Vincent Ianelli MD - The Everything Pocket Mom: Quick and Easy Solutions for All Your Parenting Problems!

THE

EVERYTHING

POCKET MOM

Dear Reader,

Its such an exciting time when your baby transitions into an active toddler who is learning to walk, talk, socialize, and be independent. As your child grows up, youll need to introduce him to so many things healthy sleep and play skills, toilet training, friendships, and more! Ive put together my best tips and techniques in The Everything Pocket Mom to help guide you on this journey.

One of the best ways to promote your toddlers overall well-being is to offer him a variety of great-tasting foods. Check out the fifty recipes in this book for nutritious dishes that are simple and fun to make (let your child help!) and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

Your toddler is probably the happiest when shes busy exploring the world around her. Thats why Ive also included dozens of easy, fun activities you can try in a variety of placesinside, outside, or on the go!

Each new skill your child learns provides opportunities for you to further develop your parent-child relationship. When you look back on these years, somehow the challenges you and your child face will pale in comparison to all the many, many joyful, proud, and hilarious moments you experience together.

Enjoy every (okay, almost every) moment!

The EVERYTHING Series

These handy, accessible books give you all you need to tackle a difficult project, gain a new hobby, or even brush up on something you learned back in school but have since forgotten. You can read from cover to cover or just pick out information from our four useful boxes.

Alerts: Urgent warnings

Essentials: Quick handy tips

Facts: Important snippets of information

Questions: Answers to common questions

When youre done reading, you can finally say you know EVERYTHING!

PUBLISHER Karen Cooper

DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier

MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING SERIES Lisa Laing

COPY CHIEF Casey Ebert

ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITORR Jacob Erickson

ACQUISITIONSR EDITORR Brett Palana-Shanahan

DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Laura Daly

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ROSS WEISMAN

EVERYTHING SERIES COVER DESIGNER Erin Alexander

LAYOUT DESIGNERS Colleen Cunningham, Elisabeth Lariviere, Ashley Vierra, Denise Wallace

Visit the entire Everything series at www.everything.com

THE

EVERYTHING

POCKET
MOM

Quick and easy solutions for all
your parenting problems!

Vincent Iannelli, MD

Introduction

Lets face it: No parent has the time to pour over the hundreds of child development books on the market today, which often contradict each other or simply push the latest parenting fad. Does that mean you and your child have to struggle with every difficult phase, rocky transition, and parenting dilemma that comes your way? Noyou only need this book, your ultimate resource for surviving key childhood milestones, from weaning off a bottle to going potty to starting kindergarten.

Once youre out of the bleary-eyed babyhood phase, most aspects of parenting become more fun for moms and dads. Your child may be talking, making friends, or developing interesting personality traits and passions. He may love eating scrambled eggs just like his dad, or doing jigsaw puzzles like his mom. She may delight in reading bedtime stories with her mom, or playing baseball with her dad. Hand in hand with these developments, however, come the inevitable challengesear-piercing tantrums, refusing to share, or stubbornly avoiding the potty. But past each age-appropriate obstacle is a triumph you can both enjoy, and thats why toddlerhood can be one of the most awe-inspiring and magical times in the lives of both parent and child. All you need is a little direction to change these often trying years into terrific memories.

As the parent of a young child, you have a unique role and opportunity. Studies show that early home life and

experiences have the strongest impact on a childs development and future success. You can add fun, learning, and enrichment to your childs life every day with your ability to set and enforce limits, model good behavior, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The information in this book will develop and strengthen the bond between you and your child. And at the end of the (exhausting) day, isnt that what you want most?

PART 1

Your Growing Child

CHAPTER 1

Mealtimes and More

A s your baby moves into the toddler years, you have an opportunity to set in place some good eating habits that will be healthy for later years. If your baby has eaten a wide range of healthy foods, it is likely that the shift to foods from the family menu will not be difficult, although some toddlers go through a phase of being a little picky. Its not unusual for a toddler to want to eat one food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Weaning from the Breast or Bottle

Cultures vary tremendously in the area of weaning a baby or toddler from breastfeeding. Western societies tend to frown on nursing too long, although that is changing in recent decades. Generally it is up to you and your toddler to wean when you decide to wean. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding. Your toddler may become bored with it and gradually taper off, though. Or you may go back to work and need to adjust when and if you nurse because of new lifestyle commitments. However and whenever it occurs, it is your own business.

For bottle-fed babies, it is important to wean off the bottle by twelve to eighteen months. Children who continue to use bottles are more likely to experience tooth decay, even at this young age.

Quick Weaning Tips

You can soften the blow in the following ways:

Choose a time when the child isnt coping with other major stresses.

Tell your child you are going to wean him.

Provide milk in a cup with meals.

Nurse after meals, when the child has less of an appetite.

Eliminate one bottle or nursing session at a time, beginning with the one the child is least attached totypically in the middle of the day.

Avoid the cues that trigger the desire to be nursed or have a bottle by staying busy or sitting in a different chair.

Spend the time you would have devoted to nursing reading a story, reciting nursery rhymes, or playing together.

Offer bottle-fed babies a bottle of water.

Wait five days before eliminating a second bottle or nursing session.

Eliminate bedtime feedings last. (Provide other kinds of comfort until the child learns to fall asleep without being nursed. If possible, have Dad handle bedtime.)