Oh Crap! I have a Toddler

Tackling These Crazy Awesome Years—No Time Outs Needed

By: Jamie Glowacki

Narrated by: Jamie Glowacki

Real-world, from-the-trenches toddler parenting advice from the author of the bestselling Oh Crap! Potty Training.

Toddlers—commonly defined as children aged between two and five years old—can be a horribly misunderstood bunch. What most parents view as bad behavior is in fact just curious behavior. Toddlerdom is the age of individuation, seeking control, and above all, learning how the world works. But this misunderstanding between parents and child can lead to power struggles, tantrums, and even diminished growth and creativity.

The recent push of early intellectualism coupled with a desire to “make childhood magical” has created a strange paradox—we have three-year-olds with math and Mandarin tutors who don’t know how to dress themselves and are sitting in their own poop. We are pushing the toddler mind beyond its limit but simultaneously keeping them far below their own natural capabilities.

In the frank, funny, and totally authentic Oh Crap! I Have a Toddler, social worker Jamie Glowacki helps parents work through what she considers the five essential components of raising toddlers:

—Engaging the toddler mind
—Working with the toddler body
—Understanding and dealing with the toddler behavior
—Creating a good toddler environment
—You, the parent

Oh Crap! I Have a Toddler is about doing more with less—and bringing real childhood back from the brink of over-scheduled, over-stimulated, helicopter parenting. With her signature down-and-dirty, friend-to-friend advice, Jamie is here to help you experience the joy of parenting again and giving your child—and yourself—the freedom to let them grow at their own pace and become who they are.

One of my favorite toddler books

I have read a few and found this to be the most reasonable and practical.

Required Reading

Don’t wait until they turn two or three. Read this as soon as you can, and then revisit. And read other books too… there is no one and only golden source, but this should certainly be part of your new parent reading list.

Most Comprehensive Parenting Book 3-5yrs

I really really loved this parenting book. It’s set for 3-5year olds; I have a 4, 3 and 1 year old so it was fitting. There are other popular best sellers that will lament further on certain chapters of this book. However, Jamie’s book cuts right to the chase and tells you what need to know and give actual tools for HOW to do it. Too often parents are told what to NOT do but never told what TO do, or are never given actual tools to help toddlers work through emotions and situations. Jamie has ALL of this in her book. I loved the format - parents first, kids second: she goes into how we as parents can improve and help make our lives easier, then goes into kids and how to help understand and navigate their issues. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends with toddlers too!

Down to Earth mom with lots of experience and research

This book is an essential resource for parenting a toddler. With years of experience and research, Glowacki really pinpoints all of the important aspects of parenting a toddler and how to keep your own cup full. Highly recommend.

Jamie is part of my village

this woman is amazing! I have seen alot of the same behaviors in my own and daycare kids. Jamie is down to earth, and I love the way she teaches me how to see the world though the eyes of a 3nager. i appreciate her wisdom and experiences. i am grateful she is sharing. the voice on this book is amazing. its like I'm listening to Jamie herself. I just love it so much! I tell all my parents friends send clients to read it as well.