Top tips from our Features Editor

All about Kelly

Kelly Beswick is Prima Baby's Features Editor. A mum of boy and girl twins, she claims it gave her a crash course in motherhood, although says things are finally getting easier (well, sometimes!!!).

Praise the little ones

We all love a bit of praise, don't we? (by the way, can I just say what a fab, gorgeous lot you are...) so don't forget to praise your toddler. Even the simplest thing she does right deserves a:"What a good girl! You're so clever!" It compensates for all the times you say:"No!/Stop that!/How many times do I have to tell you.." More importantly, it encourages her to behave well again - to get more of "Nice Mummy" - and it makes you both feel good about yourselves. Result!

Choose your battles

Faced with a 2-year-old, determined to get her own way on everything, you need a few tactics up your sleeve. Give your toddler (and yourself!) a break by choosing your battles. Turn a blind eye to the little things - does it really matter if she insists on wearing her summer shorts over her tights with wellies to pop to the shops? Save saying "no" for when it's really important - she can't jump off the sofa in case she hurts herself, for instance. That way she'll learn to take notice of you when it counts.

Minimise mealtime mess

Once the weather starts to warm up, you can start thinking about picnics in the park with your little one. Toddlers like nothing better than eating al fresco, and will even try foods that they'd usually turn their nose up at in a familiar indoor setting. But the real bonus of eating outside is that you don't have to worry about the mess. So what if crumbs go all over the floor or the orange juice gets spilt - picnics give mums a well earned rest from all the usual clearing up!

Brush with authority

Cleaning a toddler's teeth can sometimes be a challenge, but there are a few tricks that can make the twice-daily brush pass without incident.

If she does insist on cleaning them herself, then agree that she lets you do it the next time.

Also, by letting her choose her toothbrush and perhaps having two choices of toothpaste to use, she'll feel she has more control over the situation and will be less likely to protest.

Beat toy boredom

As any mum knows, toddlers have a very short attention span and easily get bored.

Why not sort through her toys and set a small selection aside for a rainy day?

You'll be amazed how excited she'll be to see them again and they'll keep her occupied for far longer than her more familiar playthings.

Separation anxiety

Sometimes leaving your little one can be upsetting for both of you, especially if she clings on to you or starts crying. But ask any childcarer, and the odds are your toddler will be as right as rain within five minutes of you walking out the door.

To make the separation easier, try giving her something that belongs to you, perhaps a hankerchief or even an old cardigan, and tell her to keep it safe for you until you return.

This will reassure her that mummy will be back and she'll also find comfort in something that reminds her of you.

Early risers

Once summer arrives, do you find that your little one is waking up at the crack of dawn, eager to get on with the day, while all you desperately want is a bit more shut eye?

The chances are your toddler is simply being woken by the sunlight, but rather than invest in expensive black-out blinds or curtains, it's worth checking out your nearest department store for some black-out material.

It's much cheaper and you can then cut it exactly to the size of the window and pin it up accordingly.

Even if it only gives you an extra half hour's kip in the morning, it's got to be worth it!

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