Your 12-18-month-old’s activity planner

Did you know? Young children risk missing out on important outdoor play and activity when their time is spent watching television and in front of screens.

Can you believe your little one is almost two years old? Your toddler is changing all the time now and probably already has some favourite games. As their second birthday approaches, you’ll notice their skill levels increasing, from coordinating their movements to communicating  their desires—and they may have a language explosion too! 

Learning how to read this food label will help you choose healthy, whole-grain options, with plenty of fibre, for your little one.

As you probably already know, toddlers are incredibly active and energetic! For their body size, toddlers need to make every bite count with nutritious meals and snacks.

Even with a well-established regular bedtime routine, there may be times when your toddler’s sleep is disrupted. Try these ideas to help deal with some of the common causes so you and your little one can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

Looking at your child now, it’s hard to imagine the tiny new born you brought home from the hospital who did little more than feed, sleep, and fill diapers. They’ve come a long way and their second year will be an exciting time of developmental firsts. Get ready to be amazed by new skills that will have you beaming with pride (and reaching for your camera!).

His ability to grasp now means your child will be easily picking up his food with two to three fingers instead of his entire hand.

Mealtimes are a great opportunity for the family to come together to share food and enjoy each other’s company. In addition, family mealtimes have benefits beyond happy shared experiences—eating together with family members can teach your toddler healthy eating habits that may last a lifetime.

Healthy eating habits are set early in life

Good role models at family meals help your developing independent eater

No matter how eager you may be there is no "right" age to start potty training your little one. After 12 months, your baby may start showing some signs of bladder or bowel control, but most toddlers aren't really ready until 18-24 months.

Did you know? Not getting enough sleep may lead to your toddler consuming extra calories.

Does your little one want plain pasta for dinner every night? Or refuse to eat anything green? Here are some ways to make sure your fussy eater is getting enough variety in their diet.

By one year of age, your little one should be eating a variety of foods from the four food groups in Canada's Food Guide. He’s likely discovering new tastes, textures and skills. As he continues to grow, new food challenges may arise. Variety becomes more important and eating as a family takes centre stage.

Your toddler has come a long way since that first spoonful of puree went in (and probably came straight back out again!). Knowing what to expect from your toddler developmentally can help make family mealtimes more pleasant for the whole family. Here’s how you can help continue their journey towards becoming an independent, healthy eater.

Got a hungry toddler? Here are some hunger and fullness cues to watch out for during your toddler's development.

Look back at the healthy habits you’ve encouraged, which have helped your toddler grow so far, and look forward to the exciting developments to come.

You’re half-awake at 4 am with a wide-awake baby in your arms and wondering if you’ll ever get a full night’s sleep again. Don’t worry, you will. Your baby will eventually learn to sleep through the night. You know this because  you eventually learned to sleep through the night when you were a baby. The tips below will help you and your baby adjust, as will what the Canadian Paediatric Society says about newborn sleep development any time of day ¾ or night!