Parenting Queries...
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Q MY TODDLER IS VERY CURIOUS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD BABY PROOFED THE HOUSE, BUT THE OTHER DAY SHE BANGED HER HEAD ON THE CORNER OF THE KITCHEN CABINET WHILST PULLING THE CUPBOARDS AND IT WAS A DISASTER. WHY IS MY TODDLER SO CURIOUS AND WHEN WILL IT END !!!! ???!!!
When your child is between 1 and 3 years old, she will probably be interested in everything and everyone, especially if it's new or different. She will want to be part of whatever you do. She will try to imitate you. She will also insist on trying to do many things by herself. Children learn by exploring their environment. But their exploring should happen in safe places and in ways that help them learn. As you see your child begin to discover her world, keep these ideas in mind:
1. Exploring is normal and important for children to do.
2. Exploring is one of the first steps in learning about objects and in learning how to solve problems.
3. Children are fascinated about how things work, what they look like from the inside, and how they are made.
4. Skills like pulling up, standing, crawling, walking, climbing, and running help children explore and test their environment.
Q MY BABY IS 12 MONTHS OLD AND HAS US TRAINED WELL IN HER BABY LANGUAGE. WHEN WOULD SHE REALLY START COMMUNICATING WITH US?
Once your baby has had more practice using his lips and tongue to form sounds, usually around 6 to 7 months, his babbles will become more speech-like. So you'll hear a bigger variety of sounds, like "ba ba-pa-ta-bi bi bi,". "Toward the end of your baby's first year, he'll babble in longer strings of varied short nonsense syllables, using the intonation and rhythm mimicking that of an adult," .This stage of jargon is a precursor to speaking first words, which usually happens right around your child's first birthday. Wondering what that magical first word might be? "Dada," "mama," "baby," "ball," "doggie," "book," and "hi" are some common ones. Children are different and develop skills at different times. As long as your baby's chatter is progressing and she's engaging with you and others, there's likely no need to worry.
Q WHEN CAN I TAKE MY NEW BABY OUT IN PUBLIC? I’M AFRAID SHE’LL CATCH A COLD—BUT I NEED TO RUN ERRANDS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
With a newborn at home, as parents we are quite eager to introduce our little one to the world. We also will get an influx of friends and family who are wanting to come see the new baby, but the health of your baby is also important and you especially don't want them to fall sick during the first three months. Dr. Colson recommends avoiding crowds until your infant is at least three months of age. “If an infant under three months of age gets a fever (greater than 100), it’s hard for clinicians to tell if the infection is serious because babies don’t localise infections like adults, so they often have to admit the infant to the hospital for tests,” she explains. Also, you should request that people wishing to hold your baby first wash their hands, and anyone with an active illness should not be around your little one.
Q HOW TO DEAL WITH FUSSY EATERS?
Fussy eaters are the bane of every parent’s daily struggle. We all want our children to eat the food that we have been slaving away at. Here are a few tips to encourage those tardy dinner guests. 1. No snacks in between, stick to strict meal times
2. Give a time limit and encourage with a prize at the end. Extra scoop of icecream, etc
3. Make it a game
4. Have a race between siblings Sometimes nothing works, then you will have to change your tactics, allow your child to have small, healthy frequent meals throughout the day, rather than the one big one.