Solving Life's Little Problems

Baby is quickly turning into a toddler and getting smarter every day! Your baby is a pro at
exploring his environment and is now ready to become an expert in solving life's little problems. Help baby to continue learning by describing how things work and taking baby to new places such as a new park, grocery store, or library.

Brain Science for Your Baby

Child development experts know that children are driven by curiosity and the need to explore. Toddlers have an internal drive to master the world and the challenges that come up. You can see their skills get better (which is brain development!) as they change strategies in order to succeed. Your toddler is able to keep a goal in mind, and may not be easy to distract! It's important to remember what his brain can't do (yet). At this age, babies may have a lot of will, but they don't have a lot of patience. That's normal. You'll need to help him with his frustration. By the time your child is a preschooler he'll be able to understand rules and your point of view!

A Baby Buffer Prescription for Your Baby

Describe objects and actions that you see (e.g., cars driving, dog fetching a ball, airplane flying)

Provide toys that require an action for something to happen (e.g., pop-up-toys, jack-in-the-box)

Ask your child to find objects that are hidden and easy to find (e.g., a toy under a blanket), play appear and disappear games like peek-a-boo.

Label colors, shapes and sizes of objects during everyday activities (e.g., "I am putting round cheerios in your blue bowl." "You have a big yellow duck and a little yellow duck.")

A baby Buffer Prescription for You

Now that your baby is ready to try so many new things, it's a good time to join a play group or mommy-baby class. Your baby will enjoy the play time and spending time with other moms will be good for you too!

Have you been to the library with your toddler yet? Most local libraries have story time or other activities for little ones for free! Don't forget to pick up a couple of new books to enjoy while you are there.

What Your Baby Can Do - Developmental Milestones

Emotionally, one-year-olds are just learning to recognize and manage their feelings. They experience a wide range of emotions and have tantrums when they are tired or frustrated. They may also respond to conflict by hitting, biting, screaming, or crying. One-year-olds want their independence, and may say, "No!" to adult suggestions or insist that they, "Do it!" Then, moments later, they might cling to an adult's leg or ask for help.

What your baby should be doing at 12 months

What your baby should be doing at 18 months

Gene's Research Tip

A study on infant sleep machines in the journal Pediatrics, tested 14 devices at 3 different distances. The devices are made to attach to a crib, about 1 foot away or to be placed distantly, up to about 6 feet away. Now, recommended sound wave levels in baby intensive care units are less than 50 decibels. At maximum volume, all of the machines were over this level, when tested at 1 foot and 3 feet from the testing device. At 6 feet, only 2 of the units were in the safe range when cranked up to maximum volume. Read More

Baby Buffer Blog

Written by Barbara Unell

With a grin on her face, my friend, Sara, once told me the following sarcastic comment that her mother, Martha, made after Sara's daughter was born:

"You will spend the first two years of your child's life teaching her to talk, and the rest of her life trying to get her to be quiet!"

Although many moms tell me that they wish that their children would be less talkative, as Martha did, I didn't have this attitude about my children's verbal skills. I loved listening to them learn how to use words to express themselves, from infancy on. Why? Doing so strengthened the bond between us and helped me understand my children as they were growing up. I continue to delight in our conversations, as my now adult children tell me daily all about their jobs, friends and feelings! Read More

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