By: Heather K. Beasley, M.S.
Ok, Toddlers are so much fun. But because their brains are growing so quickly, there is so much they need to support their brain development. Below are my top 9 favorites for my little toddler!
- WHOLE MILK. Perhaps there is some controversy with this choice especially for the moms and dads that may be vegan. However, our little one tolerates it very well and it was recommended by our pediatrician.
According to the American Family Physician journal,
Breast milk or whole cow’s milk should be offered as the primary beverage between one and two years of age. 1
Starting at 12 months/ 1 year old, we started to offer whole cows milk to our little one. As you know, she is still a breastfed baby too, on occasion. I no longer pump, but she does nurse at least once a day.
This is the brand I prefer, although I also love Fairlife Whole Milk + DHA.
2. STEM Toys. STEM us an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics! I love purchasing toys that are both exciting for our daughter and ones ghat teach her. After all, her mommy is a scientist. LOL
3. Sippy Cups. I have two favorites. Our daughter did NOT want to stop using her bottle. The only sip cup that worked for us to transition from the bottle was the Baby Brezza Sippy Cup and the Nuk Sippy cups. We still use the NUK cups to this day.
4. Playpen. We loved the Graco Pack and play. This is the same thing, but on seriods! Its amazing. If you have the space for a large play pen, you need THIS!!
4. Baby tub. This is an amazing baby tub for the babies that are transitioning from the sink to the adult bathtub. It comfortably fits the baby and gives mom and dad comfort knowing the baby is safe and supported. This bath should only be used for babies that can sit with no support. The Rainbow fish is one of my favorite childhood books. The one below is amazing because it is waterproof.
5. For toddler girls- Hair bows and Accessories. I’m the mommy that is obsessed with hair bows. Most of my bows and we admittedly have over 100, are from Amazon. These are some of my favorite bows and my bow hanger.
6. Toddler plates and utensils. For the picky eaters, which are most toddlers, having fun shaped trays and plates along with colorful utensils makes lunchtime easier! I highly recommend these plates and utensils!
7.Shoes! Ok, I’m a mom that loves Keds. I have at least 8 pairs of Keds in different colors. They are great shoes for new walkers and for running on the playground. They clean easily and they come in solid colors which avoids the limitations of some of the more colorful shoes on the market.
8. Potty training toilet insert. We are at the age where we are transiting out of diapers, yay! We are currently using this toilet insert. So far, so good!
9. Teethers and toothbrushes. By the time your baby is 2 years old, they will probably have molars. Awww! These are a few of my favorite teethers and toothbrushes for keeping those teeth healthy and clean.
10. Crane Humidifier. I absolutely love out Crane Hello Kitty humidifier. It is a quiet cool mist humidifier. It is super easy to clean and helps when you little man/lady gets a cold.
What are your favorite toddler items? Did your favorites make my list? Let me know in the comments.
References:
- LYRAD K. RILEY, MD, MPH, St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency Program, Grand Junction, Colorado JEDDA RUPERT, MD, Nellis Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency Program, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada OLIVIA BOUCHER, MD, Eglin Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency Program, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Am Fam Physician. 2018 Aug 15;98(4):227-233.
Love this! I’m always looking for ideas for my two year old. Some of our favorite things are mega blocks for building and our water table. Both get played with daily!
That’s awesome! We love the mega blocks in our home too. Thanks for sharing!