What can I expect as my baby becomes a toddler?

[Anonymous]

My DC is starting to look and act differently. He's almost 11 months. What should I expect in the next few months? Anything surprise you?

[Anonymous]

Insanity. Opinions.

[Anonymous]

"Happiest Toddler on the Block" is a great reference for understanding toddlers. They go through many stages and, just when you feel like you've gotten the hang of one stage, they change!

[Anonymous]

Picky eating, separation anxiety, and tantrums, tantrums, tantrums!!! But there are lots of good new developments that go along with the bad, good luck!

[Anonymous]

Talking. I was amazed that starting so early, son understood what I would say to him (basic instructions, stop, go, come here, get your shoes, etc) and then start repeating words. Has really made me clean up my sailor mouth

[Anonymous]

Insanity!!
Mess!
Running!

It's great! lol

[Anonymous]

Total goofiness! My DS even fake cries now to be silly... like we do if we are joking around with him... my DH and I pretend that each of us wants to hold him more and when he goes to the other one we 'fake cry'. He does it sometimes now too. He also said, HaHa this morning! It was hularious! Along with that MESS and sometimes tantrums... but they seem to go in spurts.

[Anonymous]

Expect fun and joy!

I LOOOVE my 2yr old, he is so much fun. I don't know why they are called the terrible 2s.

[Anonymous]

Expect for you to love your baby and for the world to stop paying positive attention to you. No one says, "oh you have a toddler, let me get you seated in the restaurant right away!!" or "oh it's ok that your toddler cried and fussed during the flight, his/her ears probably hurt and that sitting still, whoo that's a killer for them"

[Anonymous]

As you've already discovered, each child has their own unique personality and each will progress with a different style and temperment. Maybe you'll have the perfect child as he enters toddlerhood, but most likely you should be prepared for a little bit of everything.

As one poster mentioned, they absolutely love their DC at 2 years and doesn't know why they're called the terrible twos. I love my DD (20 mos) too, it seems a little bit more every day even though it was love at first sight and I never thought there was even more to give. Every day I am amazed at her new skills, her new words - and how much she understands when I think she doesn't, and her wonderful personality - she's a love bug and very outgoing and social. Every day I love to just watch and interact with her with a smile on my face.

At the same time she's definitely into the terrible twos (kind of misleading when your DC starts earlier than two) and can quickly put a frown on my face when she throws herself on the floor because she doesn't understand why she can't have everything in the world she wants. She's also going through a biting phase when she's acting out in frustration, most often when she's tired.

Although she suddendly can go from the most social, loving child in the word - which she most often is - to a little monster in a matter of seconds, I've come to learn that's just life with a toddler and try to deal with it as best I can. You should know that these sorts of behaviors are totally normal. You'll soon learn to ignore the looks of strangers when your child is making a scene, whether it's shreaks of pure delight or shreaks of tantrums. Most of all, enjoy "almost" every moment because it goes fast!!!