A constipated toddler is frustrating to parents who wonder what they can do to resolve the situation. Luckily, most of the time the problem with constipation in toddlers is related to diet. This means you can focus on what she is eating and drinking to help resolve the problem naturally. Of course, it probably won’t happen overnight, but eating and drinking the right foods should get her moving again.

The first thing you want to do is make sure your little one is getting enough fluids. This includes water, milk and/or juice. Don’t give your toddler sodas or Gatorade. Stick with water, juice and milk. Just make sure your child is getting enough. When they are, their urine will be practically clear rather than yellow. Also, enough fluids helps stool stay soft and easy to pass. When a child is dehydrated or on the verge of dehydration the stool becomes hard and difficult to pass. So, always make sure your toddler is getting enough fluids, especially during hot weather. Doctors say that your toddler is drinking enough when she needs to urinate at least every three hours.
Another way to help your child over constipation is through fiber. Lots of fruits your child loves have fiber, which makes it easy for your child to get this. Also, there are plenty of breads that have added fiber as well as pasta that is worth buying and feeding to your little one. Try breakfast bars with added fiber, raisins, peas, and even peanut butter. There are other options to add more fiber to your child’s diet, too, through fiber drinks and things of that nature if it becomes too big of an issue.

One option in severe cases is to give your toddler two teaspoons of mineral oil two times per day. This would be for a toddler weighing from 20-30 pounds. Talk to your pediatrician about this, first, because some find it controversial. In most cases, the oil coats the stool and helps it to come out without any pain or problems. Add a teaspoon to the dosage after a few days in order to help the child begin passing soft stools and to allow any skin fissures to heal. Disguise the oil in ice cream, juice, shakes, or other foods.

Do not give your child any laxative. They are not for children and could cause serious problems. Always talk with your child’s pediatrician about options for treating constipation and never give any drugs or medicine without their permission.

Many a parent has taken their child to the doctor to report stuttering only to be told that what is happening is completely normal.  What?  Since when has stuttering been normal? Most parents are aghast when their pediatrician smiles and tells them to relax that it is likely something that they will outgrow.  As parents we want to protect our kids and make sure that they develop properly, so why would a stutter be normal? 

Some Stuttering is Expected 

Toddlers are growing by leaps and bounds in every way possible.  Each day they are learning new things about how the world works as well as the vocabulary to go along with it.  Part of being a toddler is knowing how you feel but not being able to express it properly.  When you have a mind full of thoughts and you can’t get them out fast enough, stuttering or stammering is usually the result!   

Most children go through a stuttering phase.  They may do it when they are nervous or excited or it may occur when they are upset, tired, or frustrated.  A lot of the time it is not true stuttering, instead your child may say “um” or “uh” several times before they find the word that they are searching their vocabulary for.  Many children will also repeat the same word over and over again until they can complete the thought that they have aloud.  This is very normal and something that may come and go for some or remain consistent for others. 

We all stutter in this way from time to time.  Think about when your mind is racing and you are trying to articulate what you are feeling.  When this happens you probably say “um” or “uh” more than you usually do.  This is the same thing as most toddlers experience and generally is not something to worry about.  If you want your doctor’s opinion, don’t hesitate to make a call and bring your child in to be seen. 

When should you worry?  Most children will outgrow much of this by the time they are ready for school.  If the problem seems to get gradually worse instead of better, you may want to give the doctor a call just to see what they think.  Your doctor may refer you to a speech specialist or they may take the “wait and see” approach.  Every child will stutter from time to time, you just need to monitor it and determine if it is a problem that is easing with age or not.  Luckily, if it is true stuttering there are many speech therapies available that will allow your child to speak and be understood. 

Separation anxiety usually rears its ugly head for the first time at daycare.  If your child is suddenly very anxious when you drop them off at daycare or even when you are getting them ready to go to daycare, you may find yourself confused and unsure of how to respond.  Separation anxiety is difficult for the parent and the child, but the majority of children will go through at least one stage of it.  Knowing how to deal with separation anxiety will ease the pain and frustration that you both experience. 

How to Deal with Separation Anxiety 

The first thing you can do is talk to your child about what is going to happen.  Let them know where you are going to bring them, who will be there to take care of them, and when you will return.  When you give them information about your return don’t simply give your toddler a time, but give them a milestone such as, “I’ll be here to get you right around the time that you finish your afternoon snack.” This will give your child something to look forward to during the day and will take their focus off of you leaving. 

If you are having problems with a new daycare, you may want to go see the daycare together.  You can bring your child in to see the new surroundings, meet some of his or her classmates, and meet the teachers or care providers.  This will allow your child to be able to envision where they will be and who they will be with.  Many times it is anxiety about being left in a new setting that really sets off separation anxiety, you can often nip this in the bud by visiting together. 

When your child has separation anxiety you may want to build up to being away for a whole day.  The first day you may only want to leave your child for an hour or two, the next day for three hours, and the next day for five, and then the full eight or however long you need to be away.  Building up will build your child’s tolerance for being separated from you.  Your child simply needs to learn that it doesn’t matter how long you go away, you will always come back. 

Keep your good-bye short and sweet.  Simply get down on your child’s level, give them a hug and kiss, tell them where you are going and that you will be back.  Try to get the caregiver to come over and get your child interested in something so that the goodbye will be easier for you both.  The longer you drag out the process the more difficult it is going to be for them and you! 

Separation anxiety is something that all toddlers will go through at some time.  Many toddlers will go through separation anxiety, it will seem to ease up, and then it will return full force.  Luckily, there are some things that you can do to help ease the heartache that is experienced by both the child and the parent where separation anxiety is concerned.  Knowing how to help your child will make the period of separation easier on both of you, and will help your child feel safe and secure no matter where he or she is or how long you are gone. 

What To Do When Separation Anxiety Occurs 

The best thing you can do for your child is prepare them for the experience.  Talk to them, on their level, about where they will be going, what they will be doing, and who will be taking care of them while you are gone.  Let them know that while you will be leaving, you will be coming back. Sometimes a child just needs to know that you will be coming back for them.  Tell them all of these things many times. 

Before you ever plan on leaving your child, make sure you expose them to many different people.  As parents we have a tendency to keep our children away from people, but it’s actually good for your child to be exposed to many different kinds of people, even if it is just in your presence. This allows your child to feel comfortable with people outside of his or her parents. 

Another thing you can do is read books about going to daycare, staying with grandma, or with a family friend.  While your child may not be able to hear it coming from you, they will often learn through an experience of a character in a book. Many children are enthusiastic about being cared for by someone else after they have watched their favorite character go through the same process.  You can also introduce the idea through movies or even songs or rhymes.   

When you leave your child, it is normal for them to feel some anxiety.  Get down on their level and tell them where you are going and that you will be back for them.  Be firm but loving and allow them to see you go.  Sneaking away will not make the situation easier for the child, it will just create more anxiety when they realize that you have gone without saying goodbye.  Talk to your child, and show them through your actions that you will come back, just like you said.  In time this will get a lot easier for you both!

The terrible two’s is a difficult time in the life of a whole family.  Most parents can sit down and talk to complete strangers about their terrible two experience because it is something that all parents can related to regardless of ethnicity, location, or even socioeconomic status.  Terrible two’s is a phase that all children go through, and as normal as it all is, every parent finds themselves asking when will it end, when will the madness stop? 

Understanding the Terrible Twos 

To determine when the terrible two’s will end, and to help ease some frustration, you should learn exactly what the terrible two’s are and why all children go through this phase.  The terrible twos are simply a time where your child is feeling more independent and they want you to know it.  They try to express themselves and their wishes and they don’t always have the language or ability to express themselves.  This can lead to frustration when they are not being understood or when their desires are declined.  The terrible two’s are often inundated with temper tantrums, hitting, and even biting. 

You can help to hasten the terrible two’s process by making your child’s life more predictable and allow them to feel more independent and in control of some things. By doing these things you will also establish that while you value your child’s input, they are not in charge and they don’t get to dictate how things go.  This is an important part of the terrible two’s. 

Some things that will help you speed through the terrible two’s: 

• Stick to a regular routine for everything including meals, naptimes, and bedtimes. 
• Set limits for your child and enforce them.  Your child is testing limits and when the limits are clear it will help the child to see that boundaries are not negotiable. 
• Limit choices.  Communication is difficult at this age, so limit choices.  Instead of asking open ended questions give one or two choices and allow the child to pick from only those options. 
• Don’t give in when your child throws a tantrum.

 
When you do these things and you do them each and every day, your child will often speed through the terrible two’s more quickly. These things will help you be the parent to your child and also help them learn that there are limits and they need to stick within those limits. When will the terrible two’s end?  They should end around three but the phase can last until the child is four.  Parents who set boundaries and stick to a regular routine find that the phase is over more quickly than those that do not.