The transition to toddlerhood is so bittersweet. On one hand, you no longer have a tiny baby in your arms any more. But on the other, you really get to see your child flourish; their personality starts to shine through and it’s so exciting seeing them meet all of their milestones. Toddlerhood ‘officially’ begins on your child’s first birthday, and while it always feels too soon, many are starting to take their first steps and toddle around so it’s clear that they’ve reached a new stage. 

Update the nursery

Most people transition their toddler from a cot to a bed after around eighteen months old. If you’re planning on doing this, there’s more to it than simply taking off the sides of the cot, or purchasing a new bed. You need to make sure your child’s room is safe since they’ll be able to get up and move around freely. Secure all furniture to the walls using safety chains so nothing can tip or be pulled over. Lock windows with a key, and ensure blinds are child friendly so no strings or cords that can pose a strangulation risk. Remove anything that could be a choking or suffocation hazard (such as nappy bags) from any areas they could reach or climb onto. And fit a baby gate on their bedroom door so that they’re not able to let themselves out and wander around the house while you’re asleep! If you decorated your baby’s nursery beautifully for when they were born, it won’t need to be redone again so soon however you might want to make some decor changes. You could add things like educational posters to the walls that are suited to toddler age, such as shapes, colours, numbers and animals. 

Purchase new items

As your baby grows into a toddler, chances are you’ll need to buy some new items to fit their new needs. If they’ve outgrown their baby hooded towels, replace with some nice soft bamboo towels for their bath times instead. These are really soft against their delicate skin, so are ideal for toddlers and children. They might no longer need suction plates to prevent them from tipping their food over at mealtimes, you could swap these for simple plastic or melamine toddler plates instead. As the months go by, you might find they’re no longer content sitting at their high chair and prefer sitting at the dining table with the rest of the family- so invest in a booster seat for your dining room chair instead. Things like books and toys will always need to be replaced periodically to keep up with your child’s current age and stage. Facebook marketplace can be great for bargains if you’re on a budget. 

Consider new activities

If you and your baby signed up to classes like baby sensory, baby massage and other new baby and parent classes, chances are these will come to an end once they reach their first birthday. If there are no follow-on toddler groups, it might be time to start looking at new activities specific to their age. Check out local playgroups, art classes, music classes and more that are all aimed at children over the age of one. Once your little one is moving around and has gone from crawling to walking, their interests and needs will change so suitable groups will continue to support their development at this new stage. 

Consider nursery options

Unless you’re using nursery as a childcare option to return to work, most children will start at age two or three when their funded hours become available. For this reason, it might feel early to start thinking about nursery as soon as your baby transitions to a toddler, however, it might be the perfect time. If you want to enrol your child into a very popular nursery or one of the preschool programs in Dulles, VA, for example, some can have waiting lists of several years. It would therefore be wise to find out if the one you intend to send your child to has a long wait and, if so, get signed up early. That way you’ll avoid disappointment and be more likely to be able to use the nursery that you want.

Have you recently gone through the baby-to toddler transition? What kinds of changes have you made in your lifestyle and routine?