5 toddler myths that you shouldn’t believe

Last Updated on April 18, 2024

Toddlers are a lot of fun, but often it’s a stage of motherhood where we seek advice on how to get through some of the tougher parts of parenting a toddler.

Some of the advice regarding toddlers is based on toddler myths, which are long held beliefs on what toddlers should and shouldn’t do, which are simply not true.

By believing them, and inforcing them, you can add extra pressure on yourself, and your toddler, that neither of you need.

Here are 5 toddler myths that are commonly told to mums of toddlers, myself included, which you shouldn’t believe.

If you’d like to read another parenting myth post, here’s one on baby myths.

Toddlers should sleep through the night

Sadly toddlers don’t always sleep through the night.

There will be nights where they will sleep through, but there will also be nights where they’ll wake up, because like adults, toddlers have multiple sleep cycles throughout the night, and they can wake during them.

Toddlers also have more dream cycles than adults, and some dreams can become nightmares, which may wake them.

Toddlers should share

Toddlers don’t have the developmental skills required to understand what sharing means, which means they don’t know how to share.

Forcing your toddler to share when they don’t understand what sharing is, won’t make them more social, and if they have a sibling, forcing them to share may create conflict and frustration between them and their sibling.

However, once your toddler reaches 4-5 years old, they will be more developmentally ready to understand sharing, so you can start to teach your toddler to share.

Toddlers who have temper tantrums are naughty

Another toddler myth is that toddlers who have temper tantrums are naughty, which is absolutely not true, because all toddlers have temper tantrums at some stage.

Some toddlers have more temper tantrums than others, my second son was the master of temper tantrums, whilst my first son hardly had any.

Toddler temper tantrums are a normal part of toddler development, because the part of their brain that regulates emotions isn’t developed enough to handle their feelings.

Therefore, toddler temper tantrums are nothing to do with them being naughty, and they’re not a reflection of your parenting skills, but if you’d like some ways to help with your toddler’s temper tantrums, here are some tips on how to deal with toddler temper tantrums that may help.

Potty training should start at 18 months old

Another myth about toddlers that we’re often told is that toddlers should start potty training at 18 months old, which again isn’t true.

There are many reasons why potty training happens later for many toddlers, and in fact, there are signs a toddler isn’t ready for potty training that you can look out for.

My advice when it comes to potty training is to look for signs a toddler is ready for potty training before considering it, and make sure you’re ready to do it as well.

When you are ready, here are some potty training tips that may be useful.

Toddlers should walk by 12-13 months

Thankfully this is another toddler myth, because my toddlers didn’t start walking until much after 13 months old, and it hasn’t impacted their development in any way.

So similar to my advice on potty training, don’t force your toddler to walk if they’re not ready, and don’t compare your toddler’s development to others.

However, if you are worried about your toddler’s development in anyway, make sure you see a GP, or a child health professional.

Conclusion

There are many toddler myths presented as facts, which can make you feel as though your toddler isn’t developing or behaving in ways they should.

However, questioning the advice you’re given, and ignoring any advice based on toddler myths can really help you to work through anything you’re concerned about in a way that works for you and your toddler.

It’s also worthwhile remembering that all toddlers develop differently, some are ready to do things much earlier, or much later than other toddlers, which is normal, and which is something that needs to be normalised, so we can get back enjoying the toddler stage.

What toddler myths have you been told?