34-Month-Old Child

Now that your toddler is nearing 3 — or may be taller than 35 inches tall — she may be ready to graduate to a big-kid or toddler bed.

If your crib already converts to a toddler bed, then all you need to do is reconfigure it according to the instructions.

In the market for a brand new one? The good news is that toddler beds are pretty affordable, ranging from around $55 to $450, though it varies. Here are a few things to look for:

• A frame that holds a standard-size crib mattress. Just as with a crib, the mattress should fit snugly into the bed frame — a gap between the mattress and the frame is an entrapment hazard.

• Side rails to help your restless sleeper stay put. Some toddler beds come with side rails already, in which case you won’t have to pay extra for them. If you need to purchase them separately, make sure your toddler bed can accommodate them.

• A safe, sturdy construction. Some plastic models may not be especially durable. Likewise, ones with square edges or hardware that sticks out may be unsafe for a young child.

• A certification from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). This certification seal, which can be affixed on the product or packaging, guarantees that the bed has met certain safety standards.

Keep in mind, though, that the weight limit for a toddler bed is only 50 pounds, so she will outgrow it eventually. When that happens, you’ll likely make the switch to a twin or other big-kid bed with a side rail — an option that can hold her through grade school.

Even the best of buddies are sure to clash occasionally. (“No! My truck!”) But you don’t have to jump in right away. Sometimes toddlers will work it out themselves — and that’s the goal, really.

If, however, your tot gets physical — hitting, pushing, biting — remove her from the scene right away and let her know that this behavior is never okay. One thing you shouldn’t do: spank. Hitting a child sends a confusing message about when it’s okay to use violence.

If the other child was the aggressor, it’s still a good idea to separate the tots to put some space between them. Offer each of them a story or snack during the interlude. Chances are, when they pick up their playdate, they’ll have forgotten all about their scuffle.

Just because your toddler is potty trained during the day doesn’t mean that she can hold it in at night. In fact, bed wetting is fairly common in young children — most aren’t physically able to stay dry at night until the age of 5, 6 or 7.

At this age, nighttime potty training isn’t really possible, since toddlers’ systems are still too immature to wake up and go to the bathroom overnight. And pressuring your toddler to stop wetting the bed may backfire and cause more accidents (not to mention hurt her self-esteem).

Until she gets a little older, your best bet is to put her in diapers or Pull-Ups at night and use a rubber sheet to protect the mattress.

Your toddler’s vocabulary is growing by the day — but some of those words are better left unsaid. Keep in mind that until the age of 5 or 6, kids don’t have much of a filter, so she only has a limited ability to censor herself.

The next time your child hurls a colorful comment at you or someone else, keep your expression neutral. If you yell, gasp or laugh, that might just encourage her to try it again.

Make it clear that it’s okay to be angry, but it’s not okay to use bad words in front of other people — and that certain words can hurt people’s feelings just like hitting can hurt people’s bodies.

Now that your toddler is nearing 3, she may be ready to enjoy a day at a children’s museum.

Childrens’ museums are great for little learners, since every exhibition can be experienced hands-on. Think: water tables with funnels and fountains, toy race car tracks you can build yourself, and treehouses equipped with telescopes and slides.

To make sure your tot isn’t overwhelmed, familiarize yourself with exhibits and figure out which rooms to visit, when. Certain programs, like sing-alongs or arts-and-crafts-time, may only be available at certain times.

And as much as you’d like your toddler to see and do everything, don’t be surprised if she only sticks to one or two exhibits. She’ll learn the most from an activity that she stays focused on and enjoys doing — even if that means staying in the space station center all day.

Unless your doctor has told you to avoid lifting anything during your pregnancy (call your OB if you’re unsure), you should be fine to pick up your toddler.

But you’ll want to take a few precautions to avoid hurting your back. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Keep a wide stance, with your feet shoulder width apart.

2. Tuck your hips in.

3. Bend at the knees, not at the waist.

4. Lift slowly, with your legs rather than your back.

If you can’t lift your little one, blame your back, not the baby. No need to plant the seed for sibling rivalry early on!

Your easily-distracted, slow-moving toddler takes forever to leave the house in the morning (and day care in the afternoon, and the playground in the evening …). At this age, toddlers don’t have a good sense of time, so nagging isn’t likely to help. 

If you need to be somewhere on time in the morning, prepare as much as you can the night before. That may mean laying out your child’s clothes in advance, setting the table for breakfast, and placing her backpack or books by the door.

Playing a peppy song may also help pick up the pace; you can also set a timer for smaller tasks, like getting dressed.