There may be times when we may grow tired of the talkative nature of toddlers but talking remains to be one of those milestone achievement in child development which you can’t wait to unfold.

Setting up a favorable environment is one of the best ways you can do to help the learning process flow in easier. The first thing you can do is to stop speaking in a baby tone and try to talk to youur child in an adult manner so that the child can get the proper inflections and word meanings/contexts. Also ask them a lot of questions in order to engage in conversations. Here are a few more guidelines:

1. Be sure to tell them what you’re doing. If it’s time to change their clothes for bedtime, tell them. “Off with your shoes. Remove your pants and shirt.” Repeating this each time you change them helps them learn to use labels for their clothing.

2. Read to them as often as possible. Picture dictionaries can introduce them to new words. Point to the pictures in the book and name each one. Read simple stories using expression in your voice for the different characters. Your toddler will love it!

3. Try not to talk or mumble to yourself which can confuse your toddler. They may begin to think that words are meaningless if someone isn’t responding when you talk.

4. Play repeating games with your toddler. Start out with simple words. Point to a toy they like and say “toy.” Ask them if they would like the toy and then ask them if they can say “toy.” If they try, praise them whether they can say the word or not. Then give them the toy. Repeat with other things they point to and indicate they want.

5. Leave the television off as much as possible. Parking your toddler in front of a TV for a short while won’t hurt them, but leaving them there for hours can. In fact, some experts have determined that watching television earlier than age two can be a contributing factor to developing Attention Deficit Disorder. If you can’t be with them physically, put them somewhere safe and let them play with their toys.

6. Be patient. Babies all learn at different rates so don’t get too discouraged if your toddler doesn’t learn to speak as quickly as another child. It may not seem like it, but your toddler will be talking when they’re ready. Of course, then you may wish they didn’t talk so much!

7. See the doctor. If you think your toddler is way behind their peers in speaking, you may want to see your child’s pediatrician. They will be able to test your toddler to see if there is a physical reason for them not speaking. If there is a problem, they will be able to give you the best advice for getting your toddler past the problem.

8. Love them as they are. If you put too much pressure on them to talk before they’re ready, it could do more harm than you realize. It’ll happen, just wait and see.

Try not to stress out about whether your toddler is talking or not. Unless your doctor gives you a reason why they won’t, you can expect your toddler to begin talking when they’re good and ready. Until then, talk to them, read to them, and keep on loving them!

Night terrors are common for toddlers especially if they are just in the child development phase of sleeping alone, away from their parents. These night terrors often come in the form of a bad dream. Here are ways to cope with these instances:

Night terrors are not the same thing as nightmares. With night terrors your toddler will wake partially from deep sleep. Try not to get too panicky about it. You’re going to remember it more than your toddler will.

They are fairly common in toddlers (normally between the ages of three and five) and may be hereditary in nature. Most doctors agree that males are more prone to night terrors than females. In extreme cases, night terrors may last well into the early teen years. Night terrors don’t occur on a regular basis and will often stop on their own with no intervention at all. However, you may feel better speaking to your toddler’s pediatrician about them.

During a night terror episode, you toddler will wake up partially. They may scream out or thrash around in their bed. They may also shake or get up and run around the room. Toddlers will not recognize you or respond to anything you say to them. They may have their eyes open, but that’s not always the case.

Your best bet for coping with night terrors is to remain calm. Don’t try waking your toddler up because it may frighten them. Never shake or shout at a toddler in the throes of a night terror for the same reason. While night terrors may last as long as an hour, they are frequently much shorter than that. Try to settle your child back into their bed and keep them from being injured. Stay with them until they quieten down and are able to sleep again.

To keep your toddler safe during a night terror, it is important that their room be clear of toys or things they can trip over if they rise from bed. You’ll want to put a stair gate across any stairs in your home so they can’t fall down them. Keep them inside the house by locking all doors and windows.

If your child is being cared for by someone other than yourself or your partner, you’ll want to let the babysitter know about your toddler’s night terrors. Explain to them what night terrors are and that they need to be available to keep your toddler safe if they have one.

Try to be consistent with your child’s sleep times; having a regular schedule may help prevent night terrors. You can also help your toddler by not allowing them to become over-tired. Putting them down for a nap during the day may also help. If the night terror episodes are frequent or severe, you may want to take your toddler to see their pediatrician.

Night terrors can be really alarming and frightening for you as a parent. Try to remember that your toddler won’t remember having them and that keeping them safe is the best thing you can do for them. Staying nearby and available if they have a night terror really is the best thing you can do.

Letting your toddler sleep with you in the master bedroom may be an easy choice to make. But it may have ramifications in child development - particularly in independence and self reliance. Now how should you go about it? Here are some insights to think about:

Think about your toddler’s routine. Changing your evening routine a little bit could make things easier on you and your little one. This can be especially true if your toddler’s climbing into bed with you is keeping you or your partner from sleeping. Evening routines including quiet playtime and a soothing bath are the best ways to calm a toddler before lights-out.

Avoid over-stimulation. If you want your child to go to sleep and stay in their own bed, you want them to be tired, but not overly simulated. Set the stage for bedtime with lowered voices, bathing, brushing their teeth and then a story. Once your toddler learns your new routine, everyone will find sleeping in their own bed easier to do.

Don’t be surprised if your toddler cries or whines while they’re learning to remain in their own bed. Sometimes the crying can pull at your heartstrings, but try not to let them get the better of you. You may even hear the pitter-patter of little feet coming to your room to try and climb in bed with you. What do you do now?

Well, that depends on what you and your partner decide on ahead of time. If the two of you don’t mind at first, let your toddler in to snuggle up and go back to sleep. After your toddler has fallen asleep, your toddler can be taken back to their own bed.

If, however, you’ve decided it’s time to stop them from sleeping with you, one of you needs to get up and take them back to bed. No fussing is necessary. Calmly carry or walk them back and tuck them back into bed. Don’t forget their favorite teddy bear. Turn on a very dim nightlight and say goodnight very quietly. Next, despite their cries, turn and leave the room.

While there’s nothing inherently dangerous in allowing a toddler to sleep with you, it can put a kink in your relationship with your spouse. Many people, however, advocate a family bed. Ultimately the choice is up to you and your family.

Remember, however, you don’t have to be strict about never allowing your toddler back in bed with you. There’s nothing quite like early morning snuggles with your little one. If your child is sick, you may also want to bend the rules. Let them know that you expect them to stay in their own bed unless given permission to join you.

Finally, consider whether or not your child is ready to sleep in their own bed. When you ask yourself whether or not your child should sleep with you, remember that it’s a huge step for them. Do what you can to make the transition an easier one and you’ll all be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep.