When will self care develop in my toddler?

As your toddler gets older, they will learn to do more for themselves as the days go by. He or she will start undressing herself, and getting their own bowl of cereal, as well as many other little tasks. While this might be a little upsetting for you, it will also make you feel proud of your child, every time they achieve another self care milestone in their life.

From as soon as just after their first birthday they will start to do things for themselves. At around a year and a half, they will become more independent very quickly. Although they will still need help from you for a good few years, they will have mastered the art of washing their hands, feeding and dressing themselves, brushing their teeth and going to the bathroom by themselves by the age of four.

If your child wants to try getting their own bowl of cereal in the mornings, make it a little easier by putting the correct amount of cereal in a container in a cupboard, and another small container containing milk in the refrigerator.

As far as eating goes, your toddler will eat with a spoon and fork from as early as thirteen months, and, as time goes by, by the time he or she is four, they will be eating with a knife and fork, like an adult, and ready to learn table manners.