This means that babies need toys with which they can experiment and interact. The top 15 toys for 6-month-old are listed below.

What is a Montessori Toy?

Montessori toys are designed to help develop the child’s motor skills, fine motor skills and cognitive skills. It’s also important to note that while these toys do not necessarily have an educational purpose but you can be use them as educational tools.

As per my experience with Montessori toys children learn the best when they discover the things by them self.

By this method, children begin exploring their environment and developing their own ideas about how things work without having someone else tell them what it should look like or feel like for them to understand its purpose or function properly.

Here are the top 15 toys for 6-month-old.

1. Sensory balls

Sensory balls are great Montessori toys for 6-month-old babies and toddlers. It allows them to explore their surroundings and develop motor skills while providing fun for hours.

you can use these balls in many ways:

• To play with other children
• To play with adults
• As an inanimate object (for example, when you put the ball under your chin)

2. Stacking cups

Stacking cups are toys for 0-6 months old and a great way to teach your child about size, shape, and color. This is an easy activity that you can do with your kids at home with minimal things. You’ll need some plastic stacking cups (or any small tub), crayons or markers for color coding, and glue to secure everything together.

To start, you’ll have to draw lines on the bottom of each cup, so it doesn’t fall over when your little one puts them together. And let your child stack their favorite toys inside the cups until they’re full and you can help them if they get stuck. After that, let them take them apart and start again.

Read here to know What is sand play? 12 benefits of sand play for kids of all ages.

3. Colorful Crinkle toys

You can’t go wrong with these high-contrast crinkles Montessori toys for 6 month old. They are soft, non-toxic, and fun for your little one to play with. The bright colors also stimulate their eyesight and make them smile.

This set comes with two different-sized piglets (small and large), a rattle ball that squeaks when you squeeze it, and a small monkey face with four buttons to press down on them to make him/his eyes flash red or blue depending on which button pressed first by the baby while playing with the other toys included in this set too!

4. Sensory rattle and teether toy

The sensory rattle is among the best toys for 6-month-old for babies and toddlers. you can use it as a teether, toy, game and more! The rattle is made of soft plastic that gently bounces when shaken.

The small beads inside this massage your baby’s gums as they play with it, which helps keep teeth healthy. The rattle has three different textures: soft cuddly fabric for soothing hugs, bumpy plastic shapes for stimulating touch sensation, and bright colors to appeal to young eyes and minds.

This toy encourages creativity by giving children opportunities to make their own designs with markers or paintbrushes.

5. Green Sprout infinity rattle

The Green Sprouts Infinity Rattle is a fun, interactive toysfor a 0-6 month old that provides your baby with lots of textures and colors. Made of 100% BPA-free plastic, which is why you can use it as both a teether and a toy.

The bright colors will help stimulate your child’s senses while they’re playing with it. It measures approximately 6 inches long and has an easy grip handle, making it comfortable for little hands to hold onto during playtime.

This item comes in various colors, including blue and pink so you’ll have plenty of options when choosing the right one for your child. It’s also lightweight, so it won’t weigh down their arms too much when playing with it on top of their head or shoulders (or even in between their legs!). While they may not seem like much at first glance—which might be why we recommend using this product until age three, they’ll soon discover how fun these rattles really are.

Read to know What should a 12 month old baby do? (Milestone for 12 month baby)

6. Blocks

These are a great way to help kids learn about shapes. Babies plays blocks in various ways, and use it to build things like houses and castles, or to create patterns on paper.

Blocks are an essential part of Montessori education because they allow children to explore their environment by using the materials around them as tools for learning new skills and concepts.

7. Rainbow Stacker

Children love to stack, and these toys for 0-6 months old are perfect. It’s also great for teaching colors, shapes, and numbers. The blocks come in different colors so that you can use them as a toy or an educational tool.

The Rainbow Stacker comes with 18 colorful blocks shaped like animals (for example, elephants). You will have to place them on top of each other to create an animal shape with your child.

Each animal has its name printed on it so that even if your child doesn’t know what they look like yet, they can still recognize them later when they get older.

This toy encourages children’s creativity while they’re learning about colors, shapes and counting at the same time!

8. Hohner Handle Cage Bell

Hohner Handle Cage Bells are great toys for 0–6-month-old babies and toddlers. The bell is made of wood and plastic, so i can say it is quite durable as well.

It has an easy grip handle that makes it easy to hold the bell in your baby’s hands. This toy will encourage them to explore their sense of touch by making them feel like they are playing with something solid, but it also gives them a chance to hear music.

9. Rolling Drum

Montessori toys are designed to be used by infants and toddlers in a variety of ways. The rolling drum is one example of a Montessori toy that will provide hours of engagement for your child.

This simple toy will help your baby develop fine motor skills as they explore their surroundings with this musical instrument.

The rolling drum used as a sensory activity, allowing you to teach your little one about colors, textures and sounds while they play with it. They’ll love being able to make different sounds by shaking it up or down on their lap while listening closely at the bottom part, which contains small holes where air bubbles might form when shaken too hard (don’t worry – these don’t break off).

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How and when to start baby on solids. Sample schedule to follow.

10. Doorless Teether toy

Droolees teether toys are made from natural rubber, so these are extremely safe material for babies to chew on. They come in various colors and designs, so you can find one that matches your home decor or style. The droolees are not just for infants, toddlers with sores gums can use it to soothe them without having them ingest any harmful substances (such as benzocaine) that could cause tooth decay later down the road.

11. Schleich Animals

Schleich animals are made of durable plastic and are suitable for ages three and up. They come in various colors, including blue, green, red, and yellow.

The animals have realistic features such as beards on some of the larger species, horns on others and tails that can be bent or straightened out depending on how you want them to move around your child’s room.

Schleich also makes sets with different numbers of animals that correspond to other age groups (i.e., 1-3 years old).

12. Floor mirror

A full-length mirror is a great Montessori toy for 6-month-old baby, and it’s also great for two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and four-year-olds. 

Full-length mirrors have many uses in this age group. They can help with language development by encouraging them to talk about how they see themselves in the mirror (e.g., “Look at my face! I am so pretty!”).

They can also help with skill development by showing them how they compare to others around them or even how they compare themselves when they are younger.

There should be no problems if you keep an eye on your child while they play with their new toy.

13. Moonkie stacking cups

Moonkie stacking cups are a great way to keep your baby entertained. They are made of silicone, which is why they’re easy to clean and won’t harm your child’s hands.

They come in various colors, including blue, pink, and yellow (and more). The cups sit on top of each other like dominoes—you can stack them up or down depending on how tall you want them to be.

The MoonKies have four holes that allow children from 6 months to 3 years old to stack them up all at once without worrying about the pieces falling out when they reach the bottom!

14. Bead Mover

The bead mover is an excellent toy for your baby to play with. You can use it to help your baby learn to hold things, such as beads and blocks, in their hands.

The beads will move around as they are driven by your baby’s hand movements and teach them about cause and effect. Bead movers come in many different shapes and sizes, including plastic ones that look like animals or cars; wooden ones; metal ones; even glass beads.

All of these make great mover toys for young children who are learning about movement concepts like cause-and-effect relationships between objects (such as pushing), size differences between things (bigger than small), and texture differences between materials (soft vs hard).

15. Carpets with roads or animals

Carpets with roads or animals make excellent Montessori toys for 6-month-old babies and toddlers. These carpets can help them develop their imagination and creativity as they play with cars, animals, and other toys on the carpet.  Furthermore, the soft, plush material of the carpet provides a comfortable and safe play surface, and can help them develop their sense of touch.

Conclusion

These Montessori toys for 6-month-old are designed to be used by children of all ages, including kids with disabilities, developmental delays, or special needs. The best part is that they’re all safe and sturdy enough to withstand even the most intense playtime sessions.

The post 15 Best Montessori toys for 6-month-old babies and toddlers appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Kids loves to play which seems like they are just having fun but it is not true. Play is an important part of their development and growth. Each type of play including, indoor, outdoor, water play, family play time and sand play have their own benefits and advantages.

Sand play is not bad as some people think of it. kids have so much fun while playing in sand as well as there are many benefits of it in their overall growth. Playing outdoor and taking fresh air is a way where kids can feel the nature and build their strength.

Research suggest that playing in sand, taking it in palm, making patters, making sand art, writing on it and many more activities related to it can word wonders for there physical and mental health.

12 Amazing benefits of sand play

kids just love digging, playing is sand, making castles, mixing sand and water, and specially messy play. Sand play is an open minded activity which they can play as per their interest.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of sand play.

1. Helps in physical development

sand play is an open ended game there are endless ways to play with it. There is some sand toys available like bucket, scoops, castles and many more, which can help kids in developing their physical strength. Lifting the sand bucket, pouring it in the sand truck, scooping it and digging it help them to grow their muscles and boost their fine and gross motor skills.

2. Build imagination and creativity

There are so many possibilities when it comes to play with sand. your child can build sand castle, bridges, mountains, change the texture by adding water, making shapes, create a construction site, making objects like cars or animals with the help of toys. Let him play in sand and expand his imagination and creativity. there are endless ways to play with the sand, let him imagine the word with his own eyes and hands.

3. Promote social communication and interaction

kids can play independently in sand as well as its a great way to interact with other kids as well. when they play together, they share toys, dig together, make sand mountains together, fill the sand truck more faster and achieve some goal, which make them very happy. This way their communication and interaction improve with other kids, help them to learn problem solving skills as well as improve language skills.

4. Build concentration and attention

Sand play has many benefits for children, contributing to their overall mental and physical development. It helps to develop their concentration and attention span, as well as being lots of fun! It is also an excellent tool for encouraging creativity and imagination as children construct different shapes or objects from sand. Through sand play, children also explore nature elements such as water and shapes in 3D.

5. Improve gross motor and fine motor skills

Participating in sand play can benefit children in developing important motor skills such as gross motor, fine motor and coordination. Sand play encourages children to coordinate their body movements, from throwing a shovel full of sand to making intricate sandcastles. Furthermore, building with sand helps the development of fine motor muscle control in hands and fingers, as well as improving hand-eye coordination.

6. Build Immunity

Sand play is a great way for children to build their immunity. Not only does the sand provide physical stimulation for kids, but the bacteria and microorganisms found in dirt are beneficial to their development. Introducing kids to this natural environment can help boost their immune system and prepare them for any potential illness in the future.

7. Improve hand eye coordination

Sand play can be a great way to help kids develop hand eye coordination. As they manipulate the building toys, scoop or pour sand, or move objects around, they must pay attention and make adjustments in order to be successful. This helps to strengthen the connection between their eyes and the muscles in their hands. Also, playing with sand encourages creativity as kids use it in different ways to create unique sculptures and patterns.

8. Build problem solving capacity

Sand play provides a great environment for children to exercise their problem solving capabilities. Through the tactile medium of sand, kids can discover solutions to different challenges such as digging and filling up trenches. The combination of physical action and mental strategy while playing in sand encourages them to think creatively, which builds problem-solving capacities over time.

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9. Incorporate independent play

Sand play enables children to engage in independent play, allowing them the chance to explore, create and imagine without adult assistance or external instruction. When kids are able to decide which activities and games to engage in with the sand, this encourages a sense of autonomy that can lead to greater exploration and discovery.

10. Connect them with nature and science

It is a great way for kids to explore nature and science! Sand play is especially beneficial for teaching children about nature and science, as they can get hands-on experience exploring different textures and materials and understanding processes

11. Helps in sensory development

Sand play is an invaluable activity for children, as it helps nurture their sensory development. Through sand play, kids can explore and experience different textures, sounds and temperatures, further stimulating their receptors and creating new learning pathways in the brain. It encourages them to develop a better understanding of their environment. This helps in the development of sensory skills, such as touch, sight, smell and hearing.

12. Keep them engage for longer and improve logical thought process

One of the main benefits of sand play for kids is that it can help to keep them engaged and entertained for longer. It can also help children with creative problem-solving and logical thought processes as they build structures, create stories, and make/enact different scenes in the sandpit. By playing with sand for extended periods of time, kids are able to stay entertained and engaged while strengthening their decision-making skills.

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Some of the safety tips to consider while playing in sand

Playing safely is always key! Here are some safety considerations that should be taken into account while enjoying the sandbox:

• Use protective gear like sunscreen, sunglasses and hats when playing outside during sunny days;
• Make sure the age appropriate toys are available;
• Don’t allow eating while playing;
• Encourage all washing up before & after playing so that your child’s health won’t be compromised;
• Replace wet & soiled sand every two weeks to avoid unhealthy germs & fungal growth over time at the risk of infection;
• Keep fingers away from eyes & ears – don’t forget about hand hygiene rules here;
• Be aware of allergies – keep tracks of seasonal inhalants & other airborne allergens that can affect your child even from far away sources (such as nearby meadows).

The post What is sand play? 12 benefits of sand play for kids of all ages. appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Motherhood and love: what are the qualities of a good mother?

When a baby is at home, life seems like so beautiful, day’s passes like seconds and year’s passes in blink of an eye. Day begins with them and ends with them. It’s like having a full time job and thinking when they will grow up. But don’t worry, those days are not far when your sweet little baby boy will play with you. Before he grows up, here are some adorable quotes for you to use them as a wish, or a gift.

Sweet and lovely baby boy quotes

• A baby is like a seed. Shower it with love and care and it will turn into something beautiful that you can’t imagine. Whether or not that baby will flourish depends on how well you take care of it.
• A happy baby has shining eyes. It walks open-hearted into the world and spreads magic –  Sigrid Leo
• You know what the great thing about babies is? They are like little bundles of hope. Like the future in a basket – Lish McBride
• A baby makes Love stronger, the days shorter, the night longer, savings smaller and a home happier.
• Babies have neither past nor future. They enjoy the present, which very few of us do. —Jean De La Bruyere
• It’s a good thing babies don’t give you a lot of time to think. You fall in love with them and when you realize how much they love you back, life is very simple.” —Anita Diamant
• Like stars are to the sky, so are the children to our world. They deserve to shine! –  Chinonye J. Chidolue
• Babies cry at birth because it is the first time they experience separation from love. -Kamand Kojouri

• I know now why God gave us babies. They require constant attention, of course. They make messes and disturb the peace, but their cuteness and smiles are something the only reminder of God we have in the house. -Ann Rinaldi
• A new baby is like the beginning of all things – wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. Eda J. Le Shan
• A baby boy arrives, and just like that, everything changes. The world gets bigger, hearts grow fuller, and life means more because he’s in it.
• Babies are amazing. They begin each day all warm and sleepy, smelling of promise. – Julia Roberts
• Like stars are to the sky, so are the children to our world. They deserve to shine! – Chinonye J. Chidolue
• There are no words that can describe the euphoria you feel when your baby recognizes you for the first time and smiles. —Jared Padalecki
• Loving a baby is a circular business, a kind of feedback loop. The more you give the more you get and the more you get the more you feel like giving. —Penelope Leach

• “A child enters your home and for the next twenty years makes so much noise you can hardly stand it. The child departs, leaving the house so silent you think you are going mad.” —John Andrew Holmes
• You’ll learn to lower your expectations about what you can accomplish in a day. Some days, it will be all you can do to keep baby safe, warm, and fed. And that will be enough.
• A baby makes love stronger, the days shorter, the nights longer, savings smaller, and a home happier.
• On the day you were born, the angels clapped their hands and the moon danced with the stars.

Life of a Newborn baby: First four weeks of your newborn’s life

Baby boy quotes from a mother

•  I do not have much to give you my little munchkin, but what I can give you is lots of love, plenty of hugs and kisses, and a happy home.
• For all the things my hands have held the best by far is you.
• Sons may grow into men and grow out of their toys, but in the hearts of their mothers they are still their little boys.
• A parent is someone who carries pictures where their money used to be.

• You’ll be his first kiss, his first love, his first friend, you are his momma, and he is your whole world. He is your little boy.
• And she loved a little boy very, very much, even more than she loved herself. – Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree
• ​Before you were born I carried you under my heart. From the moment you arrived in this world until the moment I leave it, I will always carry you in my heart. – Mandy Harrison
• I loved you from the very start. You stole my breath, embraced my heart. Our life together has just begun. You’re part of me, my little one.
• “The amazing thing about becoming a parent is that you will never again be your own first priority.” —Olivia Wilde
• How is it possible that out of all little boys in the whole world we got the best one?
• This baby is an answer to a wish that we never knew we had.

• Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart and you are that smallest thing in my heart.
• Having you as my baby is a life-changer. It gives me a whole other perspective on why i wake up every day.
• A precious new baby has come from above to live in our hearts and fill them with love
• When they place you in my arms, you slipped into my heart.
• Having my baby fall asleep in my arms takes away all of my worries and stresses. A sense of complete and total peace comes over me. –  Maria Jose Ovalle
• I am proud of many things in life but nothing beats being a mother.
• There is nothing sweeter in the world for a mother than the smell of her baby’s breath, happy coos, and gentle kisses.
• All that a mother aspires is to love her babies a little more before they are not little anymore.”
• When they placed you in Mommy’s arms, you fell straight into my heart and there will always be a place for you there forever.

• The most precious jewels i’ll ever have around my neck are the arms of my baby.
• There has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between the mother and a son.
• There’s this boy who stole my heart. He calls me Mom
• If I have a monument in this world, it is my son. – Maya Angelou
• You are more than we ever expected and better than we ever imagined.
• Carrying a baby is the most rewarding  experience a women can enjoy.

Short and one line baby boy quotes

• Children bring is a piece of heaven on earth – Roland Leonhardt
• “It is a smile of a baby that makes life worth living.” –Debasish Mridha
• A child’s love could simply be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
• No joy on Earth brings greater pleasure than a little boy to love and treasure

• “Life’s only worth living if you’re being loved by a kid.” – Buzz Lightyear
• You’re my favorite reason to lose sleep.
• Ten little fingers, ten perfect toes, fill our hearts with love that overflows.
• Kiss that baby and hold it tight. It will not be little forever.
• I love my little baby to the moon and back.
• Babies have a way of touching the world with love.
• A baby is the beginning of happiness, wonder, and hope.
• A baby’s smile is an antidote to melt your day’s stress away.
• The jewel of the sky is the sun; the jewel of the house is the baby.

• “Children bring us a piece of heaven on earth.” —Roland Leonhardt
• “It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into.” —Terri Guillemets
• A baby’s smile is an antidote to melt your day’s stress away.
• Babies are always more trouble than you thought and more wonderful. — Charles Osgood
• A baby is born with a need to be loved—and never outgrows it. – Frank A. Clark
• A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on. — Carl Sandburg
• For all the things my hands have held the best by far is you.
• While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
• Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.
• Twinkle Twinkle little boy, how you filled my heart with joy.
• “A baby is a dancing joy of life.” – Debasish Mridhaaa

All about first month of a baby after birth, what can you expect?

Adorable baby boy quotes for Instagram and Facebook caption

• As your kids grow they may forget what you said, but won’t forget how you made them feel.
• Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart and you are that smallest thing in my heart.
• Little boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older.” –  J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
• Little hands and little feet, little toothless grins so sweet, little eyes that shine so bright, little arms to hug you tight, everything’s little except your joy when you have a new baby boy.”
• A baby boy arrives, and just like that, everything changes. The world gets bigger, hearts grow fuller, and life means more because he’s in it.”

• Baby boys have a pocket full of mischief and a saddle always overflowing with joy and excitement.”
• Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart and you are that smallest thing in my heart. — KEVIN HEATH
• “Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your husband and your child.”—Tina Brown
• Love is giving your kids your undivided attention and time. — KEVIN HEATH
• Babies are always more trouble than you thought and more wonderful.- Charles Osgood
• Little hands and little feet, little toothless grins so sweet, little eyes that shine so bright, little arms to hug you tight, everything’s little except your joy when you have a new baby boy.

• My fingers are tickled to delight by the soft ripple of a baby’s laugh.  Helen Keller
• Read me a bedtime story and tuck me tight. Sing me a lullaby and always kiss me good night.
• Babies smile in their sleep because they’re listening to the whispering of angels.
• Children make you want to start life over and they are the greatest adventure. Muhammad Ali
• A baby boy may leave smudges in the house and also on your heart.
• A little miracle sent from above, a baby boy to cuddle and love.
• You are loved for the boy you are, the man you will become and the son you will always be.
• You’ll be his first kiss, his first love, his first friend, you are his momma, and he is your whole world. He is your little boy
• A baby boy’s laugh could simply be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
• May you always know little ONE, that you were wished for, longed for, prayed for, and will forever be loved.
• Having a baby is a little bit like getting the world’s worst and neediest roommate.

The post 91 sweet and adorable quotes for a baby boy appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Child tantrums are common and its very common behavior of toddlers. Most toddlers grow out of this phase, try to communicate and learn to have some patience. Like adults, kids also have lots of emotions like happiness, sadness, love as well as anger. As a kid, they lose their temper very easily and frequently.

Parenting is not at all easy and specially handling a child or toddler with anger issues. Here are my 15 recommendation or ways to help your child to manage their anger.

1.    Try to understand their needs

Understand the reason of anger and child’s need. Try to speak with them why they are showing anger and what they want. Give your child enough space to express their needs rather than showing aggression. Sit with them and talk politely. Sometime showing some love and affection can do wonders in such situation.

2.    Think like a child

Reading your child’s mind is a very tough task but if you try to think like a child, you will understand the reason of their anger. Sometimes we think like an adult and it seems like irrelevant to us but it might be important for them. Try not to ignore the problem and find the solution. Behaving like a child with your child can give you solution to many problems.

3.    Use distraction

Distract your child with something exciting or new to them. This idea works wonder if child is 2 year old or less, it may not work for older kids because their memory will get better by the age. This might work great if you distract your child before showing tantrums or anger and may not work when they are full-on angry. 

4.    Find their trigger points of anger

Observe your child closely and understand the situation when they show anger. Sometime kids have particular triggers and patterns on which they get angry. If the triggers are avoidable then try to avoid them and if the triggers are unavoidable then talk to them about them when they are calm.

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5.    Try to stay calm and don’t scream at them

If you want to control child’s anger then control your own first. If you try to get angry on child, they will behave exactly the same and will get angrier then you. Always behave calmly and don’t scream on them; behaving aggressively can lead to an aggressive behavior in kids. Aggressive behavior can leave a strong impact on their mental health.

There are many studies that if a child is scold frequently, it will leave a negative foot-print on their minds for the life-time. These kids can have more negative attitude towards life and can face anxiety and depression later on their life.

6.    Don’t use commanding and harsh language

If you use commanding and harsh language with your child then you should focus on your behavior also. Children don’t like commands and when you give them commands; their mind reacts in a different way. Try to ask them with kind words and use some kind words like please, thank-you, excuse me, sorry and many more. If you will show them gratitude, they will also learn the same.

7.    Give them some time to process the situation

Sometime when we are angry, we don’t want to listen anything. The same happens with the child also. They can’t process what you are saying and what not, so try to calm them first and then talk. Give them some time to calm themselves and hold them until they calm down.

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8.    Don’t get physical with them and don’t hit

Hitting a child is a worse thing that you can do with them as a parent. Never get physical with them, especially when child is having some issues with his/her anger. Hitting can cause negative effects on their brain for later on their life also. Try to talk and solve the problem rather than raising your hands on them always.

9.    Communicate about good and bad behavior

Communication is the key in every relationship as well as in parents and child also. Always communicate with them when they are in mood of listening about good and bad behavior. Talk to them what is acceptable and what is not. Keep reminding them about good and bad behavior. Appreciate them whenever they behave well and remind them when they are crossing the lines.

10.    Set some rules and consequences

It is always important to set some rules for certain behavior that which one is ok and which one is not ok.  Like hitting and spanking is not at all ok. Set some punishment for them and always stick to that. Some children need rules and regulations to thrive. So setting some rules and punishments is always important. Always be consistent in that but try not to rigid, be flexible some times. You can also set some rewards if they behave good, this will encourage them for good behavior and discipline.

11.    Don’t give up

Never give up on your child. It takes lots of time, patience, and positivity to encourage a good behavior. Spend some time everyday with each other and have a meaningful conversation. Set a daily routine to follow and help them cope with anger better. Ensure they are getting enough physical activity throughout the day and using their energy.

12.    Try to offer alternatives

Don’t say direct NO to child and try to offer alternatives so that it will make them feel like having a control and independence. So rather than telling them what to do or what not, try to offer some choices. By offer them options to choose from as this makes them feel as if they have control over their lives and can independently decide what they would like to do.

13.    Appreciate good behavior and show some love with actions

Praise your child whenever possible is always a good way to reduce negativity. Always encourage your child with some good words when he or she behaves nicely. You can also give them small reward for that like cook their favorite food, do their favorite activity, watch their favorite show on TV and so on ( Don’t give them expensive or big reward as it can make them habitual of it ).

Show them love with your actions also like lots of hugs, kisses n all. Keep the positive environment at home all the time.

14.    Don’t scare them

Scaring kids with imaginative things can leave a negative impact on their mind which can cause anger issues in child. A child is very sensitive and when they are very young, they belief on everything what they hear from their loved ones. Scaring them frequently can cause a temporary trauma on their mind at that time and in long run it can lead to poor mental health and poor immune system. So stop scaring kids unnecessarily over small things and start talking with them.

15.    Keep the screen time low and useful

Last but not the least keeps the screen time low and useful. Keep your child away from technology during early years as much as possible because technology has many negative effects on their brain. They can also cause anger issues in child.

The post Anger issues in child/toddler: 15 ways to teach your child to manage anger appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Teething is not a pleasant experience for babies but molar teeth can be most painful experience for them because of their large size and double edge.  Babies can start getting their first teeth as early as they are 6 month old and get their full set of teeth by the age of 3 year old.

There are 2 sets of molar teeth which are first molar and second molar or 2-year molar. Second molars are the last set of teeth to be emerging and they are large teeth at the very back of mouth.

How long teething last?

The age of teething can vary for child to child but according to guidelines they should get their full set of 20 teeth by the age of 3 year. Usually teething starts when baby is 6 to 10 month old and last until they are 25 to 33 months old. But teething doesn’t end here, these are just temporary teeth and they will start shedding when your child’s age is around 6 to 7 year.

All of your baby teeth will erupt one by one and usually they appear in pairs. Usually the lower central incisor teeth come first. Here is the image which will show you the age of eruption and shedding both and the order in which they erupt.

How to discipline a stubborn child and ways to deal with it

When do toddler get their molar teeth?

First set of molar usually erupt around the age of 10 to 14 month or you can say early in the second year but the second molar teeth start erupting around the age of 25 to 33 month. They can also come in like one tooth at a time and the exact timing for each child varies.

Typically the lower set comes in first around the age to 23 to 31 month followed by upper set around the age of 25 to 33 month.

Symptoms of teething with molars in toddlers

You and your child can be lucky and may get their molar teeth without any pain or discomfort. But it’s not same for all. For many toddler and parents, it’s very painful time. Sometime your child won’t be able to tell you about the discomfort and pain that they are feeling but there are always some symptoms which you can relate.

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 Here are few of the symptoms in toddler when teething with molars and sometime symptoms are worse at night.

• Toddler is not sleeping well because of pain and swollen gums
• Some child try to chew more to relieve pressure on gums. They may try to chew their toys, fingers, clothes or anything.
• Loss of appetite can be an another sign of teething
• Low grade fever also.
• They are looking irritable and cranky. Crankiness and irritability can be more during that time.
• If they are drooling more than earlier that can be sign of teething.

How to ease the pain of teething in toddler

Here are few tips to ease the pain of teething specially when teething with molar because they are big teeth and can cause swollen and painful gums.

• Rubbing gums with clean finger, or a damp washcloth can give them relief. The idea is to simply provide some pressure on gums to reduce pain.
• Give them something to chew which will also help them
• Cold pack or cold food like ice-cream, cold fruits, cold veggie stick will be a great help for them.
• Teething rings to chew on.
• Try to distract them for pain and discomfort, take them out, play with them, read books or do whatever your child enjoys.
• If the pain is bothering a lot to your child then give over the counter medication after consulting with doctor.
• Avoid topical teething gels because they can cause serious side effects to your child.

21 Home remedies for cough and cold in toddlers that actually work

Note

Always check with your doctor before giving  any over the counter medication to your child.

The post Toddler teething with molars: Symptoms and remedies to ease pain appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

There is no fix sheet for this that what should a 12 month old do. But there are some defined development and milestone at 12 month that most children are able to do. Just like babies toddlers need plenty of sleep, so make sure they are getting 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily. By the time your toddler may be able to sleep for long hours during night and taking 1-2 short naps in daytime.

Below are the milestones you can expect your child to reach from 12 to 18 months. But if they don’t follow this exact schedule, try not to worry – every kid is different and they’ll likely get there in their own time. Still if you are concerned about your child’s development then you can reach out to your health care provider.

Development and milestone of a 12 month old baby

During this time your child’s brain grows rapidly and many amazing changes happen. Suddenly you can feel like oh wow, now my little munchkin can do this also. The development and milestones during this time can be grouped in five areas.

• Physical and motor skills
• Cognitive and Sensory development
• Social and emotional development
• Language and communication development
• Behavior and independence

Physical and motor skill

A 12 month old child is expected to be three times their birth weight and expected to grow about 3 inches to 5 inches in size. They have a head circumference equals to their chest size and can have 1 to 8 teethes.

Here are some of the other physical milestones that you can expect from 12 to 15 month old baby

• Can stand without help or support between 12 to 15 months.
• Many toddlers start walking on their own between 12 to 15 months but some take time and start walking around 15 to 18 months.
• Sit down without help
• Build two blocks tower
• Sleep long hours at night like 8 to 10 hours and 1 to 2 naps during daytime
• Pick up a small object using the tip of their thumb and index finger
• walk up and down stairs with help
• crawl up stairs
• Wave “bye” and clap
• Play independently for short periods
• Try to help you put their clothes on
• play with pull and push toys
• Pick up a small object from the ground while standing without falling

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Cognitive and sensory milestones for 12 month old

Cognitive skills are your child’s mental skills like thinking, learning and problem solving etc. This is your child’s ability to think, learn, and remember. Your child will start to remember recent events and actions, understand signs, imagine and pretend.

Some of the changes that you can see are:

• Respond to their name
• Can say 1 to 2 words like mamma, papa
• Understand simple commands
• Can point to objects
• Sometime can attached to a toy or object
• Begin to pretend play
• Try to make some sounds
• Play simple games with you
• Start to show tantrums
• Begin to use spoon and fork and can drink from cup
• Shake their head “no” or nod “yes”

Social and emotional development

Toddlers have strong emotional attachment from their loved once, they start to show separation anxiety when they are separated from their loved ones. Around the same time, toddlers typically want to do things on their own or according to their own wishes.

Here is a list of social and development milestones that you can expect from a baby after 12 month.

• Separation anxiety
• They can feel sad when someone else is crying near to them
• They begin to feel self aware
• Can make strong eye contact
• Can read book indecently and turn the pages of book
• Show interest in communicating and want some attention.
• Enjoy looking at picture books
• Can express themselves
• Emotionally attach to some toy, pillow, or object
• Can hug and kiss you
• May be Afraid of strangers
• Explores alone but with parent close by

3 Month old baby milestone, What to expect from birth till 3 months

Language and communication development

You’ve probably noticed for several months that your baby seems to ‘babble’. Now you’ll start to hear real words among the grunts, nods and pointing. At 15 to 18 months, a typical toddler understands 10 times more words than he or she can speak. There may be 1 or 2 words at about 12 months, increasing to 6 or more words by 18 months.

Here are some of the changes that you can notice:

• Can points to body parts and objects when you ask them
• Follow simple instruction like give this and take this
• Around 15-18 months they start recognize themselves in mirror
• Can say several single words
• Points to something he wants
• Can shake hands and say no or yes
• Try to seek attention of others
• Can hold colors or brush (not properly) and try to scribble.
•  Shows interest in books with pictures
• Try to help when you’re putting on her clothes

Behavior and independence milestones for 12 month old

Toddlers love exploring and they feel safe when their care-givers are around them. They try to do many things by themselves and love their independence. By the time they know that they can do things independently.

Here are some of the Behavior and independence milestones that you can notice in a 12 month old:

• Try to use spoon and fork themselves
• Can take off socks and shoes
• Help put toys away
• Try to explore everything they saw
• Display separation anxiety
• Use body language such as pointing, nodding and grunting to express their needs
• Try to copy you and can use household objects like broom, vacuum cleaner, phone etc like pretend play.
• Search for hidden or lost toys
• Play independently for longer periods
• Dislike sharing toys
• Laugh at silly behavior
• Explore new places
• Independent eating like finger foods that they can hold in hands

All about first month of a baby : What can you expect?

When to worry about your child’s development

Every child is different so their development and milestones are. Each child meets their development and milestone when they want. Some are quick learner and some are late, this is completely normal. A child who is slow to reach milestones in one area, such as talking, may be ahead in another area, such as walking. But here are some things to look for and if your child is unable to do, visit your health care provider.

• If you feel like your child is not responding to loud voices and have some hearing difficulties
• Doesn’t notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
• Loses skills he once had
• Walks on toes
• Doesn’t use pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) to hold small objects
• Doesn’t enjoy being cuddled or touched by parents
• Shows unusual level of fear whenever feet are lifted off of the ground
• Doesn’t babble
• Unable to do eye-contact
• Doesn’t make any attempts to communicate
• can’t stand even when holding on to you or the furniture
• uses one hand a lot more than the other
• not following moving objects with eyes

The post What should a 12 month old baby do? (Milestone for 12 month baby) appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Potty training is a process that requires your little one to develop a complex set of skills. Learning how to use potty might be easier if your child is little older but rather than focusing on age, it is always best to focus on some signs of readiness. Starting potty training before your child is ready can backfire and lead to frustration for everyone involved. This way it can take longer to complete.

14 sign of readiness that will tell when should you start potty training

You might see signs that your child is ready for potty training from about two years on. Some children show signs as early as 18 months, and some might be older than two years. Here are 15 signs of readiness that shows your child is ready for potty training.

1.    Less wet diapers than before

If your child is using less diapers that means his bladder capacity and control are increasing, which is very important for potty training. This means child is physically ready to start this process and time to stop the diapers.

2.    Follow basic instructions to start potty training

When you want your child to learn some new skill, it is very important for them to follow instruction. This is a basic requirement, so that they can understand and follow what you are trying to explain. For kids this a very challenging process and it involves many steps like noticing the urge to go, finding the bathroom in time, turning on the light, pulling down pants and underwear, sitting on the potty, going, wiping, flushing the toilet, then washing their hands. And this is not simple to understand if they can’t follow the instructions properly.

3.    Child can pull pants up and down by himself

To start potty train, your child must be able to easily pull their pants up and down. Dressing and undressing themselves is a part of motor skill, some kids master it early but some can take time. Try to avoid tight clothes that they can pull up and down while potty training, so that they can adopt the process comfortably. Additionally, letting them choose the clothes they want to wear may make them more motivated to keep these items clean and dry.

4.    Try to tell when he needs to go

Look, whether your child is aware when he wants to go for poop, instead of using your own ability to notice their body language and face expression. If a child isn’t really aware of what they are doing, they are unable to control the process of doing it. Some clear sign by the child can be like:

• Pointing towards bathroom
• Points to or touch their diaper as they are peeing or pooping.
• Try to tell by making some noise while pooping and peeing and so on

5.    Can sit well on potty seat

If your child is sitting well and comfortably on a potty seat then it’s a good sign. He should be able to sit down on—and get up from—a potty chair.

6.    Predictable schedule of poop

Some kids have their predictable schedule of going for poop, in such cases it is very easy to potty train them. You can take them to the toilet on their time and motivate them to use potty seat for the process. All kids are different, but once they have a more predictable bowel movement it makes it a lot easier to help them remember to go potty and get them there on time.

7.    Show interest in the potty training while others go

When your child shows an interest and desire to learn to use the potty, you can explain them the process and start potty training. If they are curious about what you are doing when you go to the bathroom, want to wear big kid underwear, interested in staying dry and clean etc. that means they are showing interest in this.

8.    Can sit still and engage in one activity for 15 to 20 minutes

Using the toilet, especially to poop, requires a bit of patience. Your child should be able to sit and engage in an activity for several minutes without becoming distracted or irritable. To help your child stay on the potty, you can give them their favorite books, toys or anything so that they can sit still for some time.

9.    Stay dry for longer than 2 hours and awaking dry after nap

This is noticeable especially after a nap or night time. Kids that start dry for longer periods of time during the day are often ready to start potty training. Once they can go all night with dry diapers that means they are ready to sleep without diaper at night also.  When your child stays dry for two hours or more when awake and/or wakes up with dry diapers, it shows that their bladder capacity and control are increasing, which are important for toilet training.

10.    Child start disliking diapers

some kids starts disliking diapers after a certain time and refuse to wear. Toddlers that don’t like messy diapers and try and pull it off or point at it or pull at it are often ready for potty training.

11.    Regular and soft bowel moments before starting potty training

If your child is having regular and soft bowel, you can start their potty training. Never start this process if they are having constipation or diarrhea, as this will create only complications. First try to treat constipation and diarrhea because some kids can experience normal constipation while potty training and this will only worsen their situation.

12.    Hiding when going to bathroom

Some kids have a habit of hiding behind the curtain, couch while they are pooping. They want some private space for the process and get upset when someone notices them. This shows that they are ready to start potty training.

13.    Try to become independent and understand bathroom lingo

When your child shows some signs of independence like saying no often, or saying I can do by myself and show interest in doing things by themselves, these can also be displayed as an interest in trying new things. If your child can make the connection between having the urge to pee or poop and going to use the potty, and can understand lingo like “pee” and “poop”, that means he is ready to start learning this new skill.

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14.    Can walk well when there is an urge to go and try to control it until reaches the bathroom

The urge to use the bathroom is often sudden in toddlers and a potty isn’t always a few steps away. So, it’s important for your child to be able to make it to the toilet before an accident occurs. Make sure that they are not struggling to walk and run before starting the process.

Key points to keep in mind before starting potty training toddler

Here are some key points to keep in mind

• Try to start toilet training when there are no big changes coming up for your family.
• Make sure you have all the equipment for the toilet training.
• Children might be ready for toilet training if they have dry nappies for up to two hours and check for the above mentioned signs of readiness.
• If your child is going through changes or stressors, like a transition to a new home, a divorce, or having a new baby in the house, you may want to hold off on potty training.
• Toilet training can take days, months or weeks. Be patient and keep encouraging your child.

What can you expect from newborn baby during first month? Read to know

The post When should you start potty training for toddler: 14 signs of readiness appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Motherhood is the most beautiful thing in this world but on the other hand parenting your child is very difficult task. The real battle begins when your baby is no more a baby but a toddler and you sweet cute little baby transform into a stubborn toddler. Toddlers behave differently than small babies, they starts walking around their 1^st birthday and start exploring the world.

Most toddlers show interest in doing things by themselves and try to explore the things their own way. Stubbornness is the most common and normal behavior for them. Generally, by the age of 18 months till the age of 4 or 5 years, this stubbornness is on its peak. It begins when children discover they have the power to refuse other people’s requests. They respond negatively to many requests, including pleasant ones. In general, they are stubborn rather than cooperative. They delight in refusing a suggestion, whether it’s about getting dressed or taking off their clothes, taking a bath or getting out of the bathtub, going to bed or getting up.

Read to know tips to potty train a stubborn toddler

This can be very frustrating period for parents. I am also a mother and I can say that this is really very frustrating. My son was refusing almost everything that he was doing since he was a baby whether its food, bath time, nappy change, going out sitting on car seat, and so on, this list is too long to explain.

The toddler phase and the teenager phase are considered the toughest to handle. Here I will explain my ways of handling a stubborn toddler without any punishment. Yes, here I am not talking about the hitting, spanking or behaving aggressively with your child. As research says, this can lead to other mental and behavioral problems in their adulthood. Before talking about the ways I will explain the characteristics of a stubborn toddler. I hope after reading all these characteristics you will feel little relaxed.

Characteristics of a stubborn child

Here are some of the characteristics of stubborn toddler or child that you can look for. All of them are not bad, but for some kids this can be their behavior also. Stubborn kids are difficult to handle but it’s not that bad.

• Tend to be fussy and independent.
• They can have frequent temper tantrums
• Stubborn kids tend to question everything which can be mistaken for rebellion
• It can be difficult to get them into a routine as they are free-willed
• They are committed and bent on doing what they like.
• Always want to be the BOSS and have strong leadership qualities.
• Tend to do everything at their own pace
• They have a strong need to be acknowledged and heard. So they always want your attention.

Is your toddler refusing milk? Click here to read my guide on this

15 tips to discipline stubborn child

Here are my top 15 tips that I was also using to handle my very stubborn child and believe me I am still using these tips. I keep reminding myself about these tips whenever I lose my temper on my kid.

1.    Don’t Argue with a stubborn child, try to request them rather than command

Stubborn children are always ready for an argument, so try to avoid that and don’t give them a chance to argue. Always listen calmly what they want to say and when you feel they are ready to listen then try to tell your side of story. Try to do more conversation rather than an argument.

Always try to request them like please can you come here for a minute or please can you do this for me, try not to give commands like come here now or do this. This way they will understand that you want them to do this otherwise they will always ready to fight back.

2.    Try not to force them for anything, make a connection with them

Do not force your child to do something that they do not want to. This will only make them more stubborn and they will be bent on doing exactly what they are not supposed to do. So, if you want your child to stop doing some activity, always try to give some time out like, last 5 minutes, by this way their mind will understand that this has to finish in sometime. Try to explain them the reason behind every action, to make them understand the situation better.

3.    Use distractions

Sometime distractions work. Distract your toddler with a toy or any other activity instead of always saying NO or STOP when he wants to play with something that he shouldn’t. This trick works well for toddler under the age of 2 years when they have poor impulsive control and lack of cognitive ability to understand why you are saying NO.

4.    Offer some choices

Stubborn toddler always wants the control in their hand, they don’t want to listen. So rather than telling them what to do or what not, try to offer some choices. By offer them options to choose from as this makes them feel as if they have control over their lives and can independently decide what they would like to do. Keep the choices limited to avoid confusion for your child and offer only two or three options. Like if you want them to do their homework then you can ask which one you want to do first.

5.    Control your own anger

There is only one way of controlling your child’s anger is by controlling your own first. If you try to get angry on a stubborn toddler, they will behave exactly the same and will get angrier then you. Always behave calmly; behaving aggressively can lead to an aggressive behavior in kids also. Aggressive behavior can leave a strong impact on their mental health also.

6.    Always encourage or reward a good behavior

Praise your child whenever possible is always a good way to reduce negativity. Always encourage your child with some good words when he or she behaves nicely. You can also give them small reward for that like cook their favorite food, do their favorite activity, watch their favorite show on TV and so on ( Don’t give them expensive or big reward as it can make them habitual of it ).

You can also try not to use negative words such as No, Cannot, Will not etc. if you will use more negative works, child will also try to use those words more often. Try to use more Yes instead of No.

7.    Establish a good routine and try to follow that

Sticking to daily routines as well as weekly ones can help improve your child’s behavior as well as performance in school. Bedtime needs to be defined and should be such that it provides for plenty of rest for your child. Lack of sleep and being tired can lead to behavioral problems in children between the ages of three and twelve.

8.    Try to understand the situation from your child’s point of view

Always try to think from your child’s point of view that why he or she is behaving like this and work on the reason. For example if you promised for something and somehow couldn’t do that then try to explain the reason first. Your child will only see it as a broken promise, but by outlining why you cannot do that and by setting a later date for that, you can salvage the situation.

9.    Set some rules and punishment

It is always important to set some rules for certain behavior that which one is ok and which one is not ok.  Like hitting and spanking is not at all ok. Set some punishment for them and always stick to that. Stubborn children needs rules and regulations to thrive. So setting some rules and punishments is always important. Always be consistent in that but try not to rigid, be flexible some times. You can also set some rewards if they behave good, this will encourage them for good behavior and discipline.

10.    Keep positive environment at home

Positive environment is very important for positive behavior. Try to talk nicely with other members of your family so that child can learn from you. Kids always like to copy their parents, so behave nicely with your spouse, this will encourage them also. Make sure that your home is a place where your child feels happy, comfortable, and secure at all times. Try to avoid argument in front of your child.

14 signs of potty training readiness. when should you start potty training toddler

11.    Remember this is just a phase and a normal behavior of them

Rigidity is usually a sign of a healthy developing toddler, not a “stubborn” one. That’s because toddlers are just beginning to recognize and predict their routines. So much of their world is new, surprising, and completely out of their control, which can be equally exciting and frightening. Always try to comfort your kid when not behaving properly and keep in mind that this is just a phase, it will pass out in few years. Have patience and take it positively.

12.    Avoid excessive No to a stubborn child

Do your child say No to everything, if yes, then think about your attitude once that do you say NO to your child very often? Don’t say excessive NO. Try some other way like we will think about it, I will try to do or I will do it in sometime and so on. But save yourself from saying excessive No. This can lead to a negative attitude in child and he or she will also try to avoid every situation by saying NO.

13.    Don’t expect too much form a stubborn child

You should not expect too much from a little human, after all they are just 2 to 5 year old. What do you expect that they will follow all your rules and commands? No, they will not, kids love to explore new things and love to do things in their own way; don’t expect that they are going to do everything perfectly. It is important to understand that stubbornness is a part of the personality of some children while in others; it is their way of nudging the boundaries and asserting their will

14.    Don’t give choices when its non-negotiable

Don’t get too emotional and get trapped. Sometimes children cry for the things that need not to be done. So don’t give choices when it’s non-negotiable. Such as sitting in the car seat, are not open to discussion, although you can explain why the rule must be followed. Going to bed or to day care also is not negotiable. Don’t ask a question when there’s only one acceptable answer, but direct your child in as kind a way as possible. Commands such as “do this or else” should be avoided.

15.    Ignore some of the behavior of stubborn child

Try to ignore some of the behavior that doesn’t need your attention. This is the best way to handle stubborn toddler. If you will avoid some of things, by the time they will get bored and leave that particular thing by their own. In this way they will get enough chance to explore something that they want to and you will also not feel bad for saying NO to them.

The post How to discipline a stubborn child? 15 ways to discipline them appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Milk is an important source of calcium and protein. It is recommended to have at least 500 ml of milk per day for 6 to 12 month baby and at least 300 ml of milk per day for toddler (1 to 3 year old).

Toddlers need about 700 milligrams of calcium per day and milk is the best source to meet that daily requirement. You should always choose whole milk for children less than 24 months of age and low-fat milk for children 24 months or older. Do not use unpasteurized or raw milk as it can cause serious illness.

Some babies refuses milk while transition from formula or breast milk to cow’s milk. This transition usually takes place around your baby’s first birthday. Some toddler simply can’t digest cow’s milk also called lactose intolerance and they won’t drink milk because of discomfort associated with this like bloating, diarrhea and cramps.

8 Tips to get toddler to drink milk

If your toddler won’t milk then try to find the reason why:

• Check whether the taste of milk is problem. Because taste is a big problem as a result, they start refusing milk.
• Maybe it’s hot or cold. Try to find out their temperature preference of milk
• Are you are pressuring them to drink milk.
• Maybe he is not having milk because other member in the family are also not having it
• He or she is not able to digest the milk and are lactose intolerance.

If your toddler can digest milk but refuse to drink, here are some tips that you can try.

1. Start Slow

Offer milk to your toddler very calmly and don’t force your child to drink milk or do not beg your child to drink it. Try not to give any treat for drinking milk beacuse they can make it as a habit also. Start with 1 to 2 ounce at a time. At first he will only take in small amount, slowly increase the amount of milk.

2. Creative Serving

Serve milk in a creative way for example give some colorful cups, use straw, and spout cups or anything that your baby likes.

3. Warm or Cold Milk

Some children likes cold milk and some prefer warm milk and serving milk according to their preference can be appealing for them to have milk.

4. Add Milk to Foods

You can also try adding some milk to other food items like breakfast cereals, porridge, soups, custards, pudding, scrambled eggs, or smoothies. Basically, try to add milk rater than water in their meals and snacks.

5. Let them Prepare their own Milk

Some children finds it interesting to eat the food that they prepare so let them put their milk in cup and maybe they will have it.

6. Drink with them

Some children love copies their caretaker therefore you can also have milk with them and try to encourage them about it.

7. Try Flavored Milk

Always offer plain milk, but sometime children don’t like the taste of plain milk. You can add some fruit purees or add some chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavor to it.  Make it flavorful and offer your toddler.

8. Try with other milk products first or mix the milk with Breast-Milk

You can also give milk alternatives like yogurt, ice-creams and cheese and see whether he likes the taste and then first try to give small amount of milk or you can also mix breast milk with small amount of cow’s milk and slowly increase the amount of cow’s milk till he develop a taste.

10 alternative of milk to include in your child’s diet

Milk is an important part of toddler’s diet but sometime they won’t drink milk because of that they can miss many essential vitamins and mineral. Milk provides many essential vitamins and minerals like:

• Calcium
• Fat
• Protein
• Zinc
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin A
• B vitamins
• Selenium
• Folate
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Iodine

To get all the essential vitamins and mineral mentioned above, it’s important for the children to have milk. But in all cases it’s not possible. Some kids cannot digest milk and some simply refuse to drink it. I am also a mother of 3 year old and I can understand very well. After weaning off from breast milk he never likes the taste of milk and I tried every tip that I have mentioned above but nothing worked. He simply refuses to have milk and I was always worried about his calcium and protein intake but nothing worked.

 If your toddler is same like mine and won’t drink milk, I will simply say don’t panic.

There are other ways or I can say other alternates to milk that you can offer and your child will get necessary supplement that they would usually get from milk, without actually drinking milk. In other words milk alone is not the only source of all theses vitamins and minerals.

How to discipline a stubborn toddler, here are 15 tips to consider

Here are the following alternatives to milk that you can offer to your child.

1.    Yogurt and cheese

You can offer milk alternatives like yogurt, cheese slices and cottage cheese. They are full of calcium and protein like milk. You can offer yogurt as a desert or add in smoothies also. Cheese can be added to meals like pasta and egg or can be given as a snack. this is a very good alternative of milk for toddler who won’t drink milk.

2.    Oranges

All knows that oranges are full of vitamin c but they are full of calcium also. You can add fresh oranges to your kid’s diet or add some orange juice, make sure that juice is full of calcium.

3.    Non-dairy milk

Some kids want to have milk but they cannot because of lactose intolerance. There are so many non dairy milk options are available for the toddlers who don’t drink milk. You can offer other non-dairy milk for instance, coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk or any lactose free milk. They are full of calcium, fats and other vitamins.

4.    Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are full of vitamins and mineral and are rich source of calcium and protein. You can use some nuts flour like almond flour, flex seeds flour while cooking. Offer nuts while snacking or add their flour while backing. You can also give them nut butters like almond and peanut butters. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium.

5.    Beans and legumes

You can give them boiled beans like chickpeas or green beans, peas while snacking or add them in soups or as a side dish in meals also. They are full of nutritious.

6.    Tofu

Tofu is a great source of calcium and protein. You can give them as a snack or add them with vegetables during meal time. Tofu is high in protein, fat, vitamins, mineral and this can be one of the good option to include in your toddler diet who don’t drink milk.

7.    Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, lettuce, turnip greens and spinach are great source of calcium, magnesium and iron. Include them in your kids diet will provide them calcium and necessary mineral. 

8.    Salmon

Salmon is rich in vitamin D and you can include this in your kids diet for the better absorption of calcium because Vitamin D is very important for the absorption of calcium.

9.    Sun light

Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. without enough vitamin-D calcium will not be able to absorb in your body. Daily requirement of your kid is to get 400 IU vitamin-D per day. By spending some time in sun will do the wonder or you can try supplementing with vitamin-D after consulting your health care provider.

10. Fish

Fish contains healthy omega 3 fatty acid in addition its a great source of iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, B-vitamins, vitamin A, fats and protein. Add this super food in your kid’s diet for the necessary vitamins, minerals and protein.

These are the variety of foods that you can give to your toddler, who don’t want milk and still you can complete his essential requirements.

Here are the key points to remember while doing this

1. Add variety of foods during each meal.
2. You can do experiment with milk and try adding milk to the different type of meals and snacks.
3. By giving other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and ice-creams
4. You can also try adding some dairy free milk like almond milk, soya milk etc.

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