Expert panel: Toddler

Hi, Balancing fair attention with not overdoing it can be hard. But as long as you’re sure she is well and thriving and her sleep/settling is...

This is a very common issue, but don’t despair, eventually he’ll use the toilet for both wees and poos, it’s often a matter of ti...

This one can be a challenge – have you considered just letting him run around in the backyard for a while without his nappy? Or taking it off...

It does sound like you’re having a challenging time with him. But I cannot, in the context of this email cover all the issues which you need ...

I’m unsure from your email if your boy is 3 1/2 years old or 3 and 1/2 months. But from your question I’m guessing he’s 3 1/2 yea...

Thanks for your email, I think that the first thing you should do is have your 3 year old checked for hearing, if children can’t hear well th...

This is not an uncommon question. Toddlers can certainly go through ages and stages of whining and wanting constant reassurance from their parents....

I think you need to have him reviewed again by your GP. Perhaps this has developed into an ear infection and anti-biotics are needed. You could als...

He loves you and is emotionally attached to you. In his own little way he’s just showing you this in the best way he can. Perhaps for his cur...

Black motions are not normal but this may be because of something he’s eaten. Rarely, black motions are a sign of bleeding in the gut, so for...

Mixing the two is not recommended. If she’s been drinking cow’s milk based formula then grading her over, one bottle a day or every two...

Well, this is a situation of her knowing what she wants but you knowing what she needs. If she’s having the dummy through the day and is taki...

Perhaps she had a fall or an event where she was hurt or became frightened. In which case continued exposure, reassurance from you and just being c...

This may just be because she has a sensitive stomach and unique to her. She may well mature out of this or, potentially, be a characteristic she re...

You’ve identified what the problem is and that you want to do something about it. Well done, until this is addressed there’s really no ...

This is not an uncommon issue. But fixing it will take some consistency and firmness from you. Currently she’s learning that if she protests ...

I’m not sure, but I will forward your query onto the NS site management and hopefully you’ll be able to join in. Best Jane

At 16 months of age your toddler is still learning what it means to be a social being and how to share, mix with others and be part of a social gro...

You really do seem to have had a hard time of this, and I’m wondering if your boy has now developed a quite well entrenched habit of displayi...

Hi, Although you probably feel your experience is unique, this is a situation many parents and pre-schoolers go through. Whether it is due to habit...

Sleep changes are normal; developmental stages, teething, starting at child care, moving house… the list is endless for what is the intial ca...

Have you experimented with the times you’re putting her down for a nap? Given her an earlier lunch, watched for her tired signs and looked fo...

No, really all you can do is provide her with the food and adequate opportunity to eat, the rest is up to her. Make sure she’s hungry and not...

Night time dryness is very much influenced by genetics, if you or your family or her dad and his family experienced a bit of a delay in being dry a...

I think you need to go back to the dietician and have her assessed again. It does sound like you are concerned and her weight is below the 3rd pere...

Good on you to email for advice. It does sound like he’s very precious to you and of course this is influencing your willingness to let him e...

If he’s learning that he will get the sweet foods and doesn’t learn to associate hunger with eating proper meals, then you’re lik...

You need to have her checked by your GP. She may have a vaginal mucous dischare which is not uncommon in little girls, as is a slight vaginal bleed...

If they are smelly, offensive, liquid motions then perhaps she has a bacterial or viral infection. If she has an elevated temperature or is vomitin...

This is a reasonably common issue, she’s not being naughty or defiant but just displaying pretty normal three year old behaviour. Some kids ...