Toddlers, like babies, love to explore and learn; their favorite object happens to be their own body. They also love to explore body parts like their genitals much to your disapproval! Your baby's skills and play interests in other areas grow as well along with her vocabulary skills once she starts to talk. Language experts opine that the words they choose fall into well established categories which reflect their interest. Although skills growth spirals upwards, physical growth slows down after the end of the first year - many toddlers show a marked decrease in appetite.

In the early part of the second year, your toddler is a keen explorer; picking up, studying, testing, manipulating, maybe still putting things in her mouth. Cause and effect is her major focus. Toddlers live in the present and have very little imagination or abstract thinking as yet. Emotionally your toddler's world has opened up a long way from the eat-cry-sleep days; they have more moods, feelings and behaviors. These changes are part of growing up. The gamut of emotions includes affection, independence, frustration, fear, anger, stubbornness, protest, anxiety and puzzlement.

Though the toddler weighs more than a baby, his appetite may not grow in proportion. In fact it may dwindle but this is only to be expected. The size of appetite may not depend on weight or age but the growth rate; growth rate slows down dramatically after the first birthday. A baby typically doubles its birth weight by five months of age and triples it by the end of the first year. From about twelve to thirty months, a toddler gains a moderate 3 to 4 kilos. The fact that her appetite has diminished makes it only natural for her to be growing far more slowly than before. A toddler's growing independence can also affect her eating habits. Impatience to sit through the whole meal, asserting their autonomy are some reasons why toddlers do not cooperate during meal times. Experts feel that rigidity on your part is only going to worsen the matter; it is best to not make a big issue about eating. It is very rare that a toddler will starve himself when food is available. However if you have serious issues concerning your child's feeding habits - eating too much or too little - you should discuss this with your pediatrician.

Exploring Genitals

Body exploration first began during infancy and continues throughout early childhood. Although self-exploration is normal, it can become quite embarrassing when they handle their private parts in front of you and others. Some parents feel that genital handling is a sign of sexual development. Whatever the source of discomfort, many parents wonder what is the appropriate way to react to this delicate matter. Since almost all toddlers do it, many experts feel that parents should accept this as a norm and not make a big deal about it. Since these parts are always covered that is why the fascination for it; it is certainly not a sign of sexuality. No matter what you think or feel, these organs are just another body part of your toddler. You need to decide on your own approach ranging from being openly approving to ignoring it to discouraging it. If you choose to discourage, then do it calmly and matter-of-factly with love rather than reproach. Your toddler is not being bad; merely curious.

Sooner or later all children learn to use the cup; however it is better to get them to do it earlier than later. The best time is early in the second half of the first year when babies are more pliable and less resistant to new things. Still, it is never too late to get your toddler started on the cup. These tips should help the more resistant toddler:

1. Go cup shopping together; get your child to pick her favorite style, color or design. Some prefer cups with one handle, some two, some like a spout, others prefer a built in straw. And yet some prefer to be adult-like and go for the real glass. If you can, buy several so that your toddler has a choice during meals. All cups should be non-breakable and with a weighted bottom to make tipping less likely.

2. Allow your toddler to get acquainted with her cup; let her use to feed her doll or to fill and empty in the sink.

3. Always offer your toddler the cup before the bottle but hold back the pressure. Pour a small amount of water or her favorite drink at each meal and place it within reach. If she pushes the cup away or ignores it, don't force her. Continue with this no-pressure approach and one day when she is particularly thirsty or adventurous she may cave in and surprise you with her first sip.

4. Even if she is resisting the bottle substitute, you should start cutting back on bottle feedings. The human body craves liquids and ultimately your toddler will take them any way she can get them. Make sure she gets adequate calcium from other sources such as cheese and full-fat yoghurt if she is drinking less milk during the weaning process.

5. Dinking from the cup can be a messy business until your toddler becomes proficient. A large bib and a plastic sheet or newspapers spread under the high chair should take care of the spills. Don't make a fuss about the spills or you might give your toddler another reason to resist the cup.

Keep a list of concerns you may have about behavior, health, eating etc which you want to discuss with your doctor. Also note down the list of new skills your toddler has acquired so you won't be at a loss when asked e.g. clapping, walking, climbing etc. Bring your child's health card for recording purpose. Procedures may vary according to your health care provider but in most instances this
visit will include:

• As assessment of growth (height, weight, head circumference) since the last visit.
• Questions about your child's development, behavior, eating habits and health since the last visit.
• An informal assessment of physical and intellectual development and of hearing and vision based on observation and interview.

Guidance:
your doctor may guide on issues routinely found during this time in a toddler such as good parenting practices, discipline, communication and language and other issues important in the coming months.

Immunizations:
This varies from country to country. Shots that are required at this point will be administered by your health care provider during this visit.

The next checkup:
If all is well with your toddler, the next appointment will be at 15 months.

Refusal to Eat

Not eating is an early indication your child may be unwell, so observe your child. If she looks paler, seems fretful or is clumsier than usual, check her temperature. Sometimes your child may have snacked a lot or drank milk before mealtimes causing her to lose appetite. As long as the snacks were nutritious, you should not be too concerned. If your child refuses to eat for no real reason, don't let that bother you. Your child will eat only as much food as she really needs and if you insist that she feeds more, mealtimes can become cumbersome for both of you.

Eating Out

As your baby grows, there are more occasions when she will be eating away from home. You should try to ensure that the good habits she has learned at home should not be unlearned once she starts to eat out. If your child is attending a playgroup or a nursery school, try to make sure she has a good breakfast before she goes so she doesn't stay hungry causing her to lose temper and concentration. If lunch is provided try to find out the menu; if you are not satisfied, you may pack lunch from home. Foods should include something that your child can eat with her fingers. Children are often encouraged to try new foods in the company of other children; you may find that once your child starts at a playgroup or school, she may start to eat foods that she previously rejected at home, which is a plus!

Toddlers love toys with several parts that they can fit together; toys that have separate parts - figures, blocks, shape-sorters etc - fit into a car, box or boat usually work well. A set of plastic donuts that fit on a spindle is a traditional toy that is worth buying at this age. These rings have other users - as teethers, tossers, and small toys for fill-and-dump games. Since your child will grow and learn rapidly in the first 3 years, toy choice should reflect his changing needs. Ensure they are nontoxic and safe for use. Some pointers to help you choose what is appropriate for your toddler:

• Toys that are simple are most versatile as they have longer life and are better for imaginative play.
• Toys with different colors, textures, shapes and noises will stimulate all five senses.
• Older babies enjoy games that involve building so bricks of different sizes are appropriate.
• As your child's manipulative skills grow, he will be able to manage interlocking blocks and more advanced shape sorters.
• Toys that help build small motor skills; nesting and stacking toys, simple wooden jigsaw puzzles with knobs, boxes and containers for filling and emptying
• Toys that build large motor skills; balls of all sizes, pull toys and push toys, riding toys, swings
• Toys that stimulate imagination; stuffed animals, dolls, cars, trucks, kitchen ware (play ones), play household items (telephones, cash registers)
• Toys that stimulate creativity: crayons and paper, play clay
• Toys that introduce child to the music world: drums, xylophones, simple key boards