"It's like she's becoming her own person." 8 things I've noticed since my daughter turned two.

If there's one thing I've learned as a mother, it's that 2-year-olds get a bad rep. 

Tell someone you’ve got one of them, and you are guaranteed to get a look of pity and a well-meaning “you must have your hands full” which roughly translates to “you couldn’t pay me enough to re-do that stage”. 

As a second-time mum (about to become a third timer) I’m here in defence of the two-year-old stage. Because yes, the well-meaning stranger is right, we do have our hands full, but this age is SO much more interesting.

For the first 24 months, it feels like parenting is just keeping a helpless baby alive. And honestly, a lot of that was mind-numbingly dull. But the second birthday marks the start of a huge change. 

Here are the 8 things I've noticed about my daughter since she turned two. 

1. She has a distinct personality.

There’s a saying that goes along the lines of you find out who your kid really is at two. 

And yep, hard agree. 

I’m not accusing my second child of catfishing, but before two she pretty much behaved just like my first did. Standard baby stuff. 

So I’d naively assumed that at two she’d evolve into a personality clone of her big sister: book obsessed, shy and very feminine. But she’s 100 per cent her own person – a wild child, most likely to be found building an obstacle course on top of the sofa. 

Now she’s two, I see she’s fiercely independent and ready to experiment. She's confident with any child or adult, and it very much feels like she’s becoming her own person, and I really like that person.

2. She doesn’t stop.

I’ve considered putting my smart watch on her on days when I know I won’t close my activity rings because the child never stops moving.

It’s not surprising that a toddler's daily energy requirements are around three times that of an adult when you compare per kilogram of body weight.

3. Her diet has changed and become more particular.

Her diet has changed. In fact, it’s constantly changing. Sometimes by the hour. 

Some days she’ll eat everything and anything in front of her, including a full pack of baby tomatoes pilfered from the shopping trolley before we’ve made it to the checkout. The next day she’ll reject every bit of food, even the ones she’s been enjoying for weeks. And then two hours later, she’s decided she’s ravenously hungry but only for two specific items, neither of which we have at home. 

This isn’t unique, you don’t have to venture far into parenting Facebook communities to see that almost every 2-year-old does this. And while it’s frustrating (RIP the sweetcorn fritters I slaved over, only to see them swiftly rejected) there are options to keep your toddler healthy.

It's with these days in mind that a2 Platinum Premium Toddler Milk Drink was developed. It's specially formulated to supplement a toddler's healthy diet from one year.

It helps support growth and development through 16 essential vitamins and minerals, including folate and vitamins A and C to encourage a healthy immune system. The formula also contains calcium and vitamin D to support the growth of strong bones and teeth, while iron, zinc and iodine are helpful for cognitive development. This is a huge win on those 'I'm not going to eat anything' kinda days.

The milk used in the a2 Platinum Premium Toddler Milk Drink also comes from cows that have been specially selected to naturally produce milk with the A2 beta-casein protein type. 

Image: Supplied.

4. She can communicate her feelings and her needs.

The first two years are very one-sided when it comes to communication: parent talks at child. 

Sure, you can use non-verbal clues to get a read on whether they understand you or not, but since my daughter turned two, it’s become a proper conversation. 

We chat about her day, what she enjoyed and what she wants to do. And NOTHING beats hearing your child say “I love you, mummy” for the first time.

5. She’s old enough to understand rewards.

At first I felt so guilty about this. Surely bribery is the hallmark of bad parenting? But turns out the experts are cool with it. As long as you call it a “reward” and not a “bribe”. 

Now that my daughter is two she’s become a sophisticated negotiator and there’s a clear currency hierarchy. A cube of cheese for sitting down for dinner and an episode of Peppa Pig in return for staying still while I blow dry her hair.

The absolute best use of rewards is without a doubt toilet training. Our currency here is being allowed to flush the toilet – the highest of treasures. While toilet training is a pain while you’re in that phase, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And by light, I mean no more changing poo-filled toddler nappies. 

6. She can play pretend and make her own games.

The ability to self-entertain is on a whole other level. New parents reading this, you’re in for a treat. 

Much of my daughter's play is mirroring or roleplaying things she sees in our family or at daycare. Her favourite games are: doctors, where we all get a (very handsy) examination and babies (her maternal streak is strong). 

I won’t lie, she also loves to turn any object into a pretend iPhone and take photos, telling us off if we don’t “look happy and say chhhhhheeeeese”… yes, I wonder who she got that from?

Image: Supplied.

7. She’s forming meaningful connections with friends and family.

She’s taken a keen interest in each member of our family, including her grandparents and cousins, and is clearly learning everyone’s individual likes and dislikes. She’ll often retell stories about time she’s spent with each family member. (Unfortunately these tend to be unedited, detailed reports of trips to the toilet and people hurting themselves but, you know, precious memories.) 

At daycare she’s making her first friendships. I love arriving for pick up a little bit early and watching her interact with her tiny friends. She takes time to say goodbye to each and every one of them every day. 

8. She’s got a distinctive sense of style.

Getting dressed… is still a punishment. 

Why are 2-year-olds so wriggly? Why must they have so many strong opinions?

While her newfound sartorial choices can be questionable, I love seeing how proud she is of her creations. I’ve noticed she likes to talk me through her decisions, which is maybe her way of showing me that she’s a big grown-up girl now and she’s got this covered, thanks.

Gulp.

There are so many of these changes that I’m noticing give me that lump-in-the-throat feeling. 

I know our little girl is growing up, fast. Some days it feels too fast. 

I’m so proud of the independent, creative, friendly person she’s becoming. I know she’s got big things ahead of her, but for now I’m savouring these special moments and cuddling my baby girl extra tight.

a2 Platinum Premium Toddler Milk Drink is specially formulated to support a toddler's diet. With 16 essential vitamins and minerals, it helps support normal growth and development. 

Keep in mind that every child is unique and will develop at a different rate so this information should be used as a general guide only. If you have specific questions or concerns, talk to a health professional. Click here to learn more.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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