How I Grow

• I creep on my hands and knees.
• I crawl up stairs.
• I sit by myself and turn my body all the way around without losing balance.
• I may be able to stand up and sit down.
• I hold onto furniture or your hand and take steps.
• I try to build towers with blocks or toys.
• I poke my fingers into holes, or into anything that looks interesting.
• I pick up small things with my first finger and thumb, and larger things with both hands.
• I like to bang things together.
• I feed myself finger foods -- I'm pretty messy!
• I play with a spoon and a cup, but I'm not good at using them yet.

How I Talk

• I like to cough, click my tongue, and make hissing noises.
• I listen to people talking and try to copy the sounds.

How I Respond

• I like to watch people scribbling on paper.
• I like to show people what I can do and love it when they clap their hands for me.
• I like to be praised when I do something well.

How I Understand

• I try to figure things out by myself.
• I can remember a game, a person, or a toy from the day before.
• I can tell what mood people are in by looking at them.
• I can do simple things when you ask me.

How I Feel

• I'm very sensitive. If I see another baby crying, I will cry, too.
• I am afraid of a lot of things that didn't bother me before, like taking a bath.
• I am very determined and sometimes stubborn -- that's all part of my growing up!
• I like to show you my toys, but I don't want to share them.
• I "test" you when you feed me or put me to bed.

Communicate With Professionals About Baby

There will be times when you will have to talk with professionals about your baby.

The professional could be a doctor, nurse, therapist, or social worker. These experiences can be upsetting. Parents often feel that professionals know so much more than they do.

When it comes to your child, you are the expert.

You know what he likes and doesn't like, what his strengths and needs are. Professionals need this information from you. Professionals also depend on you to share the information you learn from one professional with the other professionals and agencies that serve you.

You are the key person in your child's life.

Your observations and your opinions about your baby are important. Speak up for your baby.

Baby Is Starting To Talk

Baby is going to say her first word soon!

You and your baby can be proud! Let her know how happy you are. Give her a big smile and a hug. Tell her how pleased you are. If she knows she is making you happy, she'll probably want to try it again.

What is that noise?

Have you heard some strange shrieks coming from your baby? She is trying different sounds to see what sounds get the attention she wants.

Use hand motions and actions to help Baby understand what you mean.

Point to different objects. Say the word as you point. Point to show what direction you want Baby to go.

Help Baby learn better ways to tell you what she wants.

Wait until the shrieking stops and then go see what she wants -- unless, of course, the shriek is a real cry for help. You will be able to tell.

Also, remind Baby to use her other ways of letting you know what she wants -- talking and babbling. Soon, Baby will be pointing and using a word to tell you what she wants.

Talking and explaining helps Baby to understand.

While you might feel silly talking to Baby, research shows that the more babies are talked to, the more they understand. As they become older, they will quickly learn what you mean just by what you say.

Keep talking, parents!

5 Keys to Good Discipline

Prevent situations where Baby might do something you don't like.

Move the TV control to a higher shelf. Put a gate at the stairs. Place a piece of furniture in front of an electrical outlet.

If Baby does something wrong, think of ways you could keep it from happening again. Create a trouble-free environment.

Ignore behavior that is annoying but not harmful.

If Baby pulls everything out of your sock drawer, just take a deep breath and ignore it. If you pay too much attention, it teaches aby to do things like this to get attention from you.

Distract or redirect Baby from things you don't want her to have or do.

If she has your keys and you need them, don't just grab them; instead, interest her in another toy or activity. Baby will let go of the keys then. It's easier to get a baby started on something else than to take something away from her.

Reward Baby with your loving attention when she plays well.

Don't become a parent who only notices your child when she has done something wrong. Notice the good times, and give your baby a smile, a laugh, or a hug.

Freedom within limits.

Your Baby needs freedom to explore, but she also needs limits. You need good judgement to provide both. Babies kept in playpens or high chairs for much of the day don't have enough freedom. They are too limited.

Baby needs freedom on the floor to explore. That doesn't mean the basement stairs or garage! That is too much freedom and is dangerous.

Baby may cry about the limits you have set.

You may be tempted to give in to her demands. Keep in mind that setting limits is necessary for your child's safety. Say, I know you are angry, but you are safe. I would rather have you cry because you are angry than because you are hurt.

It is possible to set limits and allow your child freedom to explore and grow.

• Make the area where Baby plays as safe as possible.
• Stick to the limits and be firm in your guidance.
• Offer Baby safe activities to do.

Let's Play...Help Me Learn

Encouraging Curiosity

Curiosity is an interest to explore and find out more about what happens.

The child who is interested in what is happening around him, watches to see what happens and learns from it. Researchers report that curiosity is important for success in school.

You can help your child develop curiosity about his world.

Research suggests that encouraging a child to explore is very important. This helps the child develop the "curiosity skills" needed to answer questions a child faces as he gets older. Here are some ideas that you can begin working on right away.

Ears:

Let your child listen to music on the radio or tapes. Help Baby make sounds by banging blocks together.

Eyes:

Use brightly colored clothes, toys, and room decorations. Show Baby the pictures that hang on your walls and the pictures in books and magazines.

Touch:

Give your child many textures -- soft, hard, smooth, and rough. Touch your child and let your child touch your skin, hair, and clothing. Tell Baby what he is touching as he touches it.

Taste:

Let your infant try foods that are really different and delicious.

Smell:

Give your child many chances to smell safe things -- soap, perfume, food, flowers, and feet.

The child who is curious is a child who is learning.

Dump and Fill

Help Baby learn about many textures and how to control their small muscles.

Find a big plastic bowl, tub, or basin. Fill it with "something" like ready­to­eat cereal, oatmeal, water, rice, or noodles.

Put spoons, cups, or any object that can be filled in it. At first, Baby may just feel the "fill" with his fingers. Show him how to use the spoons and cups to scoop up the fill. When he learns to use one of the tools, give him some different tools.

Make your own blocks

Your baby will have fun building tall towers.

This is easy to do. Rinse out two 2­quart coated paper juice or milk containers. Cut the top off the two containers.

Place the cut ends toward each other, and put one inside the other. Push the two boxes together. These blocks are light and very sturdy. For smaller blocks, use 1­quart containers.

Choosing Toys

Do grandparents, and friends ask for gift suggestions for Baby? When they do, ask them for toys that match the new skills of your baby. Here is a list of toys that older infants enjoy:

• Blocks or empty boxes to stack.
• Unbreakable mirror.
• Balls. Soon she will chase the ball when you roll it.
• Cardboard or plastic with thick pages that are baby-proof.
• Bath toys that float, squirt or hold water.
• Busy boxes that push, open, shut, move, and make noise.
  
• Squeeze toys.
• Large dolls and puppets.
• Push-pull toys.
• Stacking toys in different sizes, shapes and colors.
• Cups, pails and other unbreakable containers.
• Toy telephones.
• Cars, trucks or other vehicle toys with no sharp edges or moveable parts.
• Paper tubes, empty boxes, egg cartons, well rinsed plastic bottles.
• Musical tapes, music boxes and musical toys.

Feeding Your Baby

Baby is Learning How to Feed Himself!

Does your baby hold most foods while eating?

Does Baby drink from a cup with a little help? Does Baby hold and lick the spoon after it is dipped into food? These are the first steps in learning how to eat by himself. You can help him practice by giving him some of the following finger foods:

• Small pieces of soft, mild cheese
• Soft toast, bagel halves, pieces of tortilla, and rice
• Graham crackers
• Cooked vegetable strips or slices (potato, carrot, peas, green or waxed beans, zucchini, or sweet potato)
• Small, tender pieces of cooked meat
• Peeled, soft fruit wedges or slices (banana, peach, pear, plum, avocado, or melon)

Praise your baby while he is feeding himself, even if he is very messy.

If the mess really bothers you, spread some newspapers under your baby's chair to catch any food that he drops.

No Seasonings in Baby's Food

Although you may find Baby's foods bland or tasteless, your baby does not.

By now your little one can eat most of the things you cook for the rest of the family. Just take out your baby's food before you add salt or other seasonings for the rest of the family. Baby's body does not need the salt or sugar that you can handle.

Picky Eaters

Sometimes a baby will not like a certain food one day and eat it a few days later.

Every once in a while, try giving your child a food he has not liked. You may find that this is the day he likes it.

Make foods into "finger foods."

Nine­month­olds like to feed themselves. They like to feel "grown­up." Cut Baby's food into very small pieces.

Mealtime should be a pleasant time for you as well as for your baby.

Baby will eat better some days than others. Don't force Baby to eat. Baby will eat if he is hungry.

Baby's Brothers and Sisters

This can be a hard time for brothers and sisters.

Now that Baby is moving around, he can get into toys and the older children's favorite things. It is also common for older brothers and sisters to rush by Baby as he tries to stand up, knocking him down. Sometimes, they grab their toys from Baby's grasp.

Baby will need to form a relationship with his brothers and sisters.

As long as they are not hitting or hurting each other, you don't have to break up every "fight." But, don't allow hitting or hurting. Squabbling teaches children to read each others moods and sometimes helps clear the air. Hitting hurts and it doesn't teach anything good.

Help your children get along.

Give older children a place of their own where their things are safe from Baby. A drawer too high for Baby will do. Or let them play on the kitchen table, away from Baby.

Point out to your older children how much Baby looks up to them.

Baby copies their action and wants to be like them. Suggest things they can do with the little one -- like rolling a ball to him or reading him a book.

Try to give each child some of your full attention each day.

Your children may resent Baby if he always interrupts their time with you.

Don't always take Baby's side when you do intervene.

Separate the children for a few minutes without taking sides. You don't want to always be in the middle.

When Baby Can Stand: New Hazards

Baby can reach further and higher now.

She can reach things that were out of reach before. Look at each room in your home again for new hazards.

• Remove wobbly tables that could tip over when Baby uses the furniture to pull herself up. Fasten bookcases to the wall if they are not sturdy.
• Set the crib mattress to the lowest level. Remove bumper pads and large stuffed toys that Baby could step on to climb out.
• Look for dangling electric cords, tablecloths, or curtains that Baby could pull down or get tangled in.
• Keep medicines, cleaners, pesticides, alcohol, or other poisons locked out of Baby's reach.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Turn your water heater down to 120F in case Baby turns on the faucet.
• Never leave your baby alone in or near water, even for a minute.
• Don't let Baby stand up in the grocery cart at the store. You may be able to find a cart with a safety strap to keep her seated.
• Don't let Baby stand in the high chair.

Do You Ever Feel Trapped?

Sometimes parents do feel trapped.

It is a big job to take care of a baby and provide for her healthy development.

Having a baby brings changes to your life.

At first, parents are excited about a new baby. These feelings are greater than the feeling of being trapped. Sooner or later, most parents feel drained -- both physically and mentally -- because the baby requires so much energy.

Don't let this feeling last.

Plan some time for yourself. This may mean leaving the baby with someone else -- which can be a good experience for the baby, as well as provide some "freedom" for you.

Plan some fun time for yourself and some quality time with your partner.

Great Beginnings   is sent to you by:

Patricia T. Nelson, Ed.D.
Family and Child Development Specialist

This newsletter has been edited by Deborah J. Amsden, CHE; and prepared with the assistance of Dr. Penny Deiner, Department of Individual and Family Studies, University of Delaware and Marie Anne Aghazadian, Executive Director of the Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc. This series has been adapted from Parent Express, by Dr. Dorothea Cudaback, Cooperative Extension, University of California and from Parenting the First Year by Dorian Schatell, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.

GB-9M
6/19/97
Rev. 11/94