What Books Did You Read? RE: Toddlers

Tracy also wrote a Baby Whisperer for toddlers: http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Baby-Whisperer-Toddlers-Tra...

This is my other toddler favorite: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Love-Difficult-Discipline-Coop...

HTH. :)

Hey Racheal!

My son is the same age, and even though I wasn't much of a book reader...I did find that the book "What to expect in the Toddler Years" is helpful. Granted I don't think any book can really prepare us for any particular challenges we face as SAHM's with 2 year olds. However, I did find it hit certain questions that I did have. It is good for ideas.

Hope you find this helpful, Tara

Hi R.,

I read the Happiest Toddler on the Block book, and it did help me. I have an almost 2 year old, and we are really getting full force into the tantrums and refusals. I recommend the book. It focuses mostly on understanding why your kid is acting the way they are, which can make a huge difference in how you react and what you choose to take personally. It helped me be calmer for sure. If you can read it, I suggest it. The biggest message it sent to me was a reminder that what he is saying and doing is really not intended to drive me nuts, it is just his natural process at this age.

Good luck to you! Believe me, I feel your pain :)
D.

The best book I have found is "Touchpoints- Birth to 3" By T. Berry Brazelton, MD. He is one of the nation's foremost pediatricians and his style of writing is so easy to understand. He explains the things we see as parents from what the child is experiencing. "'Touchpoints' are the universal spurts of development and the trying periods of regression that accompany them throughout childhood. Dr. Brazelton uses them (Touchpoints) as windows to help parents understand their child's behavior and prevent future problems." (Quote from the back cover of the book) Toddlers long to be independent but at the same time struggle with the comfort dependency provides and they are constantly floating back and forth between these two extremes which is frustrating for everyone involved. He provides this insight into the struggle of toddlers and helps parents understand how to help our little ones along. This book also provides insight on specific "Challenges to Development" such as feeding problems, sleep problems and potty training.

I first heard of this book from my Child Development instructor in college and I purchased it straight away after I knew I was pregnant. I currently have a 15 mo. old and as of yet everything I have read has helped tremendously. It has really given me a window into my son's mind.

I hope this helps you, Good Luck!

Hi R.,

Books For You-I'm a BIG fan of anything that Dr. James Dobson writes. I have two boys, with my oldest showing signs of being very strong-willed and the other very passive. I've read "Bringing Up Boys" (LOVED IT), "The Strong-Willed Child" and I'm beginning "Dare To Discipline" to prepare me for what's to come. I've really learned a lot of different techniques in my parenting from Dr. Dobson ~ I highly recommend anything he writes. He's awesome!

Books for Your Boy - we read every night and our favorites (right now) are "Just In Case You Ever Wonder," "Snuggle Puppy," and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

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I loved The Girlfriend's Guide To Toddlers by Vicki Iovine,
What to Expect the Toddler Years by Heidi E. Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee E. Hathaway and Dr. Spocks Baby and Child Care.

I don't read parenting books. I do like Parents magazine though. When it comes to stuff like you are going through it is just a temporary thing and will stop. Patience is key, and a very hard thing to have all the time.

I highly recommend Love and Logic.

http://www.loveandlogic.com/

my friend just told me about about a book called " how to make your child mind, without losing your mind". it is a christian based book. i know nothing about it, but she said it is really good. you might try that out. i am having the same problems with my 2 & half year old and we are starting to make some progress. good luck!

I'm assuming books for your child? If so.....Chicka chicka Boom Boom is good. It teaached the abc's. It can be addicting, you'll end up saying it in your sleep. My daughter loved it when she was in preschool (almost 11 now), but my son (4) who just started preschool a few months ago read it at school and fell in love with it too, and then so did my youngest son (2) as well. There are so many. My advice is go to Borders or Barnes and Nobel. They have seating in the kids area and so many books. Take an afternoon, grab a few books of what you think your son might like, and sit and read them. If he does not like them, put them back on the shelf, if he likes them, buy a couple. Even if you only buy one here and there, you have had a great afternoon together. Then make a wish list of books he likes, and give those ideas to your family and friends for gift ideas. I recommend trying out the board books first, less chance of damaging books you may not take home with you.
If you are talking books for yourself.....Can't help you there. I don't believe in "going by the book" in raising your kids. It's so....uniform. All kids are not alike, give them love, and attention and a good life and let them spread their wings and express themselves....not going by the book. I know they can be good for guidance, but I've read a few parents books and it seems so impersonal.

My personal favorite is The Discipline Book: How to Have a Better-Behaved Child From Birth to Age Ten by William and Martha Sears. They have raised a bunch of kids and have great advice. It is also very positive and would likely expand on the philosophy of listening to your child and responding to his needs that you found in Hogg's book.

I have also seen Dr. Michael Popkin on Oprah and thought he had some good stuff to say. He will be in town this month. You can find more info at http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/newsletter/newsletter_...

BTW, all the books in the world won't substitute for you knowing your son and simply finding what works. Be consistent. Offer him choices when possible. Enforce your expectations. And know that he is developmentally doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. He is separating himself from you and becoming more independent. In a perverse way, his behavior shows that you are doing a great job, Mom!

Hi R.,

I feel for you! My baby is 15 months and she is constantly on the go! I find that if I plan specific activities for her to do during the day. it wears her out and she loves it!
The Gymboree Toddler Play book has lots of great ideas on games and activities you can do with your toddler.
It's pretty creative, and age specific. I got mine on Amazon for pretty cheap. Hope this helps!

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I never read any of the parenting books but what I found to be helpful when my daughter was doing that was rewards. she loves stickers so I made her a special sticker chart with the things we were having problems with. You can just go to excel and put in any pictures you want that apply to the things you want him to work on. For example, I put a toothbrush on there, a toilet, a bed, an ear, and so on. If she had a whole bunch of stickers when we reached the end of the chart (which mine was for a week long at a time but you can make it for however long you want), she got to get a treat of some kind. it could be an ice cream cone, or a toy from the dollar store. Thankfully, children are pretty easy to please at that age! But then I increased the length of the progress chart to 2 weeks, and so on as she got older.

We read Goodnight Moon, I think I can recite it without the book, it's one to get, they all love it!

These are oldies but goodies; There is one for each year. Your two year old. by Ames and Ilg. Basically these books tell you what is going on in their development at that time so it is easier to understand why they are acting the way they are. I bet the library has them.

Two year old are all about doing it by themselves. This is the time to give them 2 chioices; both that you can live with. They can choose and they'll feel more in control which is what they want. Be firm tho and be prepared for lots of times where they can not be consolled. Life is pretty tricky and tha's a fact.
Be reassured that giving them this tool of making a choice will help in the future and they will settle down. It is just a phase.
Ames and Ilg also say the best thing you can do for your two year old is find a good babysitter! Chill out and be at your best, refreshed, when you have to deal with a two year old!!!
Good luck!

You should try 'Love and Logic' the books is great and it is still working on my almost 6 year old. Good Luck!! Just a note three is even more of a challenge:)

The Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers...I think that's what it is called. Honestly, it is just a good, funny book that reminds you that your toddler's behavior is normal, and that it will pass.
I have a 2-year old little girl who drives me batty most days. Don't read into it too much. It's nothing you are doing wrong. This is just a very trying time when your little boy is figuring out what his boundaries are and how to express himself.
Have a glass of wine.
Good luck!

I am in your same boat, so I will just read the advice you get. My daughters were never this way. It's like they have a mind all of it's own. Good luck.

I did read Happiest Toddler on the block...it had some good ideas, but not sure it was everything I was looking for. I also have heard great things about 1,2,3 Magic...I also went to a workshop this morning where they talked a lot about the Love and Logic series. Good luck. It seems like they change over night doesn't it?

I would recommend the Berenstain Bears books. I don't know of a specific title, but the series is fantastic for dealing with "life issues". Go to www.randomhouse.com to find a list of books. We used to read the covers off of some of those books when my boys were little.
As far as discipline goes, what ever you choose, be consistant. You have to prove to your toddler over and over again that you are the parent and you do get the last word.

I also like the Love and Logic books-- there is one specifically for toddlers. The school I work for implements this as our discipline strategy as well. You can also check out videos from the library showing your how to implement it. Jim Fay (author) is a great speaker and after watching the videos it really makes sense. If your public library doesn't have these videos, you might check with your local school's library in the parent section. Many of them will have them as a parent resource.