5 Tricky Toddler Behaviors for Parents and Caregivers to Understand

August 25, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

If you’re the parent of a toddler, chances are you’ve seen your fair share of temper tantrums, dealt with hitting or biting, or gotten into power struggles with your child.

While the toddler years are a wonderful time of exploration and development, they also can be trying on parents or caregivers.

One minute your child is being oh-so-sweet and angelic and the next they’re throwing a fit in the middle of the frozen food aisle.

Let’s tackle 5 tricky (but common) toddler behaviors and gain insight into why they occur.

Transitioning Back to School: How to Handle Your Child’s Anxiety

August 22, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

A new backpack, a different classroom, and an excited little learner–the new school year brings many changes and excitement for most children.

For other children, however, it can be a source of anxiety. Maybe they enjoyed the previous year but feel scared of the unknown of the new year. Or maybe your family has moved and they know they will have to make new friends.

Whatever the reason for the anxiety is, there are ways that you can help your child. Even if the anxiety is just normal, first day jitters, a little preparation can go a long way.

Toddler Development: Your Stubborn and Capable 25 to 30 Month Old

August 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Toddler reading a book to her stuffed bear in a field

Toddlers have a reputation for being stubborn, independent, defiant and frustrating—in addition to being to being painfully cute, of course. And for good reason! At this age, your child is going through tremendous cognitive growth. They’re realizing they’re an individual who can make an impact on their environment—and all that curiosity can lead to magical discoveries. (As well as a little mischief!)

Your 25-month-old will start to play pretend, stand on their tiptoes, blow you a kiss, and find new ways to surprise you each and every day!

How to Help a Child Who Is Struggling to Make Friends: 8 Tips and Tricks

August 3, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Most of us reflect fondly on some of the friends that we had in our childhood. Whether it was a friend that lived just down the block that we biked to see every day or a friend we made at summer camp and have kept in touch with ever since. Friendships can be one of the sweetest parts of childhood.

Today, however, we are seeing more and more children struggle to establish and maintain healthy friendships. The pandemic and lockdowns drastically changed children’s social lives. For months on end, most children only interacted with their siblings or even no children at all.

Now, as many children have transitioned back to in-person learning and full daycare and preschool, they may have social skills to catch up on.

So, how do we help bridge this gap? Let’s dig into it.

Why the Toddler Years Matter So Much for Brain Development

August 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

If you have a toddler, you’ve witnessed firsthand how incredibly active they are and how fast they learn! So many amazing milestones are reached during the toddler years — from walking to talking to using their fingers to eat.

Toddlers can be larger than life. With their big feelings, bigger tantrums, and daily skill acquisition — you may be marveling at all the new things they’re learning and doing.

Every day is different with a toddler. And it’s in part because their brains are so incredibly malleable and developing at a wildly rapid pace.

So what’s going on inside that genius little mind of theirs?

What Is Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia? Recognizing the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

July 22, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Panicked girl nervously biting her nails

Most of us really enjoy being at home. It's a place with all our favorite things. It contains familiar faces and special memories. It houses our family members and pets that we love. It’s a safe and comfortable place to be.

This love of familiarity is often felt by our children as well. They like having their own space, a reprieve from an often demanding outside world.

Sometimes, however, it's more than that. What if your child never wants to leave? What if leaving their home or safe space causes them to spiral out of control, having panic attacks or uncontrollable irrational fears? It may seem like something more than average anxiety. It may be panic disorder with agoraphobia.(1)

Toddler Development: Independence, Exploration, and Tantrums, Oh My! Your Energetic 19 to 24 Month Old

July 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Your baby is more than a year and a half old now, and boy does she have a lot to say! As your toddler’s vocabulary continues to grow, so does her confidence. You may find her testing limits, exerting her independence, and strutting her stuff everywhere she goes!

Between 19 and 24 months, you’ll notice your child is going through so many amazing changes. The chubby baby you know and love is growing up so fast! She’s gaining muscle, a more defined jawline, and getting both taller and leaner.

As she’s mastering skills like walking, running and climbing stairs, her personality is also developing. Soon it will become more obvious if you have a daredevil or more careful child on your hands. One thing’s for sure–your toddler will keep you on your toes as she engages in pretend play, feels big emotions, and continues exploring the wide world.

How Should I Feed My Infant? And Other Common Questions New Parents Have

July 15, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Feeding your baby can seem incredibly complicated. There are so many breastfeeding and formula feeding charts out there. For something so basic to sustain life — it can seem impossible to keep track of it all!

Know that the first few weeks at home with your baby will likely be a tired haze. But over time, you’ll learn how to tell when your infant needs to eat, sleep, be changed or cuddled. You’ll learn your baby’s cues and settle into a routine together.

How Do I Know When my Baby Is Hungry?

Contrary to what you may think, crying is actually a late sign of hunger.(1) Other signs, such as licking their lips, sticking their tongue out, rooting, opening their mouth, sucking, putting their hand to their mouth repeatedly, or being fussy will show up first.(2)

So those cute movements your infant is making? Pay close attention to them! They may actually be your baby trying to say — feed me!

4 Reasons Why You Should Maintain Bedtime Throughout Summer Break

July 7, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Days full of adventures may be the best part of summer. Whether you’re basking in the sun or hiding from the weather indoors, there is so much fun to be had. Some of us get to spend extra time with our children, maybe even take them on outings to the zoo or park.

In all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to push bedtime back by just one hour today and maybe 45 minutes tomorrow.

While all the time spent exploring, learning, and enjoying each other’s’ company is a wonderful part of summer, sticking to a sleep schedule is also important. Our children’s bodies and brains thrive on adequate sleep. High-quality sleep habits are as essential a need as food or water.

Let’s dive into the benefits of children getting consistent, quality sleep.

Infant Sleep: How to Help Them Fall (and Stay) Asleep

July 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

If you’re a first-time parent, you may not know a lot about infants’ sleep needs. In fact, the only thing you may know about sleep is you won’t be getting a lot of it.

If you have questions like…

Can newborns sleep too much?
Should I keep my newborn awake during the day?
Is swaddling safe?
When do I stop swaddling?
How do I sleep train my baby?

Then this blog is for you!

PTSD Awareness: How to Help a Child Through Trauma

June 17, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

We often think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a mental illness that only soldiers suffer from. In fact, it has been referred to in the past as Shell Shock or Combat Fatigue.(1)

While PTSD is common in those individuals who have seen and experienced war, unfortunately, any person who has experienced trauma can develop PTSD.

This even includes children.

So what should you be looking for if you suspect that your child or another child in your life has PTSD? And how can you help them? Let’s talk about it.

Toddler Development: They're Getting into Everything! Your Curious 16 to 18 Month Old

June 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Toddler Development: Your Toddler From 16 to 18 Months

Your little one sure is keeping you on your toes with all the walking, talking, climbing and playing at this age. And you may feel like you have a shadow everywhere you turn because your toddler can’t get enough of you and the exciting world around them!

Now that they’re mobile and on the go, their personality will start to shine. You may notice you have a chatty child or a quiet observer. Whatever you do or say, you’ll likely have a mini who wants to copy everything you do!

Infant Mental Health: What It Is and Why It's Important

June 15, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

When you think about managing mental health, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of a therapy couch, box of tissues, and feeling loads better after getting some things off your chest.

Or maybe you’re a big believer in a bubble bath or a long run as a form of self-care.

Whatever your mental health management routine, it probably involves taking specific action to care for and nurture yourself. After all, your life is complex. You have a job, relationships and finances to manage, family obligations, and social events to attend.

And if you’re a parent, your life is even more complex because you have the lives of other people to manage as well!

How to Maintain Structure and Stimulation Throughout Summer Break: 3 Practical Ideas

June 2, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

School is out for the summer, and you are ready to have some fun!

However, all of the extra hours spent at home with your kids can quickly lead to boredom and unwanted behaviors. Your child’s environment and schedule have changed overnight, and this can be triggering for many children.

So how do you start off the summer on the right foot and manage to keep everyone happy all summer long? I’ve got three practical tips for you!

Secure Attachment with Your Infant: What It Is and How to Develop It

June 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Whether you’re a first-time parent or have kids already, one thing is certain — you love your children and would do anything for them. But there’s a lot of noise about how to do this parenting thing “right” — so how do you determine what to tune out and what to tune into?

Tuning in to your infant’s needs is really at the core of attachment theory.

What is Attachment Theory?

An attachment is an emotional bond that forms between people.(1) We create bonds with all types of people throughout our lifetime — friends, loved ones, and family. Evolutionarily, attachment serves a purpose. An infant who stays physically close to her primary caregiver is generally more likely to survive.(2)

More Than Childhood Fear: How to Identify and Address a Specific Phobia

May 17, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Girl walking away carrying lion stuffed toy

Many children hang on their mother’s leg with apprehension on the first day of kindergarten. Other children struggle to sleep some nights because of the monsters they think are under the bed. Or maybe the trip to the dentist each year is a source of anxiety for your child.

These are all normal childhood fears. They are specific to one experience, and they can be worked through, and the child quickly moves on from them.

When a child’s fears become disproportionate to the actual situation and are long-standing, bleeding into many areas of the child’s life, there may be more going on, such as a Specific Phobia.

A Specific Phobia centers on one particular activity, object, animal, or situation. The fear that the child feels drives them to avoid that trigger at all costs. An inability to avoid the trigger causes intense distress.

Why Is My Child Acting Out? Oppositional Defiant Disorder Explained

May 16, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Some kids are just “bad kids.” You know the ones. They run down the aisle screaming at church. They have meltdowns in the supermarket. They don’t listen, they talk back, and they laugh in the face of authority. They can’t be controlled by their parents or teachers.

In short, they’re a menace with a capital M.

Except… there’s no such thing as a “bad kid,” is there? There are good kids who need help… Kids who start to believe the worst about themselves because they’ve come to expect negative reinforcement from their parents, other adults, or their peers…

Believe it or not, that kid yelling obscenities at his mother in the school parking lot probably doesn’t want to be doing that. But children with oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD for short, have difficulty controlling their impulses and making healthy, developmentally appropriate choices.

Toddler Development: The Amazing Things Your 13 to 15 Month Old Can Do!

May 12, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Toddler Development: Your Toddler From 13 to 15 Months

You made it through your baby’s first year! Way to go. Give yourself a pat on the back and kick up your feet.

Don’t take a rest for too long, though — you have a toddler now, and they’ll surely keep you on your toes!

You’re probably eagerly awaiting the day when your child takes their first unsupported steps — so grab the camera because between 13 and 15 months, that milestone will likely be reached, as well as many others.

Two Mental Health Events With a Common Thread: Friendship and Connection

May 3, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Our children’s mental health and our own mental health can feel like topics difficult to tackle. Being equipped with the right knowledge, however, can make all the difference.

Mental health events can do exactly this. They often have speakers, online forums, and other resources to help make difficult topics easier to understand and talk about. A theme often ties the event together to focus on one area of mental health.

Both events that are happening in May very fittingly chose to focus on connection and friendship.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Parents Need to Know

May 1, 2022 Madeleine Vieira

Did you know that 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder?(1)

If you have a child who is currently or has recently been diagnosed with autism, you may be feeling overwhelmed and confused.

You may be wondering what this diagnosis means for your child's future.

What treatment options are available? What can you do to help your child?

Here's what parents need to know about autism spectrum disorder in children.