Foster Parenting for Toddlers: Eating, Sleeping, Potty Training 

I adore the compassion you bring to the foster community. I think new foster parents often forget that EVERYTHING is a new experience for foster kids. Trying to pressure kids into doing something (eating a new food, staying quiet at night, etc etc) can be so stressful, especially when you barely know the adult you’re talking to.

you’re not just teaching how to help foster kids but you’re teaching beautiful healthy ways to raise a child

All we did with one of our 2.5 year olds was call cucumbers green chips. 😂 We had called them cucumbers and modeled it like this, offering ranch and everything. One day I cut them differently with one of those ridged cutters, sprinkled them with salt, and asked him if he wanted some green chips. He knew they were cucumbers, even watched me cut them. But he tried them, ate a bunch, and asked multiple meals for green chips. I think a lot of parents now say eating is best. That is especially true for kids in care or who have experience trauma. If they’re eating food that has any sort of nutritional value at all even if it’s Dino nuggets for every meal then it’s fine. I appreciate your content so much! My family was sort of interim care for 3 year olds and younger when I was in college. I want to foster older kids in a few years

This also seems like good basic parenting advice as well.

These are so great. I especially loved how you talked about doing a fun activity but prioritized using the bathroom first. I know every parent has gone through the struggle with their child who does not want to stop doing the fun thing to do the boring use the bathroom thing.

Thing that I learned in teaching and raising little kids is, it is better for their brain to understand us telling them what to do instead of saying what not to do. For example, when you say “no running.” They don’t process as well as if you say “ use walking feet please” Instead of saying “ Stop playing and get into bed” I say something like “ let’s quiet our bodies and quiet our thoughts and our voices.” There are a lot of opportunities to give them instruction on what to do instead of being reactive if they are not doing something you don’t want to. I love your videos, even though I have only fostered as young as eight, and all the way up through aging out. Sometimes, slightly older children need to be parented gently as if they were still toddlers.

All great ideas! I would also explain that “waste elimination” can be something kids who have been through/are going through trauma will control. The bathroom can be a place that was a source of fear/trauma, or they just have had so little control over their lives that it is the one thing they can control.

When we experience trauma as children, our emotional & mental growth is stunted & can often regress. We need to heal those wounds first. ❤

You're such a ray of sunshine! I have no interest in being a parent, biologically or otherwise, but even I can tell what a blessing you are for the children and for the community of foster parents at large! Everyone can learn from your manners.

I believe actually that all children can profit from these parenting tips. Introducing new food should be without pressure e.g. Foster children just surprise at what they do not yet know at a certain age.

your compassion for education without exploitation is incredibly rare. thank you for being dedicated to child welfare

You’re not just helping other Foster parents but also those of us who work with foster youth and their families ❤ thank you thank you!!!!

Hi, your videos started randomly showing up on my Instagram. I dont plan to ever foster but I was a child in an abusive environment and several of your videos have helped me to understand what happened to me and how it is affecting my behaviour now. Thank you.

I know very few people will see this, but For a couple of years, My uncle and aunt fostered kids. One of these kids was a 1-year-old. If you left her alone in a room, she would start crying because she thought you were gone. She was pretty much non-stop crying for about 8 months, and They were following a lot of tips and doing really well as foster parents. (She just hated being alone, and thought she was being left behind.) Eventually, it was Christmas time. My mom bought matching pajamas for everyone to take pictures in, and she bought a pair for her too. The kid (from what I've heard) was really excited, and from then on she felt like she was part of the family, and didn't feel like they were going to abandon her. She made a ton of progress after Christmas, and found her forever home I think around 2 months later. :) just a sweet story about fostering

These Videos Have Always Made Me Happy, I have Never Gone To Foster Care But These Videos Are Entertaining. Thanks For Creating This Content!

This channel is always SO beautiful. Thank you.

This is great! Raw veggies and dip are the way to go when people don’t like or haven’t tried them before. Cooked veggies just don’t taste as good. A little ranch dip isn’t going to hurt anything as long as it’s a readonable amount. You don’t offer a big steamed Brussels sprout that smells like a fart for a first timer.

Stumbling upon your video recently has been a great insight into what it takes to be a foster parent. I finally decided to go back to school this year to finish up my bachelor degree in social work. Your video it has helped me understand alternative ways and a positive attitude of how to work with such kids in need. Thank you, and thank you for making me believe their are good foster parent.

I’m 36 and I disagree with the fact that we cant have Dino nuggies every night I think I’ve earned that.. haha but seriously do you have any more content on fostering infants… how do we raise her with the knowledge that we are not her parents we can say here’s a picture of mommy but in reality, we will be the ones with her every day

As a fully functional and healthy adult that was an incredibly picky eater as a child (I don't think I ate an olive or tomato or tuna until I was in my 20s!), letting your kids eat whatever it is that they are willing to eat is TOTALLY FINE. Ugh, I remember the horrible textures and tastes and smells of most foods--all my senses were heightened. I basically only ate Cream of Wheat and mac and cheese for at least a year with a few select canned veg and fruit. Who cares if they will only eat a few foods? I promise you it will be ok. Making food into a big issue or power struggle, making them eat something that they don't like is much more damaging.

Hello Laura, could you make a video to address how to potty train an older child (5-8) who has been severely neglected, shamed, and even punished for their bodily functions?

I feel like this SHOULD be normal parenting advice lol

Your such a good example of doing this very hard work

I'm not even a foster parent these are just entertaining for me

I’m actually thinking of becoming a foster parent in the future but see this lady I’m definitely going to

Hi, great video! Can I ask what your choices are on their menus? Do you do that for other meals too or just dinner? I’m currently awaiting my first placement and am trying to learn different ideas! 😊

Please could you maybe talk about how you take care of your own emotional wellbeing while supporting foster children through things like trauma? PS I love your videos!

Thank you for your videos! I would love ideas to cope with attention seeking behavior as a foster parent and how to support a child that is attention seeking constantly.

Could you do more videos about fostering tween/teens?

Hi Laura, I really appreciate your channel. In Foster care, kids have to sleep in their own room and cannot get in bed with you right? How might you handle a toddler who has only slept in bed with mom their whole life?

I’m an under 20 girl and I just love this channel idk y lol

I was with ya till the HVR . LOL Merry Christmas Laura!

❤❤❤❤ Laura Rocks! ✌🏻✌🏻

I'm only surprised by the "support their back to fall asleep" move, could you explain more ? I would have guessed that kids who experienced abuse or neglect might feel triggered by physical touch (like I was and still am), is it less likely for toddlers ? Or are you sharing that when it's helpful to the kid it's very helpful so it's really worth asking. Thanks a lot for any clarification ❤

Not me just getting new ideas on how to get my picky toddler to try new things 😂

I'm stuck in Pampers size 6 mostly for bedtime accidents 😂

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again - your videos are not just helpful for fostering and/or parenting children who have experienced trauma. These skills are helpful for kids who are neurodivergent, as well.

Anything plant based on that list? And, have you had experience with a kiddo who has chosen to be vegetarian or vegan? How would you accommodate that?

I am a step aunt to a very picky child, a boy approaching tween, and my step mother who is his grandmother has a hard time, it's a fight, getting him to try new foods or even to eat something else other than either dino nuggets or McDonald's everytime. Is there anything you can suggest to get him to try the food or make a choice for himself what he wants that isn't the same thing?

This is super random, but do you by chance have any accessories for the Peppa pig house yet?

alot of these seem just good parenting advice in general, not just children in foster care

How do you deal with a 6 yr old that pees her pants. She will go for a good amount of time not peeing then all of a sudden pees her pants multiple times in the week. Her little sibling who is just potty trained at the end of 2023 gives her lots of sass about it. Because once she got the concept she was done peeing herself. It took her till she was 4 and a half but she has it down completely. Big sis just struggles despite being older and in school. We have had them for over two years now.

Is it against any rules to physically show a child how to use the bathroom? Like some kids might need to see you do it before they can do it

Wait I missed something. Someone please clarify. The dino nuggets thing. Did the experienced foster parent just let the child choose the nuggets? I'm probably wrong on that because he has to eat more than chicken nuggets!

Omg. This menu consists of just fast food.... Wtf

Bring them home now 🎗️🇮🇱

I bet you’d be able to get my daughter to eat 🥹she’s 7, was failure to thrive as a baby and it’s never gotten better.