Jo Frost's Toddler Rules: Your 5-Step Guide to Shaping Proper Behavior

My saving grace! I am so grateful!!!! I bought this book when my son was about 18 months because he was starting to have tantrums and run away from us and it was dangerous. I read the part about the tantrums and was like, pfft. Then I tried out the tips for getting him to eat but they didn't work very well. I think he was too young honestly. This book has been collecting dust for a while. But my son turned 2 a month ago and started climbing out of his crib AND opening his door!!! so we had to transition to a toddler bed. My son is an explorer, he's impulsive, fearless, stubborn, hardheaded, and did i mention stubborn? I was having the worst time getting him to stay in his bed. I made the mistake of rocking him to sleep the first 2 yrs. And thats the only way he can get back to sleep. So he would wake up in the middle of the night, walk into our room and i had to go and rock him to sleep. And everytime i put him down he would wake up instantly and cry. As you can imagine I wasn't getting any sleep and was starting to get resentful. I tried putting him back in his bed repeatedly but my method was ALL wrong and it just got me ANGRY and him upset. One night neither of us got any sleep. It was horrendous. it was getting to the point where even if i put him to bed at 1am super tired he would still be awake and walking around at 7am. which was fine with me. until he started to get up at night. He just couldn't put himself back to sleep. I tried various solutions to this problem and none worked. Like i said, the kid is stubborn as hell. I was at my wit's end!! Then I picked up this book again. I said, let me try the sleep thing and see what she says. Her method was better than mine, same principle, different method. So i tried it yesterday for nap time. I noticed when I stopped picking him up and putting him in his bed, everything changed. he wanted that interaction. he wanted me to keep picking him up. once i just ignored him and stared stone faced at the wall and didn't react and let him stand there i noticed he just jumped up and down yelling but stayed next to his bed. he never even went towards the open door. and maybe 5 min in he got quiet. and stood there. i moved the chair further out and continued to sit still. he stood quietly and defiantly. at one point he even put his head down on a little table, but he refused to get in bed. eventually i was sitting outside of his door and then closed it (with lock). he came to the door pulling at the knob and crying. that lasted about 3 min at the most (it lasted hours the night before using my crappy method). then he got into his bed and slept for 2 hours! Thats a big deal. His naps had been reduced to like an hour at most. He wasn't getting enough sleep and it was unhealthy. When he woke up he went for the door and when he couldn't open it he got back into bed. Huge deal. Last night i tried this method again. This time he stood and cried for a few min and then got himself into bed and stayed there quietly staring at me. i moved my chair back progressively. all the while he laid quietly in his bed looking at me. finally i was sitting outside and closed the door with lock and he came to the door and tried to open it and cried. This lasted 30 seconds at most, then he went into his bed and went to sleep!!! WHAT?!!! OMG!!! he stayed there all night long! and whats more, this morning, instead of getting up at 7am when the sun comes up (like he has been for over a week) he stayed sleeping till 9am!!!!! AMAZING!! i am soooo grateful!! I can sleep and my son is well adjusted!!! I will keep locking the door for a few days then i will stop. i like him to be able to walk out and walk around in the mornings. i just want to make sure he knows to stay in his room at night and honestly its working like a charm. Just wanted to share this with you guys because nothing else was working and i was so desperate. Thank God for this book!! Next I'm going to tackle eating! I always watched Super Nanny trying to get tips before i had kids. Its a diff thing once you have them. But I highly recommend this book. i mean, this stuff works! its kind of crazy how well it works.

I am a clinical psychologist with 15 years' experience of working with children. Once I have determined child does not have an underlying clinical or developmental problem, I use this book with my clients. I also use Jo's Toddler SOS. I tell all my new clients to buy a copy of each before I start working with them! Jo's approach is no-nonsense and practical. She tells parents exactly what is needed and she does not soft-soap their responsibilities for managing children's behaviour (as so often happens nowadays). I have been on very expensive professional child-behaviour training courses that have not been half as useful as simply reading this book. My only criticism is that it does not seem to be available in hardback. My copy is fast falling apart! Also Jo, I would gladly pay for some photocopiable resources to use with clients.

I loved reading this book. At first it may seem just more of the same usual advice you can find on parenting websites, but no. It is well structured, full of practical techniques and ways to implement it. The book does a great job contextualizing with real-life examples such as small and older children, families with one or more kids, new siblings, divorce etc. It is packed full of techniques and lists - I had to summarize most of them and create my own quick reference guide to use on SOS moments with my children.

I've read a few books focusing on parenting toddlers. I have a 22-month-old son (and a 2 month old, as well) and was having trouble disciplining him since his brother was born. Jo's book provides suggestions and in-depth examples and scenarios to assist in implementing her advice. I've been using her techniques for about a month now, and notice that although my son still has tantrums, my overall relationship with him is better. Some tips like getting down to your child's level, maintaining consistency with discipline, letting your child exercise, and providing a healthy diet for your child may be common sense, but Jo goes into detail as to why she recommends what she does. She also emphasizes focusing on the child. All too often we get distracted by electronics or TV, when all our child wants is US! I deducted one star because at times the tone of the book was condescending, and I wish there was a recap at the end of the book because it felt a bit jumbled at times. Overall, this is my favorite parenting book I've read so far. I would (and have) recommended this book to friends and family.

Great tips! Every parent should read this. I appreciate the work put into the book. Thanks Jo Frost! You’re a legend.

I have a 2.5 year old son. I started reading this book before he was 1, and I continue to refer back to it for continued guidance and to make sure I am on the right path. The suggestions in this book are very useful, helpful and effective. She give you many different scenarios on how to handle many different situations. Great read! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a 5 year old or younger.

Jo knows children! Her methods are so practical, and they make overwhelming toddler situations much easier to handle. Her suggestions are simple, effective, and most importantly loving and compassionate. Her book really helps you understand what the root cause is of your child's behavior, and then offers truly effective strategies and solutions. This book should be handed out in hospitals at birth!

I had read other Jo Frost books but wanted more. This book is by far the best and most complete book she has written. The other books will no longer be referenced whereas this one is already dog eared. My biggest take away had to do with how each category is totally interrelated. If I want my child to be happy and prosper, I have to make sure I am doing my job to make sure all of his needs are being met... and Jo Frost explains in great detail each one (sleep, food, social, learning, and behavior) and how to do it. I also found the section on the different types of tantrums very helpful. What are we now doing differently? We have clearer routines that include all 5 areas; timeout spot now in use successfully (but rarely needed now), and I am much better about being the "speaking clock" and setting my expectations verbally beforehand. I also make sure to vary play time to challenge him on all levels. Lastly, I include him in tasks that before I had turned the tv on instead to keep him busy. My only suggestion for improvement would be for her to give better guidance on setting up the actual routine. A great book and MUST READ for parents looking to create balance in their homes.

Good tips for parents of toddlers. Parts of the book seemed repetitive and some topics could have been expanded upon.

awesome

I love this book ❤️ The book teach me very well. Thank you !

The book has been great for me figuring out how to parent. I bought used and regretted it though, cause the copy I got had severe water damage and black spots in it. I would rate lower, but Jo Frost’s book is so good I couldn’t!

Fantastic book, we have a very strong willed, independent, opinionated but beautiful, amazing 3 year old little girl and we breathed a huge sigh of relief when we realised she is not being difficult she's being a toddler. Fabulous tips and advice some of which we have implemented with great success!! If you have a toddler you need this book in your life! Thanks Jo xx