Toddlerhood is an exciting time where children are developing very quickly and learning lots about the world around them. Like babies, toddlers have their own special needs when it comes to sleep, nutrition and development.
Sleep
Sleep for toddlers
How much sleep a toddler needs, how to settle them, establishing a sleep routine.
If your toddler wakes frequently
Tips to set a regular routine, calling out during the night, reduce sleep associations.
Moving from a cot to bed
Options for moving your child to a bed, preventing injuries, giving reassurance.
Feeding and nutrition
What a toddler should eat and drink
Measurements of the types of foods toddlers should eat each day.
What a toddler shouldn't eat or drink
Food and drink you should avoid giving your toddler.
If your toddler is a fussy eater
What to do when your toddler is going through a phase of fussy eating.
Food safety tips
How to prepare food safely so it's safe for your child to eat.
Vegetarian diets for toddlers
Things to include in a vegetarian diet for toddlers, who to speak to for advice.
Health
Personal hygiene for toddlers and preschoolers
Teaching your toddler about washing their hands and teeth, and bathing.
Bathing for toddlers
How to safely give your toddler a bath and wash them.
Brushing teeth and oral health
How to take care of your toddler's teeth, oral checkups and going to the dentist.
Toilet training
Toilet training your toddler, helpful tips.
Movement and physical activity for toddlers
The benefits of physical activity, tips for getting your toddler active.
Immunisation
Immunisation requirements, Vax on time app, vaccination records for child care, kindergarten and school.
Safety
Safety in the home and outdoors
How to make sure your home and backyard are safe for children.
Bushfires 2020: Information for parents and carers
Information on schools, child care and kindergartens affected by the 2020 bushfires. Where parents and carers can get help, counselling and support.
Car safety
Restraints and seats, never leave babies and children unattended in cars.
CPR for babies
What to do if your baby is unconscious - call 000.
Baby safety in the home and outdoors
It's common for babies and children to be injured at home, so it's important for your home to be a safe space for your baby to roam around.
Sun safety
It’s important to protect babies and children protected from the strong Australian sun.
Water safety for babies and young children
How to keep babies safe around water
Insect bites
What to do if your child gets an insect bite.
Preventing dog bites
How to have your child and your dog interacting safely.
Preventing poisoning
How to keep baby safe from being poisoned - call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Preventing falls
Check your home and baby equipment for hazards that could cause your baby or young child to fall.
Preventing choking
Tip for preventing your baby or child from choking.
Preventing burns and scalds
Tips to prevent your child accidentally getting a burn.
Child protection
What to do if you think a child is being abused, mandatory reporting.
Behaviour
Toddler behaviours and emotions
Setting limits, helping toddlers learn to behave, thinking about others.
Behaviour management and young children
Tips on how to support your toddler or preschooler to control their behaviour
How to handle tantrums
Why toddlers have tantrums, how to manage them, if you have concerns.
Child development
What your toddler might be doing at different stages
What your toddler might be doing from 12 months and tips to encourage development.
If you have concerns about your toddler's development
Who to speak to if you have concerns your toddler isn't developing.
You are your child's first educator
You can make a big difference to your child's life just by finding easy and fun things you can do with your child when they're very young.
Growth charts
Growth charts for baby and child development
Social and emotional development of toddlers
What to expect from toddler behaviour, building bonds and friendships.
Speech and language development of toddlers
Find out about your toddler's speech and language development, and how you can support them developing further.
Learning and play
Play Learn Grow – text message program
If you are a parent or carer of a 2 year old child in Victoria don’t miss your chance to participate in the Play Learn Grow Text Message Program to support your child’s learning and development.
Play based learning for toddlers
How to encourage learning through play with your toddler.
Encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills
How to build science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in your child.
Speak to your child in the language you know best
Why it's important to speak in the language you know best. Tips for speaking, reading and writing in your language.
How to build your child's literacy skills from birth to year 2
How to give your child a good start with reading and language.
How to build your child's numeracy skills from birth to year 2
Tips on how to build your child's skills in maths, measurement and patterns.
Family health
Look after yourself after you have a baby
Parents' health and wellbeing is often impacted by the arrival of a new baby or any major change to your life.
Parents' anxiety
Becoming and being a parent can be stressful. How to tell if you have anxiety and how to get help.
Postnatal care
After giving birth your body will be going through major adjustments. It’s important to look after yourself during this time.
Making healthy decisions
Where to go for health advice, online resources and working out if it's an emergency.
Family violence
How to get help, behaviours, how family violence can happen.
Child care and kindergarten
Types of child care
There are a number of different types of child care for different situations.
How to choose the best child care
Every family is different, so it’s important to think about your own family needs and the quality of the childcare when choosing child care for your child
How to enrol in child care
How to enrol your child in childcare
How much child care costs
How much does child care cost?
Regulation of child care and kindergarten
Early childhood services regulated under the National Quality Framework and under state law.
How to choose a quality early childhood service
Quality childcare is important to your child's development, and you can use quality ratings to choose the best child care centre for your child.
Children with additional needs
Disability support for young children
Information on services to support children with additional needs, including the move to the NDIS.
Support for children with hearing loss
Support and information for families when their baby or young child is diagnosed with a hearing impairment.
Services
Maternal and Child Health Service
All about the Maternal and Child Health Service in Victoria
Services for carers
Services, advice and financial support for non-parent carers.
Community playgroups
Information about community playgroups in Victoria
Supported playgroups
Supported Playgroups is to improve the learning, development, and wellbeing outcomes of children from birth until they start primary school.
Services for parents in regional areas
Services for parents of babies and young children in regional areas of Victoria
Early parenting centres
Early parenting centres offer a range of specialised support, counselling and advice services aimed at supporting parents.
Family intervention services
Family intervention Services offer consultation, counselling, skill development and education services including individual and group interventions.
Child FIRST and family services
Child FIRST (Child and family information, referral and support teams) are the entry point into family services located across Victoria.
Telephone services for parents
Telephone services for parents of young children and babies in Victoria
Parentline
Phone counselling for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old
Financial help for parents
Outline of types of financial assistance available to parents who want to enrol their child in childcare or kindergarten programs
Reviewed 21 December 2021