Emotional Wellbeing
Your baby is now a toddler and will be a lot more mobile. Parenting can start to become demanding in a different way. You now need to think about safety and appropriate boundaries as well as caring for your baby.
Some parents miss their tiny baby and others are pleased that their baby has a little more independence. Remember as this independence grows your baby will still need you.
There will be lots of changes as your child moves away from babyhood to being a toddler. Your child will want to to explore their surroundings as this is their safe space to learn new skills.
There are new things to learn like beginning to walk and developing speech and language. They are also learning how to deal with lots of different emotions. Children take their lead from parents and carers as their main role models.
Children will continue to return to you for reassurance that things are ok. This is all part of your child’s rapid brain development. Whether things go well or not they need you to help them feel safe and secure. Use a soothing and calm tone of voice and give gentle reassurance that all is ok if they seem worried. Show your pride and excitement when they try new things and manage new skills.
Things to do to support your toddlers emotional wellbeing:
TALK · Read to me regularly, and use as many rhymes, poems or songs as you can. Simple rhymes hold my attention. · Provide me with a running commentary on your own life. Tell me about colours, count the steps you climb or the socks and towels as you do the washing.
PLAY · Being outside is great and I love to watch the world go by, especially when you talk to me about what I can see · Pass me objects I’m interested in (if they are safe).
RELAX · After games I need to wind-down and enjoy a few moments of calm with you. · Try to have some time when you are just focused on the experience of being with me not on things you need to get done, or on people or events that have made you upset or angry. · Relax into being a parent – it’s hard being a parent and the experience can be unfamiliar, scary or leave you feeling guilty or stressed, but all parents feel the same way.
CUDDLE · Cuddle me as often as you like – toddlers can’t have too much contact and I love our time together.
RESPOND · Work out what my crying means and meet my needs – warmth and comfort, food, a clean nappy, sleep. · As I get older I like to play games like peek-a-boo and to drop toys out of my vision. I love it when you pick them up and we can play it all over again.
Parenting and Family Relationships
There are a variety of courses and one-off sessions for parents in Luton to promote positive, nurturing and responsive parenting
Child Safety
Safe at Home Luton is a child accident prevention programme aimed at families from pregnancy through to the child’s 5th birthday.
SEND families
If you think that your child may have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) you should speak to someone about your concerns- find out more on Luton’s Local Offer