Toddler Development
We're afraid our toddler is too fearful
Q: Our 2-year-old is scared of many things: using slippery dips, going on ferris wheels with his parents, playing in ball pits, even riding a merry-go-round on his dad's lap. He seems to be hyper-aware of his surroundings.
Canberra research to discover how toddlers learn words
Could a nap help expand your toddler's vocabulary?
Giving effective instructions to toddlers - and how that can help avoid tantrums
One of the most common errors made by parents is in how they give instructions to their children.
Hugs or hits: what makes children behave better?
For some parents, physical discipline or spanking is believed to be an effective form of encouraging children to behave better. But is it?
Mum tells how toddler 'nearly hung himself' in cot mishap
When Alison Johnson put her 18-month-old Caleb down for a nap, she had no reason to believe her son was in any danger.
Spooky video of 'possessed' toddler goes viral
Is this toddler possessed or does he just have very good balance? Or do you think the video is a fake?
Life with a Toddler
4 tell-tale signs that your child is a threenager
The metamorphosis from cheery toddler is not usually identified until full threenager evolution has occurred.
'He was ash gray': strangers pull toddler from collapsed sand tunnel at beach
The holiday afternoon spiralled from pleasant to disastrous in an instant.
Toilet Training
When toilet training doesn't go to plan
The books make it seem easy. You start toilet training, and within a few weeks, your child is no longer wearing nappies. In reality, things don't always go as planned.
Toilet training products
From the clever to the strange, we've found a selection of products to help you toilet train your toddler.
Toilet humour books for little kids
There's something about toilet humour and 3-year-olds - at an age where they're learning about the human body, this topic is an endless source of comedy. If your little one is captivated by bums, farts and wee, check out some of these books.
Toddler Health
Thumb-suckers could have less allergies, study shows
Thumb-sucking and nail-biting might alter the immune system function.
Toddler diagnosed with early onset puberty
A one-year-old boy in India who developed facial hair and sexual urges was diagnosed with a rare hormonal condition.
Is it okay to reward children with food?
Does giving children food as a reward turn them into emotional eaters?
Henry, 3, said he had a tummy ache. Within hours he was dead
Three-year-old Henry died in February this year, just a few hours after falling ill.
My day on a plate - toddler style
If you like to read ‘Day on a Plate’ columns, you’ll be interested in your toddler’s take on it.
3D printed ear will help little Maia hear
Maureen Ross has walked into her dream job designing a 3D printed human ear for children.
Education & Play
Your one-year-old is more creative than you might think
Even one-year-olds can be very exploratory, experimental and creative.
Baby's water survival video divides viewers
Is it responsible parenting, or is this baby being subjected to unnecessary distress? That's the question dividing viewers of a video showing a six-month-old girl fending for herself in a swimming pool after being enticed to fall into the water.
Baby's future imagined in cute photo series
A French dad has captured his 3-month-old daughter, June, in a series that shows her in outfits of different professions in order to show the possibilities ahead of her. The dad, Malo, says that he, his wife and a few friends work quickly to avoid tiring the baby out.
Adorable photo series of sleeping baby
Freelance photographer and mum Sioin Queenie Liao has created an adorable photo series of her sleeping son, Wengenn in Wonderland. Using only household items, Liao dresses Wengenn for the shoot before nap time, then works her magic while he sleeps. Liao has photographed over 1000 scenes of her son; from Tarzan to toy soldier, Wengenn has many adventures up his very cute sleeve.
Traditional toys beat gadgets in language development
Baby laptops and other talking, flashing toys that promise to improve children's language skills may do the exact opposite.
The simple way you can help your baby's language development
The way parents respond to their child's babbling can shape how their infants communicate.
Toddler Products
2016 Ikea Flisat collection for young children
The latest children's collection from Ikea is practical and earthy, and kind on the hip pocket.
Just announced: the Mountain Buggy Unirider
It's the perfect solution to combat those toddler meltdowns when they no longer want to be in a pram but can't walk long distances.
Millions of Monkeys: puzzles that grow with your toddler
Here's a puzzle that grows with them; the Puzzle Grow Pack by Millions of Monkeys.
Childcare
The Aussie company giving employees $100 a day for childcare
Would you like your boss to give you an extra $100 a day to help out with childcare costs?
Childcare cuts girl's hair without asking parents
When mums and dads drop their child off at daycare they realise their little one might come home a bit dirty after a day's play, have paint on their clothes, or even a scratch on their knee if they took a tumble during the day.
Childcare: Most families better off under Labor
Most families using childcare would be better off over the next two years under Labor's policies, largely because of the Coalition's tied cuts to family payments, an independent new analysis has found.
Childcare policies have a missing piece
In 1974 the government decided to delay an election promise to fund a proper child care system. The Women's Electoral Lobby organised a huge children's party on the lawns of Parliament House to protest and the Whitlam Government learnt not to muck with women, children and childcare.
Gender equality still a long way off when it comes to childcare
When Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten spoke about men "relying on women" to organise childcare he started a war of words surrounding gender equality.
Childcare worker set to plead guilty to unreasonable discipline
The woman was one of four workers police charged over allegations of excessive force on children as young as one.