Readiness Checklist (12 to 24 mo.)

It probably seems like just yesterday that you changed your toddler's first diaper, and now you're wondering if it's time to start toilet training. There's no magic age at which children are ready to start learning how to use the potty, but some develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills between 18 and 24 months of age. Many parents don't start potty training until their children are 2 1/2 to 3 years old, when daytime bladder control has become more reliable. And some children aren't interested in potty training until they're closer to 3, or even 4.

Use the checklist below to measure your toddler's progress toward readiness, and keep in mind that starting before your child is truly ready doesn't mean you'll finish sooner — it's more likely that the process will just end up taking longer.

You don't have to wait until you've checked off every item to start training. Just look for a general trend toward independenceand an understanding of what it means to go to the bathroom like a grown-up.

Physical signs

Is coordinated enough to walk, and even run, steadily.

Urinates a fair amount at one time.

Has regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times.

Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours, which shows that his bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine.

Behavioral signs

Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes.

Can pull his pants up and down.

Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty diaper.

Shows interest in others' bathroom habits (wants to watch you go to the bathroom or wear underwear.

Gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you.

Demonstrates a desire for independence.

Takes pride in his accomplishments.

Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet.

Is in a generally cooperative stage, not a negative or contrary one.

Cognitive signs

Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy."

Understands the value of putting things where they belong.

Has words for urine and stool.

Understands the physical signals that mean he has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until he has time to get to the potty.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Tooth Care for Toddlers (12 to 24 mo.)

What's the best way to brush my child's teeth?
While your child's early teeth are still coming in, you can clean them with a wet washcloth or a piece of gauze. By the time his back molars have come in (around 18 months), you can switch to a soft nylon-bristle child's toothbrush. Using plain water, gently brush the teeth on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day. Brush his tongue as well (if he'll let you) to dislodge the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Replace the toothbrush as soon as the bristles start to look worn or splayed out.

When should I let my toddler start brushing his own teeth?
As soon as he is willing and able, it's a good idea to let him try to brush his own teeth, even though he probably won't be able to do a good job of it until he's about school age. Brush your teeth while he's doing his, and then "check" each other's teeth to see if they're clean. If his teeth sparkle and reflect light, he's done a good job. If not, tell him you think he "missed a spot" and finish the job for him.

What should I do if my child won't brush?
If your child fusses every time it's time to brush, it might help to buy him a toothbrush with a special cartoon character on it. According to Liz Birka White, a mother of three in Diablo, California, this worked well for all of her children: "Adam, my firstborn, really hated brushing until I bought him an Elmo toothbrush. From that day on, he couldn't get enough. It was just the ticket I needed to interest him in brushing." You can also let your child have several brushes in different colors so that he can choose the one he wants when it's time to brush.

For a variety of other solutions, read these suggestions from parents whose children balk at brushing.

When does my child need fluoride and how can I tell if he's getting the right amount?
Developing teeth can certainly benefit from a little fluoride. This mineral prevents tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Most municipal water supplies are fortified with fluoride. (Call your local water authority or ask your dentist about yours.) If it isn't, or if you get your water from a well, consider buying a test kit from a hardware store to determine the fluoride level in your water supply. If it's less than .3 parts per million, ask your pediatrician whether you should give your child a supplement (the amount recommended for children under 3 is .25 milligrams per day). She can prescribe a fluoride supplement in the form of drops or chewable tablets.

A little fluoride is a good thing for your child's teeth, but swallowing too much of it over time can lead to a condition called fluorosis that can cause white spots to show up on his adult teeth. If you live in an area with fluoridated water, your child is most likely getting plenty of fluoride. Bottled water and fruit juices may also contain fluoride, although the amount is rarely listed on the label. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends waiting until your child is at least 2 to use fluoridated toothpaste. And when he does graduate to toothpaste, you should let him use only a pea-sized drop each time. This is because young children tend to swallow their toothpaste rather than spit it out. Swallowing too much toothpaste over time can lead to fluorosis.

When should I start taking my child to the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatrics and most pediatric dentists say it's a good idea to bring your child to a dentist around the time he turns 1, just in case there's a problem that your family doctor missed or couldn't diagnose. If your child still hasn't sprouted his first tooth by 16 months, or if you notice tooth decay, mention it to your pediatrician, who will likely refer you to a dentist.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Tooth Accidents (12 to 24 mo.)

What should I do if my toddler falls and hits a tooth?
Your active toddler is bound to fall on his face once in a while as he learns to walk, run, and climb. Occasionally he may hit a tooth.

First you'll want to make sure that your child has no other injuries (to his face or head, for example) that need emergency treatment. If he does, call 911.

If his gums start to bleed, apply pressure with a piece of wet gauze for few minutes (or until the bleeding stops). A frozen juice pop can limit the swelling and has the added benefit of taking your child's mind off the pain. Call the doctor immediately if you see anything unusual with your toddler's gums or teeth over the next week, or if you notice any signs of infection, such as fever or swelling and tenderness.

Should I take my toddler to the dentist if he hits a tooth?
If your toddler's teeth and gums look just fine and he doesn't seem to be in any pain, he should be okay without a dental check.

If the tooth is chipped or cracked and your toddler seems to be in pain, you should take him to the dentist right away, as part of the nerve may be exposed. You should also take your child to the dentist if the tooth is very loose. She may decide to pull it so that your toddler won't choke on it if it falls out on its own. Also have the dentist take a look at a tooth that seems out of place. She can evaluate whether it needs to be repositioned.

If the tooth is chipped but it doesn't seem to be bothering your toddler, schedule an appointment for the dentist to evaluate whether there are underlying cracks or other damage you can't see. She can also repair the tooth by filing it or patching it with bonding material, if you decide it's important for cosmetic reasons.

What should I do if my toddler knocks out one of his baby teeth?
Baby teeth are important because they help your child eat and speak and because they hold a spot in your baby's mouth for his permanent teeth to come in properly. Still, if a baby tooth gets knocked out, it's usually not a problem because a permanent tooth will eventually grow in its place. See the dentist to make sure that no underlying teeth were damaged and that the permanent tooth will have enough space to grow in properly without the baby tooth holding its spot.

How can I keep my toddler from hurting his teeth?
You can't completely prevent accidents, but you can help a lot by childproofing your home so that the number and severity of your child's falls are minimized. You'll want to secure rugs and close off stairways, for example. Always buckle your toddler up properly in his car seat. Also try to teach your child not to walk or run with hard objects (like a lollipop or a toothbrush) in his mouth.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Teething (12 to 24 mo.)

When will my toddler get all of his teeth?
Teething patterns vary greatly from child to child — some don't have any teeth at their first birthday, while others are sporting a mouthful by then. The vast majority of babies sprout their first teeth between 4 and 7 months of age. (If your child still doesn't have any teeth by 15 to 18 months, schedule a visit with a pediatric dentist.)

Teeth generally appear one at a time over a period of months, and often — but not always — in this order: First the bottom two middle teeth, then the top two middle ones, then the ones along the sides and back. (They may not all come in straight, but don't worry — they usually straighten out over time.) Your toddler's first molars, the wider teeth in the back of the mouth, will probably start to appear by the time he turns 1.

The last teeth to appear (the second molars, found in the very back of the mouth on the top and bottom) are usually all in place by a child's second birthday. By age 3, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth, which shouldn't fall out until his permanent teeth are ready to start coming in, around age 6.

What teething symptoms will my toddler experience?
Because your child's molars are bigger and more blunt than the middle teeth that came in first, you might expect their eruption to cause more pain. Actually, it�s likely that that your child's final teeth will come in practically unnoticed. Laura Grunbaum, a pediatrician in San Leandro, California, says few parents complain to her about their toddler's teething, either because they know what to do by now or their child simply isn't in much pain.

In fact, experts disagree about whether teething causes symptoms — like fussiness, diarrhea,and fever — or whether these common symptoms are not related to teething at all and just coincidentally appear at the same time as emerging teeth. Regardless, many parents maintain that their teething children do suffer discomfort (though some children get through the process with no problems at all). If your toddler does have teething trouble, here are the symptoms he's most likely to experience:

• Drooling (which can lead to a facial rash)

• Gum swelling and sensitivity

• Irritability or fussiness

• Biting behavior

• Refusing food

• Sleep problems

Though many parents report that their children have loose stools, runny noses, or a fever just before a new tooth arrives, most experts don't think teething is to blame for these symptoms. One who does is William Sears, pediatrician and author of The Baby Book. Sears believes that teething can cause diarrhea and a mild diaper rash because your child's excessive saliva ends up in his gut and loosens his stools. Inflammation in the gums, he thinks, may cause a low fever (under 101 degrees Fahrenheit).

On the other hand, child development experts such as Penelope Leach assert that teething cannot cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite and that these are signs of illness that should be checked out. Noted pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton says such symptoms are probably due to an infection unrelated to teething, but that the stress associated with teething could make your child more vulnerable to infection right before a new tooth appears.

The one thing experts agree on is that you should call your child's doctor if your toddler has symptoms that worry you or a rectal temperature of 102 degrees F or higher. The doctor can help determine whether your child is showing signs of a problem that needs medical attention, like an ear infection. If your toddler has loose stools — but not diarrhea — don't worry. The condition will clear up on its own.

What can I do to ease my toddler's discomfort?
The same tactics you used when he was younger may help your child now. Your teething toddler will probably continue to want to chew on things to ease the soreness in his gums. Offer him a rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth to gnaw on. Hard-baked toast, apple slices, or a frozen bagel are also a good bet. Not only are these foods soothing, but chewing them is good practice for his developing jaw. He may also get some relief from eating cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt.

If these methods aren't working, some doctors recommend giving a teething child a small dose of pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen — but check with your doctor before giving your toddler any medication. (Never give your toddler aspirin or even rub it on his gums to ease the pain. The use of aspirin in children is associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.)

Rubbing the gums with a topical pain relief gel is also an option, but you may want to ask your toddler's doctor before trying it. If you use too much, it can numb the back of your child's throat and weaken his gag reflex (which helps prevent him from choking on his saliva). The gels are generally safe to use, but in rare cases can cause an allergic reaction.

If drool causes a rash on your child's face, wipe, but don't rub, the drool away with a soft cotton cloth. You can also smooth petroleum jelly on his chin before a nap or bedtime to protect the skin from further irritation.

For advice from other parents specific to your toddler's teething woes, visit our Surviving teething bulletin board.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Teething Solutions (12 to 24 mo.)

Tender, swollen gums can make life miserable for your baby. If you haven't found the right teether to ease her distress, try one of these alternatives that worked for BabyCenter parents.

The humble washcloth
Cold washcloths were the best because they were easiest to chew on. I also used to put a crushed ice cube inside a washcloth, tie it up, and let her chew until all of the ice chips had melted. — LaTonya

Hands down, my baby's favorite soother is a fresh washcloth soaked in some brewed chamomile tea that I keep cold and ready in the fridge. Also, if you use a cold teething ring, try one with a handle of solid plastic that won't get as cold when she's holding it. — Becca

Alternative teethers
We recently discovered a vibrating teething "star." I think First Steps makes it. When she bites down, it vibrates, and the baby loves it. The rings you put in the fridge or freezer are "too cool" for her. — Kim

I purchased a Teething Blanket by Munchkin for my 16-week-old son and he loves it. I suggest that you buy two. One can be washed while the other is in use. — Kerry

We found a teether that had a freezable part and a hard plastic handle. Our daughter had a much easier time gripping the not-frozen handle. With all the other frozen teethers, she'd just fling them from her chilly little fingers. — Brenda

Frozen food as chew-toy
Frozen bagels worked well for my daughter when she started teething. — Chris

Our baby's not taking any solids yet, but we put a few frozen grapes in the baby feeder mesh bag and she absolutely LOVES chewing on it. You can put frozen bananas or even just crushed ice in it. It's a little messy, but the babies seem to enjoy it. — Julie

I'm a breastfeeding mom and a friend recommended pumping and freezing the milk in an ice cube tray then putting the frozen milk cube into a mesh feeder bag. It worked well and my daughter loved it. She was an early teether so other frozen treats were out. — Cindy

Cold and wet
My daughter thwarted all our attempts at using traditional teething soothers. We started keeping a baby bottle full of water in the fridge. Although the water has no nutritional value, the sucking was soothing and the ice-cold nipple was great for her to chew on. Just keep an eye out for A LOT more wet diapers. — Katrina

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Getting Your Toddler To Listen

Toddlers are just like the rest of us — they don't always listen. In fact, at their age they need you to teach them how to pay attention. "But what often happens," says Roni Leiderman, associate dean of the Family Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, "is that parents say something 10 times, then they start counting down to punishment. What this does is actually condition the child not to listen until the tenth time."

By not listening, your child is getting your attention (though constant nagging isn't the best form of it). But being a good listener helps your child learn more effectively, heed danger signals, get along better with you and her teachers and other adults she'll be expected to respect, and make better friends. There are many simple strategies that, when consistently followed, will teach toddlers the skills they need to become good listeners. And, as Leiderman points out, "It's never too early to begin teaching your child. A toddler may not listen as well as a 5-year-old, but she still has lots of these skills."

Get on her level.
As every parent realizes sooner or later, bellowing from a great height (much less from the other room) rarely has the desired effect. Squat down or pick your child up, so you can look her in the eye and grab her attention. She'll listen much more closely if you sit down next to her at the breakfast table when reminding her to eat up her cornflakes, or perch on her bed at night when telling her you're about to turn out the light.

Be clear.
State your message clearly, simply, and authoritatively. Your child will zone out if you harp on a topic too long. It's hard to find the point of a wordy message such as "It's really cold outside, and you've been sick lately, so I want you to put on your sweater before we go to the store." On the other hand, "It's time to get your sweater" is unmistakable. And don't phrase something as a question if your child doesn't actually have a choice. "It's time to climb into your car seat" has a lot more impact than "Come climb into your car seat, okay, honey?"

Follow through — quickly.
Make it clear that you mean what you say, and don't make threats — or promises — you won't keep. If you tell your 2-year-old, "You need to drink some milk at dinnertime," don't waffle five minutes later and let her have juice instead. If you warn her she'll have a time-out if she hits her brother, give her that time-out when the blow comes. Make sure your spouse or partner shares your rules and respects them as well, so that neither of you undermines the other.

In addition, make your follow-through speedy. You would never expect to have to shout "Don't run across the street!" five times before your child heeded you. Similarly, don't fall into the trap of repeating less urgent instructions, such as "Set your cup on the table," over and over again before expecting your child to comply. Gently guide your child's hand to place the cup on the table so she knows exactly what you want her to do.

Reinforce your message.
It often helps to follow up your verbal statement with a number of other kinds of messages, especially if you are trying to pull your child away from an absorbing activity. Say "Time for bed!" and then give a visual cue (flicking the light switch on and off), a physical cue (laying a hand on her shoulder to gently pull her attention away from her doll and toward you), and a demonstration (steering her toward her bed, pulling down the covers, and patting the pillow).

Give warnings.
Give your child some advance notice before a big change will take place, especially if she's happily involved with toys or a friend. Before you're ready to leave the house, tell her, "We're going to leave in a few minutes. When I call you, it's time to come out of the sandbox and wash your hands."

Give realistic instructions.
"If you tell a 2-year-old to put his toys away, he looks around the room and says, 'Sheesh!'" says Leiderman. "Give him realistic tasks, like 'Let's put the yellow blocks away.' Then you can make it into play: 'Good, now let's put the blue blocks away.'"

Motivate.
Yelling orders may produce results (in some children), but no one will enjoy the process. Most children respond best when you treat them with confident good humor. For example, occasionally use a silly voice or a song to deliver your message. You might sing "Now it's time to brush your teeth" to the tune of "London Bridge," for example. Stress the benefits of complying over mere dutifulness ("Brush your teeth and then you can pick out your favorite nightgown" instead of "You have to brush your teeth or you'll get cavities" or "Brush your teeth NOW!"). Praise her when she finishes brushing, with "Good listening!"

The good humor, affection, and trust you demonstrate to your child when speaking to her this way will make her want to listen to you, because she'll know that you love her and think she's special. This is an important aspect of even those strategies that require firmness. Giving straightforward, authoritative instructions does not mean you have to be crabby — such messages are much more powerful when accompanied by a hug or a smile. Then your child learns that paying attention to you is worthwhile.

Model good behavior.
Preschoolers will be better listeners if they see that you are a good listener, too. Make it a habit to listen to your child as respectfully as you would to any adult. Look at her when she talks to you, respond politely, and let her finish without interrupting whenever possible. While it may seem like a tall order when you're cooking dinner and your toddler is being especially chatty, try not to walk away from her or turn your back on her while she's talking. As with so many other behaviors, the old saw "Do as I say, not as I do" has no value when teaching your children to listen.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Music And Your Toddler Or Preschooler (age 1 to 3)

How can listening to music benefit my child?
Toddlers and preschoolers have lots to gain from listening to music. It's fun, for one thing, and it also encourages movement, which is important for young children who are perfecting their motor skills. "Kids learn through movement," says Rosalie Pratt, a professor of music medicine at Brigham Young University. "When you see them at play, they're not talking, they're moving. This is how they pick things up."

Music helps you bond with your child, too. It'll move you to dance a jig or belt out a tune, much to the thrill of your little one. Imagine the joy you'll share swaying to the beat of a lovely melody (try Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"). Or how much fun he'll have jumping with you in an energetic musical number ("The Chicken Dance" will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter).

Some experts go so far as to say that exposure to music makes children smarter, but hardly any data exists to validate this point. "The science is in its infancy," says Gordon Shaw, a physics professor and neuroscientist who studies music and brain development at the University of California at Irvine.

Is one type of music best for my toddler?
Let your child listen to whatever he likes, says Pratt. Try out your favorites, or classical music (the old standby), or spice things up with Brazilian or African tunes. Anything with a good melody will do, although slow songs may work best for bedtime and fast ones for play. In the morning, play classical music (choose something pleasant and happy, such as a tinkly piano concerto from Chopin or Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons") so he'll wake up in a light and upbeat mood.

Older kids may also enjoy a song that has a narrative they can follow, such as "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," or "Miss Mary Mack." Encourage your toddler or preschooler to move to the music and express his emotions. For some recommendations。

When it comes to playing tunes for your kids, think cheerful and simple. You may want to stay away from head-banging rock, grunge music, or rap. Animal studies show that constant exposure to chaotic, discordant music alters the brain's structure, says Pratt. Even plants seem to abhor this type of music, she argues. Ivy growing on a home where classical music was played all day long flourished better than that on houses where occupants blasted hard rock.

Your musical selections don't have to be recorded ones, either. Break out into song once in a while. Tongue-twisting tunes, such as "The Name Game" ("Nina, Nina, bo-bina, banana, fana, fofina, mee-mi-momina, Nina) are fun. Learn entire ditties as a family, and sing them on car trips or on gloomy days when you're stuck at home.

Can learning how to play an instrument benefit my child?
Yes, if he's at least 3 years old. That's when his brain circuits for music training begin to mature. And studies suggest that music lessons can increase brain power. One University of California at Irvine study shows that 3- and 4-year-olds who took piano lessons performed better on tests that measured their spatial-temporal reasoning (ability to to think in space and time) than those who didn't.

Study author Gordon Shaw says these kids may be able to learn complex math problems earlier than others who've had no musical training. The piano is a good instrument to start with, he adds, because kids don't have to master any special fingering, as they would with a guitar, violin, or other stringed instrument. Plus, the linear progression of the keys helps make the concept of music scales concrete.

Yet another study suggests that music lessons sharpen the mind, but it looked only at older children. Scientists at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, whose research was published in the journal Nature in 1998, say kids who have at least six years of music lessons before the age of 12 learn more words than those who go without. Researchers read 16-word lists three times to 60 girls. Those who had studied music for six years remembered more words than those who hadn't. Martin Gardiner of the Music School in Providence, Rhode Island, examined the effect of music and art lessons on a group of 5- to 7-year-olds who were considered "underperformers." According to the magazine The Economist, after seven months of lessons, they were tested on reading, writing, and math and found to have caught up with their peers in reading and writing, and surpassed them in math.

Elizabeth Brice, a San Francisco mom, enrolled her 3-year-old daughter Natalie in an art and movement class (which encourages kids to dance around to music and then immerse themselves in an art project). "I wanted to expose her to music and art at a young age so she could incorporate them into everything else she learns," Brice explains. "The class fosters creativity and opens up her mind." It has also given Natalie a love of music and the arts. Since then, she has attended two art and movement classes, and two other music programs.

The bottom line
Let music be an integral part of your child's life, but don't make it your mission to mold a musical genius. Child prodigies like Mozart, who wrote his first symphony at age 8, are rare. But if you offer your child a chance to be immersed in the world of music (especially if you vary the selections), he'll probably grow up to be the kind of person who appreciates all kinds of music. Encourage him to take up a musical instrument, but don't push. "It's like having a beautiful Matisse print hanging in a prominent place in your home," says Pratt. You don't force the child to look at it every day, but it's there for him to enjoy. It's an enrichment process. "The presence of music is what matters," she adds.

When you expose your child to culture, he acquires a taste for the things in life that will feed his soul. Music does just that. As Shakespeare put it, "If music be the food of love, play on."

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Baby Center: Dry Skin (12 to 24 mo.)

What's making my toddler's skin so dry?
Children can get dry skin just like adults do. In fact, because young skin is more delicate, it's more susceptible to becoming dry.

Cold, dry outdoor air and indoor heating can rob skin of its natural moisture in the winter. And if your toddler is prone to dry skin, he'll break out in dry patches in the summer as well, because the summer sun, air conditioning, salt water, and the chlorine in pool water can all be drying.

What can I do about my child's dry skin?
Cut back on bath time
Bathing dries a child's skin because it removes the skin's natural oils along with the dirt. But as long as you take a few precautions, even daily baths shouldn't be a problem, says Seth Orlow, director of pediatric dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

Instead of a 30-minute bath, cut bath time down to about ten minutes. Use warm water — not hot — and soap up sparingly. In fact, Orlow suggests using a fragrance-free, soap-free cleanser, which is much less harsh than regular soap.

Let your toddler have his playtime in the tub before you wash him, so he won't be sitting in soapy water. And don't leave the cleansing bar floating in the tub. You'll probably want to cut bubble baths out of your child's routine — or at least limit them to special occasions.

While bath oils may seem like a good idea, they can make the tub dangerously slippery, and most of the oil slides down the drain anyway. Applying an emollient after bathing is a better route.

Slather on the moisturizer
Once you take your toddler out of the bath, quickly and lightly dry him with a towel, then apply moisturizer immediately. Applying the moisturizer within minutes of getting your toddler out of the tub will seal in the water that's still in his skin from the bath.

As far as moisturizers go, the general rule is the thicker the better. If your toddler's skin is still dry even with daily moisturizing, try switching from a lotion to a thicker cream or ointment.

You might also want to consider moisturizing twice a day — once after bathing and once during the day. If your toddler doesn't have the patience for a midday slather, you might let him listen to a favorite song or watch a video while you apply the moisturizer.

Don't let salt or chlorine dry on his skin
Chlorine and salt water can both be very drying. After a swim in the pool or ocean, rinse off your toddler with tap water, and then apply moisturizer while his skin's still damp.

Keep your child well hydrated
Dry skin lacks water. Offer your toddler plenty to drink year-round to replace the moisture that's evaporating from his skin.

Keep in mind that drinking a lot won't do anything if you don't moisturize as well. It's like pouring water into a bucket with a hole, says Orlow. Without moisturizer to hold in the water, your child's skin won't properly hydrate.

Run a humidifier
If the air in your home is dry, use a cool mist humidifier in your child's room.

Protect your child from the elements
Make sure your toddler wears mittens in cold weather to keep his hands from becoming dry and chapped from the cold and the wind. In summer, take steps to protect him from sunburn.

Could dry skin be a sign of some other kind of condition?
If your toddler has itchy red patches on his skin, it's possible he has eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. Sometimes even eczema will clear up with regular moisturizing, though, so you needn't rush to the doctor unless the patches don't get better or your child is itchy or uncomfortable.

In rare cases, dry skin can indicate a genetic condition called ichthyosis. Ichthyosis shows up as dry skin with scaling and, occasionally, redness. It's also generally accompanied by a thickening of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. If your doctor suspects that your child has ichthyosis, she'll probably refer you to a dermatologist for treatment.

Should I talk with the doctor about my toddler's dry skin?
At your child's next doctor's visit, ask for recommendations for battling dry skin. Schedule a visit if you think your toddler has signs of eczema or ichthyosis (above). Also call for an appointment if your child's skin doesn't improve with home treatments or you see any signs of an infection, like a yellow discharge or swelling around a crack in his skin.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

The Lowdown On Children's Vitamins (12 to 24 mo.)

Should I give my toddler a vitamin supplement?
Experts disagree on whether a daily multivitamin/mineral is a good idea for all children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for example, advises giving your child a supplement only if your pediatrician recommends one. Because so many common foods are fortified, most children don't need supplements, the AAP argues. On the other hand, the AAP acknowledges that a multivitamin/mineral supplement won't hurt as long as it doesn't exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for any vitamin or mineral. Other experts say that a daily supplement is a good way to fill in any gaps in your child's nutrition.

Most experts do agree that:

• As long as you don't overdose your child on supplements (exceed the RDA for any one vitamin or mineral), a daily multivitamin won't hurt.

• Some children — like vegetarians, or those with sensitivities to certain foods, for example — might need a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement to meet their RDAs.

• Supplements are not a substitute for good food, and they should never be used to justify a poor diet. If your child isn't eating well, give him a supplement, but also take steps to improve his eating habits.

Should I give my toddler a multivitamin if he's a picky eater?
If you're concerned that your toddler's lacking in any area — because he won't put anything green in his mouth or because he goes on food jags when he seems to eat nothing but cheese and crackers for days — then you might want to give him a supplement for your peace of mind. It provides a little extra insurance that he's getting what he needs, says Debby Demory-Luce, a registered dietitian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, a nutrition arm of the agency, and an instructor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. As long as you give your toddler just one daily multi, he won't "overdose" on a particular vitamin, even if he's already getting more than he needs of that vitamin from his food.

Should I give my toddler a vitamin supplement?
Experts disagree on whether a daily multivitamin/mineral is a good idea for all children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for example, advises giving your child a supplement only if your pediatrician recommends one. Because so many common foods are fortified, most children don't need supplements, the AAP argues. On the other hand, the AAP acknowledges that a multivitamin/mineral supplement won't hurt as long as it doesn't exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for any vitamin or mineral. Other experts say that a daily supplement is a good way to fill in any gaps in your child's nutrition.

Most experts do agree that:

• As long as you don't overdose your child on supplements (exceed the RDA for any one vitamin or mineral), a daily multivitamin won't hurt.

• Some children — like vegetarians, or those with sensitivities to certain foods, for example — might need a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement to meet their RDAs.

• Supplements are not a substitute for good food, and they should never be used to justify a poor diet. If your child isn't eating well, give him a supplement, but also take steps to improve his eating habits.

Should I give my toddler a multivitamin if he's a picky eater?
If you're concerned that your toddler's lacking in any area — because he won't put anything green in his mouth or because he goes on food jags when he seems to eat nothing but cheese and crackers for days — then you might want to give him a supplement for your peace of mind. It provides a little extra insurance that he's getting what he needs, says Debby Demory-Luce, a registered dietitian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, a nutrition arm of the agency, and an instructor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. As long as you give your toddler just one daily multi, he won't "overdose" on a particular vitamin, even if he's already getting more than he needs of that vitamin from his food.

What kind of vitamin should I give my toddler?
Any generic type of children's multivitamin will do, unless your toddler has special needs. (Choose liquid forms only, as chewables can post a choking hazard for this age group.) For example, if your child is a vegetarian, you'll want to make sure that the supplement contains adequate vitamin B12, which will be lacking in his diet. And if your doctor has decided that your child is anemic, she may recommend a supplement with a particular amount of iron.

Note that supplements often don't contain 100 percent of every vitamin and mineral, so you'll still want to make sure your child gets the needed nutrient from other sources. If your toddler doesn't drink milk or eat enough dairy, for example, and gets about 15 to 20 percent of the RDA for calcium from his supplement, then you'll need to find other, food-based sources, such as calcium-fortified orange juice.

An important caution: Children often view vitamins as candy (they're shaped, colored, and flavored to be appealing to kids, after all) and may eat several at a time if given the opportunity. But an overdose of iron, in particular, could be fatal. So treat vitamins as medicines. Make sure the caps are childproof, but don't depend on them — always keep vitamin bottles well out of the reach of your child.

Dietitian Demory-Luce, a mother of two, learned this the hard way: "My youngster got his hands on a bottle of vitamins, opened the safety top, and ate ten vitamins before I got to him," she says. "Luckily, the vitamins didn't have iron in them." Now she keeps vitamins locked away in a cabinet. (To be on the safe side, call poison control if you suspect that your child has taken vitamins on his own, even if they don't contain iron.)

Should I give my toddler more than one vitamin a day if his diet is especially bad one week?
No. There's never any reason to give your child more than the recommended daily dose (usually one pill per day). "Some people think that a little is good but more is better," says Demory-Luce. This is a dangerous way to approach vitamins. Not only could it hurt your child, as with too much iron, but an overdose of certain vitamins could also prevent the absorption of others, creating a nutritional imbalance.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

How Your Toddler Can Get The Nutrients He Needs

Calcium
Your toddler needs 500 milligrams (mg.) of calcium a day. Calcium is key for building strong bones and teeth, for promoting nerve and muscle function, for helping blood clot, and for activating enzymes that convert food into energy. Some experts believe that many children are falling short of their calcium requirements, in part because juice and other nondairy drinks are so popular that kids are drinking less milk.

Some of the best sources of calcium for your toddler:
Note: Milligrams will vary somewhat depending on brand, size of fruit or vegetable, etc.

• 1/2 cup yogurt: 190 mg.

• 1/2 cup calcium-fortified orange juice: 175 mg.

• 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses: 172 mg. (regular molasses: about 41 mg. per tablespoon)

• 1/2 ounce cheddar cheese: 153 mg.

• 1/2 cup milk: about 150 mg. (1/2 cup chocolate milk: about 140 mg.) Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sticking to whole milk until your child turns 2.

• 1/2 cup fortified soy milk: 150 mg.

• 1/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese: 128 mg.

• 1/2 ounce jack cheese: 106 mg.

• 1/2 ounce Swiss cheese: 102 mg.

• 1/4 cup white beans: 80 mg.

• 1/4 cup cottage cheese: 68 mg.

• 1/2 ounce mozzarella: 75 mg.

• 1/2 slice cheese pizza: 59 mg.

• 1/2 cup calcium-fortified apple juice: 50 mg.

• 1/2 serving hot chocolate from mix prepared with water: 48 mg.

• 1/4 cup collard greens: 88 mg.

• 1/4 cup pudding (homemade from mix or scratch): 75 mg. (ready-to eat varieties: about 50 mg.)

• 1/3 cup O-shaped multigrain cereal: 32 mg.

• 1/4 cup spinach, cooked: 73 mg.

• 1/4 cup frozen yogurt: 52 mg.

• 1/4 cup cooked macaroni and cheese (from a packaged mix): 50 mg.

• 1/2 orange: 25 mg.

• 1/4 cup ice cream: 46 mg.

• 1/4 sweet potato, mashed: 17 mg.

• 1/4 cup tofu: 102 mg. Note: Tofu varies in nutrients, depending on the type. This figure is for tofu made with calcium sulfate and magnesium chloride.

• 1/4 cup broccoli: 15 mg.

A few tips for maximizing calcium intake:

• Use milk instead of water when making cereals and soups.

• Use evaporated milk in place of regular milk in recipes — it has twice the calcium of regular milk.

• Add yogurt to fruit salads; nonfat milk powder to pancake batter, sauces, and smoothies; and cheese to vegetables, sauces, and mashed potatoes.

• Buy calcium-fortified juice, bread, and cereal.

Iron
Your toddler needs 7 mg. of iron every day. Iron is important for making hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying red pigment in blood, and myoglobin, a pigment that stores oxygen in muscles. Lack of iron can cause anemia, which can result in fatigue, weakness, and irritability. Iron also affects brain development. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States.

Keep in mind that there's a difference between animal and plant sources of iron. Heme iron — the kind you get from animal sources such as meat, fish, shellfish, and poultry — is easily absorbed by the body. But the body needs help to absorb non-heme iron — the kind found in non-animal sources like dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, fortified breads and grains, and dried fruits. (Egg yolks also contain iron, mostly non-heme.)

You can increase the amount of non-heme iron the body absorbs by serving it with foods that contain heme iron, or with foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange juice, oranges, strawberries, red peppers, papaya, broccoli, grapefruit, cantaloupe, tomatoes, mangoes, and potatoes.

Some of the best sources of iron for your toddler:
Note: Milligrams will vary somewhat, depending on brand, cut of meat, etc.

• 1/4 cup sea vegetables: 9 to 21 mg. (various types of seaweed, widely available in the U.S. as a snack product)

• 1/3 cup fortified, ready-to-eat cereal: 4.5 mg.

• 1/3 cup fortified oatmeal: 4 mg.

• 1/4 cup soybeans: 2.2 mg.

• 1/4 cup baked beans with pork and tomato sauce: 2 mg.

• 1/4 cup navy beans: 1.2 mg.

• 1 ounce steak: 1 mg.

• 1 ounce shrimp: .9 mg.

• 1/4 cup garbanzo beans: .8 mg.

• 1/2 medium-sized hamburger (1.5 oz.): .9 mg.

• 1/4 cup black beans: .9 mg.

• 1 tablespoon wheat germ: .5 mg. iron

• 1/4 cup tofu: .9 mg. Note: Tofu varies in nutrients, depending on the type. This figure is for tofu made with calcium sulfate and magnesium chloride.

• 1/2 large egg: .3 mg.

• 1 ounce breast of chicken: .2 mg.

Zinc
Your toddler needs 3 mg. of zinc a day. Zinc is needed in more than 70 enzymes that aid digestion and metabolism. And children who don't get enough zinc risk stunting their growth. Keep in mind, though, that zinc deficiencies are rare in this country.

Some of the best sources of zinc for your toddler:
Note: Milligrams will vary somewhat, depending on brand, cut of meat, etc.

• 1/4 cup baked beans with pork and tomato sauce: 3.5 mg.

• 1/2 medium-sized hamburger: about 2 mg.

• 1 ounce steak: about 1.7 mg.

• 1 tablespoon wheat germ: about 1 mg.

• 1/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese: .7 mg.

• 1/3 cup bran flakes: between .8 mg. and 1.4 mg., depending on the brand

• 1/4 cup tofu: .6 mg. Note: Tofu varies in nutrients, depending on the type. This figure is for tofu made with calcium sulfate and magnesium chloride.

• 1/4 cup garbanzo beans: about .6 mg.

• 1/4 cup lentils: about .6 mg.

• 1/4 cup limas: .4 mg.

• 1/4 cup corn: .2 mg.

• 1 large egg yolk or 1/2 whole large egg: .3 mg.

Vitamin D
Surprisingly, the requirement for vitamin D — 200 IUs or 5 micrograms per day — is the same from birth to age 50. Vitamin D helps the body absorb minerals like calcium and builds strong teeth and bones. It's called the "sunshine vitamin" because the body can make it when the skin is exposed to sunlight. But vitamin D production is prevented by smog, clouds, dark skin, and sunscreen with an SPF of 8 or more, so it's a good idea to make sure your child gets 200 IUs of vitamin D every day from food sources.

Some of the best sources of vitamin D for your toddler:
Note: IUs will vary somewhat, depending on brand.

• 1 ounce salmon serving: 103 IUs

• 1 ounce tuna (canned in oil, drained): 200 IUs

• 1/2 cup fortified whole milk: 49 IUs

• 1 large egg yolk: 25 IUs

• 1/3 cup fortified, ready-to-eat cereal: 13 IUs

• 1/2 teaspoon fortified margarine: 10 IUs

Vitamin A
Your toddler needs 300 micrograms RAEs (retinol activity equivalents) of vitamin A daily. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision and bone growth, and helps protect the body from infections. Vitamin A also promotes the health and growth of cells and tissues in the body, particularly those in the hair, nails, and skin.

And about those rumors: Yes, carrots and other vitamin A-rich foods are essential for good eyesight. And while it's possible to get too much vitamin A from animal sources like liver, it's nearly impossible to overdose by getting "too many" carotenoids, the orange and yellow pigments in fruits and vegetables, like carrots. (Be sure to serve carrots cooked, as raw carrots are a choking hazard for toddlers.)

Some of the best sources of vitamin A for your toddler:
Note: Micrograms will vary somewhat, depending on size of fruit or vegetable.

• 1/4 cup mashed sweet potato: 646 mcg. RAE

• 1/4 cup cooked carrots: 336 mcg. RAE

• 1/4 cup butternut squash (cubed): about 286 mcg. RAE

• 1/2 cup fortified milk: 72.5 mcg. RAE

• 1/2 large egg: 35 mcg. RAE

• 1/4 cup cooked broccoli: 26 mcg. RAE

• 1/4 cup sliced mango: 16 mcg. RAE

Vitamin C
Your toddler needs 15 milligrams of vitamin C a day. Vitamin C helps form and repair red blood cells, bones, and tissues. It helps keep your child's gums healthy and strengthens his blood vessels, minimizing bruising from falls and scrapes. Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds, boosts the immune system, and keeps infections at bay. And it helps the body absorb iron from plant-based foods. This vitamin is available in many foods, so deficiencies are rare.

Some of the best sources of vitamin C for your toddler:
Note: Milligrams will vary somewhat, depending on size of fruit or vegetable.

• 1/4 cup guava: 82.5 mg.

• 1/4 cup papaya: 47.5 mg.

• 1/2 medium orange: 30 mg.

• 1/4 cup broccoli: 30 mg.

• 1/4 cup orange juice: 25 mg.

• 3 whole medium strawberries: 21 mg.

• 1/4 grapefruit: 21 mg.

• 1/4 cup cantaloupe: 17 mg.

• 1/2 tomato: 11 mg.

• 1/4 medium mango: 7.6 mg.

• 1/2 banana: 5 mg.

• 1/4 baking potato (such as Russet): 5 mg. without skin, 6.5 with skin

• 1/4 cup spinach: 4.5 mg.

source from http://www.babycenter.com