Toddler guide

27 guides · Toddler

The toddler years are big feelings in a small body. Here are honest, gentle guides to tantrums, sleep, speech, potty training and the milestones in between, so you know what is normal and when a wobble is just a wobble.

Guides in this section

• Baby biting. Babies bite while breastfeeding, teething or during play, not out of malice.
• Baby language development: from coos to first words. How your baby's communication grows from birth to twelve months: the sounds they make, how you can help, and when to talk to yo...
• Fussy eating in toddlers. Why toddlers become picky eaters and what actually helps.
• Language development at 18 to 24 months. How many words should your toddler have at 18 or 24 months?
• Moving from cot to toddler bed: when, how and what to expect. There is no rush to move your toddler from a cot.
• Positive discipline for toddlers: setting limits without battles. What positive discipline really means, how to set firm limits while staying warm, why timeouts don't work under 3, and the power of co-regulation and repair.
• Potty training readiness. Find out when most toddlers are ready to potty train, the physical and emotional signs to look for, different approaches, and a...
• Signs of autism in toddlers. Wondering about signs of autism in your toddler?
• Speech delay in toddlers. If your toddler isn't talking as expected, here is what speech delay means, the milestones to know, red flags to watch for and...
• Teaching toddlers to share: realistic expectations and strategies that work. Why genuine sharing is not expected until age 3 or 4, how forced sharing can backfire, and the turn-taking strategies that actually build the skill.
• The 18-month developmental check. Your guide to the 18-month health visitor check.
• The 2-year developmental review: what to expect and how to prepare. Your guide to the NHS 2-year developmental review.
• Toddler aggression at playgroup: handling biting and hitting in social settings. Why toddler biting and hitting is more common in group settings, how to respond in the moment, what to say to other parents, and when to reduce social time temporarily.
• Toddler bedtime battles: why they resist sleep and how to make bedtime calmer. Why toddlers fight sleep even when exhausted, how to build a routine that actually works, managing curtain calls, and when resistance signals anxiety versus normal limit-testing.
• Toddler defiance: why they say no to everything and what to do about it. Why toddlers say no to everything, what developmental stage drives it, how offering choices reduces defiance, and when oppositional behaviour is beyond the typical range.
• Toddler emotional regulation: what it is, why it takes years, and how you help. What emotional regulation actually is, why toddlers cannot do it alone yet, how your calm presence helps their brain develop it, and what parents do that makes a real difference.
• Toddler hitting, biting and aggression: why it happens and how to respond. Hitting and biting peak between 18 months and 2.5 years and are very common.
• Toddler jealousy and a new baby: regression, acting out and what helps. Why toddlers regress and act out when a new sibling arrives, what normal jealousy looks like, how to hold both children's needs without guilt, and what genuinely helps.
• Toddler lying and fantasy play: what is pretend, what is a fib, and when to worry. The developmental timeline of lying, why fantasy play is not dishonesty, why early lies are actually a sign of cognitive development, and how to build a home culture where truth is safe.
• Toddler night waking. Why toddlers wake at night, what sleep associations are, how night terrors differ from nightmares, and what actually helps your...
• Toddler tantrums. Why toddlers have tantrums, how to respond in the moment, and the signs worth a GP check.
• Toddler whining: why it peaks between ages 1 and 3 and what actually helps. Why toddlers whine, the developmental and practical reasons it peaks in the early years, what not to do, and the strategies that genuinely reduce it over time.
• Toddler-proofing your home. Baby-proofing and toddler-proofing are different.
• Toddlers and change: helping them navigate transitions big and small. Why transitions are so hard for toddlers, strategies for daily arrivals and departures, how to support bigger changes like moving house or new childcare, and when adjustment anxiety is worth discussing with a GP.
• What to feed toddlers from 12 months. A practical guide to feeding toddlers from 12 months: portion sizes, foods to encourage, drinks to offer and how to handle fuss...
• Your toddler at 12 to 18 months: development, milestones and what to expect. From first steps to first words, the 12 to 18 month stage is a big one.
• Your toddler at 18 to 24 months: development, milestones and what to expect. A warm guide to toddler development at 18 to 24 months: language, movement, play, sleep and the 18-month check.

Common questions

When do tantrums start and when do they stop?

Tantrums usually begin around 12 to 18 months, peak in the second and third years, and ease as language and self-control grow, often by around age four. They are a normal part of development, not a sign you are doing anything wrong.

How much sleep does a toddler need?

Most toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours, including one nap that gradually drops between two and four years. Sleep needs vary, so watch your own child's mood and energy rather than the clock alone.

When should I worry about my toddler's speech?

Talk to your health visitor or GP if your toddler has very few words by two years, is not putting two words together by around two and a half, or seems to lose skills they had. Early support helps, and asking is never an overreaction.

When is my toddler ready for potty training?

Readiness matters more than age. Signs include staying dry for longer stretches, showing interest in the toilet, and being able to follow simple instructions, often somewhere between two and three years.