Toddlers

Is it normal that the first kid influences, shape and maybe even overshadows your second kids? Am I in my head that my oldest has robbed my second of his own baby years and own individuality because he entered a world of chaos with such a dominating brother? Does separating them help to give them their own space to grow and develop?

We have one child and they are not big on solo/independent play. Any way we can encourage this more? Mostly just that we need a break sometimes or have chores to do (and yes she can help with these but sometimes it’s so much easier/faster without the help lol).

Had to move my 2.5 year old into the toddler bed setting of his crib because he was hurting himself by climbing and falling out. Now he’s stoked on the new freedom and waltzes out of his room a million times. Last night we tried to get him down at 7:30pm but didn’t go to sleep (and we had to go back in each time) until 10pm when he finally let us rock him to sleep. The past year he’s gone down on his own in his crib, no fight. Any tips on what we can do to keep him in his bed and in his room so we can all get sleep? We’ve tried bargaining with him (he’s way too smart), we do the regular calming routine and everything.

What is the best tablet option these days? I know a lot of people have Amazon fire tablets (I don't find them user friendly), but open to them. Would love more info on certain models etc. .

We have a horrible 5-7 day bug over here but it’s all stomach / vomiting. It’s like they start to feel better in the morning, but then by 4 pm we are complaining about our stomach and then vomiting by 7. Is this type of flu going around too?!

At what age were you able to put your toddler to bed, put them in, and leave the room and they go to sleep themselves? We’re currently laying next to them on the floor while they fall asleep and I am hoping one day we can stop this. We tried the leaving and putting to bed around 4 months ago and it was a massive emotional fail.

Hi!! My toddler gets toted around with two big brothers that play baseball. I’d LOVE your favorite toddler (boy) toys that keep them occupied!! Something I can pack and take along?! Thanks!!

Hi! I have a four year old and he has been in the Nuna Rava car seat. He is starting to complain about it being too small. When do you move to a booster seat vs a full car seat.

I am desperate for advice. My almost 3yo toddler has suddenly started screaming bloody murder every night when my husband or I try to leave the room. She never was happy for us to leave, but this screaming is next level. When she was newly 2, she had some bedtime tantrums but nothing like this. She has a 3 month old sibling, so I’m guessing part of this is sleep regression related to that. We have a very solid bedtime routine that hasn’t changed (bath, books, songs, bed). We spend so much of each day playing with her and connecting, so the rhetoric of needing connection does not apply here. Have any of you successfully navigated something like this? Or do I just accept that bedtime is going to take hours with screaming until my children are in elementary school? (Plz no!!!)

My son turns 4 in March, looking for new ideas for his bday party in Austin. We did MyGym for age 2 and Play Street Museum for his 3rd. Considering Pikopye's but it's so similar to Play Street. Weather can be so hit or miss in March, I prefer indoors to play it safe. Any suggestions? Thanks!