Sarah answers real mums behaviour questions in Mother & Baby magazine. Why won’t my three-year old poo on the potty? Is it OK to pass my baby around for cuddles? Do the terrible two’s really exist?
Potty problems
“Gentle encouragement and opportunity are what’s needed here.”
“Make doing a wee on the potty a part if normal everyday routine, without saying much about having a poo.”
“Let her sit on the potty in her nappy , if she wants to. Loosen the tabs day by day until it’s almost falling off, then replace the nappy with toilet paper.”
Cuddles
“Your baby will tell you how she feels about it. Always responding swiftly to her needs is what matters.”
“Newborn babies often aren’t bothered…It’s when she gets to seven months plus that she may prefer to be held by Mum and Dad..”
Terrible twos
“As with everything, it varies from child to child.”
“Each child is unique, but every one needs praise, love, security and a consistent approach to dealing with the terrible or not-so-terrible twos.”
“Suggest let’s do this rather than ‘no, don’t do that’, and physically him out of the situation.”
About Sarah
Sarah Beeson is a health visitor and author of Happy Baby, Happy Family. She writes with her daughter Mumpreneur and writer Amy Beeson. Sarah’s memoir of training to be a nurse in 1970s London The New Arrival is a heartwarming true story published by HarperCollins.
If you’ve got a question about your LO check out Ask Sarah or get in touch.