Mom to Mom Nutrition

Katie Serbinski, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian and millennial mom, blogging about healthy recipes, child and mom nutrition, and motherhood.

  • Home
  • About
    • Media
  • Food & Recipes
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Meal Planning
    • Kitchen Tips
    • Main Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Breakfast
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Slow Cooker
  • Nutrition
    • Basics
    • 7 Disease-Fighting Foods to Shop For NOW
    • How To Nourish A Growing Baby
    • Nutrition Advice for Sleep Deprived Parents
  • Mom Life
    • Back to School COVID Style
    • Lessons Motherhood Has Taught Me…. So Far
    • 5 Self-Care Tips for Moms
  • Toddler Life
    • Picky Eating
    • How Toddlers Can Help in the Kitchen
    • 10 Family Mealtime Conversation Starters for Kids
    • 50+ Toddler Meal Ideas [FREE PDF]
    • 50+ Preschool Lunch Ideas [FREE PDF]
    • 25 Toddler Snack Ideas [FREE PDF]
    • Mix & Match Wrap Ideas [FREE PDF]
  • Work with Me
    • For Brands
    • For Moms
Home » Mom Life » Dear Parents of Toddlers

Dear Parents of Toddlers

Jul 12, 2017 9 Comments

Dear Parents of Toddlers,

I pride myself in knowing this blog is a resource for many of you that struggle with toddler mealtime madness. In fact, some of my most popular posts are what inspire me to keep sharing the real-deal. The mess. The food throwing. And yes, the mealtime wins.

Feeding these 3?! Oddly enough mealtime has been a piece of cake these days. It’s everything else that has me wracking my brain for answers!

Before I continue on my toddler rant… If you are new to Mom to Mom Nutrition then you might like some of these toddler feeding resources:

Table Talk: Tips and Tricks for Feeding Young Children

Mix n’ Match Toddler Meal Ideas

5 Ways to Stop Your Toddler’s Food Throwin

50 Toddler Meal Ideas

Lately my toddlers [oh my, I’m about to have 3 in the house in less than 10 days] have given me enough content to write beyond their food habits. I actually just created a toddler life tab on the blog! And if you’ve been around my boys within the past two months you why. Let me just fill the rest of you in on the Serbinski toddler happenings:

1. A certain duo will NOT STOP talking about, calling each other, or calling their friends and family the P word. Yes, the word that is their coveted private part. Anthony even started waving at people at Target and addressing them as THE WORD! Now yes, it was funny the first time, but now it’s become a little ridiculous. Just a little… the good news is I haven’t heard any teacher or camp counselor tell me they are using it in school!

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY JOEY?!” Yep. I think they just said THE word and started laughing about it with Grandpa.

2. Bedtime. Need I say more? Bedtime has become like a circus routine no matter how calm, peaceful, or routine-filled we try to make it. I probably give 500 kisses and hugs by the time their little eyes shut. I even think they are purposely losing their favorite stuffed animals before bed to continue stalling! Plus, the boys run in and out of their room no matter what is threatened [and yes we do follow through with our threats], no matter how short their afternoon naps were, and no matter how much activity they have before bed.

On our family trip to Virginia, our sister-in-law Lorraine took some family pictures for us [hence my new headshot and About Me page]. Even behind the tears, yelling, and crazy sleep schedules, these 3 complete me!
3. Dividing attention among all of the kids— and still having energy for myself [and my husband]. This one is SO hard for me. And something I never thought twice about before growing our family. Now that Lily is super active and wanting to be in the action with her brothers, I’m finding my Anthony to be a little more emotional and needy and wanting ALL of Mom’s attention. I notice it when I’m upstairs and he’s happily playing with family or friends. As soon as Mom enters the room, BAM, Anthony turns up the volume and his demands from me. Forget phone calls. Guys if you’re trying to reach me you better just text, because Anthony won’t let us get a word in!

Can you tell which one needed my attention first?! Where’s my body-double guys?!

These are the big 3 right now. I’m sure in a few months I’ll have a second edition of Dear Parents of Toddlers. But for now, here’s what I’m asking of you:

What are your biggest struggles [beyond food] with your toddlers right now?

How would you address some of my struggles above?

Phoning a friend guys… mainly because I just want to know I’m not alone!

Related

Sign Up For Email Updates

slow cooking 101Subscribe to get email updates and my FREE Slow Cooking 101 printable. Use my basic formula to build healthy fix-it and forget-it meals the whole family will love!
I share special behind-the-scenes snapshots from our life, plus Mom to Mom tips, nutritional advice and much more. Plus, be the first to find out about upcoming events, new products and much more.

« Grilled Steak and Veggie Bowls
Embracing My Mom Style [and Bod] with Athleisure »

Comments

  1. Abigial says

    July 13, 2017 at 11:59 am

    Your blog makes me so happy and I’m not even a mom yet!! Although, I know I will be bookmarking many of these posts for when my big toddler time comes!! You are such an awesome mom and those babies are sooo darned cute!! XOXO

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Vargo says

    July 13, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    Oh bedtime…or any time that involves sleep. Miss. Mia Mae will sleep for hours if you hold her. Otherwise? You’d think we were torturing her. She doesn’t even consider self-soothing. She’s also into EVERYTHING! At least she’s a big fan of eating! 🙄😴 You’re doing awesome, Mama!!

    Reply
  3. Katrina says

    July 13, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Naptime! I’m 26 weeks pregnant and the energy required to put my 2 1/2 year old daughter down for a nap is fading. She pulls out all the stops in order to avoid, stall, resist, laying down for her nap. You’d think I am asking her to do the worst thing ever. I mentally prepare and hold my grounds while not keyring it make me frustrated. By the time she’s finally asleep I’m ready for a nap too. On the weekend when daddy is home good luck getting her to settle down.

    Reply
  4. lisakadrmas says

    July 14, 2017 at 8:30 am

    Oh bedtime with my 3 year old! It’s a circus that starts with a 90% chance of a toothbrushing related meltdown then a wrestling match to get pjs on after he pretends not to hear me ask him to help. Then books, which we can’t get through without 600 “why” questions… Seriously every line of a book gets a why some days. I’ve noticed that the more stalling, the more tired he actually is and I need to just get him into bed asap. Then deal with the one year old who was climbing all over us during the whole routine.

    That said, bedtime is actually one of my favorite parts of the day to look back on, appreciating the creativity of the stalling tactics and sweetness of their tired emotional antics.

    And some nights I get surprised with real peaceful easy bedtime routine for at least one of the two.

    Reply
  5. Lindsay says

    July 14, 2017 at 11:47 am

    Omg yes the toddler bedtime stalling! My little girl just turned 2, and (similar to your boys “losing” their stuffed animals) she will hide (I see her do it) her lovey in her room and then go to her bedroom door and say she needs to go find it. It’s equally hilarious and frustrating! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Christa says

    July 30, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    I can’t narrow it down to just one struggle right now. I’m just glad to know I’m not alone with the middle child emotions. My #3 of 4 is always afraid he is going to be forgotten or shorted. He cries even when he gets something because he is sure he was last to get it or his is the smallest. And a congrats to you for giving 500 kisses at bedtime. After about 20, I cut them off and start turning into monster mom. Not a pretty site. Love the blog.

    Reply
  7. Quiana says

    August 1, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    My current 2 and a half toddler woes are bedtime blues, because Dadday works late and she wants to see him. I want her to see him too, but he typically gets home at or after bedtime. So this entire summer she has been bunking with us and going to sleep when we go to sleep. But at nap time when Daddy is working she goes to sleep fine.

    She is going through an, “It’s mine” phase. She says it when kids or adults say hi. Not too friendly of a greeting, but I know it will pass.

    We have been having potty wars for the last year. She’s been showing signs of understanding the potty. She does very well urinating at home, but will not use public restrooms or any bathroom that isn’t ours. I have a portable potty seat, which she will finally sit on, butt still will not use the toilet. 8.She also refuses to poop info the toilet. But recently she willing say I the potty and pooped a little, but finished in a Pull – Up. Still a milestone for us, because she did it all alone and willingly. I was so proud.

    I know it’s rough at times, but I know she’s improving and some of these toddler habits will one day disappear.

    Reply
  8. Camille says

    August 4, 2017 at 11:49 am

    i tried to click on the different hyperlinks and they wouldn’t work. It doesn’t open anything. I’d love to read all of them.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      August 4, 2017 at 12:57 pm

      I just updated it. Thank you for telling me that! Not sure what was happening.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Katie Serbinski at Mom to Mom Nutrition

WELCOME!

Hi, I’m Katie! Registered Dietitian, Mom, and Mealtime Negotiator. I’m on a mission to make mealtime happier, healthier, and easier with small children, despite what my 4 picky eaters have me believing. From family-friendly recipes to confessions about my unfiltered motherhood moments, I hope you grab a seat at my kitchen table!
Read more about me »

Connect With Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Top Posts

No-Bake Chocolate Protein Bars

Hide-The-Veggies Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

50 healthy meal and snack ideas for kids that require minimal cooking and no recipe!

50 Kid-Friendly Meal and Snack Ideas- NO RECIPES Needed

A printable list of 25 healthy toddler snack ideas perfect for the big and little kids in your family, including Mom and Dad too!

25 Toddler Snack Ideas

Themed dinner nights make meal planning a breeze! By designating a certain theme to each night of the week, you can keep structure to your family's meal plan!

15 Themed Dinner Ideas [My Favorite Way to Meal Plan]

http://momtomomnutrition.com/motherhood/7-tips-for-handling-picky-eaters/

12 Picky Eater Tips from Real Moms

Build a variety of healthy toddler meal ideas for your toddler [and entire family] from a basic food list of their favorite foods!

Mix n’ Match Toddler Meal Ideas

10 Dinners to Try with Your Picky Eater

Latest Posts

Chicken noodle soup five ways.

Chicken Noodle Soup Five Ways

Celebrate strength, wealth, and health in the new year with Beef, Beans, and Greens Soup. Packed with nutrition and made with the ease of leftover beef roast.

Beef, Beans, and Greens Soup

Tex-Mex flavors and the ease of using your slow cooker make this Southwestern Turkey Soup a comforting meal any night of the week!

Southwestern Turkey Soup

Chicken Lemon Rice Soup (Avgolemono Soup)

Apple Hummus Stackers

A Christmas Cookie Decorating Station is a simple, fun holiday-inspired activity for kids of all ages. Assemble the station based on your family's preferences for cookies, frosting, and toppings! 

Christmas Cookie Decorating Station

Copyright © 2021 · Mom to Mom Nutrition, LLC · Disclosure · Log in