Toddler Taming - Dr Christopher Green

Toddler Taming, is there such a thing? Well according to Dr Christopher Green who wtote this book there is.

My Health Visitor recommended this book to me when I asked her advice about my unruely toddler. I have read it and re-read it so many times and found it a great book. It is a softback book and is quite a handy size. It has a cute cartoon of a toddler on the front and has bright red lettering saying Toddler Taming so you can't miss it. I actually bought my copy from WHSmiths but is available in most book stores and is priced at £9.99 and it is the best £9.99 i have ever spent.

Dr Christopher Green who wrote the book is a paediatric doctor from Australia. Now I can hear you saying " What does someone on the other side of the world know about my toddler? " Well, when I read the book it was like it was written for my son. I think it is helped by the fact that Dr Green is a father of two sons and has witnessed the terrible toddler years first hand.

The introduction to the book is great and has chapters on what makes toddlers tick and what is normal toddler behavour. I am sure we would all like to know. After reading these bits it was reasuuring to know that my little monster was in fact a normal toddler. It was interseting to find out that according to a study in New York that 85% of 4 year olds are stubborn, 72% talk back and 78% are disobediant. It is nice to know that it is not just me that has a defiant, strong willed 4 year old.

The next part of the book is dedicated to discipline, the techniques and how to apply them. Dr Green also approaches the taboo subject of smacking in this part of the book. It is not something that I condone but I thought he approached it well. The book then goes on to explore other areas of toddler behavour with chapters dealing with potty training, feeding and sleep problems and the wonderful habits that our dear little toddlers pick up. (Don't you just love it when your toddler picks their nose or plays with their bits in the most unappropriate places.) It also deals with toddlers fears and comforters.

The end of the book has chapters on things like Sibling Rivalry, ( that is why I heard about the book. My 2 1/2 year old toddler then turned into a monster the minute I had my other son.), hyperactivity, different types of families, like working mums, one parent families etc and the final chapter is on childhood illnesses.

At the end of the book there are some useful appenices which show Milestones and other useful information.

I found this book very easy to read and it was amusing in places. Dr Green made light of differnt situations he had been in with a toddler. I think he offered some great advice and I have put some of his ideas into practice. I now have two toddlers so the book is coming in handy the second time around and has been passed round the family.