This weekend we took the little guy shoe shopping. Real shoe shopping. You know, when they get the official shoe measurement and all. To my surprise, my baby boy was about a size and a half larger than I thought! Shows how fast he’s growing.
It also made me come to the realization that he wasn’t a baby anymore…he was and is a toddler.
And although there isn’t ONE definitive indicator that your baby is completely and utterly a toddler (besides the walking, talking etc. stage), there are definitely a few general signs that point to that milestone happening.
Here’s my take on it.
1. Walking takes on a whole new meaning.
When my little guy was full-on walking at about 12/13 months, I didn’t realize that would quickly transition to chasing the doggies all over the house, running from mommy and daddy during hide-n-seek and heading straight out the front door each time it was cracked open. Beware: once on the move, they are unstoppable!
2. Diaper changes can get worse.
I’m not just talking about the fact that diaper changes go from a little messy and occasional diaper leak to OMG incredibly stinky! As baby starts to seek more control and assert his dominance he’ll be squirming and wiggling all over the place, making a quick and easy diaper change a thing of the past. My little man in particular, thrusts his hips in the air and manages to twist his body over while I have his legs suspended in the air. So hard to keep my cool at times like these, but I try.
3. Feeding manual, please?
Wasn’t it nice when baby would just sit in his high chair and eagerly eat up whatever fruit or veggie puree you would bring to his mouth? Yep, I miss those days. For me, meal time has been one of the most challenging aspects of toddlerdom.
It’s true that toddlers enjoy feeding themselves — and that’s great when finger food is involved — but when not, it can mean hours of chasing around the house with a bowl of veggies or spoonful of yogurt (if you find yourself with a picky-eater). And maybe it’s a boy thing, maybe it’s not, but our guy won’t just sit in his chair and be fed without some coaxing. He’ll toss his food to the dogs, create some new art work on his plate or just fuss. Then it’s time to pull out every trick in the book. Whether that means making a fun game out of meal time or masking some veggies with yummy seasoning, you’ll give everything a try once!
4. The playroom is every room.
Let’s face it. When your child is an infant it’s a lot easier to keep the play room/bedroom nice and tidy with all toys in their designated bins. However, once toddlerdom is upon you it’s almost impossible to keep toys limited to just one room. A toddler either lugs his favorite toy over to the next room or finds something new to play with. So in our house we keep some sort of toy bin or stash in almost every room. Let’s just say a toy truck or stuffed animal can help distract your toddler away from a remote control or candle holder.
5. Heaven help us! Naps may cease to exist.
Yes, it’s true! One sign that your baby is becoming a toddler is often seen in his sleep patterns. For some, this means the morning and afternoon naps can convert into one midday nap…and for a few it can even mean no naps at all! That’s a bit rough if you typically use that time to do house work or eat meals.
Luckily, our little guy is taking his time on this one. In any case, I’ve definitely noticed his nap times are becoming shorter and easily disrupted…which has me thinking, he may well be on his way to just one big boy nap!
Can you relate to any of the above? What was one of the major signs you saw as your baby became a toddler?
Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.
This sounds A LOT like my son! Though some advice – with diaper changing, I started counting 1-2-3 as we did each step. On 3 he could move. I also tried the Huggies Slip On diapers, they are not quite as absorbant as regular diapers but work well on those REALLY bad days. For my picky eater, the veggie pouches work wonders. He loves them and can easily feed himself though they are a little expensive…
I think the thing that signaled my baby wasn’t a baby anymore was when he started having opinions on EVERYTHING. From what he wore to what he ate to what blanket was on his bed, that’s when I knew he was on his way to being a kid!
-Tiff
I agree it is the shoes and walking. My son took his first steps on his actual 1st birthday and there was no stopping him from there. I can relate to every point you make though. Diaper change is impossible. I managed to get his diaper off earlier tonight and get him cleaned up but he spent the next 45 minutes diaper free. Then out of the blue, he decided he was ready to wear a diaper again 🙂 Gotta love the independence that toddlerdom brings.
No babies here yet on my TTC journey. But this was a great heads up! I have been around many toddlers but it’s much different when they are your own and you experience first hand. I wish you the best of luck with your toddler!
The thing I hated giving up were those morning naps! I was lucky with my oldest son because when we stopped with the am naps, his afternoon naps were so much longer. I really think toddlerhood is one of the toughest ages. Just to give you hope, 3-4 yrs is a piece of cake! Enjoy, though, it goes fast!
For me it was when my children began to decide what they wanted to wear or refuse to take off for days at a time that I realized I had little people and not infants anymore. Both of my kids were advanced with their mobility which made things difficult to start. When you have an 8 month old walking and lugging toys through the house and he cannot yet comprehend long sentences or the word “no” frustration quickly sets in. So you are left with a choice, have a messy house and enjoy one another or chase around every toy and crumb and keep things spotless and end up missing out on your childs growth. I napped when my kids did, when I cleaned they helped, when i baked or cooked they assisted. From the moment they could stand they were always helping me around the house and that really encouraged me as a mother because like a wise Mennonite woman told me “children shouldn’t be burdensome, they should be assets to the house regardless of age” and I definitely have two little assets 😀
I can relate to almost all of what you said. I have to admit, my kids loved feeding time. They love food! So for me, if I needed to get things done in the kitchen, I would put them in their high chair and give them something to eat. I don’t have picky eaters so I can’t relate to not wanting to eat! But keep trying and still push the foods they need to eat… they will learn to love them. Best of luck! Happy Eating! 🙂
Ahhhhh, I remember these glorious days. Yes, I say glorious because my “babies” are all grown and I miss this so much! Don’t blink! You’ll miss it! 🙂
We actually have six children, the youngest being 11 months. We love the toddler phase, it is absolutely the MOST fun!!! Of course our toddlers tend to be the center of attention in our house, and everyone always wants to play with them. What a great site you have, I will be sure to show my wife!!!
I realized my kids were toddler when they lokked at me and they had kind of a new personality, not being a baby anymore. A personality you could see they try to be funny or try to talk to you and they have that glance in their eyes as how they can take in the whole world… sad and happy day for momma
I can relate to all of these! My son is turning three next week, and it seems like yesterday he was still juts a baby. I can remember when he began walking – it was as if he was running just a week or two later. And yes, meal times have been a challenge here for about the past year!
I totally remember those days!! They are exhausting, but never dull. I remember this as the time that my kids really started to show there own personality and started to reject the activities and room decor that I imposed on them. It’s the coolest thing to see your kids develop into their most authentic self…even if it’s not what you thought it’d be 🙂
I remember taking my little guy to the shoe store and finding out that his old shoe was 1 1/2 sizes too small! I felt so guilty for days!
I am not a mom, but I did notice that in the latest nephew. He is cranky, but refuses to take a nap. he does fall asleep in the car, but as soon as the car stops for any length of time, he will wake up.
I’m not a mommy but great post!
Divachyk @ Relaxed Thairapy
Oh I remember those days. I had two boys and they were as active as yours. It has been so long ago, I could not offer in good advise. The one thing I will say is just enjoy it no matter what. They grow up too soon.
Yeah, good list. My son dropped his second nap the week of his first birthday – I loved that it opened up our schedule a little more!
We also went through a big phase of food throwing. I didn’t have the patience to fight with him to be fed spoon-food, so we just put the dog outside (or behind the baby gate) and let him self feed…with a lot of food on the floor. The dog got to clean up after we were done. We sure did save money on dog food during that time frame!
On the shoes, once they told you they were too small, were you able to feel it / tell? I haven’t ever had my son measured, but we go by the “is his food still smaller than the shoe liner? (when the liner is pulled out of the shoe). Seems like we’re able to keep him in shoes that fit that way, but am I potentially missing something?
Thanks Sarah! Food throwing never gets old!!
For the “accurate” show size they had a foot measurement device. They told me that since toddlers feet grow every few months or so, it’s best to have the shoes with a little room to grow! Go figure!
HAHA!! every room is still the playroom, and my eldest is nearly 11:-) toddlerdom was the most challenging for me in some ways, but so exciting to see the little people they were becoming, every age and stage brings its own challenges though, and now I miss those toddler days, go figure:-)
I remember when my daughter went from infant to toddler,I accepted it before my husband did but it was not easy! I have a new preschool now and that transition is not any easier!
Oh, the good ol Toddler days. I could have lived without the messy poops and the disgusting stuff they learn to do WITH it.. but when I look back at the videos and awwwwwwww… I just miss the toddler babbles. 🙂
I’m sure I will miss it at some point too.
When my boys reached the walking toddler, still in diapers stage, I would change their potty diapers with them standing up. I was so much easier! Hope this helps : )
I can relate to all those signs! I guess that’s why the oldies or veteran parents use to say “enjoy your children while they are still babies because things could go differently once they grow up.” In which at your baby’s stage, becoming a toddler surely means a couple of hard work for us moms and dads. I have three kids so imagine how I surpassed those five signs:)
Yes, now that saying makes a lot of sense to me too…but I never thought growing up meant just a year later!!
Yes, I can agree with these. The problem I had was that my daughter started throwing tantrums and my then-husband refused to see it as such. He didn’t think I should do anything about it. He said that she was in pain when my mom and I both knew she was throwing a tantrum! And he refused to feed her food. He insisted on the bottle. I had to fight him to feed her any food.
But yes, toddlers can be fun and challenging.
This is awesome! I have a 3 month old right now and so I can see a lot of these things in my future 🙂 I’m a little worried about diapers being worse because we’ve had some rough blowouts lately but we’ll just take it in stride. Have a great day!
Even if I am past that about 3 years ago, I can still fully recall the challenges of having a toddler – whether a girl or a boy for that matter. They each need attention and lots of it. I however, remember, that even though I find it hard feeding them, chasing them around the house, I also remember the first time they see a ball and chase after them. They way they laugh each time you chase them and the look of surprise when you “find” them in hide-and-seek (for the 15th time)! 🙂
Awww he is growing up! I love babysitting children that age. They are a handful but so much fun at the same time!! He is becoming a big boy and that is an amazing thing.
Very relatable. I remember thinking how “contained” pregnancy was, and how “everywhere at once” parenthood is. Every room becomes the play room best describes our house!
I SO feel you on #4. I can not stand how my whole house feels like a playroom. We have a room for toys… I don’t mind them being brought out and played with, but please – please put them back. Or, play in your bedroom. Nope. Where does everyone want to drag (and subsequently leave) their stuff? The kitchen and the living room. My daughter is almost 7 and is just now starting to keep her stuff contained.
Oh my word this made me have flashbacks to those wiggle nightmarish diaper changes it is was soo awful!! With both my boys too they would just kick and wiggle….
This post has brought back many wonderful memories. Toddler years are the best. There are so many firsts, and so many amazing moments that oft times will leave you astonished at what your toddler says or does. Enjoy this time because it goes by so fast! 🙂
If you think that the baby stage went by quickly, just wait and see how quickly the toddler stage goes! The messy rooms will room enough be replaced by school bags. Enjoy your time with your toddler 🙂
I realized my kids were toddlers when Silence appeared just like that. I would slowly go to their bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom to see what they were doing. Of course, they were up to MESSing up the place, lol. That’s what happens when they wake up and out of bed without calling me.
Oh this made me smile! Another mummy who gets it – the house will never be toy free ever again! lol
Nappy changes, just wait till you toilet train 😉 Stock up on washing powder 😉 Never leave the house without a change of clothes – ever. lol… ok so I will stop now, you have all that to look forward to.
Naps oh how we miss you
Toddler time is a time of independence. It is such a transition that we sometimes aren’t prepared. But it is a great time to really get to know your child and their exploration of the world.
The mess sticks out to me since I secretly believes I’m suffering from OCD and the constant need to clean.
Yes this brings back memories for me too! I loved seeing my children’s advances and each new learning trick! I measured their growth by the level I had to keep all my breakables at to keep them out of reach! I loved when they learned to walk and their cute little head would toddle by me. They looked so grown up all of a sudden! Enjoy!
“Every room is a play room” was a defining moment in toddlerhood for me. When my little girl began to own her space, “everywhere” she traveled throughout the house and in public places. She would set up shop in the living-room lining up dolls and kitchen props. She would decorate the bathroom with her accessories, and so much more. This ownership signified the toddler phase for me!
I can totally relate! I have a 1.6 year old son! And he’s everything you’ve described above! It’s really a challenging transition from being a baby to a toddler (especially for us) because their in the stage of exploration and adventure! But how wonderful to see them at this stage in their lives! Wonderful post!
I have a toddler right now and I can totally relate! However, I think I’m still in denial about her not being a baby anymore. 🙂 I love your idea about having a toy bin in every room. I’m going to try that!
Yep! Those are so true! Our youngest is moving out of the toddler stage and into “preschool age” now. The toddler stage is definitely full of independence seeking, but it sure is a lot of fun, too!
Oh, these years were so fun. As you pick up, they put down. When you are trying to nap, they wake up and are full of energy. Everything at eye level is a new toy ready for their little hands to grab or things in tippy toe reach is fair game and often gets tossed around the room like a football. You might find a clothes and diaper trail leading to your bare-naked child playing in a pile of laundry because it was just something he/she wanted to do at the moment. Of your kitchen wall may become the newest paint board from all the food thrown at it during lunch time – yes, you have entered into the toddler years and they are filled with adventure, curiousity and exploration!
This post was sooo fun (and funny)! Although I’m not a mom, visiting sites from other moms like you make me look forward to it. The little bit about diaper changes had me giggling! I can just picture it, because my mom always tell stories of how I used to do that when I was a baby.
Whitney
My youngest just turned 2 earlier this month, so I’m with you on the shock of “my baby isn’t a baby anymore!” I noticed it when he began protesting if we left something out of his bedtime routine. One night we forgot to have the kids brush their teeth, and the older 2 went to bed (probably relieved to not have to brush) but little man cried for 15 minutes (he still cries most nights, so 5-10 minutes is no big deal) and when I finally went to check on him, he just held his hands up and sobbed “teeth, teeth!” So, we brushed his teeth and he went back to bed with a smile and didn’t make a peep until morning.
LOL! The playroom is definitely every room. -_- I keep trying to take back my living room and my little man is not having it.
My goodness I remember these days. Brings back awesome memories and the realization how quickly it goes by,
I know this post is from a while ago, but oh my goodness, I relate to all of these! Especially once they are on the move, they are unstoppable! Yep, I guess it’s true, my baby isn’t such a baby anymore!
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