Checklist: Toddler's day out at the beach

The essential checklist for a day out at the beach with your toddler.

The nappy wars: when to toilet train?

Emily Dunn 'Let the child decide' is the mantra recited by health professionals to parents considering toilet training their children. But how does that work?

Toilet training tips

Richie Young How to make the big transition and leave nappies behind.

Fuss-free toilet training tips

Lisa Wachsmuth Toilet training can be frustrating for parents and toddlers alike. Read Essential Baby's fuss free tips.

Toilet training: time to take a seat

Lisa Wachsmuth Toilet training can be frustrating for many parents, particularly those with little boys, says Illawarra GP Dr Margaret Perrott. Boys make up 90 per cent of the clients at her Figtree clinic where she assists parents with their children's toilet training, bedwetting and soiling control.

What I no longer do for my children…

JODIE BENVENISTE It’s easy to get stuck in the day-to-day details of raising our children, and forget the big picture.

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Don't tell your toddler to share

Nicholas Day If you stop telling your toddler to share you might notice that your little monster is already helping out in his own way, writes Nicholas Day.

Stuttering: the facts

Nan Bernstein Ratner Up to 4 per cent of children go through a phase of repeating or prolonging sounds or words, or getting “stuck” trying to talk. No one knows what causes a stutter, but some therapies - and time - can help.

When terrible twos become threenagers

AMITY DRY Amity wonders why two-year-olds get such a bad rap, when it's the three-year-olds who can give teenagers a run for their money in the attitude stakes.

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Ask an expert: How do we treat toilet training regressions?

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett How do we treat toilet training regressions? Our reward system isn’t working any more, and my child has gone back to wetting and pooing himself.

Ask an expert: My child is suddenly resisting toilet training

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett My child is resisting the toilet training process. We got off to a good start, but now she’s refusing to use the toilet. What can we do now?

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Ask an expert: How do we treat toilet training regressions?

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett How do we treat toilet training regressions? Our reward system isn’t working any more, and my child has gone back to wetting and pooing himself.

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Ask an expert: My child treats pull-ups and undies like nappies

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett My child is fine to use the toilet when she’s naked, but she treats undies and pull-ups training pants as nappies.

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Ask an expert: My child doesn't like using toilets outside the house

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett Not wanting to use 'strange' toilets can be a common problem among young children, particularly during the early stages of toilet training.

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Ask an expert: I’m confused about how to start toilet training

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett The first step to toilet training success is preparation - preparation for both adult and child. Here, Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett outlines how to get ready for the change.

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Ask an expert: My child won't wee or poo on the potty

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett An expert gives advice to the parents of children who will sit on the toilet or potty but refuse to poo or wee in it.

Chrissie Swan: Kids and fibs

CHRISSIE SWAN When a child's mind turns to telling tall tales, pork pies and outright lies, it can be fun to stand back and relish the show.

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The unreliable tooth fairy

JOSEPH KELLY Beware: the Tooth Fairy's first visit can be a nerve-wracking experience for parents who aren't up to date with the current cash-for-teeth pay rate.

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Video: Twin girls dancing to dad's guitar

The latest YouTube hit features two adorable girls bopping along as their dad plays guitar. It's simple, but it's all you need for a cute video!

Moving from cot to bed

Elizabeth Pantley Your child's move from cot to bed is a major milestone in his life, as well as yours. The key to success is to be patient and to give your child time to adjust to the change. Here are some other ideas that can make the move go smoothly.

Children not so cute after 4½ years, scientists say

You probably think your baby is pretty cute, or that your toddler is the most adorable child you’ve ever seen. But you might want to enjoy this time, because a study claims that children start to look less attractive once they hit 4½ years.

Losing my first baby tooth

Justine Davies If there’s one thing even more momentous than the hint of the first milk tooth breaking through your baby’s gummy smile, it’s the wobble and eventual loss of that first baby tooth to make way for the adult ones.

Calming the storm

QUIRKY KID There's a reason they're called the terrible twos. The period between 18 months and three years can be challenging for both parents and toddlers alike. But while tantrums and other forms of aggressive behavior are not uncommon amongst small children, it is important to recognise what your child is trying to tell you.

Toddlers: developmental milestones

It is important to realise that a child’s developmental progress does vary greatly, and is not a race! Some children may miss out on developmental milestones all together – such as crawling.

Your Toddler - 13 to 15 months

It's all happening now - your little baby is becoming a toddler! Read on for some helpful advice on some of the changes you can expect in the next three months.

Key Development Areas: 13-15 months

Brooke Wells Different forms of play are the main way a toddler of this age learns, as she expands on her physical abilities, such as walking, climbing and bending.

Your Toddler - 16 to 18 months

Your little baby is becoming a toddler and all sorts of exciting things are happening. Find out more about changes at this age including new teeth, growth, speech and becoming more mobile.

Key Development Areas: 16-18 months

Brooke Wells Your sixteen to eighteen month old toddler may experience a wide range of emotions due to teething, shyness, separation anxiety and when she isn’t allowed to be as mobile as she would like.

Your Toddler - 19 to 21 months

Toddlers can be cheeky little monkeys! Find out more about how your child is changing at this age including their growing independence, play group and making friends, allergies and food intolerance, avoiding tantrums.

Key Development Areas: 19-21 months

Brooke Wells Your toddler could begin toilet training during this time, as they sleep longer at night and often favour routines.

Your Toddler - 22 to 24 months

Your toddler is fast approaching their second birthday. Find out about toilet training, disturbed nights, independence and how to put on a birthday party for a two-year-old.

Key Development Areas: 22-24 months

Brooke Wells Your toddler will be quite adept with both her hands and legs and be close to finishing cutting all of her teeth by her second birthday.

Your Toddler - 25 to 27 months

Brooke Tasovac Your toddler is two! They will develop so much over the next year in terms of speech, growth, toilet training... read below for details on your toddler's growth over the next 3 months.

Key Development Areas: 25-27 months

Brooke Wells Your toddler’s attention span is growing at such a rate that she can give her attention to more than one thing at a time at this age.

Your Toddler - 28 to 30 months

Brooke Tasovac Your toddler is starting to talk more, showing a greater interest in socialising and is even developing a sense of humour! Read more about this three months of development...

Key Development Areas: 28-30 months

Brooke Wells At twenty eight to thirty months, your toddler’s memory enables her to recall events and people and easily find objects that are hidden from her.

Your Toddler - 31 to 33 months

Brooke Tasovac As your toddler approaches 3 you'll find she's crying less as her vocabulary increases, she's becoming increasingly fussy about what food she likes to eat and might even be ready to transition to a bed. Read more...

Key Development Areas: 31-33 months

Brooke Wells Your toddler will use her hands to do a number of things she hasn’t been able to do before such as dressing herself, drawing particular objects and using cutlery well.

Your Toddler - 34 to 36 months

Brooke Tasovac The 'terrible two's are winding down and she's becoming much more independent! Read more about the 3 months of development leading up to the age of 3.

Key Development Areas: 34-36 months

Brooke Wells Your three year old is speaking, socialising and moving around in a number of different ways from skipping to riding a bicycle.

Tantrums, tests and trying times

Amity Dry It was one of those classic on the ground, hands pounding, everyone look at me, screaming public meltdowns, where he cried “THESE JEANS ARE YUCKY” at the top of his lungs.

Meet my imaginary son, Teetee

Amity Dry My son has an imaginary friend. This is a new development and it has made for some delightful, and interesting, moments in our household of late.