Baby and Toddler on Board: Mindful parenting when a new baby joins the family

by Val Mullally

Overview

Here’s how to support your toddler when your second child is born. This is a practical guide to parenting mindfulness and finding peace in the frantic world of babyhood and toddler-dom. It gives insights into what is needed for calm parenting, amidst a sea of nappies, feeds, tears, toys, cuddles and laughter.

In this story you’ll share the escapades of toddler Liam and his family as they prepare for and adjust to the new addition to the family. In this light-hearted and insightful book, parenting author Val Mullally reflects upon the questions that are on the heart of every parent having a second baby:

* How do I prepare my toddler for a new sibling

* How to meet the challenges of parenting a toddler as well as a baby

* How to create win-win solutions when relationships get stressed

* What children need to truly thrive

* How to still be a person myself!

This is not a toddler taming book; rather it’s a book that encourages the parent to perceive and respond to the young child’s experience of life at the time of a new arrival. Val gives you a peek into Danish Parenting, and offers parental guidance to reduce family stress, toddler temper tantrums and acting out behaviours, as you discover the art of coping with two. Sharing heart-warming moments, this book unfolds three core principles that can strengthen your bond with your toddler and your baby. 

This is the book for every parent who is expecting - or already has - a baby and who has a toddler, or preschooler, on board.

It is also an inspiring read for anyone with an interest in parenting and childcare, including grandparents and other relatives, those working with toddlers and preschoolers, and those supporting young families.  

Buy this book if you are someone who wants to develop authentic parent-child relationships, and live more joyfully with the children in your life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781912328314
Publisher:	Koemba
Publication date:	11/09/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	212
File size:	2 MB

Table of Contents

Dedication

About The Author

Foreword

Resources for Readers

Introduction

The Journey Begins - How to Connect With a Toddler

SECTION A: FOLLOW THE CHILD’S LEAD

1. Follow Your Child’s Lead - Introduction

2. What To Do When A Child Feels Shy 3. Practical Tips to Connect with a Toddler

4. How to Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Toddler

5. Why Toddler Scribbles Aren’t Scribbles

6. How to Approach Potty Time

7. How to Support an Adventurous Toddler

8. How to Tune In To Your Child’s Experience -“Fire Enja!”

9. What To Do When A Toddler Faces a Big Challenge

10. How a Child’s “Failure” is Feedback

11. How to Lead From One Step Behind

12. Mindful Parenting - Even When Single-Handed

13. Tips On How To Follow Your Child’s Lead When It Isn’t Easy

14. YOUR EXPERIMENT - Have a “Yes” Day!

15. Follow Your Baby’s Lead

16. Follow Your Child’s Lead - Recap

SECTION B: CROSS THE BRIDGE

17. Cross the Bridge - Introduction

18. Why Crossing The Bridge Matters

19. Why Punishment Doesn’t Work – Why Discipline Does

20. Give Your Toddler Choices

21. When Your Toddler Feels Jelaous

22. Don’t Have a “New” Baby

23. When a Toddler Feels Left Out

24. What To Do When a Toddler Acts Out

25. What To Do When A Toddler Gets Stubborn

26. When a Toddler Is Fixed On Their Agenda

27. Tips To Cross the Bridge When It Isn’t Easy

28. YOUR EXPERIMENT - Using Visualisation to Reframe Negative Experiences

29. Cross the Bridge to Your Baby

30. Cross the Bridge - Recap

SECTION C: HEARTH YOUR HOME

31. Hearth Your Home - Introduction

32. Naming Happy Emotions

33. How to Help Your Toddler Deal with Upsets

34. How Safe Is Safe Enough?

35. Letting Your Toddler Test His Own Limits

36. Containing Your Own Anxiety - The Challenge

37. A Peek Inside a “Home With Hearth”

38. Toddler Tantrums - What Helps?

39. How to Get Down to the Child’s Level

40. Is Your Child Naughty?

41. What We Can Learn From Danish Parenting

42. Tips to “Hearth Your Home” When It Isn’t Easy

43. YOUR EXPERIMENT - Create a Home with Hearth

44. Hearthing the Home For Your Baby

45. Hearth Your Home - Recap

CONCLUSION

46. Not Long Till Departure

47. My Last Morning

Afterword

APPENDIX

APPENDIX 1. Coping With Baby And Toddler -Practical Tips

APPENDIX 2. A Note to Those Supporting a Baby and Toddler Family

APPENDIX 3. Help Val To Help Other Parents!

APPENDIX 4. Other Books by Val Mullally

APPENDIX 5. Resources and Supports

APPENDIX 6. Recommended Reading

Acknowledgements

Editorial Reviews

“What a delightful and novel way to gently lead parents on their

child-rearing journey. Val Mullally shares with us her observations

of a toddler making sense of a little sister joining the family.

Through her relaxed writing style, she invites the reader along

on this journey. I felt I was right with her and her grandson as he

jumped into puddles, tumbled off his balance bike, and reacted

to disappointment.

You will smile as you see little Liam enjoying his family,

and you will enjoy the images of the Danish countryside, parks

and homes.

Thank you, Val, for this enlightening book.”

Patricia K. Martin PhD Clinical Psychologist

“I have found reading this book very helpful as a grandmother

of a three year old toddler with her 8 month brother.

It has been most interesting to read … an opportunity to

share in an experience I can relate to and learn, without realising

I am learning skills to apply in my interaction with children. I

also regularly look after two little brothers, one of whom has

Down’s syndrome/additional needs and the principles in Val’s

book apply every bit as much with children with special needs. I

found the book quick and easy to read and I enjoyed observing

the journey the author was on and learning from her experience.

It is an excellent book in understanding children and relating

to them meaningfully in our ever-changing society, whether

they are your own children, grandchildren or foster children.”

Sharon Yarr

“This is an essential and enlightening read for anyone who wants

to create a calm and loving home where there is mutual respect

and contentment. Val’s practical, insightful examples and experiments

really encourage mindful and fulfilling parenting. The

easy-to-read style and helpful tips make it a book that you will

want to pick up for reference again and again. Reading this book

will be one of the most beneficial things you can do in preparing

for, or coping with, a new addition to the family.”

Jennifer McKeague (mum of two lively and lovable boys)

From the Publisher