25-Month-Old Child

Has your toddler started drinking from an open cup … in the bathtub? Try not to worry. A few sips aren’t likely to make him sick. 

Even though bathwater contains an unappetizing mix of soap, shampoo, dead skin cells, bacteria and even urine, the large amount of water in the tub usually dilutes anything that could be dangerous.

But drinking dirty bathwater — or even just being in the bath — isn’t a good idea if your tot has a bowel movement in the tub. In that case, take him out right away and wash everything in the tub ( washcloth, bath mat, tub toys) in the washing machine or sink.

As a baby, your child may have slept in total darkness. Now, he wants to leave the lights on all night. What gives?

Starting around the age of 2, many toddlers develop a fear of the dark — a phase that often lasts for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months or even years. Credit (or blame) his newly sophisticated, highly suggestible imagination, which tends to run wild at night … and in the dark.

What may sound silly to an adult, however, is very real to a toddler — so don’t dismiss it or tease him about it. Instead, offer him a security object like a stuffed animal and leave a little night light on in his room. 

If he calls out to you in the middle of the night, don’t turn on the light or bring him into your bed. Have him stay in his own room and comfort him in the dark.

Animals make lots of silly sounds that already delight your toddler: “quack,” “moo,” “baa.”

But these noises are more than just fun to say — they also help boost your child’s language development. (“Moo” and “baa,” for example, can be among your toddler’s earliest words.)

Read your tot plenty of animal books or ask him to play an animal game with you. Oink, moo, bark or roar, then see if your child can guess which animal you’re imitating. (“A lion goes ‘roar!’”)

Now that your baby is no longer, well, a baby, you might be wondering whether you should have another one — and if so, how soon you should try to get pregnant.

There are pros and cons to just about every age gap between children. For example, waiting at least 18 to 24 months but less than five years after a live birth before trying to get pregnant again lowers your risk of pregnancy and labor complications. And the closer in age your little ones are, the closer (and more competitive!) they can be.

People older than 35 might decide to wait only about 12 months before getting pregnant again, since the chance of trouble conceiving might be higher.

Waiting four to five years also has some benefits and drawbacks: Now that your older (or oldest) child is more mature, he may be able to help you care for the baby — you, on the other hand, may be a little rusty. And the jealousy over a new sibling may be even more pronounced since he’s been an only child for so long.

At this age, your toddler only needs about 13 grams of protein per day, which you can find in about 2 cups of milk. But if your child isn’t a fan of moo juice, you may have to get creative by hiding it in other foods.

Try soaking a slice of whole grain bread in some milk, then frying it to make French toast. If you’re making soup, use milk instead of water, and if you’re whipping up a fresh fruit smoothie, add in a splash of milk.

If your toddler is particularly averse to the taste, turn to other sources of protein, like Greek yogurt, cheese and peanut butter (after you’ve checked with your pediatrician to be sure your little one isn’t allergic to any of those foods).

Now that your tot is 2, it’s time to switch to a forward-facing car seat, right? Wrong. 

Although this was the rule years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that children should ride rear-facing for as long as possible — until he reaches the maximum height or weight of the car seat. (For convertible seats used in a rear-facing position, that limit can be between 40 and 50 pounds, but check your manufacturer’s instructions for specifics.)

The reason: Rear-facing car seats are better at protecting a child’s head, neck and spine during a crash than forward-facing ones. 

In all likelihood, your child won’t be ready to ride forward-facing until age 3 or 4, though it depends on his height and weight. Check with your pediatrician to be sure.

Welcome to the 2Ts — the next stage up in toddler dressing. Toddlers don’t outgrow their clothes as quickly as babies do, but you’re still unlikely to get more than a season or two out of basic tops and bottoms. 

Here’s a breakdown of toddler clothing sizes, according to their weight and height, though keep in mind that sizing can vary by brand.

• 2T: 29–32 lbs., 32–34 in.

• 3T: 32-35 lbs., 35–37 in.

• 4T: 35-39 lbs., 38–40 in.

• 5T: 39–43 lbs., 41–43 in.

If your child is on the shorter side, he may be able to wear clothing labeled in month sizes (for babies) rather than the T (toddler) sizes. A 24-month-sized shirt has the same weight range as a 2T, but is made for a slightly shorter child.

And since your independent tot will probably start to insist on doing everything “by myself” (if he hasn’t already), look for easy-on, easy-off clothing: bottoms with elastic waists rather than button or zipper flies, and tops with wide neck holes.