31-Month-Old
Cheers to the 31-month milestone! Your toddler will be doing and accomplishing a lot of things at this age, but there will also be a lot of surprises for you. We’re sharing some of the 31-month-old milestones you may watch out for, along with tips for everything from fussy feeding to sleep issues, to help you prepare for and get through this stage. Prepare for whatever your adventurous child has in store by following along.
31-Month-Old Development
The physical development of 31-month-olds can differ significantly from kid to child, as it does at any age. As always, it’s crucial that they’re expanding on an upward curve and not regressing, but brief regressions are also acceptable. Consider it this way: Before moving on to the next milestone, some children concentrate on achieving the previous one. Others have various paces since they are working on many projects at once.
31-month-old weight and height
A 31-month-old girl typically weighs 29.1 pounds, while a male typically weighs 30.2 pounds. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average height for females is around 35.8 inches, while the average height for boys is approximately 36.2 inches.
31-month-old milestones
What is my 31-month-old supposed to be doing? These are some 31-month-old milestones to be aware of around this time, while every kid develops at a different rate:
- Speech: It’s possible that your 31-month-old speaks between 100 and 500 words. Additionally, they could be employing sentences with two or three words, but it will take them some time to learn proper grammar. For additional assistance, a 31-month-old who is not talking or whose speech is not improving may need to see a speech therapist.
- Potty training: The toilet abilities of 31-month-olds differ. Your child may have perfected the art of keeping dry throughout the day (woo-hoo!), or you may be in the middle of toilet training.
- Teething: It’s possible that your 31-month-old youngster is getting their second molars. These pearly whites, sometimes referred to as the 2-year molars, typically emerge between 23 and 33 months. It might also be a painful process because of their size. The good news is that you will soon be free of teething problems because they are the final teeth to erupt until children are about six years old, at which point they can handle the discomfort better.
31-month-old behavior
- Saying no. It’s well known that two-and-a-half-year-olds refuse almost everything. Avoid asking questions that have a yes-or-no response. Instead, let your child choose from two options that you feel comfortable with.
- Tantrums, whining and screaming. All of this may cause you stress, but according to some experts, the best approach to handle these unwanted habits is to firmly but calmly set boundaries (“it’s not time to eat cookies”) and refuse to give in. Spend some time concentrating only on your kid while they aren’t complaining.
- Stress. Your 31-month-old may exhibit personality changes, regression (in behaviors like thumb-sucking or toilet training), requests to go home, or just resistance when under stress. Take a back seat and give your youngster some time to relax. Less busy days or more one-on-one time might be beneficial.
31-Month-Old Health
Parents are always quite concerned about their children’s health, and this age is no exception. Parents of 31-month-olds frequently ask the following health-related questions:
- My 31-month-old is experiencing diarrhea. What ought I to do?
- There is constipation in my 31-month-old. What ought I to do?
- I have a 31-month-old who is vomiting. What ought I to do?
- I have a 31-month-old who is coughing. What ought I to do?
- I have a feverish 31-month-old child. What ought I to do?
31-Month-Old Food
One may think that by 31 months, you would have a good idea of your child’s preferences. To be honest, though, they’re still learning it on their own. Therefore, it’s quite common for your kid to want more broccoli one day and then decline to eat it the next. Don’t force them to eat it; just keep providing the good options.
How much should my 31-month-old be eating?
Two-year-olds ought to keep eating three meals a day in addition to one or two snacks. Every day, serve a range of items from every dietary group, including grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and protein. At this age, the portion size is small: You should anticipate that your child will consume just ¼ to ½ as much as an adult.
Your two-year-old can begin consuming skim or 1% milk; see your physician about the best milk for your child. 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. 30 to 35 percent of your toddler’s daily calories should come from fat.
What to feed my 31-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
31-month-old eating problems
If it were up to a 31-month-old, they would most likely use too much juice. Fruit juices do include some of the vitamins and minerals found in fruit, but consuming too much juice can lead to tooth damage, malnutrition, and unhealthful weight gain. This is due to the fact that juice can be high in calories (and sugar) yet low in nutrients.
Limit your child’s juice intake to no more than 4 ounces per day if you decide to introduce them to it. Choose fruit-and-vegetable blend juices and stick to 100% juice. To avoid going overboard, some parents choose to combine half a cup of juice with half a cup of water. Remember that children may survive on just milk and water!
31-Month-Old Sleep
It can be difficult to get a 31-month-old to go to sleep. This is where following a schedule and establishing rules—such as just getting out of bed to use the restroom—can be beneficial. Even if you’re doing everything correctly, it could seem like a battle every night, but soon your child will understand and stop complaining so much. (It may just take some time.)
How much sleep does a 31-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.
31-month-old sleep problems
When you go from a crib to a big-kid bed, you could occasionally receive visitors in the middle of the night. Continue guiding your child back to their own bed and tucking them in if you wish to avoid night waking becoming a habit. They will eventually comprehend the limits.
Activities for 31-Month-Old
When not being extremely obstinate, 31-month-olds are excellent playmates. Spend some time playing with each other. What then should be done with a 31-month-old? For a 31-month-old, some enjoyable games, hobbies, and toys include:
- Pretend play. Your 31-month-old could have a doll or stuffed animal obsession. Play along with them; don’t stop them from acting! You’ll respect their inventiveness.
- Roll a ball. For a 31-month-old, a simple game of “roll the ball on the floor” is entertaining and a wonderful way to foster bonding. You may go to a full-fledged game of catch if they’re becoming proficient at it.
- Indoor parade. Is it raining today? Have a parade! March along when some music is playing. Next, use your imagination and alternately mimic each other’s hops, skips, and backward steps.
31-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips
- Your 31-month-old still needs regularity, so try to maintain as regular a sleep and feeding schedule as you can.
- Now more than ever, the importance of a midday nap cannot be overstated. The irony is that children who don’t get enough sleep throughout the day are frequently too exhausted to wind down at bedtime. After lunch, a nap of one and a half to three hours generally works well at this age.
- Regretfully, problems with nighttime are common at the 31-month mark. Does your child struggle to stay asleep at night? Become a member! Your youngster may sleep better at night if they are active throughout the day. Additionally, keep in mind that toddlers need routine, so make sure you follow the same bedtime every night.
- Sleep problems may be accompanied with a fear of going to bed. You might need to think outside the box if your youngster has a fear of the dark or monsters. Monster Spray is a water-filled spray bottle that some parents swear by because it helps “ward off invading monsters.”
- If your 31-month-old is starting to exhibit some finicky eating habits, don’t panic. Children frequently develop a sudden dislike for their favorite foods from day to day. Be patient, think outside the box when it comes to meals, and always have a range of foods available.
- Does your kid exhibit shyness around other people? It can just be a stage or a component of their evolving character. Never coerce them into interacting with others; instead, appreciate your child’s
- Keep teaching and enforcing proper hygiene practices, such cleaning your teeth and washing your hands. You may educate your 31-month-old infant healthy habits and cleanliness while having fun with these activities, since toddlers like being independent and completing chores.
- Read to your little child! This is a critical period for reading since it can strengthen your child’s growing vocabulary. By this age, toddlers typically have a favorite book, so it’s normal for them to request to read the same tale every night. (Just go with the flow.)
Your kid is almost three years old—can you believe that? Although time flies, there are a lot of exciting things to anticipate both during and beyond the 31-month mark. Every day, your youngster grows in size and intelligence. And believe us, they have a lot more surprises planned for the upcoming months to keep you guessing.