BABY 9 - 12 MONTH OLD

YOUR INTENT 9-MONTH-OLD

Your baby now loves to play games. He'd rather not go to sleep. And he loves to practice "walking" while holding on to a steady yet movable object (like a laundry basket)! Your 9-month-old is starting to have "a mind of his own." Isn't it wonderful to see your child seeking some independence?

Milestones this month

• Your baby now can pull himself up to a standing position from sitting down.


• He can stand while holding on to someone or something.


• Baby uses the "pincer grasp," holding tiny objects between his thumb and forefinger.


• He can walk while holding onto furniture.


• Baby drinks from a cup.
  
• He can stand alone for a few seconds or perhaps longer.


• Baby says "mama" or "dada."


• He understands the meaning of "no."


• Baby responds to simple commands (such as "Give Mommy the toy").

All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 9-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.

• Skip that morning nap? Your baby's newfound independence may lead him to try to overthrow your sleep rules -- at nap time and at bedtime. At 9 months, he may start to wean himself from a morning nap.


• Be supportive, unless he just can't make it to lunchtime without being fussy and overtired. Bedtime rituals Don't be surprised if your usually complacent baby starts refusing to go to bed. To keep the house calm at night, try these tips:
  Establish bedtime rituals that relax your baby. Give him a warm bath, read him a book, listen to soothing music, or rock him in a chair and cuddle.


• Don't rock him to sleep. Wait until he's very relaxed and drowsy but still awake before you put him in the crib. You want him to learn to fall asleep by himself.


• Once the baby is in his crib, leave the room. Even with his eyes closed, he'll sense your presence, and that will alert and distract him.


• Encourage your baby to become attached to a particular doll, stuffed animal, or blanket. Make sure it's with him when he goes to bed.
  

Eventually, sleep will come easily again. And it should, for all the miles your baby's now putting on during the day.

Playtime
Though it may be a bit too soon to break out the board games, your baby is more than ready to play lots of fun games with you. And while keeping him entertained is important, so are the social, language, and coordination skills he'll learn from these games. Here are some fun examples of activities you can share:

• Peekaboo: Cover your face with a blanket or your hands, or hide behind something. Call out "Where's Mommy?" and then uncover your face and say "peekaboo!" You're guaranteed plenty of giggles -- and lots of requests for encores.
• So big: Ask your baby how big he is, then indicate it by spreading your arms (and his) wide and reciting, "So-o-o-o big!"
• One, two, buckle my shoe: This is a great opportunity to begin counting with your child, either with his fingers or while climbing stairs. "One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, shut the door. Five, six, pick up sticks. Seven, eight, lay them straight. Nine, ten, start again."
  
• Face fun: It's hard to find a baby who doesn't love pointing to (and pulling on) your facial features. Turn this into a game by making funny noises for each feature; remember to repeat the feature's name each time ("This is Daddy's nose") so you'll reinforce the labels and language.
  
  

YOUR ACTIVE 10-MONTH-OLD



About this time, your little one -- who not so long ago was content to lie on the floor and watch the world go by -- is crawling everywhere, standing by herself, and possibly trying to take her first solo steps. There's no stopping her now! Grab the camcorder before she's out of sight!


Milestones this month

• She can walk while holding onto furniture.


• Baby can stand alone, possibly for a few minutes.


• She drinks from a cup.


• Baby plays pat-a-cake or waves good-bye.


• She understands the meaning of "no."


• Baby says "mama" or "dada."


• She expresses herself with gestures and sounds instead of cries.


• Baby can roll a ball to you.


• She uses gibberish in a conversational way.

All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 10-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.

Fancy footworkShoeless is cool You may wonder what's the appropriate footwear for your newly mobile baby. Most doctors recommend nothing. Your baby's feet develop best when they're bare; this helps build arches and strengthen ankles. But if you're looking for protection while you're outdoors, choose low-cut baby shoes with flexible soles, flexible uppers, flat nonskid bottoms and a roomy fit.

• Stepping up
  Your active 10-month-old probably also has discovered stairs -- and how to climb them. Most likely, baby knows how to go up but not how to come down. Encourage her to crawl up the stairs, but make sure you're planted close behind her. Do the same as she maneuvers her way back down; help baby put her knees and feet in the proper positions for the trip back down. Never leave your child unattended on or near stairs; those tumbles can result in serious injury.



• Exercise cautiously
  As your baby grows stronger and more active, it may be tempting to introduce her to some of the exercise opportunities outside your home. Before you engage in any "baby workouts," though, there are some things to consider:

• Infant swimming Use these classes to help your child become comfortable in the water; your baby isn't quite ready to learn the breaststroke!


• Baby exercise classes or videotapes Look for fun activities that provide socialization, not competition. Avoid those that promote passive motion (where you move your baby's limbs), stretching or any techniques that are aimed at improving strength, conditioning or coordination. These exercises could cause serious injuries to an infant's still-developing bones and joints.


• Jogging Although running with your baby in a backpack may sound like a great bonding opportunity, keep in mind that the bouncing, jarring motions could injure her head or back. Also, you'll put her at risk if you fall or run into someone.
  Thanks for the memory Baby also may remember events. A song played on a carousel may trigger memories in your child when she hears it played later on a cassette tape. Though she may not be able to tell you in words that she recalls the song, her excited smiles and facial expressions will say it all. "Out of sight, out of mind" no longer applies. If your child has ever enjoyed unrolling the toilet tissue that sits on the other side of the cabinet door, she'll remember the pleasure every time she passes the door.
  

YOUR ACTIVE 11-MONTH-OLD

Baby talk -- it's so sweet and yet so important to a lifetime of communication for your child. Isn't it amazing how much baby's connecting with the world around him? And he needs your help more than ever to learn about the language of life.

Milestones this month

• Your baby now walks while holding onto furniture.
  
• He uses the "pincer grasp" to pick up tiny objects between his thumb and forefinger.
  
• Baby can stand alone.


• He drinks from a cup.


• Baby says "mama" and "dada."


• He says a few other one-syllable words (like "hi").


• Baby communicates his wants with gestures and words instead of cries.


• He talks in conversational gibberish.
  

All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 11-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that he will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with her doctor.

Helping your baby to master the wonderful world of words

• Talk simply, talk often Use simple, one-word labels to identify every component of your child's life.
  
• Go for a stroller ride and point to every tree, flower, or bird you pass by.
  
• Continually name all the objects in his bedroom and the toys in his closet. And use your baby's name often so he develops a real recognition for it.
  
• Listen Patiently listen as he weaves an incomprehensible tale, then respond appropriately and courteously. Try to pick out "real" words, then say them back to your child as a way of trying to understand him.
  
• Introduce concepts Point to objects and describe them as big or little, empty or full, up or down. Illustrate ideas with objects or actions whenever possible.
  
• Name colors When you label objects, identify their color.


• Name numbers When you talk about objects, identify how many there are. ("You are wearing two blue socks today.") Sing counting songs like "This Old Man."
  
• Don't always put words in your baby's mouth Instead of saying "I'll bet you'd like a snack," ask "Would you like a cracker or a piece of cheese?" This allows him to answer, either verbally or with hand gestures. Repeat his response: "You chose a cracker -- here you are."
  
• Share the world of books with your baby Reading to your baby is among the most precious gifts you can give him. Make it a part of your daily routine; snuggling up with a few age-appropriate stories before nap time or bedtime will help both of you relax as it strengthens your bond and shows baby the wonder of words. \
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  My, how you've grown!
  As impossible as it must seem, your baby has experienced almost an entire year of life. So many changes have sprung up at every turn, all leading you to even more fun and fulfillment. Only yesterday, baby just fit into the crook of your arm; today, he may be walking (which, of course, means that running is imminent).

Monitoring your baby's growth provides a constant in a world of change. As you record his monthly height and weight, you'll gain comfort in knowing that your little one is on a strong and healthy course.

During the eleventh month, it's common to notice a slight slowing in his growth. If your baby was larger than average at birth, he's probably now moving closer to his more genetically predisposed size. If you and your partner are short, it's only a matter of time before your baby drops down from the 90th percentile in height.

Most doctors are less concerned about graphs than they are about your baby's overall health. If he's eating, sleeping and maturing at a normal rate, the numbers on a chart don't mean quite as much
On the go baby
Because your baby is more mobile, you may be more inclined to include him in outdoor family activities.
Bicycling Make sure baby sits in a bicycle seat that has a safety belt. The seat should attach over the rear wheel and have spoke guards. It should have a high back and some support for his head. Bicycle helmets are available in infant sizes. Your baby always should wear a helmet, as should every member of your family.
Strolling Make sure your baby is safely secured in the stroller with both a seat belt and a strap between his legs. The stroller should have a brake to lock the wheels so it won't roll off unattended. Look for a stroller with a wide base and a basket that hangs at a low level to prevent tipping.
Shopping The same precautions apply whenever your baby is seated in a grocery cart. Use either the attached safety belt or a baby carrier designed specifically for shopping carts.

YOUR ACTIVE 12-Month OLD

How your toddler's growingAround now, your toddler's play will probably start shifting from mastering 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 — although your child's favorite games may not be all that quiet.

Your child probably thinks it's fun to push, throw, and knock everything down. He'll give you a toy as well as take one, and he likes games in which he can put things in containers and dump them out again. This works well with blocks in buckets or boxes and with small plastic containers, which he can nest inside one another. He'll thrill to the loud sounds of pots and pans banging together, too.

Your life: Helpful shortcut

Here are a handful of parent-tested ideas to make life easier:

• Create your own ready-to-go meals and snacks. Fill a set of plastic bowls (with lids) or plastic snack bags with individual servings of your child's favorite finger foods so you'll have them at the ready when you need them for meals and outings.
• Equip your car. Keep a supply of nonperishable drinks and snacks, diapers, and other necessities in your car so you don't have to spend time gathering things when you want to leave the house. Some moms keep a second diaper bag in the car for this purpose.
• Go high tech. Pay bills, do your banking, and even shop for groceries online.
• Soak before you wash. Fill your sink or a bucket with soapy water and place dirty dishes, bottles, and other cooking and eating items in there. When you get around to them, they'll be much easier to clean.
• Invest in housekeeping supplies. Consider splurging on cleaning and laundry supplies that may cost more but will save you time or energy. Keep organized and clutter-free by using a good system of shelves, baskets, and other containers.Check out the full list of 50 great time-saving tips!

3 questions about: The 1-year checkup

• What can I expect at my child's 1-year checkup?Expect the doctor to weigh and measure your child, check his eyesight and hearing, give him a head-to-toe, front-to-back physical exam, and vaccinate him. She'll also ask you questions about your child's overall health and nutrition and his physical and cognitive development, and give you some feedback based on your answers and her observations. She may also check your child's hemoglobin level (to look for anemia) and lead level (if there's a risk of environmental lead exposure), if these haven't been checked already.
• How can I prepare?Decide ahead of time whether you want your toddler to get the varicella vaccine (to prevent chicken pox) and the hepatitis A vaccine, both of which are optional but recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics . Be ready to answer questions about your child's sleeping, eating, teething, motor skills, communication skills, social skills, vision, and hearing. It also helps to bring a list of any questions you'd like to ask the doctor — and your child's immunization record if you have one, so that it can be updated.
• What questions should I ask?Consider asking about whether you should give your child vitamins or supplements and about treating health problems that may come up (like colds or injuries). Ask about any worries you may have about your toddler's health, development, or behavior, and about how to stimulate his development. Finally, ask about what you can expect in the coming months