MONTH TWELEVE



Your Baby's 48th Week

Your daring little one is about to become increasingly independent. He’s now able to stand without holding on and, if he’s extremely adventurous, he may attempt to take his first unassisted steps. Expect his feet to be spread apart. This wide stance will help increase his ability to balance. You may notice that his feet are primarily flat and that his toes point in a bit as he steps. This is quite normal at this age. Chances are, he’ll be quite unsteady on his feet at first and will stumble and fall frequently.

Think safety! Take a moment to double-check gate latches, cushion guards on furniture edges and other safety precautions you’ve taken throughout your home and yard. Remember to note the date of his first steps in your baby book. Then sit back and marvel at how quickly those shaky fist steps turn into confident strides and energetic jumps!

Your Baby's 49th Week

Playing with your little one is becoming increasingly interactive. Entertaining games such as patty-cake may long have been favorites. Now, she’ll take great joy in participating fully in these games and even initiating them. She’ll enjoy clapping her hands and will continue to learn about social interaction as she plays.

Allow her to play often with kids near her age. Invite another parent/child team to your house for a short play session or accompany her to a friend’s house. While she may enjoy being with her friend, expect that although they may sit side by side, each child will continue to play by herself. This “ parallel play” is normal behavior for a young toddler. They will discover the joys of playing together in the coming months.

She’ll probably become upset and possessive if another child takes interest in her toy and attempts to take it away for a time. Early lessons in sharing might begin now, but expect it will take quite some time to master this skill. For the time being, she may respond better if you simply distract her with a different, perhaps more attractive toy.

Your Baby's 50th Week

Simple toys are often the best for entertaining your baby at this stage. He’ll likely take great joy in seeing how much noise he can make by banging a wooden spoon on your pots and pans. When the noise level climbs too high, try offering more stacking and nesting toys or containers he can carefully fill, dump and refill. His interest in these types of toys will continue for some time.

As he becomes more mobile, his curiosity will be peaked by new areas to explore. Compartments, drawers and cabinets will become favorite places to search now. He’ll entertain himself by opening any door or drawer within his reach, pulling the contents out onto the floor and, if you’re lucky, trying to put them back in again.

Take precautions to safeguard him from harm by placing household chemicals in the upper cabinets and installing a safety latch for added security. (Soon, he’ll be climbing toward the sky and once out-of-reach cabinets will become easily accessible.) Remember to install latches on any cabinet or drawer with sharp or easily breakable objects. Consider emptying one drawer or cabinet and leaving it unlocked. He’ll delight in using it as a hiding place for his toys and will most likely be entertained for increasingly longer periods of time. You may discover that he’ll stay safely within eyesight as you attempt to fix a snack or clean a few dishes.

Your Baby's 51st Week

Although at times it may be difficult to believe, your little one has learned the meaning of the word, “No.” Rest assured she will understand your words and stern tones as you tell her not to perform a certain activity. She may, however, discover that it can be great fun to make Mom and Dad repeat this simple word many times. Help her to follow your instruction regularly by simply telling her “No” without making animated faces or gestures. These can easily be mistaken for play.

As she nears her first birthday, you may be thinking of weaning her from the breast. If you are both enjoying your nursing relationship, consider continuing for another few weeks or even months. The benefits of breastfeeding continue far past her first birthday. Actually, the worldwide average age of weaning is between three and four years of age. Not only will she continue to receive a very beneficial boost of infection-fighting antibodies each time she nurses, she’ll continue to enjoy a wonderfully nurturing time with Mom. The act of sucking will continue to be quite comforting for her. The show of comfort and support you exhibit each time you offer her your breast will encourage her to grow into a confident, self-respecting child. Enjoy this relationship as long as possible!

If you do decide to wean in the coming weeks, be sure to do so slowly. Allowing her to wean gradually will make the transition less traumatic for her and physically more enjoyable for you. Remember that in addition to upsetting your baby, stopping abruptly can cause health problems for Mom. Be sure to replace the missed feeding with appropriate beverages and lots of cuddling.

Your Baby's 52nd Week

A very happy birthday to your little one! Now that he’s a year old you may be anxious to move full steam ahead into the “toddler years.” Be assured that he’s thinking just the same thing! If he has not done so already, he’ll discover his ability to walk (and then to run, jump and climb) and will spend seemingly every waking moment mimicking your every move. He’ll become increasingly social and may soon begin to outgrow any remaining anxiety he feels when you are away. He’ll learn to eat many new and tasty foods and will begin to chew them “properly” as his first set of teeth continue to erupt. You’ll see his individual personality continue to evolve and he’ll being to communicate his needs and desires more fully as he learns to speak in “real” words.

He’ll continue to enjoy sleeping snuggled against you. He’ll not be spoiled by this indulgence. On the contrary, allowing him to continue this practice will assure him that you are there to meet his needs any time of the day or night. Children who share sleep with their parents most often grow to be confident, self-respecting, sensitive adults. Rest assured that he’ll make the transition to his own bed in due time. Most often children wean themselves from the family bed between three and four years of age. As long as you are all comfortable with the arrangement, allow your baby to continue to share your bed. Nighttime cuddling can be a very rewarding bonding time.

Wishing you all a second year that’s as rewarding as the first!

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