Your
Baby's First Year ~ Month 12
Happy
Birthday, Baby!
It
may be very hard to believe that your little baby is almost
one year old! The past year has brought so many changes and
challenges (and there are more to come in the toddler years!)
Your
baby may now:
- Cruise
the furniture or walk
- Drink
from a cup
-
Stand alone momentarily
-
Say ma-ma and da-da indiscriminately
-
Help blow out the candle on a birthday cake!
Many
parents also expand their baby's diet now by including:
- Whole
wheat bread
- Rice
-
Pasta
- Cooked
vegetable pieces
- Mashed
potatoes
- Fresh
and canned fruit pieces
- Small,
tender pieces of lean meats
- Whole
milk
Soon,
your baby will seek more independence. He is no longer a baby,
but a not yet a child. He is somewhere in between - he is
a toddler now.
While
many moms stay home with their children, more than half of
moms are employed outside the home. There are so many decisions
to make when selecting someone to care for your baby. If you
are breastfeeding, consider continuing when you go back to
work. If you're baby's care provider is close to your work,
you may be able to go to your child at feeding times. If not,
you can express milk for your baby -- you should practice,
and start storing milk before you return to work. Once you've
done your homework and selected appropriate childcare, you
can feel confident that your baby's physical and emotional
needs are being met while you are away.
Planning
the Birthday Party!
