Sara LindbergFreelance writer focused on health & wellness

It’s no secret that toddlers have an endless amount of energy. They always seem to be running (often from you), jumping on furniture, climbing stairs, throwing balls, and even using your body as a jungle gym. And while this constant movement might leave you exhausted and in need of a sitter just so you can take a nap, providing daily opportunities for structured and unstructured exercise is an essential part of a two-year-old’s health and well-being.  

Amount of exercise

According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, toddlers from 12 to 36 months old should be getting at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity a day. Structured physical activity refers to planned exercise like swimming or going for a walk. Additionally, they should engage in at least 60 minutes to several hours per day of unstructured physical activity. On top of that, toddlers shouldn’t be still for more than 60 minutes at a time in a stroller or car seat, except for when they’re sleeping.

Benefits of exercise

The physical benefits of exercise for toddlers include stronger muscles and bones, a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, and lower chances of becoming overweight. Additionally, staying active can help your child’s mood and overall behavior. Physical activity has been shown to help kids handle emotional challenges, increase their confidence, improve their self-esteem, and help them sleep better. And as an added bonus, exercising with your child will allow them to see you making healthy choices and enjoying fitness as part of your daily routine. Kids who grow up with fitness as a family priority tend to stay active throughout their lives. 

Type of exercise

Watch any toddler run around a playground and you’ll likely see movement that incorporates endurance, strength, and flexibility. Parents should expose their toddlers to age-appropriate activities that help improve these skills, while also giving little ones the opportunity to develop gross motor skills (development that involves the larger, stronger muscle groups of the body).  

By age two, toddlers should be able to run fairly well, jump with feet together, kick a ball, squat to play, stand on tiptoes, begin to ride a tricycle, use ride-on toys, throw and catch a ball, and jump down and forwards (some from the bottom step).  

Exercise at this age should involve independent time for toddlers to explore their interests, as well as participating in family games and activities. Having age-appropriate equipment available to your toddler, including balls of various sizes, fabric tunnels to crawl through, push toys, riding vehicles, tricycles, and balance bikes for more advanced tots can help keep active play fresh and exciting. The following activities will help your toddler rack up the required minutes while having a whole lot of fun! 

• Walking: Long walks or runs are a great way for parents and caregivers to get their exercise in with child in tow, but you should also plan for a few “toddler walk breaks” during your workout. Try stopping every 15 minutes and letting him out of the stroller or carrier to explore. Yes, it will slow down your pace, but it allows them to get the wiggles out and get in the habit of walking next to you.
• Swimming: Pool time with a family member introduces your toddler to the wonders of swimming and sets the foundation for learning water safety.
• Yoga: You and Baby can practice simple poses at home or consider taking a Mommy and Me class.
• Toddler class: Tumbling, dance, intro to sports, swim lessons, etc.
• Active games: Duck duck goose, follow the leader, freeze dance, and ring around the rosy are just a few age-appropriate games that encourage exercise.
• Hiking: Take a nature hike in your yard or local park to collect rocks, leaves, and other treasures.
• Scavenger and treasure hunts (indoor or outdoors): Make sure to spread the items out as far as possible for added exercise.
• Obstacle course (indoor or outdoors): Create a safe obstacle course with common household and outdoor items and include activities such as climbing, jumping, and throwing. Try playing balloon tennis by taping a plastic spoon to the end of a paper plate for your tennis racket and blow up some balloons to act as the ball and hit the “ball” back and forth. Set up soccer goals, hop over buckets, race to the fence—the possibilities are endless. 

About the author:
Sara Lindberg is a freelance writer focusing on parenting, health, and wellness. She is passionate about all things fitness and health and loves spending time with her husband, daughter, and son. 

Sources

• “Active Start–Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years.” naeyc. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. May 2006. Retrieved July 10 2017. http://journal.naeyc.org/btj/200605/NASPEGuidelinesBTJ.pdf.
• “Toddler – Physical Activity.” American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved July 10 2017. https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/HALF-Implementation-Guide/Age-Specific-Content/Pages/Toddler-Physical-Activity.aspx.

As adults, we’re so used to wearing shoes all day that it can seem weird or even unsafe to let a child run around without them. What about rocks, sticks, glass, or other sharp things? Well, don’t let Baby‘s bare feet loose on any city sidewalks, but in playgrounds, parks, backyards, and homes, it’s a good idea to let Baby walk and explore sans shoes.

Baby‘s feet are still growing

At this stage in their life, Baby doesn’t have fully formed bones in their feet, and they won’t until around 5 years old. They is growing and learning how to walk, and their feet need to grow and learn how to be feet. If they’re stuck in shoes all day, they don’t get to flex and develop properly, and Baby may have a little harder of a time learning to walk and run and climb. Wearing shoes while learning to walk can also make the foot conform to the shape of the shoe. When you’re playing around the house, walking outside, or hanging out anywhere where you know the ground is safe, let Baby explore with bare feet. 

It will help them walk

Barefoot, Baby will be able to feel and grip the ground (or anything else they might be playing on). They will know when the ground dips, becomes softer, or changes texture, and they will be able to adjust accordingly. They will also build up callouses on the bottom of their feet, making it easier for them to walk around barefoot the more they does it.

It’s good for their body

Wearing shoes changes how your feet propel your body forward, and it’s important while Baby is growing that they uses all those muscles in their toes, feet, ankles, and legs. They also won’t have to deal with the added weight of shoes being attached to their feet, and they will have a better understanding of their own body. The nerves in their feet will help them recognize the ground beneath them. Basically, they will have a much better way of knowing of where they ends and the world begins.

None of this means they needs to (or should!) go shoeless forever. There are certainly times when it’s best that your little one’s feet are protected. When you need their feet to be warm or covered but still want the benefits that bare feet provide, socks with rubber grips can be a good in-between solution. And shoes have their place too! They’re perfectly fine for short periods of time and don’t have any negative effects on dangling feet. They’re just not good for all-the-time wear while Baby is learning how to walk and use their feet. When Baby does need shoes to walk in, look for ones with flexible rubber soles with soft material on top. See if you can bend and flex shoes before you buy them, and try to avoid anything stiff or rigid.  

If you feel like you’re missing out on any cute shoe opportunities, remember, baby socks are good for early walkers and are also the most adorable clothing articles in the entire world. Stock up!

Sources

• Knight, Lauren. “Why kids should go barefoot more (and probably adults, too). The Washington Post. The Washington Post. February 29, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/02/29/why-kids-should-go-barefoot-more-and-probably-adults-too/?utm_term=.bb45dbfe716f
• Elejalde-Ruiz, Alexia. “When should your child start wearing shoes?” Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. November 6, 2013. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-06/health/sc-health-1106-baby-shoes-20131106_1_shoes-mary-janes-women-podiatrists
• Murphy, Sam. “Why barefoot is best for children.” The Guardian. The Guardian. August 9, 2010. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/09/barefoot-best-for-children

Babies are usually able to grasp crayons or pencils – as in physically pick them up – at around four or five months, but they aren’t able to handle them well enough to actually use them for artistic expression. Crayons are like any other toy; something to throw around and chew on, not scribble or draw with. This early grip is known as the crude palmar grasp, and it’s what babies use to grab things and pick them up. “Palmar” means using the palm and not the thumb, and “crude” here means that it’s not super fancy or 100% effective in holding onto things (Baby probably dropped a lot of toys back then, no?).  

Baby‘s grasp has advanced a lot since the early days of grabbing at hair (palmar grasp!) and picking up cereal (pincer grasp!), and they might soon be ready to hold a crayon! The grasp they needs for this is called the palmar supinate grasp, and toddlers start to develop it between 12 and 15 months old. “Supinate” means the palm is facing up or forward. This is the typical grasp you think of when you picture a toddler using a writing utensil: they is making a fist around the crayon or pencil and holding it straight up to use it.

This isn’t the fanciest (or even a technically correct) way to hold a crayon, but it’s a stepping stone to the eventual grasp they will learn to hold a pencil when they is older. Baby will stick with this basic palmar supinate grasp until 2 or 3 years old, when they will transition to holding pencils and crayons with their fingers.

Even though Baby is within the age range of being ready to hold a crayon, remember that the range extends to 15 months, so it could still be a little while before they gets their crayon on. Using special thick crayons can help out a little and give Baby more space to grip the crayon.

Even when they does have the most beautiful palmar supinate grasp in the world, it’s possible that they won’t be super interested in coloring or scribbling right off the bat. No worries, they has their entire life to learn to love scribbling tornadoes and stick figures in the margins of paper. Their final pencil grip won’t come for a while, and trying to start holding a crayon “correctly” now can actually do more harm than good in the long run. Right now, just let Baby hold and grab things as they is interested in them. Happy scribbling!

Sources

• “Developmental Progression of the Grasp.” Columbia University. Columbia University. Accessed May 23, 2017. Web.
• “Occupational Therapy’s Notes to Parents.” Plano Independent School District. PISD Department of Special Education Services. Accessed May 23, 2017. http://k-12.pisd.edu/currinst/sped/OT/OTParentPoints2.htm

Sitting

You’ll know Baby is moving in the direction of crawling when they starts sitting up on their own. Often, babies learn to crawl right from this sitting position, as they go from sitting and balancing with their hands on the floor in front of them to pushing themselves up on all fours, and then figuring out how to move themselves forward from there.

Crawling position

Once Baby ends up in the crawling position – pushing themselves up on their hands and knees – they may stall out a bit, and stay in one place on their hands and knees or feet, swaying or wriggling back and forth as they starts to work out the mechanics of propelling themselves forward. On the other hand, they might start moving themselves across the floor in a sort of wriggling creep before they ever gets to that semi-upright position.

Scooting, creeping, crab walk

It’s important to note that not all babies crawl the same way. Crawling isn’t an unavoidable step on the road to walking, and Baby could end up cruising around in a funny looking pseudo-crawl just as easily as they could skip that step entirely and vault straight into walking. If the way Baby is moving doesn’t match up with a textbook baby-crawl, don’t worry, it’s probably a perfectly normal variation. However, it’s a good idea to contact the doctor if Baby is only using one half of their body to crawl, or has not started moving around in any of these ways by 12 months.

Showtime

Crawling, just the way you picture it when you picture babies moving around. Baby may even end up moving faster than you’re ready for, because once they figures out the mechanics of crawling, they could easily get very good very fast.

On the other hand, it may take them a little while to really get the hang of things. In fact, a lot of babies figure out how to crawl backwards before they manage to start moving forward!

It’s perfectly okay for a child to regress for a bit when it comes to crawling – they is probably just temporarily using their time and attention to focus on a different skill – but if you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to check in with your pediatrician to make sure everything is on-track.

Pulling up

When Baby starts pulling themselves upright by holding onto things and then pulling themselves along from there, they is moving out of the crawling phase, and is very close to walking.

How your newborns hearing may develop the first month

Newborns can hear well, but not perfectly because their inner ears are often filled with fluid and are generally underdeveloped. This is why Baby responds so well to exaggerated and high-pitched sounds, and may startle at other unfamiliar sounds. Baby was probably born with the ability to distinguish their mother’s voice and respond to it above all others because of their time in the womb. Other voices that are familiar from their time in the womb may also ring a bell for them early on, including sounds like music that they heard often before they was born. Sounds that are new to them at birth may take a little longer to become familiar, but the more your family talks and sings to them, the better they will know the sound of your voices, so make sure to communicate with them early and often.

Testing

Chances are that Baby’s hearing was tested at birth, as most states mandate newborn hearing screenings — if not, have it tested within the next 2 months. The two types of newborn screenings are automated auditory brainstem response, and otoacoustic emissions. Both are very quick and painless, and monitor how Baby‘s ears and brain respond to clicking sounds. You should talk to the doctor if you have any questions about when and how to test Baby‘s hearing.

Early identification of hearing loss

Identifying hearing loss early is important because babies learn so much, both about how to speak, and about the world around them from sound. Some newborn hearing tests can miss smaller hearing loss, so pay attention to Baby’s development and how things seem to be progressing, and not just the tests. If they does not respond to loud sounds or react to your voice, talk to the doctor. Many factors can influence hearing problems, including genetics, infections, trauma, and damaging noise levels. As Baby ages, have their hearing checked regularly by the doctor.

Sources

• “Can your baby hear?” American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web.
• “The necessity of early intervention in hearing.” ENT net. American Academy of Otolaryngology, 2016. Web.
• “Parents.” Hear and Now. National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. Web.
• “Your Baby’s Hearing and Communicative Development Checklist.” National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. National Institutes of Health, March 6 2017. Web.

Learn how to give a newborn a sponge bath

Doctors recommend washing newborns two to three times per week, so knowing the best way to give Baby a sponge bath is important, especially because newborns shouldn’t go all the way in the tub until their umbilical cords fall off.

Supplies

Before attempting to bathe Baby, make sure you’ve got all your supplies handy. Many parents choose to purchase a newborn bath, but an inflatable tub, a water basin, or even a well-prepared sink will do the trick. You will also need mild baby soap, cotton balls, washcloths, a towel, clean diapers, and clean clothes.

Giving the bath

1. Since you’ll be bathing Baby outside the tub at first, simply fill a bowl or the sink with lukewarm water and wrap them in a towel, then place them lying down on their back.
2. Dip a cotton ball in water and wipe Baby’s eyes, making sure to use a fresh ball for each eye.
3. Next, dampen a washcloth and wipe their face and ears, without using soap. Don’t forget their skin-folds, or behind their ears, but be sure not to wash or let water drip into Baby‘s inner ear canal.
4. Place a little soap on the cloth and wash Baby’s neck, scalp, and the rest of their body. They probably doesn’t have much in the way of hair yet, so rubbing a damp, soapy washcloth over their scalp should keep them squeaky-clean. Newborns who DO in fact arrive with a full head of hair could need a more thorough hair-wash, which you can read more about here.
5. There’s some divided opinion about washing Baby‘s umbilical stump, so check in with the doctor if you’re unsure, but generally, as long as the stump is clean, keeping it clean and dry and untouched by the sponge bath is the way to go. If there’s some crustiness, you can carefully wipe it clean with a clean, damp cloth, and then pat or air it dry.
6. Rinse off the soap and dry, rewrapping Baby with a towel. Baby‘s head is likely to get cold after a bath, especially if they has a luscious head of hair, so covering their head with a dry towel is a great way to keep them from getting a chill.
7. Some newborns come into the world with that fabled soft skin, but others are a little more sensitive, and bathing can dry sensitive newborn skin out even further. If Baby‘s skin is a little dry or peeling, if you want to, you can gently rub some mild baby moisturizer into their skin before popping them back into their onesie.
8. Put on a clean diaper and clothes, and resume cuddling!

Tips and Tricks

Make sure you never take your hands off Baby while bathing them. This is a great time to bond with Baby, so make sure to use it as a fun play-time, not just cleaning. Try dropping a little water on their tummy and watch the laughs roll in. Some newborns have a hard time with the cold, so only expose skin for short periods of time. Remember that Baby does not need to be bathed every day, because this can dry out their skin. You only need to give them sponge baths until the umbilical stump comes off, and then you can transition to the baby bath.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Baby bath basics: A parent’s guide.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, October 25 2016. Web.
• “Caring for your baby.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes, 2017. Web.