Practice makes perfect, and that’s just what your little one is doing when he demands to button his own shirt or cut his own chicken. And while his attempts may be time-consuming or messy — or both — it’s important to let your toddler try and try … then try again.

All this insistence to do things by himself can lead to frustration for everyone, but self-sufficiency is a big part of self-esteem, so be extra patient and encouraging. Whenever possible, allow extra time in your schedule so neither of you feels rushed as he struggles with his shoes or wrestles with his zipper. 

Here’s what else your independent tot is up to this month.

Your 29-month-old child’s development

At a Glance

Sleeping basics
Sleeping basics
Toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, including an afternoon nap that lasts for about one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours, give or take.
Feeding basics
Feeding basics
Juice can be a sneaky source of sugar in a toddler’s diet. If you do serve it, stick to 100 percent fruit juice and limit it to no more than 4 ounces a day.
Did you know?
Did you know?
By now, your toddler can likely hold something in one hand (like a container) while doing something with the other (like taking off the lid).

Your toddler is learning new skills at a rapid pace, so it only makes sense that he’s eager to show them off. On the other hand, some tots seem reluctant to try anything on their own, preferring Mommy or Daddy to do it. What’s behind this behavior?

Most likely, it’s caused by frustration. Plus, since Mom or Dad can do it better, why not let them? Not to worry: This is normal toddler development, and again, patience and encouragement are essential, along with a no-pressure approach to trying new things.

In other news, it’s no secret that toddlers love to play, especially at the playground. But as much as they love arriving at their favorite haunt, they really hate to leave it — so be prepared for some (very loud) protests.

For you, the challenge is to stay cool but stand firm. Be considerate by giving your youngster plenty of notice before leaving the playground (“Three more turns on the slide!”) and by making departures appealing (“Let’s read that new book when we get home!”) 

Seal the deal with an on-the-road snack and maybe the surprise appearance of one of his favorite toys.

Your 29-month-old child’s growth

Slow and steady growth has been the name of the game for some time now. Boys measure about 33½ to 38½ inches tall and weigh about 25 to 35½ pounds, whereas girls measure 33 to 37¼ inches and weigh about 24 to 35 pounds.

Despite not making huge gains in the growth department, you may be surprised to see your toddler has a perpetual case of the “hungries” — even if lunch was just served an hour ago. Try to decipher what’s behind the request: Is he bored? Stressed? Tired? Going through a growth spurt?

Whatever the reason, don’t scold your child or say he’ll get too big — that’ll only shift the focus back to food when you should be directing his attention elsewhere. If you’re really concerned about how much or how often your tot is eating, check in with your pediatrician.

You’ll probably be told that it’s okay to offer small, nutritious meals more frequently rather than serving up three larger meals a day. This gives your tot the energy he needs to run around all day. Just what you wanted to hear, right?

Your 29-month-old child’s health & care

You’ll have to wait another month for your child’s next well-visit, but there’s still lots going on with your toddler’s health, growth and development.

Fever in toddlers
Fever in toddlers
Motor-speech disorders
Motor-speech disorders
Probiotics for toddlers
Probiotics for toddlers
Toddler tooth decay
Toddler tooth decay
Is your toddler overtired?
Is your toddler overtired?

Toddler tips & info

Make the switch to “bigger” books

Board books have served you well over the past two-and-a-half years, but now that your toddler is a little older, it may be time to introduce him to paper pages.

You can also start to engage him a little more with the stories — by pointing out similar events that happen in his life or asking him what he thinks might happen next.

And let him “catch” you reading a book of your own too. Children who grow up in bookish homes — ones that foster a love of reading — are more likely to become readers later in life.

Head off dehydration

Toddlers aren’t particularly good at recognizing when they’re thirsty. And even if they do notice it, they don’t always slow down long enough to take a water break.

When it comes to preventing dehydration in toddlers, your best defense is a good offense. Bring a sippy cup with you when you go to the park or beach and pack a cooler of foods that have a lot of water in them (think: chunks of watermelon or cucumber slices).

One drink you may want to leave at home: juice. The high sugar content can contribute to diarrhea, which can make dehydration worse.

Sing “Five Little Ducks”

Teaching your toddler about math doesn’t have to be intimidating. Aren’t sure where to start? Try singing songs that involve numbers, like “Five Little Ducks,” “Five Little Monkeys” and “Hickory Dickory Dock.”

Each time you say a number aloud, hold up the same number of fingers. This way, your child will start to understand that four is less than five (and that three is less than four …).

Turn a “bad day” into a “good day”

Did your little one wake up on the wrong side of the toddler bed? Even the most cheerful of tots can fall into a funk — and sometimes, no amount of songs, tickles or kisses can salvage the situation.

Not all is lost, however. One of the quickest ways to coax a toddler out of a bad mood is to switch up his environment. Head to the park, the playground or even a walk around a new street. If it’s raining outside, head inside instead — to a library, a store or a coffee shop for a snack.

Or, simply tweak your routine. Take a bath in the middle of the day or move lunchtime outdoors and have a picnic instead. Sometimes, a little novelty can go a long way.

Teach your toddler responsibility

Ever wonder why there are so many toy brooms and vacuum cleaners? That’s because, to a 2-year-old, work and play are pretty much the same thing.

Plus, toddlers get a real sense of accomplishment after doing “big person” tasks, like running the vacuum cleaner or putting a bowl on the table. Eventually, these small jobs can grow into regular chores.

To start honing his responsibility skills, start by asking him to do small tasks, like throwing away the junk mail, putting his socks back in the drawer or stacking books on a bookshelf.

Resist the urge, however, to fix his work (at least, until he’s out of earshot). If he feels like he’s done something wrong, he may be less enthusiastic about doing it in the future.

How a second pregnancy can differ from the first

If you've got baby number two on board, you’re probably thinking that you’ll know what to expect this time around. But a second pregnancy can differ from the first in a few surprising ways.

For starters, you may feel certain pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness or urinary frequency, sooner than you did the last time you were pregnant. You may also start to show sooner, in part because your abdominal and uterine muscles are looser now that you’ve already had one pregnancy.

You may also notice baby kicking sooner — say, by month 4 this time instead of closer to month 5, during your last go around.

In subsequent pregnancies, Braxton-Hicks (or “practice”) contractions may also be more intense, but because your cervix is less rigid than it was in the past, your labor will likely be shorter — and that’s something to be happy about!

Tricks to help your tot take his medicine

To a sick toddler, taking medication is like adding insult to injury. (“No! It’s yucky!”) Need a little help to make the medicine go down? Try one of these tricks:

  1. Switch up the delivery method. If your toddler hides at the first sight of the syringe, try asking the pharmacist if you can use a spoon or plastic cup instead (just make sure it offers the exact measurements you need to dose properly). Or, if it’s possible, ask if you can mix it into a small amount of applesauce, ice cream or fruit juice.

  2. Don’t make faces. You may be cringing on the inside, but on the outside, try to be cheerful. Grimacing (or even apologizing) will only reinforce the idea that taking medication is unpleasant.

  3. Offer a treat. Giving your child a special prize, like a sticker or small trinket, can help so that he’s not left with, well, a bad taste in his mouth.

  4. Add a yummy flavor. Ask your pharmacist if you can add flavoring such as FLAVORx to the medicine. FLAVORx is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can help combat the bad taste of many medications.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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