This weekend, Squish met her Australian cousins for the first time, and the experience was as fun as we had anticipated, for babies and parents alike. To set the scene, let me tell you a bit about my family.

My toddler son loves playing with his toy vehicles, particularly fire engines, garbage trucks, police cars, ambulances and trains. So when not one, but two fire trucks rolled up to our friend’s nursing home as we were celebrating Christmas, my husband realised it was a fabulous opportunity.

Over the course of this guide, we'll break down the different areas of your baby's development and what to expect by the time you have a three-month-old.

The lesson we learnt is not to worry too much about our child’s milestones, especially if they’re within the broad, acceptable ranges. Every child is different and might bring their various skills together at odd times and in odd combinations.

My toddler son loves diggers, or excavators. He can spend hours watching a digger at work, piling earth into a dump truck. So when I saw there was a discount for Dig IT at Mount Tamborine, a mini excavator park for children in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, I pounced on it.

Being the father of a toddler came at me fast. Before the next big phase arrives, it’s time to slow down and reflect on four simple things I have learnt during Squish’s first year about some parenting basics.

Richard has now experienced what an incredible blessing it is to be a parent. As a single dad, he courageously stepped up to a task that seemed too big, and now he recognises the amazing things he would have missed had he chosen to give in to fear and run.

I remember the feeling of accomplishment when I successfully managed my first bus trip with my newborn all by myself. With an infant, the mundane act of taking public transport transforms into a glorious adventure and holds a multitude of teachable opportunities.

Now that I have two toddlers, we spend many happy hours in playgrounds. Here in Brisbane, we are spoilt for choice. There are various new features which surpass the playgrounds of yore.

It happened so quickly, I barely noticed the change. But all of a sudden, our little bundle of joy needs to be disciplined. Every moment of the day, she is finding ways to test boundaries and assert her independence.

Dining out can be stressful rather than relaxing when you have rambunctious toddlers. Here are some tips to make it a more pleasant experience for everyone, fellow patrons and waitstaff included:

As we live in an urban area, it takes some planning and effort to facilitate encounters with animals and experiences of plant life. What nature-themed adventures have you found in your area?

How do you maintain your motivation and commitment as a dad? According to our own research on fatherhood, high commitment is the number-one sign or predictor of an effective father. But there’s a problem… our commitment level erodes over time.

Dads, spark your children’s imaginations! Stoke their curiosity! Be the fantastical father who fires up their brain synapses and inspires them to find their place in the world. You won’t regret it.

Life gets busy, and despite the instinct to nest and collect all necessities before birth, your due date can creep up on you before you know it. Preparing during your second trimester might be ideal, as you tend to have more energy then.

One of the best things a dad can do for his kids is to love and respect their mother. A strong marriage creates security for the whole family, and it helps your kids thrive in significant ways.

With the birth of your tiny human comes an awareness of things that could possibly go wrong. Suddenly, your home becomes a zone of veritable death traps. It is ideal to begin childproofing before your newborn starts crawling and natural curiosity imperils your offspring.

As a husband and father, I couldn’t agree more with Harrison Butker — whether on leadership, cultural chaos, masculinity, responsibility, and men and women’s complementary roles as husbands and wives.

One thing I wish I had known as a new parent was to look harder on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or in local Buy Nothing groups before buying a whole bunch of new things.

Wayne Alcorn has recently released a new book, "My Father's Son". International speaker and leadership consultant Sam Chand said, “'My Father’s Son' will make you laugh and cry at the same time, inspire and challenge you simultaneously.” I agree with Sam. It really is fantastic!