20-Month-Old Child

A little bit of fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s the totally fearless tots you really have to watch. But when your child is afraid of dogs, it can make it a little hard to go for a walk — not to mention enjoy all the benefits of having a furry-footed companion.

Spend some time acclimating your tot to some less-scary canines in the form of stuffed dogs or push-pull toys, which won’t bark or wag their tails. Or read her books about dogs, which depict furry friends as playmates and helpers.

Speaking of furry additions to your family, are you wondering whether now is the time to take the plunge and get a pet? Like toddlers, pets are cute and cuddly. Also like toddlers, they’re a big responsibility. 

Before you swing by your local pet store or shelter, ask yourself a few questions. Is your toddler comfortable around animals? Some tots are afraid of animals, particularly large ones, while others take to four-legged friends easily.

If your toddler seems to like critters of various kinds, consider whether you have enough room in your home, time in your schedule, and money in the bank for both a pet and a child. Both will likely need plenty of space to roam around in, and they’ll have to play nicely together.

You may set the rules in your house, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give in to your toddler every once in a while. That doesn’t mean caving to her every demand, but it might mean letting her have the occasional victory.

If, for example, you’ve been running errands all day and your toddler — who’s hungry, cranky and fed up — suddenly puts down her tiny foot and yells, “No!” there’s nothing wrong with letting her have her way.

Not only are you avoiding an evitable public meltdown, but you’re also teaching your tot a valuable lesson: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

As amusing as it may be to see your toddler stick her finger in your nose, try to resist the urge to giggle. Laughing at your child’s antics only sends the message that you approve of the behavior — which will make the habit that much harder (and more confusing) to break later on.

At this age, children don’t have a great understanding of time — and all too often, telling your toddler to “wait” falls on deaf ears. That’s where a timer can come in handy.

If you need another five minutes on the computer, for example, set a timer — either a physical timer or a timing app on your phone — and let your tot watch it until it goes off. This can help make an abstract concept a little more concrete.

Rare is the toddler who willingly sits in his car seat (or any seat). But riding unbuckled isn’t an option, so sit in his car seat he must. 

First, check to see if the straps are too tight or twisted. Your toddler may be protesting because she’s uncomfortable. If the problem is confinement, try distracting your tot right before you put her in the seat: “Look up at the sky” or “Where’s your nose?”

If all else fails, blow a raspberry on her belly or tickle her midsection. That should loosen an arching back, allowing you the chance to buckle your little one in place.

Going for a walk in the woods? Make sure you dress your toddler in a long-sleeved shirt and tuck her pants into her socks. Ticks — which can transmit diseases like Lyme disease — love to hang out in the tall grass and brushy, wooded areas, where they can crawl up your tot’s legs.

You can also treat your little one’s clothing with permethrin, a type of insect repellent, as well as apply a repellent that contains between 10 and 30 percent DEET on any skin that isn’t irritated or cut.

At home, do a total-body scan for ticks and toss the clothes in a dryer on high heat for about 10 minutes to ensure a stowaway doesn’t sneak into your home.