Toddlers and Twos

If only Little Guy would run for the bed at those words as quickly as he storms that kitchen when he hears "ice cream."

I've never met a toddler who loved to settle down for naps. Yet, all of my kids awake (usually) gloriously happy after an hour of two of midday shut eye. And, of course, it's so ironic that parents would just jump at the chance to curl up with a pillow and blankie for some afternoon zzzzz's.

Despite all of the protests you may get from your toddler, don't easily give up on the nap. Yes, there comes a time when you need to watch for the signs that a nap is no longer needed, but for younger toddlers -- and usually throughout your child's third year -- naps play an important role, ensuring that your tot is able to rest his brain so he can get the most out of each day.

So what is a mom to do who faces a resistant toddler toddler? Press on and insist that your child continue to catch some shut eye each day. Then, when you realize that it's time to say good-bye to those midday snoozes, take steps to ensure that the transition to a non-napper goes smoothly.

There's a pretty standard list of questions that first-time parents have just before a baby is born -- and an endless supply of experts and books ready to feed you answers. The toddler years get a little more cloudy, though. Sometimes, you're not even sure what questions you should be asking. All of a sudden, though, you realize you need to start thinking about ditching the pacifier or transitioning your tot to a real bed.

Luckily, we give you a way to listen in on some of the frequent questions (and answers) from toddler parents. What worries have been on your mind? Share them in the comments section and post any tips you've learned along the way.

Once upon a time my before-bed reading consisted of the latest thriller or revisiting a classic from my bookshelf. These days, I usually am too tired after the kids go down to do much recreational reading. Thus, I like the books we read together to be good ones. In my opinion, the best bedtime stories for toddlers are those that lull them gently down while delighting their imaginations just enough to ensure they want to read that story again. Great illustrations that they can "read" themselves is also a must.

Share your favorite good night stories for children here.

We are in the midst of tooth horrors in the Ryan house. I have a 6-year-old who's got tooth number seven and eight ready to fall out (tooth fairy is going broke, thank you), a 5-year-old whose starting to feel his first baby teeth loosening, and then there's Little Guy, who woke up crying, "My teeth hurt!" all last week as those pesky back teeth started breaking through.

All the blood and tears has reminded me that we need to take care of those teeth -- after all we go through a lot of pain and effort to get them. I don't want to sit through cavity drilling or even tooth aches with them if I can help them avoid problems.

The bottom line is that we've upped our dental care regime and are doing more brushing and flossing.

Wish us luck!

I know from both research I've read and (mostly) from practical hands-on parenting that every toddler learns at her own rate and follows a unique developmental path (even if it is within the boundaries of what's typical for this age). Knowing that, though, doesn't' stop me from being repeatedly surprised at how different my children are from each other and how different their toddler years were.

There are natural differences in personality, of course, but there are also differences in the order in which they learned things or mastered a skill. My daughter, for instance, was speaking in full sentences (mostly giving orders) before 20 months. My oldest son lived on one word questions mostly until he was nearly three. However, he could identify shapes, colors, and letters before his second birthday. Meanwhile, my youngest son (at nearly two and a half) can count to 20 by ones and 50 by tens and fives, but everything in his world is blue and a circle.

All these early concepts are important, but your child doesn't need to master them right away. There's no correct order for them to learn these facts and skills. What is important is that they learn them in a natural setting -- while putting together a puzzle with you, reading snuggled in your lap, singing, or playing dress up.

Little fingers sometimes have a hard time doing things that seem so easy to you and me. Mastering writing with a pencil, using scissors, and building with small blocks are part of the process of developing fine motor skills, which are an important part of your toddler's development.

Encouraging your little one to do more things for himself is one of the best ways to give small muscles a boost. Try these tips for building fine motor skills to give your toddler a chance to exercise those fingers and hands.

One day your baby is a bundle of sleeping peace in your arms. Seemingly the next, she's cruising the living room or trying to scale the couch and climb out of the crib. There's no magic door that you pass through to start "the toddler years," but at some point, you should be ready.

There are toddler milestones that every parent should know about, but it's also important to keep in mind that every child reaches those points in his or her own time. Your child might not sing the ABCs, but can carry on a robust conversation. Maybe he knows his colors, but has yet to master the slide and monkey bars at the playground.

In most cases these variations are perfectly fine and normal, but are you ready for each of them?

Some day my Little Guy is going to have his real license and I wouldn't be surprised if he chose a yellow truck as his first set of wheels. After all, this bright, canary-colored Cat 3-in-1 Ride-On toy is his new favorite possession.

While we use our ride-ons indoors year round, it's especially important to have a good set of wheel for spring. We've owned a host of ride-ons for toddlers, but I think this sturdy bright truck is the best we've ever ridden.

The first sort-of coherent babbles from your baby are pure joy. At some point during the following years, though, moms and dads will often spend at least some time wondering if their toddler or 2-year-old is talking "like he's supposed to. Maybe the kid down the block speaks in full sentences. Maybe your babysitter has commented on how seldom your little one speaks. Or maybe family members say they can't understand anything your child tries to say. So you start to wonder: Should I be worried about a speech problem?

Before you feel overwhelmed and stressed, though, it's best to take a step back and try not to worry. If you think your child's speech could use a little help, start trying some simple activities that promote language development at home.

If you continue to see a lack of progress, talk to your pediatrician about having your child evaluated and discuss possible causes of speech delays.

Most importantly, keep in mind that children develop at their own pace. They also make huge leaps very suddenly sometimes -- which means your late bloomer might be chatting up strangers in the market before long (and then you'll have a whole new set of issues to be worried about).

It was a long, chilly winter season and I am done. We are planning to ring in the start of spring with a trip to the park followed by a series of other simple outdoor activities for toddlers and the older siblings who have to follow their whims. Next on the list is blowing some bubbles and taking a long, slow walk. Bring it on spring...or, even better, summer!