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12 posts tagged infant
the newbie: A New Babysitter
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
One issue I regularly have is that I have to wait for my husband to get home before I can head out. By the time he gets home, I’m meeting friends for dinner at 8pm or later… and that’s just too close to my bedtime for my liking!
So recently I met a college student who lives nearby and babysits for some of our neighbors. She’s lovely, very sweet and seems good with kids.
But Miss June is not having it.
My 17-month-old cries, screams and holds so tightly to my legs that the babysitter and I both have to work to pry her off. It’s very hard to leave and I find myself worrying about her until my husband gets home and texts me that all is well.
I know that she’s likely in a big ‘separation anxiety’ phase, and maybe it’s just a matter of getting her used to the new babysitter (she has a regular daytime sitter whom she takes to easily). I guess I’d just like some reassurance that it’s okay to leave her now and then with a babysitter. And that this phase will pass.
Is it? Will it? Any tips for making the transition easier?
the newbie: Toddler Hair
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
I have a confession: I don’t want to cut Baby June’s hair! While many of her friends are still bald, she has a lovely head of wavy brown hair that I just adore. Last weekend, she met her little cousin Clara for the first time, and Clara was obsessed with June’s curls, pulling at them every chance she got!
The thing is, her locks are always falling in her face and they often look more out- of-control than cute. Brushing is tough—and I’ve even seen the start of a baby dreadlock (I combed it out quickly!).
I’ve tried various types of barrettes and headbands, and they all end up as very interesting toys that go in her hands, her mouth… anywhere but on her head. Does anyone have any advice on something to try to tame her mane without losing those sweet curls that hang at the bottom?
If not, I think it’s time for the scissors.
the newbie: Ditching the Bottle
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
At the 12-month visit our doctor advised us to move to full-time sippy cup usage and get rid of bottles. I was excited to stop washing out bottles and dealing with all the various parts involved—big step! As for the transition, I thought, “No problem!” June’s been drinking water from a sippy for months now, so I figured she’d be comfortable with it.
Boy, was I wrong.
When it comes to milk, this girl wants bottle, bottle, bottle. She throws the sippy cup with milk in it, refusing to drink. I’ve started giving her a big smoothie so she gets enough milk, but having her drink milk on its own is a real struggle without the “baba.”
I think she got dependant on the bottle as a comfort object, and I know we should break her of that, but it’s proving hard. I wonder if it’s just a matter of making bottles disappear altogether, or a gradual process…
Has anyone else handled this transition in a way that worked well?
the newbie: Separation Anxiety
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
While June has had a lot of time with Grandma, her regular babysitter, and the other parents and babies in our apartment building, she’s starting to get a little clingy with me — even in familiar places! Last week we went to our usual appointment at the YMCA, where I drop her off in the childcare room and then get a workout in, and she clung to me in terror and screamed.
It seemed so strange — she knows this room and these babysitters. She usually sniffles a little bit but then gets distracted by all the great toys they have and the enthusiasm of the staff, not to mention the other kids, who mesmerize her. But this time, she cried and cried as I left the room. I felt awful, but I told myself that she would be fine. I was sure that I’d return to find her happily playing with the dollhouse or the cars.
No go. About 20 minutes into my Total Body Fitness class, one of the childcare providers came to get me to tell me that June was still crying. I put away my equipment and went to get her — she looked so fearful and worried that it broke my heart.
I know that separation anxiety is normal, and she’s almost 14 months old so maybe it’s just really taking hold of her now. Still, what’s the best way to deal with it? My instinct is that I need to continue to walk away and give her experiences where she has to work through this new fear, but that’s awfully hard to do!
Any advice?
the newbie: Food Play!
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
June is now over 13 months old and eating three meals a day, along with some whole milk. I have to admit that I’ve never been much of a cook, but suddenly it feels very important to be making balanced, nutritious meals for her (as opposed to heating up ravioli, which is what I do for myself if my husband isn’t home—he’s the chef in the family).
If the baby had it her way, she’d eat bananas 24/7 (the girl asks for “nana!” all the time). She eats berries, too, and even pomegranate seeds, so we’re okay for fruit, I think. Snacktime is like a fruit explosion!
I’ve found some ways to have her eat vegetables—spinach in scrambled eggs, pureed broccoli under the cheese in a pita pizza—but I’m definitely looking for new recipe ideas. I even got the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook, but I’m not sure how much I want to use purees; I’d definitely like her to try the full vegetables, but I don’t want her to spit them out (she tends to do that).
I would love to hear what other moms do for their kids to have them try new flavors, eat well and enjoy mealtimes.
Paddy’s Halloween costume came in the post today (Thanks Zulily!) and I couldn’t resist sharing this shot I took while he was trying it on. Sweetest little owl ever.
This is too sweet not to share! Thanks for posting!
the newbie: Scheduling Time at Grandma’s
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
June just spent her first night away from home, at 13 months, at her grandparents’ place. There’s a crib (same one we have), lots of toys, and of course we brought her blankie-animal and her pajamas, anything to smell like home. She did pretty well—I know she had a lot of fun and play time with the little dogs—but her grandma reported that she went to bed late and woke up early, losing almost an hour and a half of her normal nightly sleeping time. (This gave me anxiety.)
Not being there, I can never be sure exactly what happened. I wonder, though if anyone has any advice on how to navigate the first nights away from home. It won’t be a very regular thing, but Grandma has asked that she come at least every other month or so, just so they can have quality time.
I wonder if I should just let things go and try not to worry, knowing that she’s safe and cared for. And if she misses a little sleep in exchange for spending the day with Grandma, it’s okay?
Or should I strictly outline routines and rules? I’ve tried to communicate these, but I’m not sure how specific to be. I guess I’m afraid of being overbearing about her schedule.
Any advice?
the newbie: The Doll Appeal
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
We recently had a toy swap in our building, and there’s one toy that every parent seems to want to trade away. It’s a hard-bodied baby doll with eyes that close and movable limbs, and it comes with a bathtub and a feeding bottle. To be frank, this doll is freaky.
But… the babies seem to love it! They rush up to it, hugging it and placing it in its big pink bathtub, dragging it along the grass and “mommying” it with fervor. And I wonder: What’s the deal with babies and baby dolls? Do they see themselves in its creepy blue eyes? Are they imitating the mommy role because it’s one that’s very much a part of their daily experience?
I, for one, will be happy to get June a less horror-movie version of this baby doll—that’s the plan anyway. For now, we’ll share this kooky specimen with the other kids in the building, and they’ll fight to feed her and bathe her and hug her hard, plastic body.
So, does anyone have a doll recommendation? One that both the babies and the parents can love?
the newbie: Tips for Traveling Overseas with a Baby
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
We’re back from a 10-day trip overseas with June! It was intense, but awesome. Here are a few tricks I tested (I’ll leave out the ones that didn’t quite work!):
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Flight attendants are your friends. Find the nicest one and share a “What can you do?” smile when the baby cries, because she will! Our lovely attendant (the same one on both flights!) brought us airline-themed toys and games to distract June, and they worked, for at least half an hour.
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Let go of the first day. When you change time zones, babies get all kinds of kooky. We let June sleep at will on that first day, then got her back on wake-up and nap schedules on day two. By day three, we were all set!
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Be sensitive to her perceptions of this “new place.” We noticed that June was having fun, but there were times when she looked a little freaked out or worried while meeting someone new—she met LOTS of new people on this trip. Her dad and I made a point to spend at least half an hour each day where it was just the three of us hanging out as a family, to help her feel more secure.
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Bring familiar items. We brought her pacifier, sheets from her pack-n-play (they smell like her detergent), her white noise machine and her favorite sleep sack. Bedtime felt like home, and that made everyone happy!
We had a really fun trip, and hope for more (though I may go for a shorter flight next time).
Share your best tips for traveling with your little ones on the zulily Facebook page
the newbie: Swimming!
By Melissa Walker, who can also be found blogging at melissacwalker.com
June’s first summer means something very fun: Her first pool days! She’s got a cute little bathing suit, complete with daisies and ruffle, and she enjoys the bath now, so we didn’t think she’d fear the water much.
But… she does. Maybe she senses the danger that a pool can pose, maybe she doesn’t like the water temperature, or maybe she just needs to get used to it, but she cries quite a bit when we put her in (holding her, of course). She’s only 11 months old, so the floatie arm things won’t work yet, but we’re thinking of trying to find some sort of floating bathing suit.
Of course, one day soon we’ll want to sign her up for some swim lessons, but maybe that’s next summer, when she’s two? I have no idea what age is right for this!
I would love to hear from any parents who have a great way to introduce a baby to swimming. It will be fun to see her turn into a little fish with no fear.
