Babys First Year

Okay, bear with me You may be shaking your head saying “Crystal, you can’t teach them manners when they are so young”. But I strongly disagree. As I see it manners, like so many other things, are caught more than they are taught.

So at this age when baby is facinated by you and copying your smile and gestures, rest assured she is also copying your behaviour. So when you need to take a toy from her, don’t forget to say please and thank-you.

Let me also add that “ta-ta” is not the same AT ALL as saying “please”. It’s always seemed odd to me that people would be so sure their child could learn to give them something because Mommy or Daddy said ta-ta and extended their hand… and yet wouldn’t think their child could understand the word “please”. Well they can Of course they can

Similarly, when you give them something, encourage them to say thank-you. It will take quite some time before they can say it but I’d bet they will surprize you by how early they will try to say it… and it’s just sooo cute to see and hear a little one try to say thank-you

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One of the newest trends in parenting is baby sign language. People in the deaf community have known for years that babies could communicate through sign long before their vocal cords allow them to speak, but the trend didn’t really catch on because of the false assumption that signing led to later verbal language development. We now know that not only does signing not keep a baby from talking; it actually helps them to start talking sooner and have better language skills. [read more below]

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By using sign, children learn how to express themselves with words, and some will even start to put words together in sentences before they turn one. Sign is also great for relieving some of the frustration you and your child face because they can tell you exactly what they want. This is especially helpful if your child is ill. Imagine a child under a year being able to tell you not only that they’re in pain, but where it hurts.

Before you start teaching your baby to sign, you should decide what signs to use. While the logical choice would be American Sign Language, some people discourage this because the signs are too complicated for developing hands and fingers. If you want to use simpler signs, there are books and videos with signs that are easier for babies to perform. Or you can make up your own signs, whatever works best for you. Just be careful with non-ASL signs. Some parent’s have unknowingly taught their children to use offensive language and been very embarrassed later on. Even if you use a sign from a baby sign book, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. It’s best to check with someone who knows ASL before teaching a new sign to your child.

Once you’ve decided what signs you are going to use, you need to take the time to learn them. If you do decide to use ASL, there are many resources online to learn from. Not only are their online ASL dictionaries; there are also specific resources that include only signs babies will need. They even have videos so you know you’re doing them right. To learn the signs, you may want to start using them even before your child is ready. This way you’ll be in practice when they are. The important part is to be consistent. Once you choose a sign, stick with it. And use it whenever the baby is in the room. That way, they think it is a normal part of communication.

Teaching a child sign language takes a little time, but is fairly simple. If you use hand signs, you can start around 7 to 8 months; however signs involving the lips and tongue can be taught starting at birth. You can teach your child to stick out their tongue for pacifier, or purse their lips if they want milk. To teach a sign, simply make the sign or facial expression every time you use a word. To keep your child from getting confused, teach them one word at a time. Once they’re successfully using that word, add another. Since this process might go slowly, teach them the most important words first, like: milk, wet (diaper), and ow (pain). These will also be the most useful words to you.

Baby Development baby sign language

Parents often go overboard when buying Christmas presents for their children, especially when that child is their first. What parents find out, after their babies are old enough to sit up and play, is that babies usually love boxes more than the toys that were originally in them.

Don’t become too discouraged. It happens to nearly every parent. When someone suggests that you may not want to spend so much on actual gifts because an infant won’t be able to appreciate them, you might want to listen. If they have children of their own, you may be able to avoid some of the same frustrations they’ve had.

What is it about boxes that draws the attention of babies? Part of the appeal may be that boxes are large and easily manipulated. Boxes are also lightweight so they won’t hurt if the baby drops them. Finally, as everyone knows, nothing tastes better than cardboard!

Since babies love boxes so much, don’t fight it. Take advantage of their interest in boxes to begin to teach them to use their imagination. Your baby won’t totally develop their sense of imaginative play until they are pre-school age, but there’s no reason to wait too long before encouraging this type of play.

Actually, if you haven’t looked at toys lately, you can buy pretend food to use in play kitchens. These are smaller than normal foods, so they’re easy for little children to handle. There are also plastic foods that are safe for children to put in their mouths.

One box that parents probably have in large numbers is baby wipes box. Not only can they be used to store small things in, they can be used to build with like building blocks. If your baby is a boy, he can put his chunky cars in the box and then take them out and play with them. Little girls, once they start playing with baby dolls, can put their baby’s clothes in the wipe boxes and even use the wipe box as a bed.

With babies, it seems that simple is best. They really don’t need to have toys with all the bells and whistles. Lights and noises at this age may get their attention, but they may not hold that attention for long. Give them a couple of small boxes and they’ll be happy for quite some time.

As your baby grows, they have the potential to turn almost anything into a toy. They’ll find things in your home that you may not wish them to play with, so be concerned about baby-proofing your home.

Babies grow up so fast. One minute they’re brand new, small, and helpless. The next thing you know, they’re trying to get around on their own. Give them simple things to play with. Babies love boxes and they’re great items to help them use their imagination.

Baby Development

(NC)-When it comes to learning, the age-old question “How young is too young?” arises.

“Children begin learning from birth. And, when it comes to literacy and numeracy development, a child can’t begin learning early enough,” says Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, Educational Specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centers. “Learning to read is the foundation of all academic achievement.”

Parents need to provide developmentally appropriate ways of encouraging and supporting early learning. It is important to understand that young children learn through play, exploration, dialogue and interaction.

While building sandcastles in a sandbox or molding an inter-planetary spaceship with play dough may seem like only fun, children are actually fine-tuning their motor skills with every shape they create. They are learning about shapes and quantities, and if we look very closely we can see that they are expressing their understanding of their world.

And while a child’s head may perk up over hearing about how old Mother Hubbard got stuck in a cupboard, the child is also absorbing the rich language and sounds of the words expressed in the nursery rhyme.

Nursery rhymes and songs are a good way to teach young children about rhythm, language and rhymes. Understanding and being able to manipulate the individual sounds in words is critical to learning to read.

Fundamental skills are learned through play and contribute to the development of early literacy and numeracy skills.

And, as the family becomes a child’s first teacher, the learning experiences they provide will have an impact on their child’s future reading and math skills.

But, there is a limit to how a baby or young child can be taught through structured learning activities.

Kumon recommends that children this young learn in a stress-free environment. “Learning should be stressed, not stressful,” says Dr. McGhie- Richmond. “It can be part of their routine, not all of their routine.”

In answer to the question, it is important to remember that children are never too young to start learning, but in the early stages, critical fundamental math and reading skills are best developed naturally through play, exploration and dialogue with family members.

About The Author – News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Baby Development

You’ve been anxiously waiting for the arrival of your new-born baby for the last 9 months, and you are wondering about baby development:

-how will he react to his new surroundings?
-when will she sleep for more than 2 hours?
-what can you expect in the following year?
-an so many other questions…..

Each baby is different. Your baby’s rate of growth, appearance, and personality, will all be unique to him or her. As you embark on this journey with your new baby, take time to enjoy their presence in your life.

And here are some of the milestones to watch for in the first year of your baby’s development:

First Month: During this time, you may not see too much growth, but the baby’s tiny body is going through many changes, adjusting from life in the uterus.

-your baby might have swollen breasts in the first few days after birth (this is normal even in boys, and it’s a result of the mother’s hormones passed to the baby in the uterus).
-jaundice (yellow coloring of the baby’s skin and white of the eyes) might appear a few days after birth, and it should disappear within a week
-babies love to be held, caressed, rocked, kissed, patted, massaged and carried: make sure you take time to do these things, as they will help you bond with your little one.
-your baby will sleep at least 12 hours a day (usually longer), in up to 4.5 hours at a time, staying awake long enough to be fed, or up to 2 hours before going back to sleep.

Second Month: During this time, most babies begin communicating their moods and preferences with smiles, and can recognize their parents.

-baby enjoys fuzzy blankets, satin blanket edges, warm breezes, and stuffed toys
-babies will “discover” their own hands, and will try to grasp objects
-baby loves the entertainment of watching his or her face in a mirror placed close to the crib, or near a blanket on the floor
-your baby’s nursing time will become more predictable

Third Month: This month, your precious little one will follow your voice around the room with fascination, and will sometimes “talk” back to you: what a delight!

-baby may roll over in one direction, and begin holding her head up
-baby will start following colored objects moved about 6″ to 8″ from their face
-you’ll se the first hints of their personality
-some babies will begin sucking their thumb

Fourth Month: They can now roll themselves over and bear their weight on their legs. Many can also sit up, reach for objects (uh-oh!), and some raise their chest, supported by their arms, when they lies on the stomach.

-baby laughs out loud
-squeals when happy
-turns toward the sound of a familiar voice

Fifth Month: Oh, what a wonderful time this is: your baby is preparing to take on the world, and is happy most of the time.

-recognizes parents and siblings
-experiments by making new sounds
-intently study their hands
-it’s time to get your baby some nice toys, but make sure they are age-appropriate (one-piece toys work best). Crib gyms and play gyms are great at this age, as well as mirrors and noise-makers.

Sixth month: Your baby starts to be more social this month. He will recognize his name, and turn his head in the direction of the person using his name.

-their reflection in the mirror will fascinate babies at this age
-as baby begins teething, there will be a lot of drooling
-some babies start sitting
-their hands and arms are more coordinated
-this month your baby needs to start getting solid food

Seventh Month: This month your baby starts to test his independence and see how far he can go with you. He’ll start to feed himself with his fingers. Your patience will be tested with his dinner thrown on the floor and he’ll delight your heart by playing peek-a-boo.

-baby will enjoy looking around at every object he can find, staring at new objects. Try blowing some soap bubbles her way and watch as she tries to grab the elusive little objects
-baby may delight you by saying mama or dada
-your baby can now sit without any support
-play time is becoming very important: make sure both mom and dad spend time playing with the little one

Eight Month: Your baby is more mobile now and will start to crawl or pull his/her body everywhere. Stay alert to where your baby goes. They will find all manner of things to pop into their mouth.

-by now your baby developed their own way to communicate with you: now is the best time to set limits on their behavior
-baby may gat attached to a soft, cuddly animal or blanket. Let them have that: it’s a security some babies need
-as your baby’s world starts to expand, they may develop shyness or a fear of strangers
-sleep should get more regular too

Ninth month: During this month, baby will reach for toys, try to grab the spoon during feedings, and in general, become quite a bit more active.

-he or she will be waving goodbye to the delight of the grandparents-will be able to pick up things using opposable thumbs
-will also start to look for things that have been dropped, like favorite toys.

Tenth Month If not walking by now, your baby will at least be able to stand while holding on to something.

-he will also be able to move from crawling to a sitting position, and will be quite mobile! Now is the time to sweep and dust carefully
- so that your baby’s bottom and belly stays clean. Safety gates are a necessity now also, as stairs
or sharp corners are a very real danger.
-the concept of object permanence has now been mastered – which means that your baby understands that a toy still exists even if it is out of sight. This means that he or she will cry for a favorite toy or “lovey” now if it is removed.

Eleventh Month Baby is much more curious now, and responds well to new sounds, colors and shapes.

-story time is much appreciated, and he or she will enjoy cuddling on your lab while being read to.
-babies now understand and can mimic simple gestures, and can say simple words
-now is the time to start teaching limits – if your baby picks up a forbidden object, tell him to bring it to Mommy or Daddy. Baby should understand simple requests such as this, but may not want to abide by them! If you are persistent in teaching simple rules, soon your baby will learn and respect her boundaries.
-meal time will end up in tub time during this month also, as baby learns to feed himself and makes messes in the process.

Twelfth Month Happy Birthday to your little one! They have come a long way in terms of mental, social and physical development in this year.

-by now, baby should enjoy stacking objects, and filling and emptying containers
-short play sessions with other children are a good idea now, and can teach baby a great deal about sharing and other social skills
-baby will have tripled his/her birth weight by now, and will be 29-32” long
-now is the time that baby will start to test parental responses to misbehavior, and will begin to examine his limits. The word “No” will definitely become part of baby’s vocabulary! Baby can now also pull off his hat and socks.

Babies are a wonderful reminder of how precious life is! Enjoy your child’s first year of life – it will go by quickly.

Baby Development

Each baby is different. Your baby’s rate of growth, appearance, and personality, will all be unique to him or her. As you embark on this journey with your new baby, take time to enjoy their presence in your life

Baby Development – First Year’s Precious Milestones – Read this complete guide to baby development covering everything from what to expect every month from your Einstein-to-be!

Getting Baby to Sleep Through the Night – If you struggle with your baby’s sleeping patterns at night, here are a few suggestions that may help.

How Early Should Learning Begin? – “Children begin learning from birth. And, when it comes to literacy and numeracy development, a child can’t begin learning early enough,” says Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, Educational Specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centers. “Learning to read is the foundation of all academic achievement.”

Premature Babies: Special Considerations – Premature Babies face many challenges that full term babies do not, but with proper care their outlook for optimal health is very strong.”

Understanding Baby Sleeping Patterns – Baby sleeping patterns can seem like calculus. We’re here to help! All you need to know about understanding and responding to baby sleep patterns.

How To Potty Train In Two Days – Yes, potty training is attainable: just be patient and persistent.

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