Your little newborn has grown big by this time moving on towards toddlerhood. Babies have grown confident, knowing that they are persons in their own rights. Place a mirror in front of him and he will be delighted with what he’ll see. Mind you, there will be dripping saliva at this stage since he doesn’t know what to do with all the liquid filling up his mouth. Just keep a bib tied around his neck to keep him from soiling his shirt.

Be sure to keep his hands clean because he’s bound to place it in his mouth so often. He feels some kind of itch and soreness in the gum area where baby teeth are slowly appearing. You can try prying his fingers off his mouth to discourage him from the habit. He may resist and keep putting it back but if you do it repeatedly, he will stop putting it without being conscious about it.

Most of the significant developments happen during the last quarter of the baby’s first year and here are some of them:

1. You can now engage your baby in a conversation and you will see him listening attentively or try to repeat the last syllable of the words you say. Some babies will be able to utter syllables around the 10th month. “Mama” and “Dada” are two of their first words.

2. Babies will attempt to sing, sway with the music, show appreciation by clapping; wave bye- bye if somebody waves at him.

3. Enjoy tickles, peek-a-boos, re-discover his toys, pull, push, stack, squeeze, and rattle them.

4. Babies at this stage can now sit by themselves and attempt little steps; if your baby is daring, you will see him attempt to walk by holding on to chairs and tables for support. Hence, it is very important that somebody is always near at hand to watch over the baby. In case your baby loses his balance and falls down, don’t show too much apprehension but instead assure him that everything is all right.

5. He will be interested in feeding himself as an attempt to emulate what grown ups do. Don’t mind the mess he makes because these are all part of his learning process. In case he drops any of his food, let’s say a cookie or bread, don’t give it back to him. Try to instill the idea that any food if dropped on the floor is already soiled and therefore no longer fit for eating.

6. By the twelfth month, babies who have been encouraged to walk, will be able to walk and those who were encouraged to talk, sing and dance will be able to do these things. They will be able to say ‘no’, if they don’t like something or nod and clap if they are delighted or agreeable.

How fast babies develop will depend on how well they were nurtured in terms of food and motivation.

The baby will enjoy being a part of the adult’s world and knows they still have a lot to learn. A happy baby can brighten up a home.

Tags: : toddlerhood, baby teeth, feeding, first words