Development and Behavior:

This is a period of great advances in all areas of development. Most children will say their first words around now. If your child has not yet, do not worry. As in all things, babies develop language skills at their own pace. However, if you are worried that your baby might not be hearing you, please discuss your concerns with your health care provider.

Encourage his language by continuing to point at objects and name them. As you bathe and dress him, point to body parts and name them. When he wants something, try to get him to say the name, rather than just point-and-grunt. (Many adults still use this time-honored method to communicate desires.)

Help your baby develop fine-motor skills by playing with wooden blocks, pegs, and other simple toys. Give your baby a crayon and a (large!) piece of paper, and show him how to make marks on the paper.

As your child grows, let him "help" with household chores. He will enjoy being near you, and it gives you a great opportunity to talk to him and play with him. Be sure to praise him for his efforts.

This is also the age of increasing independence. Your baby is developing a mind of his own. He will often ignore you when you say "No!" Discipline is limited at this age. Often all you can do is physically remove him from the object or situation. Please do not ever hit or spank.

The most important guidelines, now and later, is to be consistent and firm. If something is off-limits, it is off-limits every time. If you allow your child to do something once, and then try to stop him later, he will only get confused and learn to ignore you. I commonly see this when fathers want to play "macho" games with their son, teaching him to hit Daddy in the arm, hand or stomach. It does not hurt Daddy, but it hurts sister when he hits her. And he can't understand why it's OK to hit sometimes, but not others.

Once your child is walking well, give him a pull toy. He will enjoy pulling it around for hours. This will help to distract him, so that walking will become more natural. He will also try walking backwards. Get a large ball and roll it to him. Try to get him to roll it back. Later, try it with a small ball.

Stairs frighten many parents. One thing is certain: if you have stairs, your child will find them sooner or later. So, you might as well teach him the right way to go down them. When your child is ready to go down the stairs, teach him to do it on his stomach, feet first. This may keep him from the temptation to stand up and tumble down headfirst.

Feeding:

Your baby should be mostly on finger foods. That is, he should not really need any of the "baby foods" any more. He should also be drinking from the cup. You may switch him from formula or breast milk to whole milk now. When he is two years old, move him to 2% or skim milk.

Continue to offer new foods. Try to get him to eat a well-balanced diet, including meats, vegetables, fruits, breads and cereals. Your baby will still need milk, but now he only needs around 16 ounces (a pint) each day. Yogurt and cheese are also good dairy foods.

Your child will need three good meals each day, and most will need two "snacks" as well. Above all, make sure that when your child eats, he eats something healthy.

Accident Prevention:

• Always use a car seat for your children and a seat belt for yourselves.
• Keep electrical cords tucked out of reach. They are a great way for your baby to get burned. Tablecloths also should be kept up high.
• Buy outlet covers. They are a cheap way to keep your baby safer.
• Make sure your home is "baby-proofed." Keep any sharp, breakable or dangerous objects well out of reach. All cleaning fluids, fingernail polish, paint or other hazardous items should be kept in a locked cabinet.
• Find the number of your local Poison Control Center and post it next to every phone. If you think your child may have taken something poisonous, call the poison control number. Do not give Ipecac or attempt to induce vomiting unless told to do so by the Poison Control Center.
• Buy (and use) smoke detectors.
• Keep your water heater set at no more than 120 º F.
• Never drink hot liquids when holding or feeding your baby. It is too easy for it to spill and burn your baby.
• Inspect all toys, and throw away any which are small enough to choke on, are worn, or have sharp edges or breakable or removable parts.
• Inspect all clothing (including yours) for loose buttons that might be pulled off and so present a choking hazard.
• Do not smoke around your baby, or allow anyone else to do so.
• Watch your child closely around any container of water, no matter how small. Bathtubs, toilets, and pails can all be sources of drowning risk. It does not happen often, but you can prevent it by one easy rule: Keep an eye on your baby.
• Keep stairs closed off with a gate.

If you have any concerns about your baby's health, please call your doctor. Please do not give any medicines without talking to your doctor first. We are happy to help you in any way we can.