Caring for Your Toddler: Ages 2-3

Your toddler is becoming more independent every day. They want to do things themselves, make choices, and be part of the family. Between ages 2 and 3, your toddler will develop new skills, test their limits, and grow in confidence.

Download or print the keepsake form below to keep track of some of your toddler’s special moments along the way!

Quick Links

• Feeding your independent toddler
• Food groups and servings
• Recipes your toddler might enjoy
• Development and play
• Safety and health

Key Takeaways

• Independence matters: Your toddler wants to do things themselves. Sit with them while they practice.
• Low-fat milk at age 2: Switch from whole milk to low-fat or skim milk.
• Eating schedule: Offer 3 meals and 2-3 snacks at regular times, about 2-3 hours apart.
• Let them choose: Your toddler can choose what and how much to eat from the foods you offer.
• Family meals help: Eating together builds language skills and meaningful connections while helping your toddler eat better.
• Limit juice: No more than 4 ounces (½ cup) per day of 100% juice.
• Balance screen time: Make sure screen time does not take the place of sleep, active play or learning.
• Dental care: Brush teeth twice daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Start flossing when their teeth touch.

Feeding Your Independent Toddler

Your toddler is learning to do things independently. Support this while keeping them safe and setting clear limits.

Here's how to help

Make them part of the family

• Eat meals together.
• Serve the same food for everyone. To help with picky eating, don't make something special just for your toddler.
• Include at least one food your toddler likes at each meal.
• Let your toddler help with preparation or cleanup, like tearing lettuce, putting out napkins, or wiping down the table.
• Tell each other about your day. Chat about positive or neutral topics other than food. What did you do? Who did you talk to?
• Turn off TV, phones, tablets, and other electronics so you can be present during meals.

Give choices when possible

• Let your toddler decide if they want to eat and how much to eat from the foods you offer.
• Don't pressure them to eat more or limit how much they eat.
• Offer choices between two healthy foods: "Do you want carrots or peas with dinner?" or "Would you like red apple slices or green apple slices?"

Provide clear and consistent limits

• Show your toddler how to behave at mealtimes.
• Offer meals and snacks about 2-3 hours apart at the same times every day.
• If your toddler doesn't want to eat at a meal, tell them they'll have another chance at the next meal or snack.
• Offer only water between meals and snacks. This helps them be hungry, but not too hungry, at mealtimes.

Trying new foods

Now that your child can try all kinds of foods, they may have more opinions on what they eat. They may even refuse to try certain foods. This is normal.

How to help:

• Offer a variety of foods, including new ones.
• Serve foods you don't like without negative comments because your toddler might like them.
• Let your toddler experiment with new food without pressure.
• Be patient. It might take many tries of offering the same new food before they try it.
• Be a role model by eating a variety of foods and trying new things yourself.

Self feeding

Allow your toddler to serve themselves. You can help them if they ask you. Teach them to take small amounts at first, then eat more if they're still hungry.

Let your toddler eat at their own pace and in their own way. Messes may still happen.

Snacking

Your toddler needs snacks because their stomach is small, and they get hungry every 2-3 hours. Offer snacks that include at least 2 food groups to ensure they get a variety of nutrients.

Some snack ideas:

Food Groups and Servings

Recipes Your Toddler Might Enjoy

Beef skillet with corn and rice

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 envelope mild taco seasoning mix
• 1½ cups water
• 1 cup chunky mild salsa
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1½ cups uncooked instant rice
• Black pepper
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1½ cups washed, dried, and shredded lettuce
• 1 large tomato, chopped

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up chunks. Drain off any fat. Add taco seasoning mix, water, salsa, and corn. Cook, stirring, until mixture boils.
2. Stir in rice and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 6 minutes.
3. Fluff rice-and-beef mixture with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese, cover, and let stand for 2 minutes until the cheese melts. Uncover and serve with lettuce and tomato.

Quesadillas

Ingredients:

• Whole-wheat tortillas
• Sliced or grated cheese
• Thin-sliced ham, turkey, or chicken
• Diced onion and bell pepper
• Optional: salsa, avocado

Directions:

1. Wash your hands and your child's hands with soap and water.
2. Have your child place a slice of meat, vegetables, and cheese on one tortilla, then place another tortilla on top.
3. Brown each side of the quesadilla in a hot skillet. (No oil needed.)
4. Remove from the skillet, and cut into 6-8 sections.
5. Serve with salsa and/or mashed avocado. Your child can help mash the avocado.

Development and Play

Your toddler is constantly moving and exploring. They need active play every day and love getting messy. Activities like running, jumping, climbing, and messy play are essential for development.

Here's what to expect between ages 2 and 3 and how to support your curious toddler.

What your toddler can do

Moving:

• Run and jump.
• Climb on everything.
• Kick a ball.
• Walk up and down stairs.

Using their hands:

• Help with simple chores (e.g., pick up toys, put clothes in the laundry basket).
• Push, pull, and carry objects.
• Explore safe places and objects

Communicating:

• Learn new words from you every day.
• Sing.
• Copy what you do.
• Understand and follow simple instructions.

How to support their growth

• Keep an eye on your toddler as they run, jump, and climb.
• Use screens in a balanced way. Make sure screen time does not take the place of sleep, active play, or learning. This helps kids stay healthy and have time to move and explore.
• Teach your toddler the names and colors of food and other objects. Read books and talk throughout the day.
• Teach songs like "Old McDonald" and "The Wheels on the Bus."
• Give your toddler simple tasks and tell them they're doing a good job. Praise builds confidence.
• Messy play helps toddlers learn. It's okay if they get dirty while mixing, pouring, and exploring.
• Your toddler copies what you do. Model the behavior you want to see.

Safety and Health

Dental care

Brushing: Help your child brush their teeth at least twice a day. Use a small, soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child how to spit out the toothpaste.

Flossing: When your child has two teeth that touch, floss their teeth every day.

Dentist: Take your child to the dentist to get their teeth checked every 6 months.

Handwashing

Wash your hands and your child's hands to avoid germs. Your child needs to wash for 15-20 seconds, about the time it takes to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

Doctor visits

Take your toddler to regular checkups with their doctor, including:

• At 2 years
• At 2.5 years
• At 3 years

Car safety

Always buckle your toddler into a car seat before riding in a car. Use the proper car seat for their size.

Don’t feed your child in their car seat. They could choke.

Water safety

Stay with your toddler when they're in the bathtub, pool, or near any water. Never leave them alone.

Building a safe environment

• Keep your toddler away from tobacco, vaping, and marijuana smoke.
• Keep harmful things out of reach: hot pots and pans, batteries, medicines, detergents, and anything they could choke on.
• Make sure play areas are safe.