First Year
WOW! YOUR BABY IS ONE YEAR OLD!
By Jill Tomlin
Take time to pull out the photo albums and review the miraculous
changes you've witnessed in your baby this past year. Incredible! Most
important, revel in all baby can do as she celebrates her first year.
Baby has a delightful sense of humor, and she takes great pleasure in
teasing you. She loves to express affection, and she's most likely has
mastered the art of hugging and kissing. What a great year it's been --
and what an amazing adventure your family has ahead of you.
Milestones this month | Food for thought | Doing little things a lot better | Play group, anyone? | Just for mom
Milestones this month*
- Your baby now drinks from a cup without assistance.
- She can stand alone for several minutes.
- Baby walks well (keep in mind that good crawlers often are late walkers).
- She waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake.
- Baby says "mama" and "dada."
- She says other one-syllable words (like "hi").
- Baby expresses her wants with gestures and words instead of cries.
- She engages in gibberish conversation.
- Baby responds to simple commands.
*All babies
have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 11-month-old
hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that she will in
time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them
with her doctor. Food for thought By
12 months, your baby is ready to be weaned from breastfeeding or
bottle-feeding. You've been preparing for this time by introducing a
training cup (which your baby is probably handling well on her own by
now) and gradually cutting back on her traditional liquid feedings.
Consequently, you'll want to increase her intake of solid foods to
compensate for the decrease in liquids and to fuel any growth spurts
she may be experiencing.
On the other hand, some 1-year-olds
may show a decreased appetite about now. Keep in mind that although
babies triple their birth weight during the first year, they add only
about a quarter of their weight during the second year. Maybe your
little ravenous one has slowed down because she'd rather be playing;
maybe she's testing her newfound independence. Teething also can make
your baby lose interest in food.
Try to strike the right
balance between letting her eat when she's hungry and letting her pick
at her food when she's not. Don't force food on her, but maintain
control over her nutritious snacking between meals.
Doing little things a lot better As
your baby feeds herself, you'll notice how wonderfully her fine motor
skills are developing. Remember how she used to slap at the spoon until
it finally settled into her palm? Now she picks it up with the
precision of a surgeon -- and places it in her mouth with ease.
Those
same hands now manipulate objects in every way imaginable -- pinching,
poking, squeezing and twisting -- to determine their makeup. And the
adorable wave that used to flap madly at the wrist is now a crisp,
authoritative, "See ya later, pal!"
Play group, anyone?
Few
things are more adorable than watching your 1-year-old grab a buddy in
a great big bear hug. One-year-olds are just beginning their forays
into friendships. Understand that parallel play -- where children play
alongside one another but not with each other -- is really all your
1-year-old is capable of right now. Here's how you can help make these
social engagements more productive:
- Understand that your "shy" child is normal. Social behavior may not
fully develop for another year or two. In the meantime, work on helping
your child love and appreciate herself, and don't push her into
situations she can't handle.
- Sharing isn't a concept to which a 1-year-old can relate. And
she probably won't get it until she's 2 or 3. In the meantime, prevent
her from doing bodily harm to the friend who also wants the doll, and
redirect her if possible.
- Intervene immediately if your child hurts anyone. If your
child kicks, bites or grabs another child, take her aside and explain
that what she did hurt someone else, and that that's not acceptable. Be
firm and calm. Then help her begin a new activity. Be prepared to
have this conversation often.
Just for mom With
your baby now at the 1-year mark, you may be thinking about expanding
your family even further. Remember, it's never too early to start
nourishing your next baby. Maintaining optimum health during your
childbearing years is an essential part of being a mother. If you're
planning on another pregnancy, you need extra folic acid and iron in
your diet; ask your doctor whether you should take nutrition
supplements.
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About The Author
Topeka, Kansas native Jill Tomlin writes about health issues for Your Baby Today. Her work appears in national publications.
