What talking to Simone looks like

That's so draining — I'm sorry. Sudden night waking at 18 months is really common and usually has a fixable cause. Can I ask: has anything changed recently with his naps, bedtime, or routine? And does he settle when you go in, or stay distressed?

That's a strong clue. Later bedtimes at this age often cause overtiredness, which fragments the second half of the night. Try moving bedtime 15–20 minutes earlier for a week and keep the room as dark as you can. Quick, boring reassurance when he wakes is exactly right. Want me to help you map out an earlier wind-down?

First, breathe — this is incredibly common and rarely as harmful as it feels. 'Beige diet' phases are a normal part of toddler development, not a sign you've done anything wrong. Is she generally growing well and full of energy?

Then you've got room to play the long game. The aim is to lower the pressure: keep offering small amounts of new foods alongside her safe ones, with zero expectation she eats them. Repeated, calm exposure is what works over weeks. Would some low-stress ways to introduce variety help?

That's hard to watch, and you're right to take it seriously. At 5, hitting is usually a sign he doesn't yet have the words or tools for big frustration — not that he's 'bad'. Does it tend to happen when he's tired, or competing for your attention?

That makes a lot of sense — the hitting may be a bid for connection as much as anger. Two things tend to help: naming the feeling out loud for him in the moment ('You're so cross you wanted me right now'), and a small daily pocket of one-on-one time that's just his. Shall I suggest a simple way to respond the next time he hits?