WHAT SHOULD SHE EAT?

Because babies have small stomachs, they are required to eat often and in small quantities. Overfeeding them thinking that the more you feed them the faster they will grow is a strict no-no. A variety of nutrient-dense, age-appropriate snacks including fruits, vegetables, yoghurt smoothies and multi-fibre grained foods will help your baby to get into a healthy food routine at an early age.

When you sit down to feed her or eat alongside her, see to it that the table is well set and you are not distracted by the phone. If you lay the table well, she will be motivated to eat better. A messy table is not very inviting to the taste buds!

WHAT WILL SHE DO AT THIS TIME?

Is your baby not walking yet? No issues! There are many babies who do not walk till 15 months, some d not even till 18 months, so it is absolutely okay. There is nothing that you can do about it, the development that is meant to happen will happen at her pace, not yours. Give your baby plenty of place and opportunity to explore the surroundings around her. She will figure it out herself.

This is the time when your baby might start displaying fits of temper, her angry outbursts, like banging her head on the ground, or hitting other toddlers, or hitting herself. These are all signs of frustration at the fact that she is unable to express herself, because she cannot still communicate in a language! While it is okay to acknowledge her feelings, do not condone the tantrum. Deny her request for a snack or favorite toy till she settles down. Then give her plenty of hugs and reassure her. The tantrum would have scared her too!

WHAT YOU COULD HELP HER DO!

Because your baby does not know how to say to another toddler, ‘give me your toy to play with please’, she might pull and tug at a toy that she sees in the hands of another infant. All that she knows is that she likes it and she wants it, now! Babies around this age tend to hit out, pull, tug or even bite others. Please remember that your child is not driven by hatred or malice. It’s  just that she has no way of expressing herself. But does that mean that you should excuse her behavior? Do not. Enable her to see her actions. “See that baby is crying because you hit her.” Encourage your baby to say sorry. Even if she cannot, get her to give the crying baby a hug or a kiss.  You will have to keep practicing this with your baby till she understands the importance of her actions.

WHAT ABOUT HER SLEEP?

Though it is natural for you to keep your baby warm during the winter months, it is important not to overheat the room, as it is dangerous. A baby will be comfortable in a room heated between 16 and 20 degrees centigrade.

WHAT SHE WILL WEIGH

Do not stress if your child shows a slight drop in the weight scales this time of her growth chart. It is normal as she is entering the toddler phase, and most infants grow in height faster than they gain weight. If your baby is still breastfeeding, most certainly continue. Cow’s milk is generally given only after the first year, and that too only if you feel so.  Consult your doctor on this.