Posts tagged baby development
Saying Farewell to Your Preconceived Ideas – Special Needs Children
Every pregnancy has risks, and in all our visits to the obstetrician, in birthing classes, and on the labels of every medication, there are warnings about side effects that can harm you or your baby. Yet, despite all the safety precautions we may take, some things are simply out of our control.
This week’s post is from my interview with Janice, a Philadelphia mother who went to a “Mommy and Me” exercise class with her first born child, only to find that her beautiful and alert little girl couldn’t do what the other babies were doing. The instructor and other moms told her not to worry; after all, the baby development charts are “guides” not edicts. But Janice wasn’t sure. Her baby tended to clench one fist and use her other hand. That was definitely not in her baby books.
At her baby’s 9-month well baby visit, Janice said she needed More >
Temperament: The Core of Your Baby’s Disposition
All during your pregnancy (or waiting period if your baby comes to you through adoption or surrogacy) you wonder, “What will this child be like? Is my baby going to be shy or rambunctious, sensitive or easy going?”
In the first few weeks I think most of us are just trying to get in sync with our baby’s rhythms, tracking hunger, food intake, elimination, and sleep patterns. If your baby is colicky, you’re just trying to stay sane and find a solution to soften Baby’s discomfort. We simply watch, fascinated, as our babies stretch, fret, frown, and coo, no matter if they are awake or asleep. And it’s not long before we hear ourselves telling someone, “Oh my baby likes to be held like this—and you demonstrate the curl and wrap, the shoulder pat or the chest nest—whatever you call Baby’s sweet spot of comfort. By four months you become More >
Watching Babies Think: When Baby Starts Walking, Mom Starts Running!
Baby’s First Steps
For most of us moms, Baby’s first steps signal so much in terms of our own development as a parent. We’ve made it through the trenches of infancy, where we were uncertain about every move and decision made on behalf of our totally dependent child. Our maternal confidence has evolved because things are progressing. Our babies are not only alive and well; they’re standing, babbling, and balancing themselves to walk those adorable unsteady steps into our arms. This moment is an accomplishment unto itself.For our babies, those first steps signal to them that they are doing something new that makes you very happy. And being eager to please, your baby reads your cues and is excited about trying very hard to stay balanced and move forward at the same time. But it doesn’t take very long before babies revel in what they More >
Watching Babies Think: What’s This? What’s That?
While a baby’s body matures physically, the thinking part of the brain is undergoing some amazing changes as well. From 9 months to about 18 months, the action and the thinking accelerate explosively. Most babies seem determined to outwit Mom in the quest to be well-informed. Whether something is dirty or clean, hard or soft, edible or inedible, your baby has an inquiring mind and wants to see and handle. He wants to know “What the heck is that over there? Oh! The remote control? Let me at it!” This is what’s going through your baby’s mind as he discovers the many purposes of objects and materials. And because so much thought has accumulated in the rapidly absorbing brain, a few words and lots of sounds are now spewing forth to go with the action.
Most of us moms are happy to see these changes because it lets us know that many More >
Playground Chatter: Baby’s Mid-year Milestones
This year is flying by and as we reach the mid-year mark, we asked our fans what major milestones they have seen their little one hit so far this year. From crawling to first words, each one achieved something great. Here are some accomplishments they shared with us:
- @soooooty said, “my boy is 3 n finally can make up sentence among the gibberish he says:-)”
- @SarahABDS tweeted, “so many but i’m waiting my LO to mark the main milestone: to sleep through the night!!!!”
- @AngelMom037 shared, “So many! He turned 1 this yr so walking & talking are the big ones =)”
- Jennifer commented, “Starting to talk, and beginning PTing! 12-18 months is a very busy time”
- Julia posted, “My munchkin is rolling over and almost sitting up independently…”
- Ash noted, “My baby girl khloe is 6 months and she is army crawling rolling over and sitting up all on More >
Guest Blogger Spotlight: One word, “Amazement”
If I had to sum up being a mom in only one word it would be amazement.
I’m sure you are thinking of all the words why pick amazement, but that is simple-children are amazing. As adults we look back at our childhoods and fondly remember birthdays, holidays and special people who played roles in our lives. As we get older and finish school and begin our adult lives we tend to lose sight of what we loved most as kids. Then the day comes when we have a child of our own, in my case a 4 year old daughter. Having her in my life has opened my eyes to so many things that over time I tended to overlook. As our lives get more complicated and busy often the simplest and sometimes special moments do not get the notice they should.
From something as small and simple as watching her play in puddles to mastering the basic milestones such as More >
