Episode 43·Newborn·4:29
Why Your Toddler's Strong Preferences Are Actually a Good Thing
Turning 'no' and 'mine' into meaningful milestones
Why Your Toddler's Strong Preferences Are Actually a Good Thing
Turning 'no' and 'mine' into meaningful milestones
Hear the full episode in the app →Sophie explores the surprising upside of your toddler's sudden preferences, and how their insistence on choosing everything is actually a sign of healthy development.
In this episode
Your toddler's newfound insistence on wearing only the red shirt or eating only the yellow macaroni can feel exhausting. But Sophie has good news: those strong preferences are a sign of healthy brain development, not just random stubbornness. In this mini, she walks through why this stage matters — and how to lean into it.
Three things to try
- Offer limited choices — let them pick between two shirts, not five.
- Use their preferences to ease transitions ('Okay, the blue cup before nap time').
- Celebrate their decision-making — even when it feels small.
- toddler
- parenting
- development
- decision-making
Continue listening
Hear the full episode in the Maternity app.
Sophie picks up where this teaser leaves off, with the full 4:29 conversation, plus everything else on Maternity.
Get MaternityMore episodes
Starting Solids: How to Know When Your Baby Is Ready
The signs to look for, and how to take the first bite
Understanding Your Infant's Sleep Cycles: What's Normal?
Decoding your baby's sleep patterns, from naps to night wakings.
When Your Preschooler Starts Lying: Why It Happens and How to Respond
Understanding the developmental roots of lying and how to respond with clarity and empathy
