Taking his first steps
That major rite of passage is almost here - sometime this month your baby may take his first steps alone (though he may not do it for several more weeks or months, so don't worry if your baby doesn't become a toddler this month). Most children make those early strides on tiptoe with their feet turned outward. You won't want to miss your chance to document this moment, so have your camera loaded and ready. Also at about this time, your baby may begin feeding himself with a spoon, though he still frequently misses his mouth.
New kinds of play
Around now your baby's play will probably start changing from mastering his fine motor skills (he's got that thumb-and-forefinger grasp down pat) to exercising larger muscles. Some children this age have an attention span of two to five minutes for quiet activities - though your baby's favourite games may not be all that quiet
He probably thinks it's fun to push, throw and knock everything down. He'll give you a toy as well as take one, and likes games where he can put things such as blocks in containers and dump them out. This also works with pots and pans - he can put little ones inside bigger ones, as well as thrill to the loud sounds they make when banged together.
Making bedtime easier
One of the small luxuries of raising a baby is naptime - a little bit of downtime you can use to rest and recharge yourself. But as your baby approaches his first birthday, he may begin to resist taking naps, and his growing independence may lead him to make a fuss at bedtime.
Following a well-established nighttime routine, which might include a bath or a bedtime story, for example, may help settle him to sleep. It's also a good idea to consistently "sequence" your baby toward sleep. Feed him, give him a bath, put him in his pajamas or sleep suit, play a game, read him a book, sing songs or play some music, then put him down. Whatever you do, make it a regular routine, one that gives you and your baby plenty of time to connect and wind down. You may elect to alternate activities with your husband (you do the bath, he reads the story, and so on) each night, or, to give both of you a break several times a week, try taking it in turns to put him to bed.
It's hard to say goodbye
Your child has probably had bouts of separation anxiety during the last few months. This is natural: he loves and depends on you, so he'll be distressed when you leave. To ease departures, try getting to your babysitter’s early so your baby has time to adjust. Be matter-of-fact when you leave, and don't prolong the agony with extended goodbyes; make it quick, with just one kiss. Your baby's tears will subside soon after you're out of sight.
You can help your child feel more independent by not hovering over him all the time. If he toddles to another room, wait a couple of minutes before following. If you go to another area of the house, call to him when you're in the next room - but don't come running every time he squawks. Since absolute independence from his mum and dad isn't really the ideal for a baby, you want him to be able to feel he can rely on you and be aware of, not indifferent to, your comings and goings.
Learning more about language
Though at this point their vocabulary probably consists of only a couple of words besides "mama" and "dada," many one-year-olds can babble short, fully inflected sentences that sound like they're speaking a foreign language.
By now, your baby may also be able to respond to simple questions and commands, especially if you give him some clues with hand gestures. For example, ask, "Where's your mouth?" and point to it. Or try "Hand me the cup" and point to the object. Your baby may even answer you in his own way, using his own gestures, such as shaking his head for "no."
Take advantage of your baby's receptiveness to begin teaching him manners and how to help out. Emphasise "please" and "thank you," and make toy cleanup time fun by turning it into a game. Though he probably won't get the idea just yet, it's never too early to start.
Giving everything a name
It's up to you to help your baby make connections between objects and their names - the more you do, the faster your child's vocabulary will grow. Keep talking to your baby and labeling things. Count stair steps as you climb them and point out the names and colours of the fruits and vegetables at the supermarket. Read your baby a picture book and ask him to point to, or name, familiar objects. Give him choices sometimes. Ask him if he'd like to wear the red or the blue socks, or if he'd like to play with his blocks or his stacking rings. He may not answer, but then again, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Is my baby developing normally?
Remember, each baby is unique and meets physical milestones at his or her own pace. These skills are simply a guide to what your baby has the potential to accomplish - if not right now, then shortly. And if your baby was born prematurely, you'll probably find that it will be a little while before he can do the same things as other children his age. Don't worry, most doctors assess a premature child's development from the time he should have been born and evaluate his skills accordingly.
No comments:
Post a Comment