LittleNotes

When choosing a high chair, check the weight and height capacity — not all chairs fit bigger babies. Joie 6-in-1 works well for heavier or taller babies, while the IKEA Antilop is a reliable budget pick.

Sundays with no help? Prep extra food Saturday evening, go out for half the day, and keep easy meals ready — dosa batter, cooked pasta, eggs, fruit. Involving your toddler in cooking doubles as entertainment.

Zip-up onesies at 3am > button-up onesies. You'll thank yourself later.

Stabilo Woody pencils are perfect for toddlers in the scribbling phase — they are easy to grip and wipe off floors, walls, and furniture. Chalk pens that wipe off with a cloth also let kids draw on fridges and shelves safely.

For birthday parties with 3-4 year olds, set up activity stations — Lego and magna tiles at one, craft supplies at another, playdough at a third. Skip face painting as younger kids get frustrated waiting in line.

Chalkboard wallpaper on one wall gives toddlers a designated scribbling surface. They can draw with coloured chalks freely, and it saves the rest of your walls from becoming an art gallery.

Use picture books above your toddler's reading level as conversation starters — flip through slowly, point to pictures, and talk in simple terms. Kids absorb far more through visuals and repetition than formal reading.

When reading complex picture books to toddlers, skip the text entirely. Point to pictures, talk about basics in simple language, and let them absorb through visuals and repetition.

Make the toy clean-up fun by asking your toddler to make the toys jump into their boxes so they can sleep for the night. Gamifying the task works better than direct requests.

Play the clean-up song while tidying toys — many playschools use this and toddlers respond to it at home too. Model cleaning up yourself and narrate what you are doing rather than asking them directly.

Introducing low-stimulation shows first — Daniel Tiger, Peppa Pig, Ms Rachel — makes it easier to manage screen time limits later. Avoid auto-play and let your child turn off the TV themselves to build the habit.

Bubbling Fish offers heated pool swimming classes for babies under 3. Starting swim lessons around 12-13 months as a weekend family ritual builds confidence and is great bonding time.

At 13 months, start with one parent-child activity class per week rather than daily sessions. Choose something you also enjoy — kids sense parental enthusiasm and engage better.