At this point in your toddler’s development, there are many things to monitor. For example, do you intend to enroll your child in school? The top preschools for three-year-olds emphasize socialization and play; children learn by experimenting and engaging. Additionally, they progressively pick up vital skills that will benefit your kid throughout their time in school, such as waiting their turn, standing in line, and obeying regulations.
We offer guidance on everything from activities to milestones for 34-month-olds in our guide below. We discuss dinner options, sleep patterns, and average 34-month-old behavior, among other topics. Read on for the advice you need to handle this fascinating—and occasionally difficult—stage, regardless of whether your toddler has suddenly turned into a wonderful comic or a controlling dictator.
34-Month-Old Development
As your 34-month-old approaches their third birthday, you’ll likely notice that they’re growing taller and appear less plump.
34-Month-Old Weight & Height
A 34-month-old girl typically weighs 30.1 pounds, while a male typically weighs 31.1 pounds. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average height for boys and girls is around 37.0 and 36.6 inches, respectively.
34-Month-Old Milestones
You ask, “What should my 34-month-old be doing?” Every day, your child makes significant progress in both their physical and mental development. They will soon start reaching these 34-month milestones, so keep a look out:
- Speech: Most of the words your child uses, which likely number between 200 and 450, should be understandable to strangers by this point. Two- or three-step instructions should be easy for your toddler to follow.
- Motor skills: Most children can walk up and down stairs, jump, solve basic puzzles, and peddle a tricycle by the time they are three years old. They will begin swinging their arms in the opposite direction from their legs as they walk.
- Self-care: Your youngster is learning how to take off their clothes and eat by themselves.
- Potty training: While some 34-month-olds are completely toilet trained, others won’t be until they’re three or four years old. You don’t need to hurry if yours is still in training pants. Every child learns differently. However, reading children’s books about toilet training and encouraging the use of the restroom in a constructive manner might be beneficial.
34-Month-Old Behavior
- Bossiness. You can’t modify your 34-month-old’s perception that everything revolves around them just yet. Encourage them by being upbeat, providing options, discussing their emotions, and providing them with daily one-on-one time.
- Short attention span. Don’t stress over it. Two-year-olds often want to do their own thing and are highly distractible.
- Sense of humor. Almost every chore becomes a bit more interesting for everyone as your child learns what is and is not humorous. Allow yourself to occasionally act a bit goofy as well.
34-Month-Old Health
Parents are always quite concerned about their children’s health, and this age is no exception. Parents of 34-month-olds frequently ask the following health-related questions:
- My 34-month-old is experiencing diarrhea. What ought I to do?
- There is constipation in my 34-month-old. What ought I to do?
- I have a 34-month-old who is vomiting. What ought I to do?
- I have a 34-month-old who is coughing. What ought I to do?
- I have a feverish 34-month-old child. What ought I to do?
34-Month-Old Food
Providing your 34-month-old with a nutritious, well-balanced diet will support their physical and mental development.
How Much Should My 34-Month-Old Be Eating?
Two-year-olds should still consume three meals and two snacks every day. Every day, give your child a range of meals from every food category, including grains, dairy, fruits, veggies, and protein. At this age, the portion size is small; your child will likely consume just ¼ to ½ of what an adult eats.
Instead of whole milk, your two-year-old should be consuming skim or 1 percent milk. Additionally, try to include low-fat dairy items like cheese and yogurt. Physicians advise children between the ages of one and three to consume 700 milligrams of calcium daily. Less than 30% of your toddler’s daily calories should come from fat.
What to Feed My 34-Month-Old
Searching for ideas for a delicious and nourishing meal? Take a look at these two-year-old meal suggestions:
- Foods Your Toddler Will Love That Are Healthy
- 15 Ingenious Toddler Meal Ideas
- 22 Simple, Delicious Lunch Ideas for Kids
- The word is Yum! 24 Nutritious Kids’ Snacks
34-Month-Old Eating Problems
Children of this age frequently consume excessive amounts of milk and juice. A youngster who consumes too many of these drinks may be at risk for obesity due to their high calorie content. 16 ounces of milk and no more than 4 ounces of juice should be consumed daily, according to experts. Don’t drink the soda, either.
34-Month-Old Sleep
Even though they require a lot of sleep, 34-month-olds do not necessarily want to go to bed.
How Much Sleep Does a 34-Month-Old Need?
The majority of two-year-olds require around 11 to 12 hours of sleep at night, in addition to a 1.5 to 3-hour nap, for a daily sleep requirement of roughly 13 to 14 hours.
Activities for a 34-Month-Old
A 34-month-old benefits from a variety of play activities, including playing alone, with a parent, and with other children their own age.
Are you unsure about how to handle a 34-month-old? For a 34-month-old, enjoyable games, hobbies, and toys include:
- Drawing: See whether your 34-month-old can draw a circle after you demonstrate it for them. You can draw faces together and go on to other forms after they’ve acquired that ability.
- puzzles. Solving basic puzzles is an enjoyable task for a 34-month-old.
- Play dates. You should provide your child with opportunity to play with children their own age and form friendships as they grow more interested in doing so. Even at this age, children still require assistance and experience with sharing and taking turns.
34-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips
- Are you expecting your routine to change? Give plenty of notice. And be ready to say it again: “You’re correct. At least two or three dozen times, we say, “We’re going to do it this way today, but normally we do it that way.”
- You should continue to limit your child’s screen time. You just don’t want your child to develop the bad habit of spending too much time on TV or tablets since they learn best via hands-on play. Encourage as much traditional play as you can, interspersed with brief bursts of screen time.
- If you haven’t already, start looking at preschool choices. Talk to other parents and look into the schools in your area. However, if you don’t think your child is ready, you don’t have to enroll them yet. You are the one who knows best.
- Many toddlers have all or most of their baby teeth in place by the time they are 34 months old. That indicates that it’s time to make an appointment with the dentist. Toddlers should begin visiting the dentist at this age for cleanings every six months. A professional should be consulted to assess the baby’s development and make sure everything appears healthy, even if they do not yet have all of their teeth.
- At this age, toddlers are starting to understand spatial concepts such as “on,” “under,” and “in.” Encourage your 34-month-old to put their cup “on” the table or their toy “in” a basket as you practice these skills with them. You may begin teaching more complicated concepts, such as “next to” or “beside,” gradually.
- Have you made a new imaginary buddy because of your 34-month-old baby? At this age, that is completely typical behavior. Your youngster may feel safer and more at ease with these make-believe companions. Don’t worry about it too much. Just let your child have fun with the fantasy. By the time they are six years old, many kids have moved past this stage.
- Keep fostering your 34-month-old’s creativity. Assist them in using building blocks to construct skyscrapers and Play-Doh to make masterpieces. This is also an excellent opportunity to start practicing drawing lines and shapes together.
- It may be time to move your child away from naps if they start to object. Take your time, and don’t be shocked if your child is grumpy for a while. Consider advancing your child’s bedtime to facilitate this change.
- Around this age, some kids start to get afraid of the dark, which might lead to a phobia of monsters. Try to create a calm sleep routine, offer a stuffed animal for comfort and safety, and think about getting a night light. Take your toddler’s anxieties into consideration.
You will be celebrating your toddler’s third birthday in only two months! What happened to the time? Take advantage of this age for the time being and watch for all the fascinating 34-month-old milestones this month.