Replying to @Cheery@lemmy.world
Yes. So much, easier.
The big improvements in your future:
- reliably sleeping through the night ~3 YO for my boys (biggest improvement by far)
- reliable day time toileting, so not having to carry “the bag” everywhere
- better appetite/impulse control, ~4 YO, not always having to have a “kid snack” on hand. So you don’t have to constantly think, when they last ate.
Those are just a few big ones in your immediate future. There are bunch more smaller things.
One word of advice, don’t accept “I don’t like it”, before they taste any food. The rule in our house is “is OK to not like something, but not OK to not try something”. Fussiness is learned not innate. Too many parents give in way too quickly, and I see kids who don’t eat anything but stuff they are already comfortable with.
Another commenter said to encourage age appropriate independence. 100% agree. Example, a few weeks back on Sunday morning my 10YO comes into my room and asks to make pancakes for breakfast, answer “sure, but you have to make enough for everyone (5 of us) and any mess is your responsibly to clean up”. He got his brothers to help, 4YO getting utensils and setting the table, 7YO mixing and measuring, whilst he cooked.
It is an adventure, that’s for sure, three are super frustrating moments (daily) but there rewards are immense.