Parenting Lessons Learned From Dog Training
To some people it may seem ridiculous to compare training dogs to raising children. But, I’ve actually come to see many similarities between successful dog training and effective parenting. I started thinking about this one day while I was shopping. There was a woman in the store who continually (and mostly unsuccessfully) called to her very young daughter: “Jennifer … Jenny …Jennifer …Jennifer…Jen…” After about 15 minutes of hearing this I wanted to (among other things) tell her, “Please stop calling her. Jenny clearly doesn’t respond to hearing her name called. She may not even understand what you want. What you’re doing isn’t working. Try something else.” Of course I decided against saying this. - -But it made me think – and I realized that I had made this same mistake when I was young and inexperienced. It’s an easy mistake to make.
While this mother surely meant well, she was actually teaching Jenny NOT to respond. Jennifer was learning that when she was called, there was no compelling need to respond. She may not have even known what was expected of her. But she was learning that she would be called not once – but many, MANY times. She was learning that she could choose which time, if any, to actually do what was being requested of her. She was also learning there were many ways in which she could respond. She stand still and continue touching whatever she was touching (her most common response), she could turn around and run in the opposite direction, or she could return to her mother (which she did least often of all – over what seemed to be the eternity this went on around me.) A better solution would have been for this mom to call her toddler once – and then take her by the hand if she didn’t respond to her name being called. This same principle applies to your dog. Until your dog has 100% recall to the ‘come’ command, don’t use the command unless you can enforce it. (In other words, make sure he’s on a lead.) If you can’t enforce the command on the first call – your dog will learn that he doesn’t need to respond to you when given this command. Never give a command twice. Say it once – reward and praise lavishly if the proper response is given. If the desired response isn’t given, then help your dog to give the proper response and then praise him (or her.) And this principle applies to anything you teach your dog – not just the ‘come’ command.
Another similarity between dog training and child rearing is the principle: reward works better than punishment. Period. I believe this is true not only with dogs – but with children as well (and with most adults too.) Try to find your pet doing the RIGHT behavior – then immediately praise and reward. This will have a snowballing effect: the more you praise the good behaviors the more frequently they will occur – the more opportunities you will have to praise – etc…
A third similarity between dog training and parenting that occurred to me is that both require lots of patience and consistence. Both pets and children generally respond best when the people who love and care for them possess and display these qualities. Patience is absolutely necessary whether raising a child or a pup. Without it, you are both doomed. And, a caregiver who displays consistence unquestionably benefits both children and pets as well.
So, I think you’ll agree, there really are some important similarities between successful dog training and effective parenting. You must have the proper expectations and frame of mind yourself. It’s necessary to help your ‘loved one’ to provide appropriate responses until he is able to do so on his own. Remember that reward works better than punishment. Always be patient and consistent. All of these actions and attitudes will be of assistance whether your goal is effective parenting or successful dog training. (Oh, and just encase your daughter’s name is Jenny and you think that may have been you at the mall – I changed “G’s” name to “Jenny” to protect the young and inexperienced. I was there once too. ;))
Written by M Bauer Pulis our expert of the day.
Is It Safe To Use Natural Health Medicine On Toddlers?
Most parents who have toddlers know how often they come home from kindergarten or day care with a runny nose.
That is because our children often catch illnesses from other children in these closed environments. This is why administering natural health medicine on your toddler can be beneficial in more than one way; not only will it help cure those minor illnesses that appear from time to time, but it will also bolster your child’s immune system to prevent them before they even take root.
Natural health medicine can give your toddler that extra boost he needs to avoid illness. Natural health medicine is made in a way that ensures that the growing toddler recovers fast and is not held down by the common cold or runny nose.
In addition to being really effective, they rarely have any side effects, which as a parent is good to know. Most of them are based on soothing the body and will not make your toddler tired or sleepy.
But because they are ill, their bodies will need the rest so that they can recover quickly. Natural health medicine will also make them less prone to getting ill, which as a parent is definitely good news.
It is hard having a sick toddler because all you want to do is to take the pain away from them. And natural health medicine will help you do that so that your toddler is back on their feet in no time at all.
They will feel more energetic to continue exploring the wonders of the world; and their bodies will be able to sustain anything that they might throw at it.
A little research in the natural health medicine department will only be a benefit to you and your toddler.
Written by Emmanuel Aubrey our expert of the day.
Teenagers and Money: 7 Financial Attitudes To Help Your Teenager
Teenagers and money - two words that are mutually exclusive. The former often requests and requires the latter. As a parent during these shifting financial times, what can you tell your teenager about money? Besides the fact that it does not grow on trees? As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible adults and financially successful ones. Here are 7 financial attitudes that can help your teenager.
1. Expect fluctuation
If there is one lesson we can acquire from history and money it is that there is volatility. Just as sure as there are good economic times, there are bad economic times. Economics can be as unpredictable as the weather, and equally as frustrating if you let it.
2. Nothing compares to a dollar earned
Your parent’s money is not necessarily your money. While it may seem like having money handed to you whenever you want is a dream, there is something satisfying about earning it yourself. The sweat equity you have invested in your paycheck can never compare to the mediocrity of a handout.
3. Remember to save
Just as money can fluctuate, so does life. Financial difficulty and unexpected troubles falls on everyone from time to time. Hence, it is necessary to have some sort of savings that you can fall back on to ease the stress. In addition, saving allows you to avoid credit card debt.
4. Credit follows you
Credit is something that must be handled responsibly. Credit cards, payment plans, and loans follow you by your credit score. Your credit behaviors today will have a definite impact on your financial capabilities in the future. Even some employers will consider a person’s credit when hiring an employee.
5. Invest it
Not only is it important to handle money responsibly, but also it is essential to handle it intelligently. You work hard for your money, so consider having it work hard for you. Investment opportunities are plentiful. Educate yourself and seek out the advise of a qualified financial professional.
6. Don’t be afraid to spend it wisely
Saving money is great. Investing money is also great. Yet, money is also meant to be enjoyed. The key is to spend it wisely and with responsibility.
7. Do not base your self identity on it
As humans, we tend to look upon wealthy individuals as a greater sense of respect than others. Financial success can be alluring. It can make a person feel powerful, popular and important. Yet, there is a problem when a person bases his/her inner value on money. Why? Besides of its fluctuation, there will usually be someone that has more money than you. Or perhaps has invested it more, etc. Self-identity must come from one’s inner character rather than exterior finances.
As teenagers mature, there are certain life lessons each must learn. As a parent, teaching healthy financial attitudes can have life changing effects on your teenager and money.
Written by Terre Grable our expert of the day.
How A Home Business Can Make Life Easier On Parents
Home businesses are great ventures for many different groups of individuals. However, perhaps the one group which reaps the greatest benefit from owning their own home business is that of parents. There are many benefits which parents see simply by having a home business and not having to work a 9 to 5 office job.
Spend Time With The Family
Those parents who have home businesses find comfort in knowing that it often allows them to spend more time with the family. Whether the parents have toddlers at home or school aged children, by working at home the parents can be there for the kids more often than they would have a chance to if they worked in an office type setting. Spending more time with the family is a highly coveted benefit for parents who own a home business and can certainly be said to make their life easier in the long run.
Tend To Other Tasks During The Workday
If anyone has ever had an office job, they are sure to have felt frustration at one point or another when they needed to get a non work related task accomplished during the workday yet were unable to do so. For those who own a home business, this frustration is often minimized as they are their own bosses and can take the time to accomplish other tasks during the workday if they must do so. Parents especially find that they need to tend to other duties during the work week and having their own business allows them the freedom to do so.
Provide A Parental Presence In The Home
Parents who own a home business also find comfort in knowing that although they are working, they are still able to provide a parental presence in the home for their children when they get out of school. This is especially true in the case of older children who may not need the constant attention of the parent every hour of the after school day yet benefit by having a parental figure in the home to keep them company as well as keep them in line.
Multiple Job Choices For Home Businesses
For all of the aforementioned reasons, it is easy to see how home businesses can make life easier on parents. Another good thing about parents running their own business from home is that there are so many wonderful job choices which parents can choose to have their home business revolve around. This is another type of flexibility which parents in this situation are provided.
Written by Obinna Heche our expert of the day.
How to Choose a Toddler Bed
Many parents rush out to buy a toddler bed based solely on the cuteness or cartoon character painted on the bed. While buying a toddler bed is to entice our kids to move from the crib, cuteness should not be the sole deciding factor either. This is because not all toddler beds which are cute are durable and can withstand the average active toddler.
Apart from cuteness, some parents also prefer to settle for a cheap toddler bed due to its temporary nature before the move to a full-sized bed. Bear in mind that what you pay is what you get at times. Many parents have ended up complaining that these cheap beds are not sturdy enough to support the weight of their toddler.
So, how do you choose a toddler bed? To help you make your decision, you can try considering the following factors.
Sturdiness
A toddler is bound to end up bouncing and jumping on the bed, unless you are stern enough to discipline them not to do so. Most toddlers certainly do not reach 50 pounds, which is the maximum recommended weight for almost all toddler beds. But if you have an active toddler who would bounce on the bed, make sure the bed that you are going to buy can withstand that kind of pressure.
Many families also have more than one child and you would have to factor in that combined weight of all of them on the toddler bed, especially if they are close in age. The other factor that you should think about is whether you would end up sitting on the toddler bed yourself to read or play with your child.
The above situations might cause the toddler bed’s frame or mattress base to bend or simply snap if it is flimsy and poorly made. Of course, it makes little sense to invest too much on a toddler bed but when you do choose one, you have to consider how active your toddler is and how many will end up on the bed. Otherwise, it would only cost you more money to buy another bed later on if you settle for a less sturdy one now and it breaks.
Bed Rails
All toddler beds come with bed rails but the difference lies in the width and height of the rails. Some kids have no problems with narrower bed rails while others will still roll off the bed through the gap between the end of the rail and the footboard. It all depends on how much your toddler moves about when sleeping and you would need to consider this aspect when you buy a bed.
You also need to be aware that some bed rails can be low in height and if you have a thick crib mattress, the top of the mattress may come up to about the same height or just slightly less than the top of the rails. Therefore, your toddler still has the risk of falling off the bed due to the rails being too low to keep him or her safely within its boundaries.
So, when you choose a toddler bed, consider the width and height of the bed rails and if you can, how they are attached to the bed. Again, flimsy ones can easily break or become detached from the bed with one kick by your toddler.
Ease Of Assembly
Most toddler beds come in parts and you would have to do the assembly. If you are not good at putting things together, get a toddler bed that is less complicated and easier to assemble. Of course, one wouldn’t know whether a piece of furniture is easy to put together until it is delivered. One way you can minimize this risk is to do a little homework and read reviews by other buyers.
Most popular toddler beds have many buyer reviews in a variety of websites. It is up to you to search for them online before you make your purchase. If you see a bed that you like and it has both good and poor ratings, then look at the review dates. Some toddler beds may have poor ratings three or four years ago but later reviews may be more favorable, which may reduce the risk of a poor quality bed.
Conclusion
In summary, do not buy a toddler bed simply because it is cute. Consider other practical aspects as well so that you do not end up wasting your money in the long run. If you shop for a toddler bed with safety and sturdiness in mind apart from cuteness, you would be less likely to regret your purchase later on.
Written by Audrey Lai our expert of the day.
Time With Children is Precious ( Effective Parenting for Brisbane Families )
To feel loved, safe, and secure is fundamental to everyone, regardless of age. That is why we must ensure that we make time in our busy days to provide a special moment for each of our children and for ourselves.
“You don’t know how I feel and you don’t care”, “Leave me alone”, “Get out of my space”, “I don’t need you”.
If you have ever heard these kinds of comments from your children then perhaps it’s time to stand back and look at what is happening between you and your family.
How do we address everyone’s needs, including our own? How do we deal with the specific needs of our children without sacrificing our own sanity?
Who or what comes first? Your career? Your family? Your partner? Your health?
Step one is to admit that we are not guilty of a crime by acknowledging that we are not perfect.
So the house is not picture perfect. All the washing and ironing isn’t done! Does that matter more than whether you have spent time to have a hug? Spent time to check homework is being done? Spent time to find out if there is a special event coming up one you should attend? It’s all about priorities.
You don’t necessarily have to put them in a definitive order. All can be balanced if you have the right attitude and perhaps a little professional help.
Have you ever asked your children what they expect of you? Ever told them what you expect of them? Do you even know what your expectations are? An assessment of the way each family member treats the others might create a more harmonious household.
Be honest with yourself, your partner and your children. Admit your own shortcomings without denigrating yourself.
The need to know what is expected of them is important for all children. Depending on the age of the child, expectations should be clearly outlined in language that is positive. Give them the kinds of parameters that say, “you can do ‘this’ but ‘that’ is not acceptable.”
Many times teenagers have told me, “My parents let me do what I want. They don’t care.” The child interprets this permissive attitude as, “If they don’t care, they don’t love me enough.”
Most parents do love their children but may not know how to show it in a way that the child understands.
Children of all ages need some time when they can have their parents’ undivided attention. For busy people it could mean scheduling family time into your diary. It also means scheduling time for each child individually and sticking to it. Quite simply, you must make time for your family they need you now.
Families need to spend meaningful time together. This does not mean just being in the same vicinity, but it does mean doing simple things like cooking the family meal together, or going to places that create opportunities to interact in such a way that honest communication can occur.
These should be the times when children feel relaxed and free to express themselves without interruption and be listened to. Time in front of the TV or going to a movie does not provide these opportunities.
When children feel that they have to vie for their parents’ attention, the results are often disastrous. The undivided attention of a parent is important to a child but not always a top priority for a busy parent.
The intention of the schedules and reminder notes is not to ‘force’ the family into routine that suits you. It is, rather, an attempt to establish patterns of behaviour (yours and your children’s) that benefit the whole family and to create a peaceful atmosphere where everyone feels loved and valued.
Here are some tips that may help to show your children that you really do care about them:
Take time to listen to your children without interruption. For little ones, get down to their level, perhaps kneel or sit with them. They will appreciate your undivided attention.
Ask your children how they would like to spend time with you. Be prepared to participate in what is important to them even if it is an activity that you would not choose yourself.
Observe your children do they respond to a hug; a quick back rub; cooking in the kitchen with you; a small, thoughtful, inexpensive gift; or genuine encouragement and praise? What do they enjoy and respond to most?
Take the time to read to your children
Care enough to say ‘no’- unreasonable requests and behaviour are not acceptable. Children and teenagers should be aware of consequences for unacceptable behaviour.
Take every opportunity to do things with your children rather than being an observer from the side lines
Plan special occasions. When planning a family event ask your children for their input. Give them plenty of choice and notice. Forcing them to attend a family event or an event they are not interested in is not a good start.
Children and teenagers should be part of family gatherings. These gatherings help provide them a sense of belonging, responsibility and acceptance, and tolerance for others.
Be consistent and fair - try to cater for everyone’s needs, including your own. What does not happen for one child this week may be planned for the following week.
Put aside time plan it and make it a regular part of your family routine
Consider regular family meetings. These are a good time to discover what is, and what is not, working in your family. Prepare guidelines for these meetings in advance.
Written by Coby Edmunds our expert of the day.
Child Stress Management Without Stressful Parenting
STRESS FREE MANAGING OF STRESSED CHILDREN & TEENAGERS IN PARENTING
(Based on author’s site www.geocities.com/chlstrs)
Parents’ child related stress extends to coping with children’s. Child stress is very common.
Pregnancy rates high on the official stress-scale and mothers sometimes suffer also ‘baby blues’. But, also, parents have to be alert to child stress symptoms and cope with their children’s stress –as well as to avoid becoming stressful themselves in doing so. This is common in parenting.
Parents did not use to have advice on child stress. National and international help and guidance to parents in child rearing and welfare only became available after the second world war. Parts of Africa and Asia entered the 21st century with help mostly, often only, from religious and charitable organizations. In western countries the UNICEF’s international efforts only gained generality in practice in the 1950s (when it was first theorised by Selye as the body’s [i.e., physiological] reaction when threat or danger is felt -a general adaptation syndrome which exceptionally at its most extreme is capable of leading to a nervous breakdown). There had not been any parenting advice on child stress. The parents’ job in dealing with child stress is not easy.
>>This is the gist of the generally agreed suggestions on child stress which may help…
A baby is born with fears: fear of falling and fear of noise. A child, right from the beginning, is susceptible to stress in those respects. This continues until the baby gets generally used to noise and learns to walk.
Young children may not have the vocabulary to express their fears. Teenagers feel misunderstood or have other sounding boards. In parenting these make a child’s stress, or the symptoms of child stress, difficult to notice.
Additionally, some child stress symptoms are unrecognisably mild.
Stress is caused, mostly, by a feeling of being unable to cope. This is so also in child stress. This feeling often arises from a situation the child is not used to and develops into child stress. Assure stressed children, and help.
Mild child stress also has symptoms. It may be in the form of irritability or mood changes on the part of the child. This may indicate lack of protein or carbohydrates (potatoes, pulses, sugar -fruits). Lack of these often causes mild stress. A stressed child may be lacking those.
Withdrawal indicates severe child stress. The stressed child may be being bullied.
Child stress symptoms vary as the child grows up. Being difficult indicates unsatisfied creativity. Enable difficult children creativity. Obsession or compulsion often is a guilt feeling. It may tempt to guilt transference. Suggest symbolic gestures, deeds to rid of it. These kinds of child stress are more suffered by children after they cease to be babies.
Babies dislike being alone and my suffer child stress. Be within sight as their protector.
Similarly, it causes the younger child stress if the child is alone in an unfamiliar environment. Accompany a young child to a new environment. Stay with the child, if possible, at first until the child is reasonably familiar with it.
Children’s fear of the dark is because one can best concentrate then. The child’s imagination comes into play about a horror movie or scary story. Teach the child to slightly open his eyes and concentrate on something in the bedroom. A night light helps reduce such child stress.
If separation or re-marriage has taken place, that may be the cause of the child’s stress surfacing in the form of fear of the dark. Talk to the child, explain, assure.
(But, if the child says that he can’t see well enough in the dark, it may be night blindness often caused by vitamin ‘A’ deficiency [eggs, cheese, whole milk -or cooked carrots]).
Also pubescence related guilt can cause child stress. Assure the child that it is normal and part of growing up.
Many teenagers suffer from child stress. Be a good listener to the teenager sufferers of stress. Show that you do understand. Don’t talk down, do not make light of teenagers’ dating problems. Teenagers like to be taken seriously and to be trusted.
Child stress is caused, both, the younger children and the teenagers also by what they regard as failure. On achievement oriented tasks, it is important in parenting to ensure to explain a child or that it is okay to try again.
These are the views of the experts on child stress. In parenting bear them in mind.
>>Coping with child stress may cause stress also to parents. Parents can not as easily cope with their children suffering from child stress if they themselves become stress sufferers.
Experts’ advice in parenting on easier coping with child stress is this: The adults raising children, first, should try to avoid stress for themselves. In parenting, especially if already having to cope with child stress, do rest. If at home, rest mid-morning. If you are at home and parenting young children, you should rest also for half an hour after lunch, or an hour before children return home.
If you cannot cope well, or if child stress appears severe, do consult a parenting or child stress expert.
Child stress is often contributed to because the parents ‘don’t understand’ the child. Don’t simply criticise or forbid children. Explain. Make allowance for the child’s age. Do not assume that having told the child ‘a million times’ the child necessarily understood or even that can, yet, understand what an adult can. It may lessen a child’s stress sometimes for parents to recall their own childhood…
(Verse by teacher the late Orhan Seyfi Ari…)
“Sometimes such fools we were, sometimes smart kids
Sometimes Satan’s tools, sometimes with saintly deeds”
The author has a website at: http://www.geocities.com/eoa_uk
Written by Eren our expert of the day.
Understanding Nail Biting in Toddlers
Nail biting is a problem that you have to assume and take the conscious decision to end when you are an adult. But what if toddlers start biting their nails? Is there an effective way to stop them? What does toddler nail biting mean?
Although it falls in the category of “nervous habits”, this doesn’t mean that your child is too anxious. In fact when your child is a toddler he or she might start nail biting for other reasons: maybe he is bored, curious or biting the nails just to “pass the time”.
This is hard for some parents to understand, as the only reaction they know for nail biting is punishing and threatening the kids. A reaction that when repeated can reinforce the habit they are trying to eradicate.
Is it possible to put a stop to toddler nail biting?
We must understand that kids at that age are not conscious of everything they do, so this makes it extremely hard for us to prevent toddlers form biting their nails. As I said before, any sign of punishing or threatening only makes things worse, so please avoid doing that.
The best step to take would be having something at hand to distract them when you see they start biting their nails. Don’t do anything beyond that until they come to age to fully decide if they want to stop the nail biting habit, don’t even put nail biting creams on them - they perceive it as a punishment.
It is 100% recommended also to keep their nails clean and trimmed, this way they will have less chance of biting their nails (along with all the bacteria stuck in it), and won’t be putting their health at risk when they put their fingers in their mouth. But follow the best advice, it is pretty simple: just ignore toddler nail biting and don’t associate anything with it.
Written by Paolo Basauri our expert of the day.
Educate and Entertain Toddlers With Fun Developmental Games and Educational Toys
Educational toys and developmental games are excellent for strengthening the parent/child relationships. These games and toys are great source of fun and are wonderful way to enhance your toddler’s learning. In addition, manipulative games enhance dexterity and eye-hand coordination and provide numerous learning opportunities. In this brief article, we’ll discuss the benefits of toddler games, some popular developmental games, and how you can make the most of your toddler’s playing time.
First of all, you should keep in mind that education games and toys include board games, puzzles, dominoes and memory games. Here are some popular choices: Board Games: With board games, toddlers are able to learn their colors, shapes, and sounds, and move pieces which also enhance their dexterity skills. Puzzles: With puzzles, toddlers are able to solve problems. Some great examples are wooden and jigsaw puzzles. You can even purchase floor jigsaw puzzles and involve the entire family. Creative Mind Games: With creative mind games, toddlers are encouraged to learn shapes, colors, and sounds with the use of songs and other activities.
Second, when choosing developmental games for your toddler, use variety and choose age appropriate toys and games. For instance, a 6 month won’t like the same toy as a 12 and 24 month old. You see, 6 month old baby are just discovering the world and tend to put things in their mouths whereas 12-24 month-olds enjoy prodding and discovering. To choose the best age appropriate toy that suits child unique needs, try out various types and see which one interests the most. You’ll soon discover that your child is not only enjoying himself but learning and developing skills as well.
Third, take your time and don’t schedule too many activities at once. Toddlers are notorious for not being able to focus for long periods of time and tend to getting bored easily. Therefore, it is important that you keep playing sessions short and do not force toys upon him. Instead, use a variety of different developmental games and toddler educational toys, and switch gears, or move to something else, when he seems bored. This will encourage him to have fun, enjoy the moment and not get bored.
Fourth, have a wonderful time and enjoy the moment. Although it is tempting to do so, you don’t have to have structured play time all time and you don’t have to see the educational value in everything you do. After all, toddlers learn so much by just doing and being with you. So, have fun and don’t rush the educational process. It will happen!
In conclusion, playing developmental games with your toddler is a great way to relax and spend quality time with children as they improve their skills and improve their dexterity skills. So regardless of whether you play puzzle game, memory, dominoes, or snap cards games, you’ll have a fun and so will your toddler!
Written by Marina Neiman our expert of the day.
Skipping the Toddler Bed Stage – How to Make it Safer
When it is time for a toddler to move from the crib to a bed, many parents fuss over the safety aspects of a twin bed. At the same time, they feel that a toddler bed is a waste of money as most kids would quickly outgrow such a bed by the time they are five or even sooner.
If you are seriously thinking of skipping the toddler bed stage and let your child graduate straight to a twin bed, you can try considering the following methods to make the transition safer for your child.
Put Mattress On The Floor
The most worrying factor for parents when they move their toddler from the crib is the risk of their child rolling off the bed while they are asleep in the middle of the night. One way you can minimize this risk is to let your toddler get used to sleeping on a twin mattress first.
Buy a twin mattress and put it on top of a foam puzzle mat. You can make the mat slightly larger than the mattress to ensure that your child would not land on the hard floor should he or she happens to roll off the mattress. Alternatively, you can line the sides with cushions and pillows to prevent the same.
Once your toddler has learned not to roll off the mattress, you can then move him or her onto the bed. Of course, you can always resort to a portable bed rail and it is indeed recommended to keep your toddler safe and secure while asleep. But one other reason why you should start by putting the mattress on the floor is the risk of your toddler falling off the bed when awake.
Buy Yourself Some Time
You have to bear in mind that some toddlers may have a habit of standing and jumping on the bed. Depending on your child’s development, some toddlers may still have problem with balance when standing on a mattress which can be unstable and soft. Others may still require an adult’s assistance in getting on and off the bed. Putting the mattress on the floor first buys you some time until your child is truly ready for the bed with minimal risk of falling off it.
Step Stool And Low Beds
As twin beds are higher off the ground from toddler beds, you can also get a step stool to make it easier for your child to get on and off a twin bed unassisted. You can also try to get one which has a mattress base which is lower to the ground. Different twin beds have different heights and you wouldn’t want to end up with one which is too high for your toddler to climb on.
Of course, how high it will eventually end up will also have to do with the thickness of your mattress. So, do not be tempted to buy an overly thick mattress that makes the bed higher for your toddler.
Extra Wide Bed Rails
As mentioned, a portable bed rail is recommended with a twin bed. If you are truly worried of your toddler falling off the bed, you can try installing an extra wide bed rail to take care of the problem. Some bed rails are up to 56 inches in width, securing a greater area of the bed to keep your toddler from rolling onto the floor.
At the end of the day, a toddler bed is not always necessary. Once your child has grown too big for the crib, you can always move him or her to a twin bed by assessing his or her readiness and taking the necessary precautions to make it safe and secure.
Written by Audrey Lai our expert of the day.
