Dealing with Toddler Tantrums

The terrible twos – Even the most dignified parent has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground while their toddler is having a public meltdown. Tantrums at home can be just as frustrating, so here are a few easy ideas for stopping them or preventing them altogether:

Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Don’t let your toddler become too tired. Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the first reason for a tantrum.

Keep Sugar Levels Stable – Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make him irritable and tired, the tantrum will soon follow. Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.

Give Them Time – Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a tantrum. Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent by allowing him to do certain things for himself.

Distractions – Many times a toddler’s screams and shouts can be stopped short by distracting them with something else. Offer to read them a book, color with them, or watch a video. They’ll soon forget what they were screaming about.

Put it Away – Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have. Then put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, is a great way of avoiding tantrums.

Don’t Give In – It may be tempting to give in to tantrums just to avoid a confrontation, but you’ll only encourage more similar behavior in the future. Don’t confuse your toddler by being inconsistent. Once he realizes he won’t get his way, he’ll stop playing the tantrum game.

Ignore It – This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child is having his tantrum. If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing or breaking things. In this instance it may be best to gently pick up your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and noise. Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.

If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away. Once he’s finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.

Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.

Choosing the Right Daycare

Once you’ve made the decision to return to work after your baby has been born, it’s time to start searching for a daycare center. This can be an emotional time for you, and sometimes overwhelming especially if there are numerous daycare centers to choose from.
Here are a few tips you can use to help you choose a daycare provider that’s right for you and your child:

• The first step is to get a list of daycare centers in your area. Check your local yellow pages, online, or get some recommendations from other parents.

• Find out of there are any openings available for you to enroll your child.

• Are there any age restrictions?

• Write down the locations and hours of operation for each daycare center on your list.

• What is the cost to enroll your child?

• How many other children are currently attending and what are their ages?

• Are healthy meals and snacks supplied by the daycare center?

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few daycare centers, it’s time to ask some important questions to ensure that you’re choosing the right daycare for your child. Here are some questions to keep in mind when visiting or speaking with each daycare center.

• Is it clean and safe for your child?

• What is the ratio of caregivers to children?

• Are the children at the daycare actively engaged in activities and do they seem happy and well taken care of?

• Are there plenty of educational toys and activities for the children?

• Are the caregivers warm and friendly? How do they interact with the children?

• Ask the daycare administrator for some background information on the staff, especially regarding licenses or degrees.

• Ensure that the daycare staff have received the proper training and have good credentials and experience.

• Are there safety exits in case of a fire or other emergency?

Once you’re satisfied that you have the answers to these questions, you should be able to determine which daycare center is the best choice for your child. The closest daycare may not always be the best, and the most inexpensive option may not always be the best either.

You’ll know what’s best for your child, and which daycare center will be the most suitable environment for him to be in while you’re working.

Childproofing Your Kitchen

Your kitchen can be a very dangerous place for your child if it isn’t properly baby proofed. Here are some important tips you should follow to prevent kitchen accidents.

1. Use outlet plugs. This is must. These handy little plastic covers plug right into your wall sockets. It’s important to get the best possible plugs available since those little fingers can get quite good at pulling out the cheap ones.

2. Lock cabinet doors – I couldn’t live without the latches that keep drawers and cupboard doors closed. They’re easy to get into for adults, but impossible for little hands to open.

3. Keep cleaning supplies away. Even if you use latches on your cupboard doors, it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep your cleaning products out of your child’s reach. I keep mine in the cupboard above the sink.

4. Use oven and fridge latches. It’s amazing how easily your little one can open the fridge and oven doors. Without me knowing it, my daughter had snuck into the fridge and taken an entire carton of eggs out, then broke them all over the basement. I’ve had a latch on my fridge ever since!

5. Common sense. Regularly sweet and mop your kitchen floors, and keep the counters clear of things like sharp knives or heavy appliances that can be pulled off.


I’ve used quite a few different child proofing products, and I’ve found that Safety 1st is one of the best and least expensive.