Essential tips for parents surviving the festive season with toddlers
Heading out with your toddler shouldn't be stressful.
Image: Orione Conceição / Pexels
The holidays are officially here. While everyone else is dreaming of relaxing poolside, parents of toddlers are busy packing the cooler box, lathering on SPF 50, and trying to prevent a public meltdown in a crowded mall.
As a parent of three, I have been through the festive trenches. I know that this time of year often feels like a series of strategic manoeuvres.
If you are currently feeling outnumbered by a tiny human who refuses to nap because they are overstimulated by the tinsel, this is for you.
Here is how to actually enjoy the summer break without losing your mind.
Prioritise nap time
The summer sun drains a toddler’s battery fast.
The temptation to stay at the braai just an hour longer is real, but you will pay for it later.
Keep the midday nap non-negotiable. If you are out, find a quiet room or use a pram with a portable fan.
A well-rested child is the difference between a peaceful sunset and a festive disaster.
Keep the midday nap non-negotiable.
Image: Vira Dykun / Pexels
Pack smarter
Your holiday bag needs to be more than just nappies.
Pack frozen water bottles that melt slowly to stay cold.
Throw in lightweight cotton changes of clothes to beat the humidity.
One pro tip for beach days is to keep a small bottle of talcum powder in the car.
It is the easiest way to rub sticky sand off little legs before they climb into their car seats.
Manage the sugar
Between the peppermint crisp tart and the endless bowls of sweets, toddlers are bombarded with sugar right now.
A sugar crash in thirty-degree heat is a recipe for a tantrum.
Balance the treats with water-rich snacks like chilled watermelon or cucumber.
If you are heading to a party, feed them a protein-heavy meal first so they don't fill up entirely on marshmallows.
Feed your little one before you head out.
Image: Vanessa Loring / Pexels
Leave early
The best part of a summer day is the early morning. If your toddler is an early riser, use it.
Get to the park or the beach early while it is cool and quiet.
By the time the midday heat hits, you can be heading home for lunch.
Never feel guilty about leaving a family gathering early.
It is better to leave while everyone is still smiling than to wait for the inevitable meltdown.
Simplify everything
We often stress ourselves out trying to create "magic."
Most toddlers don't need a mountain of toys. They are usually just as happy splashing in a plastic shell pool or playing with the boxes.
Choose one or two simple traditions and let the rest go.
When you lower your expectations, you actually get a chance to relax.