Babies and Toddlers
Provided below are resources related to Developmental Milestones, Hygiene and Potty Training, Safe Bodies, and Sleep.
Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestones are the behavioral or physical checkpoints used to assess development as children grow, such as taking their first steps or moving from using their hands to feed themselves to the ability to hold eating utensils on their own. Learning about milestones can empower families to understand how their child is developing and support new skill development.
Remember, each child is unique, and slowed development and refinement of milestones are not a cause for immediate alarm. Some children, especially those born prematurely, will not reach milestones on a traditional timeline. If a child misses multiple milestones in a row or the family is concerned, always refer the family to a health care provider.
Electronic Resources
Websites
Developmental Milestones. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides printable milestone trackers, quizzes, videos, and other resources to track child development.
Does My Child Have Developmental Delays? An interactive tool from the American Academy of Pediatrics to explore child development.
Resources on how play connects to learning. The National Association for the Education of Young Children explains the science behind babies' play and provides families with easy ways to engage their child in play.
Apps
CDC's Milestone Tracker App. The Center for Disease Control developed this free comprehensive app to track your child from age two months to 5 years.
Additional e-Learning courses
Why the First 2,000 Days are So Important. University of Washington's Institute for Learning and Brain Science module on brain development during the first five years.
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
Developmental Milestones: Birth to 5 years. One-page printout covering universal developmental milestones in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, communication, and cognitive development.
Concerned about Development? How to Get Help for Your Child. CDC factsheet.
Books
Videos
Dr. Lisa Shulman discusses communication milestones to look for in a developing child.
Dr. Jennifer Shu discusses warning signs that a child may be missing a developmental milestone and next steps.
Hygiene and Potty Training Resources
It is important for parents to teach good personal habits to young children. Proper hand washing and hygiene prevents the spread of germs and promotes good health. Many parents are tempted to perform hygiene tasks on behalf of the child, however, many personal hygiene habits are skills that children can and should be doing for themselves.
Electronic Resources
Websites
Staying Healthy. Sesame Street created a resource library with coloring sheets, short videos, and activities to help children build a healthy hygiene routine.
30 Best-Ever Potty Training Tips from Parents.com.
Potty Training - How to get the job done. The Mayo Clinic covers how to know when it's time to begin potty training and tips for success.
Apps
Good Housekeeping compiled six apps to use to increase potty training success.
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
Daily Personal Hygiene. One-page printable overview of daily hygiene for children ages 1 to 8.
Toilet Training. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides a two-page handout on tips for potty training.
Articles
Toilet training guidelines: Day Care Providers - The role of the daycare provider in toilet training. The American Academy of Pediatrics discusses how to know when a child is ready to start potty training and the collaboration between family and child care providers.
Constipation in Toddlers. Infant and Toddler Forum compiled information about constipation and challenges with potty training toddlers.
Books
Videos
Bathroom routine is a sing-along video covering a basic daily hygiene routine.
Sci Kids Show explores the anatomy of teeth and the importance of oral hygiene.
Best Beginnings shares about the importance of hand-washing for all ages.
Safe Bodies Resources
Body safety conversations can start when children are in infancy with conversations around anatomy. And as infants age into toddlers, we can teach them about consent by modeling asking before touching and hugging other people. Teaching kids about consent and safe vs. unsafe touching from an early age will protect them throughout life.
Electronic Resources
Websites
How to Talk to Young Children about Body Safety. Kids First Inc provides important body safety facts and myths.
Empowering Kids to Stay Safe. Hey, Sigmund highlights ten body safety skills to teach children.
Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What's Normal, What's Not? Healthy Children's review of normal to problematic sexual behaviors in children under six years old.
Identifying Child Sexual Abuse. Darkness to Light shares common emotional and physical signs of child sexual abuse children exhibit.
Grooming and Red Flag Behaviors. Darkness to Light overviews warning signs offenders use to groom children for sexual abuse.
Podcasts
Psychologists Off the Clock (part 1) podcast on how to keep kids safe from sexual abuse.
Additional Readings
Videos
Rape Victim Advocates review how to reduce the risk of sexual abuse by teaching small children consent.
Sleep Resources
Most infants and children will experience challenges in getting and maintaining sleep throughout their development. Although sleep challenges are normal, it is important to help children overcome these challenges so that they can establish a healthy sleep pattern. It is also critical to recognize the warning signs of when sleep disturbances could indicate health or trauma concerns and when it is time to seek out professional support.
Electronic Resources
Websites
What is a safe sleep environment? Montana's Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies provides an overview of sleep techniques.
Preschool and Toddler Sleep. Cleveland Clinic provides information about sleep changes that occur between toddlers and preschool.
Overcoming Sleep Problems in Children with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome Education International provides suggestions for how a bedtime routine can support a reduction in behavioral problems in children with down syndrome.
Night Terrors. KidsHealth provides information about what night terrors are, signs a child may be experiencing night terrors, and why they happen.
Apps
Fatherly reviews the eight best sleep and relaxation apps for kids.
Additional Readings
Fact Sheets
What Does a Safe Sleep Environment Look Like? The National Institute of Health provides an overview of risk reduction tips for safe baby sleep.
7 Tips for a Good Night's Sleep. Better Beginnings Arkansas provides seven tips for setting a toddler up for a successful night's rest.
Articles
Sleeping Challenges: Why it Happens, What to Do. Zero to Three how to address children's sleeping problems.
What are the Sleep Needs of an Infant? Columbia University Department of Neurology outlines the hours of sleep an infant needs by age and tips for developing a good sleep routine for infants.
Books
Very Well Family reviews the ten best sleep training books of 2020.
Videos
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reviews tips to avoid suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment risks in the sleep environment.
Sesame Street provides tips and tricks for supporting the development of good sleep patterns.