2 to 3 years
Your Child's Development
Special 18 months Development Assessment for all
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Your baby has been walking and surely running.
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He can scribble with a pencil on paper.
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He will begin playing pretend and use objects to imitate children and adults.
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Can carry an object while walking.
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Can eat by himself, can undress himself.
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Can point to a few objects that you name.
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Can turn pages of a book.
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Can express himself by combining 2 words.
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Can ask for what he wants with signs or words.
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Can play with other children.
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Asserts himself and likes to do tasks alone.
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Looks at you when you talk to him.
Health Care
Apart from minor colds and childhood illnesses, your child should be protected from serious illnesses if he received all his vaccines as per the Vaccination calendar you can link to below. If you are not sure that your child received all the necessary vaccines, please call your CMC.
For regular check-ups, have your child seen at the Well-Baby Clinic. It is important to follow the specific times at which your child needs to be vaccinated, even for a booster.
Sleep
By this age, their sleep cycles resembles ours much more; they have longer deep speel periods. They are also teething, are afraid of seeing you disapear and might start to be afraid in the dark. They will also have longer light sleep and more dreams. Night terrors can start at that age. Night terrors are demonstrated by a child who waked up screaming because he is scared and not really waking up from a dream. In that case, simply hold your child and sing to him softly until it passes. He usually does not remember what happened the next day.
Keeping your child in the same room as you can extend your sleeping time. Letting your child cry alone in a dark room is never helpful. What your child needs is to be guided towards falling asleep. There was a time we thought the way to acheive this was to let them cry until they slept by self-soothing. These days, we understand that we, as parents, are guides and that sleeping with us (does not have to be in the same bed). allows them to see how falling asleep is acheived, that everyone does it and that goimg to sleep is pleasant, not scary. A routine is one the best tools you can use: taking a bath or refreshing with a washcloth, brushing the teeth (a special gum massage brush is available), singing a song while rocking or reading a book in bed, going to bed. Many parents stay in the room until the child falls asleep to have him feel more secure.
The are also white noise machines that are calming and mask disruptive noises. Those can help the child relax (frogs, tropical forest, rain, sea noises) and fall asleep faster.
A routine is a good tool, but it sometimes makes it more difficult to go out with the child. It is always good to have a child learn to fall asleep anywhere. Falling asleep in his parents arms is always the easiest.
Nutrition - MEECHUM - Syllabics
Toddlers love to be part of the family and will want to eat just like his brothers and sisters, parents and grand parents. It is the perfect time to let them get used to all the regular meal time spent around the table. He also likes to socialize and meals are a perfect way to do this and teach you child how to behave socially; good manners, learn how to chat respectfully with his family, eating should always be a fun family time. At this age, the menu becomes varied, as long as you keep away from salt, sugar and food that can be a choking hazard, your baby can should eat the same foods as the rest of the family. If your child has allergies, please take the advice of the CMC Nutritionist.
Between 2 and 4 years old, children do not present with the same type of injuries as before:
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Choking: Food as well as small objects your child will find will always go to his mouth. For foods, always make sure to cut them into piece that are smaller than the circumference of his throat: Grapes in 4, hot-dogs in 2, carrots are better given cooked and circles in 2, soften dry bread with milk or broth, cut up well cooked boiled patatoes, very soft cooked rice with broth, cook all other vegetables and make sure they don't break into pceies that can stay stuck in you child'd throat.
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Cupboards: Many parents lock all cupboards except for one where they leave hard plactic containers and theirs covers. Toddlers plays with hours with those. There are also locks for the cupboards in the Safety kit you will receive from the Prenatal Gathering or the Nurturing Program.
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Cigarettes and marijuana: Children often get their hands on astrays, cigarettes and more,left on coffee or side tables. Asmall quantity can be poisoin to a child. Call the Poison Center of your children ate or drunk hazardous products (Poison Control Center 1 800 463-5060).
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Medications and house cleaning products: Always keep your house cleaning products and medication out of the reach of babies, toddlers and children. Ideally, all these dangerous products should be stored in a high place. Children are quite creative and smart. They will find ways to reach the products if they are not stored in a secured and high place. Call the Poison Center of your children ate or drunk hazardous products (Poison Control Center 1 800 463-5060).
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Bath time: Children can still drown in very little water. Please never give a bath to your child if you cannot stay to watch him.
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Doors: Some toddlers are tall enough to open doors. If your door has a push down kind of handle, all toddlers can easily get out of the house or open a entry door to a basement staircase. There is also on the market, some light hardware you can screen in to your door and wall so the door cannot be opened. You can also make sure the door to outside is kept locked at all times.
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Pets: Children are completely defenless in front of a pet and pets are imprevisible in their actions. Never leave your chil unattended with a dog, cat or any other animal. Young children's faces on usually at the exact height of a dogs mouth and a bite can occurs quickly without any warning. Cats are just as dangerous as they are very agile and will grab a child's boday with his four paws and claws and bite the child to the face. Wild animals can carry Rabies and wild birds can carry Avian flu.
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Bicycling, skidoos and 4-wheelers: Children love to ride scooters and bikes and more. It is a wonderful exercice from them. It is still very important to always wear a safety helmet. Many children find this is not cool, but the more children wear them, the more others will wear them.
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Street safety: It is a common sight to see children playing in the street. Please teach your children about the danger of cars and trucks. Teach them to play safely. The risk is even greater in winter when vehicules cannot see children coming from behind a snowbank or if they slide towards the street.