Parenting Tips for Your 21-22 Month Old Toddler
If you want to stay home to raise your baby and are able to do so, then do it. You and your baby will gain from your time together. If you want to or have to work outside the home, then find the best option.
If you decide to look for child care, choose a place with quality caregivers. There are two things to ask yourself before you decide on a caregiver.
- First, does the caregiver like your child? Toddlers need lots of love and attention.
- Second, will the same caregiver be with your child every day? Toddlers need to form close bonds with people and can suffer if they have too many caregivers.
Children do best when their parents are happy and when they have a kind caregiver at home or in day care. You may worry about leaving your child in someone else’s care. Find a caregiver you can trust, so you can feel that your child is safe and secure.
Here are some things to look for as you decide on child care. Does the caregiver:
- Have child-rearing attitudes like yours?
- Know what children can and want to do at different ages?
- Spend time holding, playing with, and talking to your child?
- Have enough time to look after all the children in his or her care?
- Welcome visits from parents?
Does the home or center have the following?
- A clean and lived-in look?
- Equipment that is safe?
- Nutritious meals and snacks, if provided by caregiver?
- Diapering area that is separate from food preparation area?
- Diapering area that is disinfected after each use?
- Detergents and other poisonous items that are kept out of reach or locked up?
Are there opportunities for children to do the following?
- To be held, cuddled, rocked, smiled at, talked to?
- To relax and rest when they need to do so?
- To walk and explore safely?
- To play with things which develop their senses of touch, sight, and hearing?
- To learn language? Does the caregiver talk to the children, name things, talk about what your child is doing?
