By now, your baby should have positive feelings about cozying up with you to read books. In fact, your baby might even start telling you which ones are her favorites. Babies love repetition so feel free to read the same books over and over. This gives her an opportunity to get excited during fun parts and anticipate what you will do or say. Make reading interactive by pausing at certain parts in the book and waiting for your baby to look up at you before you start reading again. Bath time or bedtime books are great for reading over and over and teaching your baby songs or routines with books. Make reading something you and your baby do every day! 

 

How to choose books for baby

Brain Science for Your Baby

 

A 2011 study found that providing books to families at well-child visits and encouraging use of public libraries increased the numbers of parents who read to their children every day.  Why is it so important to start reading every day when your baby is - well, still a baby?  Reading to babies, even before they understand the words, sets the stage for literacy. Research shows that babies who are read to in the first nine months of their lives are better prepared for school than babies who had little interaction with books.  Babies will associate books and reading with pleasure. Reading is also calming and helps the baby bond with the caregiver.  Daily reading also encourages language and concept development

 

Video: Reading aloud to babies, infants and toddlers

A Baby Buffer Prescription for Your Baby
 
Board books, fabric books, and flap books are still great for this age.
 
Pick books with pictures or concepts your baby is starting to recognize and relate to their own life. For example, bath time, bedtime, animals, food, dishes, or other babies/children.
 
Keep reading with your child in your lap and allow them to interact with the book. Make reading interactive by commenting on what they are touching ("you pointed to dog") or praise them for interacting with the book ("good turning the page").
 
Be flexible! Try not to worry too much about reading each page or each word. You can wing it, jump ahead, or just talk about the pictures. Follow your baby's lead and interest in the book.  

A baby Buffer Prescription for You        

 

It takes time to get used to you and your baby's new routines. If you haven't already, take time to get back into your old hobbies or routines or find new ones! It's important to identify with something other than caring for your baby. 

 

Make an effort to find hobbies or activities that you enjoy and feel good about doing. Make it a priority but be realistic. Set aside time for these activities and make a plan to make sure you can do it. Get back to being you! Exercising, writing, sewing, creating, shopping, collecting, or whatever it is you want to do....make time and get going!    

 
 
 

 

 

What Your Baby Can Do - Developmental Milestones 

 

Your baby is changing quickly during this period. Know what to look for to make sure your baby is growing and changing in a healthy way.  Click on the links below for information from the CDC on what your baby can do now.  

Baby Buffer Blog

Written by, "Gene"
aka Greta McFarland, MD, FAAP       

 

Does your schedule have about 10 "to-dos" and only time for 5 of them?  Well, welcome to the club.  So here is number 11... no,... bump it up to at least number 4; it can only take 1-2 minutes.  Your child's safety may depend on it!  Go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site for recall information at www.CPSC.gov.   

 

A children's advocacy group, called Kids In Danger, released their 2013 annual report on recalls and children's injuries due to faulty or dangerous products.   The good news is that the number of injuries is down from 2012, but the bad news is that the deaths are up and there was an increase in the number of products recalled.  The majority of deaths occurred with nursery products and furniture, falling or entrapping the youngsters.  Read more

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