28-Month-Old Child

Toddlers aren’t particularly good at sharing — and that goes for sharing your attention too. For 2-year-olds, everything is about “me, me, me.” It’ll take a few more years before she starts to grasp the concept of empathy, but there are certain things you can do to teach her how to wait her turn

When you need to make a call, give her a toy phone of her own. This way, you can both talk on the phone at the same time. Giving her some physical contact, like a hug or an arm tickle, may also help her feel connected to you.

In the rare instances your child does let you finish your phone call without interrupting, make sure she knows how happy you are about it: “Thank you for letting me talk to Aunt Michelle.”

Want to expand your toddler’s food preferences beyond chicken nuggets and mac n’ cheese? Try serving up fish. Not only is seafood low in saturated fat, but it’s also high in protein, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children eat a variety of fish once or twice a week. Keep in mind though, that a typical serving size for a 2-year-old is pretty small — only 1 ounce. Good options include crab, cod, lobster and salmon.

And remember to be persistent! Your tot may well not like it the first time — or even the eighth! It often takes up to 15 tries over time of a new food before your child will eat it, and fish can have a stronger taste and more unusual consistency than she’s used to.

Does your child cling to your leg at every party or playgroup? Plenty of toddlers do — so you’re in good company.

At this age, it’s too early to tell whether your bashful little sweetie pie is naturally shy or simply needs a little more practice in group settings (after all, toddlers only have limited experience being in social situations).

Try not to label her “shy” just yet, though. Though there’s nothing wrong with winding up shy later in life, it’s too soon to know whether she will be or won’t be, since so many kids her age (and beyond) act shy at least some of the time. Plus, labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

Instead, arrange some one-on-one playdates as opposed to larger, group dates. On the way to the events, let her know what to expect — games, activities and a playmate.

If, by the age of 3, she’s still too shy to leave your side, bring it up to your doctor, who may have some ideas about how to draw her out of her shell.

Stuffed animals, blocks, cars, puzzles … who knew that someone so little could accumulate so much stuff?

To cut down on the clutter (and chaos), consider designing a kids’ playroom or play area that belongs entirely to your toddler. If she loves crafts, set up an activity corner with a table and chairs plus bins to hold crayons and coloring books.

Want to raise a reader? Set up a cozy corner “library” with a few throw pillows and a kids-sized book bin or easy-access bookshelf.

Your toddler has likely been walking for more than a year by now — so why is she still unsteady on her feet?

Truth is, 2-year-olds are still fairly uncoordinated, thanks, partly, to their difficulty judging distances, and partly because they’re usually so focused on the object or person they’re trying to reach that they don’t always remember to pay attention to their footwork. Whoops!

Your toddler should be less wobbly by the age of 3, but until then, try to remove most of the obstacles from her path. Pad any sharp corners on the furniture, cordon off the fireplace ledge, and get rid of any electrical cords within your tot’s grasp (or tape them down so they can’t be pulled out).

Lastly, make sure she’s wearing slip-proof socks or shoes in the house, or goes barefoot whenever possible.

The right clothes can give anyone a confidence boost — and the same goes for a toddler who’s learning to use the toilet

Keeping your child in loose, easy-to-remove clothing can make the potty training process much smoother. Just imagine trying to take off a superhero costume or princess dress every time you needed to use the bathroom.

For now, skip the bottoms with buttons, belts and other fasteners. Even if she knows how to manipulate them, it can be hard to work a button and try to sit on the potty at the same time.

The best clothing for now are pants with stretchy waistbands, like sweatpants, or dresses that are easy to pull up and down. Same goes for underwear: Look for 100 percent cotton undies that aren’t too tight around the waist.

Does your child call herself by her first name instead of saying “I”? That’s common at this age. In fact, many toddlers don’t understand the concept of “I” or “me” until they’re closer to the age of 3.

To help your child learn this language lesson, choose some preschool-age books that are designed to clarify the concept, and start using more pronouns throughout the day. Think: “I’m going to go make dinner” instead of “Mommy is going to make dinner.”