Daily life, schedule, and routine for a 2.5 year old toddler. See how the toddler sleep was going and how eating was going. Read about socializing and everything about toddler life.
While I have done summaries for every week of McKenna’s life, I haven’t ever done them for Brayden or Kaitlyn. I have thought it would be nice, even for me to review as McKenna reaches those ages. So, now that Kaitlyn is 2.5, here is a summary of what is going on in her life right now.
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SLEEPING
Kaitlyn is still sleeping well 🙂 Kaitlyn has always been a good sleeper and likes to sleep. Sometimes she puts on a show that she doesn’t want to sleep, but it is simply out of copying Brayden (4.5), not out of her pure desire. She goes to bed about 8 PM and then I wake her around 7:15. On the weekends, I let her sleep until about 8 AM and she is still sleeping. I have to get her up at 7:15 on week days so I can get her fed before I get McKenna up.
For naps, she goes to bed at 1 and I wake her up at 4:30.
Kaitlyn is not allowed to get out of bed on her own, still, which isn’t a problem because she almost always sleeps until I wake her up.
EATING
Right now, Kaitlyn is going through a picky phase. When I was pregnant with McKenna, I didn’t eat much of anything, and Kaitlyn closely watches what I eat and eats the same. So she got quite picky while I was pregnant. Since McKenna was born, she has gotten much better, but has been pickier the last couple of weeks.
TEETHING
Kaitlyn’s 2 year old molars are finally coming in. They started in September. She has two in and two on the way. The poor girl has been teething for 2.5 solid months! She has been a trooper, though. It can really affect her appetite, and I suspect the teething is contributing to her pickiness in eating.
POTTY TRAINING
We have been potty training for a month and a half now. She was pee trained before McKenna was born, but unable to get on the potty by herself or pull her pants off and on, so I went back to diapers since I nursed most of the day (or so it seemed!). When we went back to panties, she did just fine.
She isn’t poop trained, but is pee trained. She is hit and miss with the poop. She has told me many times that she doesn’t know how to poop in the potty. She tries, but hasn’t got it and I haven’t yet figured out what is best for her. With Brayden, it was best if I left the room. I haven’t figured out how to best help Kaitlyn yet, but I am not stressed out about it. I know it will come someday.
DISCIPLINE
Kaitlyn is very obedient and obeys my voice well. For her, time outs seem to work best when punishment is needed.
SIBLINGS
Kaitlyn is great with her siblings. Now that McKenna is old enough to play with toys, I have noticed something interesting. Kaitlyn has always been great about sharing with Brayden and other children, but when it comes to McKenna, she can be quite possessive of her toys. I tell her she needs to share, and she will, but not happily. It is something we are working on, but I know that since she already has the capacity to share, she will get it soon. Brayden was a terrible sharer, and he learned, so I know she can 🙂
She and Brayden are best friends. They have lots of fun together.
SOCIALIZING
I don’t think 2 year olds have a great need for socializing with other children their age. It isn’t bad to do every so often, but they don’t have social needs like preschoolers do. They need to socialize with their parents. If they have siblings, that is great. They can socialize with them, too.
But I don’t worry about fulfilling social needs of a two year old. She does play with other children weekly. I supervise so I can make sure she behaves appropriately and also make sure there aren’t things going on I don’t want her picking up on.
2.5 YEAR OLD DAILY SCHEDULE
Most times are approximate.
7:15–wake, eat breakfast. Take a bath and get ready for the day.
8:10–sibling playtime with Brayden
9:30–independent playtime
11:00–TV time
11:30–learning time
12:00–lunch. Then free time
1:00–nap
4:30–wake. Free time. We often do table time activities during this time.
5:00-5:30–dinner followed by family time.
7:30–start getting ready for bed.
8:00–in bed
We also do a daily chore each day. The exact time varies and is based on what the chore is. For example, Mondays she helps put her laundry away. This happens in the evening since I spend the day washing the laundry. Tuesdays, we dust. We do this in the morning hours.
GOOD BOOKS for PARENTING TODDLERS
- On Becoming Toddlerwise (On Becoming. . .)
- On Becoming Preschool Wise (this is so you can prepare and look ahead to age three)
- Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood
- What to Expect the Toddler Years (this is not as good as the first year, but still has good info in it)
- The Five Love Languages of Children
- The Toddlers Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy
- Pottywise for Toddlers
- Children’s Learning Activities (website)
(this is so you can prepare and look ahead to age three)
(this is not as good as the first year, but still has good info in it)
