Your 14-month-old : Week 2

Your 14-month-old: Week 2

Your toddler now

When the world seems scary

Is your formerly fearless child terrified of things that never seemed to bother her before? Has the vacuum cleaner or the friendly dog down the street turned into a monster in her eyes? Most of your toddler's fears will fade as she becomes more secure in herself and her environment, but until then you need to find ways to work around them.

If the bathtub is now a scary place to your toddler, try giving her a sponge bath for a few days. Allow her to sit in a dry tub, and use a washcloth rather than a cup of water to rinse her hair. You might even skip the shampoo until her anxiety eases.

Some cases of bath phobia can be overcome with fun. Introduce new water toys or bath books. Or join your child in the tub and splash together.


Good medicine for bad colds

Colds are no fun for you or your toddler. Because a cold is caused by a virus, there's no cure other than waiting it out. Don't give her over-the-counter medicines to relieve stuffiness, runny noses, and coughs. They aren't effective in kids this age, and they can have harmful side effects.

Fortunately, there are ways to help your sniffling toddler feel more comfortable. A cool-air humidifier keeps air moist, making breathing easier. For a similar effect, add a few drops of menthol, eucalyptus, or pine oil (available in most natural food stores) to a vaporizer.

Try serving weak, cooled chamomile tea. Liquids in general (soup, water, juice) are soothing and keep the body hydrated. Get more tips from our article on safe home remedies to soothe your child's cold symptoms.

It's best to consult your child's doctor for recommendations before using any kind of medication, including alternative treatments.

Also call the doctor if:

your child takes a turn for the worse instead of starting to get better in five to seven days
the cold symptoms last longer than two weeks
a fever reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit
a cough worsens or begins to sound wheezy or raspy
your child pulls or rubs her ear
she seems especially tired or listless

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