Make the Most of your Baby's First Year

The first year of a child's life is full of change. Every day brings new development and growth. Here are some things to look for and expect in your baby's first year.

During the first month you will be establishing routines, only to find everything changes as soon as the routine seems set. In another article we discussed all the things you need to do to stay healthy and strong for your new baby. You can read that article here:

Mom Care

2-3 months: establishing routines
After the first month with your new baby you begin to have routines. Eating and sleeping should begin to have an order or pattern, even if it's not exactly the same every day. Your baby will begin to recognize the human face and prefer it to all other shapes. Bold shapes and defined colors will draw your baby's attention.
Your baby will begin to recognize you as mom or dad and prefer your face over others. Before your baby becomes mobile is a good time to be sure your house is child-proof. Put outlet protectors in all unused outlets, get child-proof locks for your cabinet doors.

4-5 months: rolling over, teething, tri-poding
At 4 months your baby will begin to roll over from front to back, then back to front. Eventually you may find you have a "roller" or "scooter," maneuvering from one side of the room to the other. You should never leave your baby unattended at this age, unless in a play yard or crib,  as they can easily roll off beds or into things on the floor. Babies can begin to teeth at 3 months but 4-5 months is more common. Your baby can teeth for months before any teeth erupt. Teething toys that can be cooled in fridge or freezer are helpful, but any safe teething toy will help. Mashed frozen celery with the strings removed, has mild analgesic properties and your baby will enjoy having it rubbed into their gums.  We also use Tylenol orally as directed and massaged directly on the gums for relief. Or keep Orajel, or something similar, on hand for those times when nothing else helps. Orajel is an oral gel that helps to numb the gums.
Your baby will find his feet around this time...
Your 5 month old baby may begin to push up into a sitting position and lean forward on one arm. This is called tri-poding. It won't be long before you will have a "crawler" on your hands.

6-7 months: introducing solid foods
Your 6 month old will begin to sit independently. And will want to eat solid foods. Discuss with your pediatrician the types of foods to introduce first, but usually bland, gentle foods that are mashed up are recommended. Applesauce, infant rice or oat cereal, and mashed banana are all good first foods for your baby.

First foods:
baby rice cereal
baby oat cereal

Then add fruits and vegetables - all pureed:
sweet potato
pumpkin
butternut or acorn squash, or other similar squash
carrot
applesauce
bananas
pear
plum

DO NOT feed your baby of this age: 
shellfish
nuts
nut butters

8 - 14 months: Walking, new foods, talking
Walking: Babies generally begin to walk sometime between 8 and 14 months, so you will most likely begin to see activity in that direction. Pulling up from sitting to standing, taking wobbly steps while holding onto the furniture or your hand will probably begin during these months. If you haven't already child proofed your outlets, cabinets and stairs, you must now. Your child is about to become completely mobile and eventually will be able to run faster than, or at least as fast as, you.

​New foods: You can begin to introduce more foods as your baby tolerates the simpler ones. You can purchase already prepared baby foods or make your own. Making your own can be as elaborate as pureeing unseasoned separate foods in a blender or as simple as mashing what's on your plate with your fork. If you haven't already graduated your baby into a high chair or snap on table chair, you certainly can as soon as your baby sits up well. Be sure the chair has a horn that fits between the legs so baby doesn't slip out of the chair. If the chair doesn't have a belt, you can use one you own, or create one with a rope or a tie from a piece of clothing. 

Talking: Your baby will begin making vocalizations, like cooing, at about 2 months of age. This vocalization will continue until you can begin to understand words. Dada is often the first word babies say, the Mama a close second. Model speech to your baby and let them know you are trying to understand them. Many parents use sign language with their young babies to help them communicate with motions before they can speak. This can help your baby feel less frustrated. 

15 months and older: Childproof your house!!
Once your baby starts to walk, everything becomes a little more challenging. If you haven't already done so, you will want to install a gate at the bottom and/or top of staircases. You may find you have a climber on your hands or perhaps an escape artist that would challenge Houdini. You will need outlet covers, cabinet stops, cords off the floor, breakable objects moved out of reach. Mobile babies require some of the most intense attention to keep them safe. Put up as many barriers as possible and explain every time your baby goes into an area that is off-limits, that he must not go there without you. They will eventually understand you.

Article by Ruth Grunstra
All Rights Reserved
​©2016