Baby Behaviors Your Child Should Leave Behind as a Toddler and How to Help

Babies can be a bundle of joy, and watching them grow and develop can be nothing short of wonderful. One of the natural, though bittersweet parts of being a parent is watching your children outgrow some of those delightful baby behaviors. Some of those behaviors can be more difficult to leave behind than others though, and may need a little extra help from you.

Separation Anxiety

As your baby gets older, you may start to notice them becoming a little more clingy and less comfortable around strangers, especially when you’re leaving. According to Baby Center, this separation anxiety tends to peak around 10-18 months and is perfectly normal. In fact, it’s an indicator that you’ve developed a healthy bond with your child. As your child advances further into toddlerhood, however, they should start leaving separation anxiety behind. You can help your child by keeping things as structured and stable as possible when you leave. Try to have a regular caretaker who cares for your child while you’re gone. Avoid the temptation to make a big deal about leaving. If you make a fuss, your child will be more convinced there’s a reason to worry and be upset.

Using a Pacifier

Pacifiers are great for soothing your child as a baby. It’s perfectly natural and normal for them to rely on them for a time. If done for too long, however, behaviors like using a pacifier and thumb sucking can cause problems for the physical development of your child’s teeth and mouth. According to Stellar Kids Dentistry, kids often wean themselves between 2-4 years old, but some may transition from a pacifier to their thumbs instead of quitting altogether. You can try helping your child wean off of a pacifier by gradually increasing the time they spend without it or limiting it to times when they need a little extra comfort. Transitioning to a different comfort item may help as well.

Needing You in the Middle of the Night

Perhaps one of the things you’re looking forward to the most is getting back to getting a solid night of sleep. The good news is that as your child leaves babyhood behind they shouldn’t really need you as much in the middle of the night. While they don’t need nighttime feedings anymore, some children may use that time in bed to practice new milestones. Some even may get stuck standing up because they don’t know how to sit back down yet. Sometimes self soothing after waking up at night is a challenge too. Teaching your child to self soothe and how to sit down can help them need you less in the middle of the night and get you back to sleeping at night sooner.

Babies are wonderfully adept at adapting and developing as they grow. Behaviors such as separation anxiety, using a pacifier, and needing you in the middle of the night are just a few examples of behaviors that they should leave behind as they go through toddlerhood. While you may look forward to certain milestones more than others, make sure you take the time to enjoy where your child is at this moment. Time flies, and your child won’t be so little anymore before you know it.

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