StrongMoms™ Mother And Baby

Your Baby's First Month - StrongMoms™ - One-Month-Old Baby

Every baby looks different, and all of them are beautiful. But most babies have some physical idiosyncrasies right after birth. Take lots of pictures! Your baby's look will change quickly in the first week. Here’s what to expect:

• Your baby's head may have a bump or two from labor or from help he received during birth.
• His eyes may be bloodshot and eyelids swollen. He may also occasionally cross his eyes in the first weeks.
• His skin may be dry and flaky with a rash or two.
• Baby boy and baby girl breast tissue may be swollen due to your hormones, which are still in his or her body.

How Your Baby Sees

• He stares at objects, but doesn't reach for them, and he sees best within 12 inches of his face.
• He likes bold shapes and high-contrast objects, such as a black and white bull’s eye.
• He loves looking at faces, and your expressions, and may imitate them right away.
• Aside from the faces of loved ones, he may get bored looking at the same thing for too long.

How Your Baby Hears

Your baby’s hearing is well-developed, but he won’t look for the source of the sound. Here’s how he’ll respond to it:

• He may react negatively to loud voices or music.
• When startled by a noise, he may cry, stiffen his body and legs, or thrust his arms outward and pull them back to his chest.
• He generally likes sounds that change, such as your voice or music.

Everyday events, such as a bath, being dried with a blanket, and being cuddled are regular sensory feasts for babies.

• Babies love the feel of different textures, and being held close to you and your partner.
• Most babies’ lips seem to be particularly sensitive to touch. They react to a touch on the lips by smacking their lips and sucking.
• Babies can also taste and smell from the time of their birth. In tests, babies have turned their heads away from strong odors.

Your baby already has a good grip, and many automatic reactions or reflexes. His startle reaction to sudden noises is just one of these. Other reflexes include:

• The grasp reflex that lets your baby grip his rattle, only to immediately drop it because he can’t hold on
• The rooting reflex that helps your baby open his mouth and find the nipple for feeding
• Yawning to increase the air in his lungs
• Pulling back if he’s hurt and sneezing to clear his nose
• Turning his head to one side if his breathing is blocked

If you’re breastfeeding, you can check out tips for helping him latch on, find out about common feeding positions, and more in Breastfeeding: The Basics. And if your baby is fussy at feeding time (whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding), explore ways to ease his discomfort with our Similac® Solutions tool.

Here are a few tips for getting into this new ritual:

• Talk softly to your baby while you feed him.
• Feed him frequently, in small amounts. A newborn is not very hungry the first two or three days.
• Recognize signals from your baby that he’s ready to feed, including lip smacking, tongue movement, and eye fluttering. Crying is a late signal of hunger.

If this is your first baby, you may be concerned about how to properly care for the remains of the umbilical cord. To hasten healing, keep the area dry and exposed to the air by turning the diaper down and shirt up. The cord should fall off between the first and fourth weeks of your baby’s life.

Baby baths can be lots of fun, and after the first few, you’ll get ahead of the learning curve. Here are a few tips:

• Talk softly. The more you talk to your baby now, the more likely he’ll enjoy being talked to or read to later.
• Avoid daily bathing — it can dry out his skin. Newborn babies don't get very dirty. Only a sponge bath is needed, until the umbilical cord has fallen off and the circumcision site (if one was done) has healed. After that, two or three baths a week are plenty.
• Once you’ve graduated to bathing your baby in an infant tub (and later, the big one), remember never to leave him unattended, even for a second.

Newborn babies often seem to have no real sleeping pattern — and no regard for whether it's day or night. Often sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day, your baby will probably sleep for two to three hours, wake up, eat, and go to sleep again. Adjusting to his new world can be tiring!

At about 6 weeks old, his sleep and wake pattern will begin to become established, and by 16 weeks, he may have settled into a regular schedule. So there is a routine in the not-too-distant future.

When putting your baby to bed, remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy infants sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS is a term used to describe the unexpected death of babies in their sleep for no known reason.

For many new parents, the lack of definitive information about SIDS makes it especially concerning. To learn more about this topic and how you can reduce the risk of SIDS, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Your Baby's Second Month - StrongMoms™ - Two-Month-Old Baby

Even this early in their lives, babies behave differently with the different people they relate to — mom, dad, extended family and friends, and the daycare provider or nanny. In all these situations, your baby is attaching and bonding. She’s learning that she’s a separate person and that she helps shape her relationships with others.

It may appear that your baby is passive — eating, sleeping, and waiting for you to do things for her. But it’s closer to the truth to say your baby is a little initiator:

• She’s always seeking ways to adapt to the world. (For example, sleeping is one way she learns to organize her life: When she’s tired, she turns off the environment, conserving energy to grow.)
• She’s always giving you signals. By watching her closely, you’ll learn how much or how little stimulation she can handle, and when she’s ready for talking, feeding, singing, or playing. For instance, “I’m happy and ready to play” signals include open eyes, relaxed arms and legs, and maybe even a tight, playful grip around your finger.
• If she’s played with, talked to, or fed too much, she may grimace, turn and look away, clench her fists, and wriggle or spit up. These messages say, “Slow down, please. I need more peace and quiet.”

Fortunately, by the time your baby is 6 to 12 weeks old, she'll probably be sleeping for longer stretches of the night. If she's not, you may have to help her learn to fall back to sleep on her own. Here are a few tricks you can try:

• Put her in her crib, instead of rocking or holding her.
• Wait until she’s groggy, but still awake; then lay her in her crib, say "good night," turn off the light, and leave the room.
• If she cries, wait a few minutes before returning.
• If she continues to cry, go back in the room (leaving the light off), rub her, and talk to her in a soothing voice. When she quiets down, say "good night" and leave the room again.
• If she begins to cry again, repeat this pattern until she falls asleep.

It may take a few days, but she'll get the hang of it. Establishing this skill when your baby is still young will help prevent bedtime battles later.

Some babies are very sensitive not just to the environment, but to food as well. These babies may experience a wide range of reactions, including:

• Skin rashes
• Watery stool
• Irritability

If you’re formula feeding and if these reactions are due to milk sensitivity, your health care provider may recommend a soy protein formula such as Similac® Isomil® Advance® Soy Formula With Iron, or a milk-based, lactose-free formula such as Similac Sensitive®. Trust your health care professional's advice about infant formulas: He or she is best able to determine whether your baby should be fed a special formula.

* Consult your baby's health care professional if a milk protein allergy is suspected.

Your Baby's Third Month - StrongMoms™ - Three-Month-Old Baby

Your baby is becoming quite the socialite, taking in more and more of the world around him. Help him get more acquainted by:

• Rocking him in a rocking chair. As you hold him, talk softly and look into his eyes.
• Singing quietly to him before bed.
• Giving him different textures to feel, such as stuffed animals, plastic toys, or pieces of terry cloth or rubber. (Because your baby may put the objects in his mouth, be sure they’re not too small and that the pieces can’t be torn off and swallowed.)
• Having quiet times. Babies need some quiet time to babble, play, and explore their world, so don't leave a radio, TV, or stereo on for long periods.
• Looking in mirrors. Put a nonbreakable metal or plastic baby mirror in the crib or playpen. Show him the mirrors around your home.
• Propping him up so he can watch what goes on around him

Your baby will may also spend a large amount of time entertaining himself with “jazz hands.” In other words, most of the time, his hands will be open. The act of opening and closing them, as well as staring at them, will be almost as fun for your baby as exploring his stuffed animals.

While it may look like it’s all fun and games, your baby is also working on strengthening his hand muscles. With all this practice, in five to six months, he should be able to pick up toys. To help him along, try putting a rattle in his hand, and gently tugging on it; this also helps him build muscle.

By now, your baby may be sleeping for five- to six-hour stretches during the night. Here are some tips to try to help him get his z’s:

• Establish a before-bed routine, whether it’s gently rocking him in your arms or stroking his back and arms.
• Whenever possible, try not to run to him on his first cry — even though it’s hard not to! If it’s a cry of distress or continues for a few minutes, check it out.
• Check for a wet diaper, vomiting, fever, or other signs that he’s in distress. If his diaper needs changing, try to do it quickly and quietly, without taking him out of the crib and stimulating him too much.
• If he doesn’t need a diaper change (and he’s not ill), gently rub his back and talk to him in a soothing voice until he calms down. Then say "good night" and leave the room.

Your Baby's Fourth Month - StrongMoms™ - Four-Month-Old Baby

Your baby is probably jabbering for a reason, even if you don’t know what it is. Other ways to help your baby develop language skills and understanding include:

• Talk to your baby often as you dress, feed, or bathe her.
• Provide quiet time (turning off the radio and TV).
• Encourage your baby to turn her head toward sounds.
• Repeat sounds often and trying to get your baby to mimic them back to you.

Well-baby visits to the pediatrician are probably part of your monthly routine by now. These visits are important for you and your baby because:

• They’re your opportunity to make sure your baby is growing and developing properly, and to ask any questions you may have.
• They’re the time when your baby will get the immunizations she needs (and make up any she may have missed).

It’s true that childhood diseases have been dramatically reduced through regular vaccinations. But the organisms that cause some of these diseases haven’t disappeared. Regular vaccinations are still the only way to protect your baby — now and for years to come — so be sure to get your baby immunized to help keep her healthy.

You've probably been told many times that babies should sleep on their backs. But now that your baby is rolling over on her own, you can’t control her sleeping position. Here are some suggestions:

• It's probably OK to let her sleep in whatever position she finds most comfortable. Once a baby can roll over on her own, generally between 4 and 7 months of age, the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is usually reduced.
• It’s still a good idea to keep thick blankets, comforters, pillows, and large, soft, stuffed toys out of your baby's crib.

Your Baby's Fifth Month - StrongMoms™ - Five-Month-Old Baby

Here are some ways to help ensure that your baby develops to his full physical and cognitive potential (and have fun doing it!):

• Encourage your baby to raise his head and push up on his arms to watch what is happening in the world around him.
• Hold your baby upright under the arms. Slowly lower your baby until his feet touch the table, bed, or your lap.
• Help your baby sit up alone. You can start by sitting on the couch or a chair with your baby and propping him up in the corner (which can prevent him from falling over).
• Try to get your baby to follow faces or bright objects with his eyes.
• Let your baby feel many different textures.
• Help your baby pick up small toys, such as 1-inch blocks. (As a reminder, keep pills and other small objects that can cause choking out of your baby's reach.)

As your baby interacts even more with his world, his first fear may occur this month — a fear of strangers. This fear, which often includes fear of grandparents and other relatives, is normal. By this time, most babies have developed an awareness and recognition of key people around them, and a mistrust and fear of those who are not familiar.

Although this fear goes away with time and is nothing to worry about, it usually helps to introduce your baby to new people slowly.

You may notice your baby’s feet seem flat or bent, her legs are bowed, or her toes point inward. Fortunately, these conditions are very common, and are usually nothing to worry about. If you’re concerned, check with your health care professional.

Your Baby's Sixth Month - StrongMoms™ - Six-Month-Old Baby

Helping your baby feel secure and engaged in the world now can help her achieve emotional health and mental aptitude as she grows. Try these tips:

• When you soothe and calm your fussy baby, the message she gets is: All is well with the world. It’s a message that stays with her as she grows.
• Before bedtime, sing to your baby or rock her quietly so she associates bedtime with peaceful time.

This month, your baby’s playful side may come out in full force — and it’s a great time to reconnect with your inner child. Help her learn while she’s playing with:

• Activity boards that encourage her to push, pull, turn, and poke bells, wheels, and dials
• Cloth, wood, or plastic blocks that help show your baby how to build towers (and how to knock them down!)
• Toy telephones, spoons, and measuring cups that introduce her to common household objects
• Hand games, such as the classic “pat-a-cake,” that help her practice her fine-motor skills

You may also want to:

• Run a shallow bath of warm water, and watch her splash, kick, and enjoy (while you stay near, holding her tightly and keeping her safe).
• Ensure that she always has a good view — sit her in safe positions where she can see everyone and everything going on around her.
• Encourage baby vanity, and spend some time mirror-gazing.

Your baby has been working for months to sit up on her own. She’s been strengthening her muscles by sitting in her infant chair and by sitting propped up against pillows.

The first time she sits tall, she’ll be leaning on her hands for balance. And in the next two months, she will sit completely by herself and use her hands to play.

At this stage you can help her sit up by herself by setting her squarely on her bottom, and spreading her legs into a V. At six months, she’ll probably be able to hold herself steady — and she’ll love her new view of the world.

Last month, your baby’s first fear may have emerged — the fear of strangers. This month brings a new one — separation anxiety. This fear typically begins at 6 to 8 months of age, when your baby becomes aware that you’re separate from her, which means you can walk away at any time.

If your baby cries when you leave the room, she may be suffering from separation anxiety.

Because your baby’s real fear is that you’re going to leave and never return, the best way to calm her fears is to leave, then return, repeating the pattern, until she realizes you’ll always come back.

For tips on dealing with nighttime separation anxiety, see Waking Up With Baby Separation Anxiety.

Once your baby is 6 months old, she'll probably be sleeping through the night. But she may still occasionally wake up during the night. At this age, if she still wakes up several times a night, talk with your health care professional about possible causes and solutions.

During the day, your baby will be wide-awake and active for extended periods, and should be taking two or three short naps totaling three to four hours.

Your Baby's Seventh Month - StrongMoms™ - Seven-Month-Old Baby

This month, your baby’s language, recognition, and social skills are at an important stage of development. Help ensure his development stays on track by continuing to engage him in some of these activities:

• Chat with your baby every time you’re together.
• Expose him to a variety of sounds, and help him try to locate them.
• Imitate the sounds your baby makes, and try to get him to make those sounds back to you.
• Provide some quiet time when the radio and TV are not on.

You can also make a photo album of familiar family members, and point to and name objects and people so your baby absorbs new words. He may stay interested only a few minutes at a time, but try to do this every day.

Once your baby can sit on his own in a high chair, mealtime becomes a party. He wants to grab the spoon, put it in his mouth, and bang it on the tray, creating his own special baby song.

Eating comes with other surprises as well. Some time soon, he may be ready to eat a cracker or dry cereal by himself. Not only does this introduce him to "grown-up" food, but it also lets him practice his fine-motor skills.

And remember, while it’s difficult to never leave the room while your baby eats, it’s important to stay with him to prevent choking or tumbles from the high chair.

It’s safer and more developmentally sound for your baby to learn to walk on his own than to use a walker. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly urges parents not to use baby walkers for these reasons:

• Walkers can lead to high-speed, dangerous falls, because they allow your baby to travel to unsafe places that he wouldn't be able to reach on his own.
• They slow down your baby's progress when he's learning to walk.
• They may also decrease your baby's desire to walk on his own.

It’s also more developmentally sound to let your baby progress from crawling, to standing, to cruising, to walking at his own pace.

Your baby’s out and about more this month. And as your baby plays more with other babies and children, he’s more likely to pick up colds and viruses. While every baby gets these illnesses, talk with your baby's health care professional if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Runny nose or congestion that interferes with eating or sleeping or lasts longer than a week to 10 days
• Cough that is associated with vomiting or that interferes with sleep
• Wheezing
• Unusual fatigue and crankiness
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Decreased appetite
• Fever
• Pulling at his ears

Regular “well-baby appointments” during this time will also put your mind at ease, reassuring you that your baby is reaching developmental milestones and getting the recommended vaccinations that protect him from serious childhood illnesses. Ask your health care professional for an immunization record, so that you can keep it for the lifetime of your child.

Your baby’s first tooth can arrive as early as 3 months or as late as 12, but the average age for babies to begin teething is 7 months. How will you know? Watch for him to start drooling more heavily and biting on his hands. He may also develop a rash on his chin from saliva, and may get irritable from the discomfort and inflammation of his gums. It can also keep him up at night.

You could try giving him a frozen teething ring or other teething toy, or even a frozen wet washcloth to chew on to help relieve the discomfort. You may also want to replenish your stock of bibs, and try to keep cloth diapers close by to help keep his clothes and face dry.

Your Baby's Eighth Month - StrongMoms™ - Eight-Month-Old Baby

Simple and effective, these techniques can help you keep baby entertained and help her develop mentally and physically:

• Encourage her to bounce up and down while supporting her in a standing position.
• Help your baby stand when she’s near a stable, sturdy object, urging her to use it for balance. (Once she’s able to pull up to stand in her crib, make sure the mattress is in the lowest setting for safety.)
• Place a toy out of reach and encourage her to get the toy by crawling on her hands and knees.

Near the end of this first year, it’s a great time to create more involved bedtime rituals, such as reading the same book to her that your mother read you, rocking, or doing quiet activities together.

While it may only take 10 to 30 minutes, your bedtime ritual will help your baby look forward to bedtime, and find it easier to accept the separation from you when you finally leave the room. So that she’ll be comfortable with anyone putting her to bed, it’s good to involve loved ones early.

From crib to common areas such as the family room, living room, kitchen, and bathrooms, your home needs to be baby-proofed this month, if you haven’t done it already. And if it’s been some months since you baby-proofed the first time, give your home a second inspection now for:

• Stray electrical and window-blind cords
• Missing outlet covers
• Breakables within your baby’s reach
• Small items such as coins and other choking hazards on the floor

You’ll also want to make sure you install cabinet, drawer, and door latches. For more ways to keep your little cruiser safe, check out Baby-Proofing the Home for Your Little One.

Your Baby's Ninth Month - StrongMoms™ - Nine-Month-Old Baby

The types of skills your baby develops (and the rate at which he develops them) will largely depend on his own abilities. Here are some things you can do to inspire and stimulate him this month:

• Read him books, naming objects and people.
• Teach him games such as "pat-a-cake" and "how big's the baby?" For more fun and games, check out Similac® Baby Games (PDF).

At some point during this stage of development, your baby may cry so hysterically that he holds his breath, turns blue, and briefly faints. Breath holding is usually more frightening to watch than it is threatening to your baby's emotional or physical health. Also, normal breathing resumes when he faints, so the spell usually is over quickly.

Only one in five babies typically experience breath-holding episodes, and the spells often result from crying out of anger, frustration, or pain. They can also occur when babies are over-stimulated, and spells are most common in babies and children from 6 months to 4 years.

If you're concerned about breath-holding spells or other behavioral issues, discuss them with your health care professional.

Stuffed animals, toys, or blankies can be a big part of your baby's emotional support system. In your baby’s psyche, these objects have the power to:

• Comfort him when he's upset, afraid, or stressed.
• Help him feel at ease in an unfamiliar place.
• Reassure him when you're not there.
• Help him get to sleep.

Using a transitional object is not a sign of insecurity — it actually shows that your baby has been loved and nurtured, and that he’s able to comfort himself. This is important as he becomes more independent.

Your baby will want to take his cuddly everywhere and may prefer it unwashed, because it has his scent on it (which may be what’s so comforting about it).

Just when you thought your baby was sleeping through the night for good, he's up again. This time, he's not waking up because he's hungry. Now, he's struggling with separation anxiety. He wakes up looking for you and for reassurance. What to do? Here are some suggestions:

• Continue a consistent bedtime ritual for 10 to 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Encourage him to go to sleep with his blankie or stuffed animal. This will comfort him when he's afraid, and reassure him when you're not there.
• Go to him when he cries. Try not to turn on the light, rock him, or walk with him. If possible, don't take him out of his crib. Talk to him and pat or rub his back to soothe him.
• Check for a wet diaper or signs of illness.

For tips on dealing with baby separation anxiety during the day, see Where Did You Go? Baby Separation Anxiety.

Sometimes a baby's feet seem to be flat, and you may be worried. But your baby's feet appear flat because a pad of fat is hiding the arch. This condition is very common in infants, and is usually nothing to worry about. You’ll probably be able to see an arch when the fat disappears, usually in two or three years.

In the meantime, check with your health care professional if you have questions about whether your child's feet and legs are developing normally. Most minor foot and leg conditions are outgrown during childhood.

This month your baby has a great need to explore — and that means touching, tasting, and throwing things. That makes this a good time to learn to gently tell your baby “no.” And “no” doesn’t have to be a negative — it’s really just a boundary you’re creating to help teach your baby limits and protect him from harm.

Here are some suggestions for offering balanced discipline:

• Save it for important things, such as when your baby starts to play with something truly off-limits for safety reasons. Then say "no" firmly and remove him from the situation.
• Respond immediately. The most effective discipline occurs when he is in the act of misbehaving. Try to take full advantage of the moment.
• Quickly distract your baby when he does something he shouldn't do.
• You may have to repeat "no" several times.
• Be consistent. That way he'll begin to learn what he can and can’t do.
• Although it’s difficult, try to be patient.
• Reward his good behavior with praise and hugs.

Your Baby's Tenth Month - StrongMoms™ - Ten-Month-Old Baby

At this point, you can interact in an even more complex and creative way with your baby. While classic activities such as chatting with and singing to your baby are still effective, you can also try the following, including:

• Buy puppets or make them from old mittens or socks by drawing faces with marking pens. To help increase your baby’s language skills, make the puppet talk to your baby and encourage her to talk back.
• Cut out pictures of things such as a ball, animals, and other familiar objects from magazines and paste them in a scrapbook. Look at this scrapbook with her and help her point to the pictures as you name them.
• Singing familiar songs and reading nursery rhymes.

Believe it or not, continuing separation anxiety and fear of strangers are signs that your baby has a healthy relationship with you. Fortunately, here are some ways you can cope with them:

• Do your best to leave her with people she’s familiar with.
• Be sensitive to your baby's needs. Introduce her to new people and new situations gradually and carefully. Try not to leave her when she's tired, hungry, or sick.
• Practice separating by leaving her with someone in another room for short periods. Your baby will learn that she's OK when you're gone, and that you’ll always come back.
• Leave quickly — she’ll gradually stop crying once you’re out of sight.

By this month, baby needs a new pair of shoes. But how do you choose the best for her? First, think seasonally — sandals or lightweight shoes for the warmer months and warmer, sturdier shoes for cold weather. Also, look for:

• Soft and flexible, allowing your baby to move her feet easily
• Flat, non-skid soles so she doesn’t slide and fall
• Soft, porous tops that allow feet to breathe

Baby shoes don’t have to be expensive. The shoe of choice? Sneakers, secured with laces or Velcro® fasteners, to prevent trips or falls. Remember: Since your baby's feet will grow rapidly, the shoe size will have to keep pace. Check for sizing monthly.

Aside from fear of strangers and separation anxiety, your baby’s growing awareness of the bigger world may cause her to fear situations that never bothered her before — for instance, darkness, thunder, and the vacuum cleaner.

Here’s how to help ease your baby’s fears:

• Eliminate the source as much as possible. For example, use a night-light in her room at night (use only “cool” night-lights that don’t get hot).
• Try turning her fear into a positive learning experience. For instance, while holding her hand and saying comforting words, encourage her to touch the vacuum while it’s running. She may start to back away. If so, you may want to let it go, to prevent further fear.
• If that approach doesn't work, try vacuuming (or using the hair dryer, etc.) when she's sleeping.

Your Baby's Eleventh Month - StrongMoms™ - Eleven-Month-Old Baby

Because your baby is becoming so smart and inquisitive, your activities together become more interesting, engaging him cognitively and physically. Here’s what you can do together:

• Help him walk with (or without) support.
• Ask him to find his favorite toy in his toy basket.
• Provide push/pull toys for him to play with.
• Roll or toss a large ball back and forth.
• Encourage your baby to pick up a toy off the floor from the standing position without holding onto anything.
• Continue to talk to your baby.

It’s a good idea to buy safety gates or other barriers that are high and sturdy, have a straight top edge (instead of V-shaped or diamond-shaped openings) and a rigid screen, and install them at the top and bottom of stairs. Also you’ll want to:

• Keep his play area clear of hard, sharp-edged furniture.
• Lower her crib mattress so she can't crawl or fall out while she’s standing.
• Install easy-to-use childproof locks for drawers, screens, doors, and windows.
• Keep poisonous substances (including household cleaners and products) in high cabinets that you can lock. (If you think your baby has eaten something poisonous, immediately call the Poison Control Center, the hospital emergency room, or your baby's health care professional.) Keep these numbers by the phone.
• Stay close to your baby around water — pools, tubs, large buckets of water, and even toilets.
• Avoid leaving pots containing hot foods close to the edges of tables or counters.
• Make sure you use plug protectors in any unused electrical outlets.

For more on keeping your home safe for baby, see Baby-Proofing the Home for Your Little One.

After months of being talked to, your baby is starting to talk back. He may not use real words, but he can point to a favorite book or toy when you ask. And as he continues to babble, he may even say a word or two.

If you’re planning ahead for that one-year milestone, here are some tips to help make yours a success:

For safety:

• Limit the party area to one childproofed room.
• Remove all breakables and sharp objects.
• Avoid snacks such as popcorn and peanuts — even for adults. Babies can pick them up from the floor and choke on them.

For your guests:

• Make sure each child has a toy, party favor, and a chair. (You could ask guests bringing babies to bring their own high chairs.)
• Provide disposable bibs and baby wipes for quick cleanups.
• Take lots of pictures. Make doubles to send to the guests.

Party time:

• Set a time limit — an hour should be enough. Any longer and you may have exhausted babies (and parents).
• Lots of decorations, safe snacks, and music set the tone.
• Play short games, such as rolling/bouncing balls. Everyone gets a prize.
• Play music, sing songs, and dance.

Your Baby's Your Twelfth Month - StrongMoms™ - One-Year-Old Baby

This month’s new activities include:

• Introducing her to brief playdates for group play practice (although there won’t be much interactive playing yet)
• Showing her how to pull a pull toy. (To prevent choking, keep toys with long strings put away when you can't watch your baby play.)
• "Reading" a picture book with her — identifying what you see on each page

If you haven’t already, now is a good time to make sure you’ve taken all the baby safety measures you can. Here’s a checklist:

• Check that all approved safety gates are in place and in working order.
• Lower the crib mattress so your baby can’t crawl or fall out while she’s standing.
• Install childproof locks for drawers, screens, doors, and windows.
• Keep poisonous substances (including household cleaners) in high, locked cabinets.
• Stay close to your baby around water — pools, tubs, large buckets of water, and toilets.
• Continue to buckle your baby into an approved, properly installed car seat, but never in a seat protected by an air bag.
• Make sure you’ve got safety plugs over all electrical outlets.
• Buy your baby objects that are large enough that she can’t fit them into her mouth. This prevents choking hazards.
• Keep numbers for your baby’s health care provider, the Poison Control Center, and hospital emergency room by the phone so they’re handy in case of emergency.

For more on keeping your home safe for your baby, see Baby-Proofing the Home for Your Little One.

Baby birthdays are a lot of fun — and you’ll probably never throw a shorter party. Here are some tips to help make yours a success:

For safety:

• Limit the party area to one childproofed room.
• Remove all breakables and sharp objects.
• Avoid snacks such as popcorn and peanuts — even for adults. Babies can pick them up from the floor and choke on them.

For your guests:

• Make sure each child has a toy, party favor, and a chair. (You could ask guests bringing babies to their own high chairs.)
• Provide disposable bibs and baby wipes for quick cleanups.
• Take lots of pictures. Make doubles to send to the guests.

Party time:

• Set a time limit — an hour should be enough. Any longer and you may have exhausted babies (and parents).
• Lots of decorations, safe snacks, and music set the tone.
• Play short games, such as rolling/bouncing balls. Everyone gets a prize.
• Play music, sing songs, and dance.

Around 12 months, many babies are happy to abandon the bottle for a sippy cup. If your baby can't quite take that step yet, here are some things to try:

• Take it slow. Trade the bottle for the cup at noontime.
• Offer the cup instead of the morning and evening bottles.
• Don't let your baby carry the bottle around with her. Limit the places she can have it (on your lap, at the table).
• Don’t introduce new beverages in a sippy cup. Let her drink only breast milk, or infant formula such as Similac Go & Grow®.
• Give her a snack before bedtime. It could help her get to sleep.
• Spend time with her blankie or favorite special animal before bedtime, instead of the bottle. There may be a few tears the first few nights.