Daddy Magic: How to get your toddler to not stuff his face with food

Our toddler doesn't stuff her face with food. All her friends do.

Why is that? I actually stumbled on this one by accident.

I started handing her things (coasters mostly) to teach her how to share. I saw that a friend of mine was doing it, and his daughter knew how to share. So I started doing it when my daughter was younger.

This is what I did:

1. Hold out item #1 for her, "Would you like this?"
2. She takes it. "You're welcome."
3. Hold out item #2 for her, "Would you like this?"
4. She takes it. "You're welcome."
5. Repeat for about 10 items.
6. She now has the items in a pile next to her.
7. I hold out my hand, "May I have one, please?"
8. She didn't give it to me at first. I take one. "Thank you!" I sing-song the phrase and sign it.
9. I hold out my hand, "May I have one, please?"
10. Eventually she gets it and hands one to me. "Thank you!" I sing-song the phrase and use sign language to say "Thank you!" at the same time.
11. Once I have all 10 items, I hand them back to her, one at a time.
12. I did the back and forth process about three times every day. My wife got sick of constantly hearing, "May I have that please?" "Thank you!" "Would you like this?" "You're welcome!"

Eventually, a lot of cool things started happening:

1. My daughter learned how to share, beyond what was normal. When another toddler dropped his hat, she immediately picked it up and handed it to him. She constantly looks for her baby sister's pacifier, burp rag, and bottle, and hands those things to us or to her sister, because she knows those belong to her sister.
2. She learned how to be entertained with us doing a simple game of handing things. Even when she is with herself, she will be entertained by picking things up and making a pile.
3. She learned how to sign Thank You before all her older friends.
4. She learned how to say Thank You before all her older friends. The sing-song tone was catchy.
5. She began eating like this, only taking one thing at a time. All her friends stuff their faces. She eats sequentially. This allows us to give her smaller portions at a time so that we don't waste food.

All of those are very cool effects, but I still get people who are blown away by #5. I trained her on a habit that carried over into her eating habits.

Is it magic? It's Daddy Magic.

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Daddy Magic: The Pacifier is only for night time

The pacifier is only for night time!

Well, first you train your infant to love the pacifier. Then you slowly take it away from her. Only give it to her during naps and at night time. Only use it otherwise after you tried everything else.

Train your toddler to hand you the pacifier when she wakes up. Hand it to her when she goes to bed. You are teaching her that the pacifier is only for bed.


Why is this important?

1. You can get her to smile more.
2. She isn't walking around all the time with the pacifier.
3. You won't have to worry about her dropping it or losing it.
4. She will talk sooner because she is able to practice.
5. It will be easier to ween her off of it.
6. It teaches her discipline.
7. It teaches her obedience.

Pure Daddy Magic.

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: The Toddler Tools

You need tools. Tools are good.

Take one of those snack containers with different departments. Not only are they good for portioning dried formula (for infants and babies), but you can bring a variety of easy-to-get-to snacks.

Bring the portable booster seat. That's an amazing tool!

Take an umbrella stroller. They are lighter weight and easy to haul.

Bring a Pack-and-Play. Teach your child to sleep in one so that your child can sleep anywhere!

Use a pacifier to help your child sleep at night.

Children love digital toys, like the cell phone or Mypod toys for toddlers. They have buttons, make noises, and they have visual stuff.




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Daddy Magic: Teach your baby how to fall asleep

I think a key that many people miss is that you need to teach your baby how to fall asleep.

Your baby doesn't learn anything on his own. You need to teach him how to fall asleep.

The first step to doing this is to lay him down to sleep in a swaddle, with a pacifier, when he is close to sleep, but not asleep. Lay him down when his eyes are half full. He may be more likely to cry sooner for the first few days. Endure this.

After he cries for five to fifteen minutes, try again. Make sure he has his swaddle and pacifier. Then rock him near sleep. And lay him down before he falls asleep. You'll only have to do this a few times.

Gradually lay him down sooner each time. Eventually you'll be able to lay him down, and he will be awake and content. He'll fall asleep on his own.

I know parents with toddlers who still can't fall asleep on their own. What--the???

Don't let this be you!!!! Embrace the Daddy Magic.




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Daddy Magic: Run with your baby

How do you get a baby to calm down instantly? Simple! Run with your baby!

That's right! This is even more effective if you are using the swaddle, side, and suck technique. Shh helps some too, but not as much.

Run with your baby!

It's simple. Your baby is going to fall asleep when you're on the freeway. But the moment you stop at a traffic jam or stop for gas, what do you get? Crying!

Apply that lesson to your home!

If you are using too much up and down motion, then you'll notice that your baby is getting tense. His whole body will tense up, he'll bring his knees up, and his face will get tense. So, stop immediately when that happens!

However, you can hold your baby tightly and take off running down the hall. Instantly quiet baby! Do a few runs down the hall.

It will also give you some exercise. Use this method to calm down your baby, infant, or toddler. Your baby or infant will get closer to sleeping after a few runs.

This is pure magic. Daddy magic.




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