Category: 3 to 6 months

Yes and No

Leave a comment

Yes and No (2)

I once knew a couple who were trying to raise their daughter without using the word “no,” the thinking being that toddlers start spitting this word back at us parents all too soon. I remember thinking this was brilliant; yet at the same time, there are moments when “no” is a very important word, especially when it comes to dangers a baby needs to learn. In fact, when my son was little I referred to outlets simply as “nope-ity nopes” for the first two years of his life!

So it is important for a baby to learn yes and no, and it’s good to start early. Today, I made a point of saying yes to all the good things Veronika did, and firmly saying no to the actions that were a little naughty. Of course, nothing she did today was terrible, usually just silly, but it’s good to set the precedent for when the real nos come along.

Whenever you say the word, you can also sign it. A fist “nodding” means yes, and your pointer pinching to your thumb means no. So, playing with toys always gets a yes.

Yes and No (4)

As does sharing with big brother.

Yes and No (5)

No, Veronika, you can’t eat big brother’s book!

Yes and No (6)

Yes, Veronika, play with your own soft book.

Yes and No (7)

No, Veronika, you can’t steal mommy’s list at the grocery store (and yes, she wants to eat this).

Yes and No (10)

Yes, Veronika, those are better toys to play with while in the cart.

Yes and No (9)

You can further highlight the difference between the two words by smiling for a yes, and frowning for a now. I definitely have an impish girl on my hands already, because she loves throwing her package of diapers off the diaper table. No, no, no sweet girl.

Yes and No (1)

But a hug from mommy or a nap on my tummy always gets a yes.

Yes and No (8)

The Wheels on the Bus

Leave a comment

Wheels on Bus (5)

Veronika and I had a bus-themed day today, threading the vehicle through our play and activities in just about every way! A theme-day like this can be a fantastic way to fill the time with your infant.

Babies love buses; somehow that’s just a thing. Maybe it’s because they’re so big and yellow, or the excitement of seeing big kids get on and off, or just the fact that they all hear ‘Wheels on the Bus’ from a young age. But babies love buses.

Veronika and I started with the song. I love the way the verses lend themselves so naturally to motions with baby’s body. To wit, I swish Veronika from the hips down for the wipers…

Wheels on Bus (2)

…or pedal her legs round and round…

Wheels on Bus (1)

…or beep her nose for the horn.

Wheels on Bus (3).JPG

You can also show your baby a cute clip of the song, like Little Baby Bum’s version.

Wheels on Bus (4)

Then, we spent some time with bus-themed play. We read a book about buses (Usborne’s clever Baby’s Very First Bus Book has wheels that your little one can spin!) and played with a plastic bus toy; she couldn’t get enough of scooting it around during tummy time.

Wheels on Bus (6)

How did we cap it all off? With a ride on a real bus, of course! I selected an easy route downtown where I could park the car, take the bus only a stop or two, and make it back to the car on a little walk. You could also pick a round-trip destination on a bus if there’s a place you and your baby need to visit.

She seemed very intrigued as we waited at the bus stop. Here comes our bus, right on time!

Wheels on Bus (7)

Then she looked around wide-eyed during our ride! As the bus bounced along, I sang ‘Wheels on the Bus’ quietly into her ear.

Wheels on Bus (8)

In sum, a bus-y day!

Apple Fingers (and More Food Exploration)

Leave a comment

Apple Fingers (3)

Pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is six months old to start solids, with lots of reasons behind the decision. First, babies actually consume fewer calories when they fill up on fruit and veggie purees or rice cereals because breast milk contains such ample calories. But I let both my kids “practice” with solids at five months and here’s why: I want Veronika to hone the skills of eating now (babies four months and older learn to move food from the front of the mouth to the back in order to swallow), so that she can truly dine at six months.

To wit, I’m slowly introducing a few tastes and textures into her world, and she is already smitten. These cute games will help your baby understand food – and have fun!

First, we played a game of “apple fingers.” I smeared a little apple puree onto Veronika’s tray, and didn’t need to wait long before those little fingers figured out exactly what to do.

Apple Fingers (1)

Let your baby smoosh it around and get real messy.

Apple Fingers (6)

Unlike her big brother, Veronika wanted control of her spoon right away. This girl knows what she wants!

Apple Fingers (4)

And of course, let those little fingers make it to the mouth. Your baby will receive just enough of a taste for an eye-popping surprise, and you can count fingers as he or she licks.

Apple Fingers (5)

It’s a wonderful introduction to all the healthy and delicious foods to come.

Apple Fingers (2)

The next day we explored food even more. I smeared a little rice cereal and sweet potato puree onto her tray.

Explore Food (1)

She didn’t waste much time before swishing her fingers in. This is almost like fingerpainting for babies!

Explore Food (3)

With the bonus of yummy fingers.

Explore Food (2)

When she seemed frustrated that she wasn’t getting much to taste, I handed her a spoon. She knew just what to do!

Explore Food (4)

Finally, you can let your baby explore foods with other textures under careful supervision. I sprinkled a few homemade corn muffin crumbs on her tray.

Explore Food (5)

She was delighted scattering them about, almost impish, as if she knew she was making a mess.

Explore Food (6)

Definitely watch closely if you give your baby something like this, though, since babies under 8 months old aren’t really old enough for baked goods.

 

Mirrored Action Song

Leave a comment

Mirrored Action (3)

I’ve been doing fingerplays and action rhymes with Veronika since she was tiny, but now it’s time to encourage her to get in on the action! As your baby nears his or her sixth month, you’ll find they might be trying to copy all the moves. You can help the process along with this cute game. It’s a great one for big siblings who are eager to interact with a little sib, too.

I sat Veronika down in a chair facing me, and Travis and I acted out a few simple motions. Clapping first.

Mirrored Action (2)

Then stomping.

Mirrored Action (4)

Then patting your head.

Mirrored Action (10)

For each action, we gently moved Veronika’s limbs in imitation. Travis loved helping her hands clap.

Mirrored Action (1)

And feet tap.

Mirrored Action (5)

She looked very surprised at patting her own head!

Mirrored Action (7)

Now we wanted to put it all to music, and we knew just what to sing: If You’re Happy and You Know It, of course! Based on her smile, I think I’m a good performer.

Mirrored Action (6)

We sang through the song, doing each motion (“If you’re happy clap your hands… If you’re happy stamp your feet… If you’re happy pat your head… If you’re happy shout hurray…” and so on).

Mirrored Action (8)

It’s only a matter of time before she’s doing all the moves right alongside us.

Visit a Home Store or Show

Leave a comment

Home Show (1)

I haven’t featured a field trip with baby in a while, and it was time to include a new destination – home stores!

Whether its an actual home expo or just shopping at a home store at your local mall, these venues are perfect for exposing baby to familiar sights and vocabulary expansion.

As we walked around, I named common items for Veronika. “Bed” is an obvious good one of course.

Home Show (4)

Or couch, or chair, or table.

Home Show (2)

She was wide awake and seemed fascinated by the light fixtures overhead. And seemed right at home in the baby section.

Home Show (5)

And if baby falls asleep, no worries – you can still get some shopping done!

Home Show (3)

Then, if there is one near you, check out a home show or expo. These are more of a vendor-driven event where your little one will be equally entertained by home appliances or demos.

Home Show (1)

Truly everything was visually fascinating to Veronika. Check out the laundry machines!

Home Show (3).jpg

Ooh, tile samples were pretty.

Home Show (4)

And big brother got a lollipop.

Home Show (2)

In sum, the perfect way to entertain baby and get out for a bit.

Idle Time

Leave a comment

Idle Time (5)

One of my biggest regrets with my firstborn was not giving him enough time to do…absolutely nothing! Don’t get me wrong; there are definitely times to be a hands-on parent, but there are also times when it’s important to let baby be “bored”. Because here’s the secret: they won’t actually be bored! Downtime lets your little one learn self-awareness, and take in all the sights, sounds, and smells around them in a way that they otherwise can’t.

By the very nature of being a second child, Veronika gets a lot more time to herself to simply watch, figure things out, and notice. One of the best times is first thing in the morning. After she’s been dressed and nursed, I lay her on her blanket while I get big brother (and the cat!) breakfasted and ready for the day.

Idle Time (2)

This gives ample time to explore. Her fingers develop fine motor skills as she plays with her toys…

Idle Time (3)

Or she finds her feet…

Idle Time (7)

Or gets those feet in soft cat fur – cozy!

Idle Time (4)

Or discovers that fingers taste yummy…

Idle Time (6)

Or practices her gross motor skills, whether that’s the first head turn from side-to-side, or later rolling for tummy time.

Idle Time (1)

I even catch her chatting with her toys!

In sum, these idle “do-nothing” moments are precisely what your baby’s brain needs sometimes, a chance to find fingers and toes, or just turn their head and look side to side and take in the world.

Daily Read

Leave a comment

Daily Read (8).JPG

I remember searching once for a daily newspaper for two-year-olds, back when Travis was a toddler; I couldn’t wait to start him on a life-long love of the news, ha! Well, this adorable little moving picture page is almost like a daily newspaper for infants. Change the pictures up as often as you like. Perhaps a “weekly digest” is the right speed to entertain your little one!

All you need is construction paper, poster putty, and a few old magazines. Look for pictures of common items in the magazines, like shoes, cars, food, books, animals, or other common things your baby will recognize, and cut them out.

Daily Read (3)

I arranged a few of the pictures around the edges of a piece of construction paper, attaching with the poster putty.

Daily Read (1)

We put a big picture of Veronika in the middle, then sat down together to go over the “news”!

Daily Read (5)

As we went over each picture, I named the item, or a feature about it, like its color or shape. A few days later, we repeated with a new set of the clipped pictures. This way, her daily news keeps changing.

Daily Read (7)

What pictures did you find to post? Please share in the comments!

Daily Read (6)

Meet the Animals

Leave a comment

Meet Animals (4)

I find it funny that we still place such emphasis on farm animals and animal noises with babies; most of us, I would bet, do not live on a farm anymore, and yet somehow this has persisted as one of the earliest things children should know. As a vegan family, I also face a dilemma; I want my children to know and understand animals that have traditionally been farmed, but don’t want to visit places that mistreat the animals.

Enter the sanctuary: These places are fantastic for children to get right up close to animals and learn about them. They’re becoming more common, so do seek one out near you!

First, Veronika spent the morning playing with animal toys and reading some of our favorite animal books.

Meet Animals (1)

Then it was off to meet our animal friends! She loved the chickens.

Meet Animals (2)

And this chicken loved her.

Meet Animals (3)

We took the time to stop and watch each animal, and I described their behavior to her. Have you ever watched a chicken take a dust bath? It’s fantastic! Next we checked out the goats.

Meet Animals (6)

If you’re allowed to feed the animals, it will be fun for babies to watch. They obviously can’t do it themselves yet, but a big sibling or parent can help.

Meet Animals (5)

This adorable sheep was delighted watching Veronika after a taste of fresh grass from us.

Meet Animals (7)

Next we checked on some adorable new pigs. “Oink oink,” I said as we watched them play. For each animal, you can make lots of noises in echo every time the animals do; it will help your little one understand the sounds during playtime at home.

Meet Animals (8)

The last stop was this beautiful big steer.

Meet Animals (9)

Now when you continue the play at home, your child will have a true frame of reference for each animal. Veronika later had fun with her plastic bath animals and we moo-ed, baa-ed, oink-ed, and neigh-ed our way through bathtime.

One Too Many

Leave a comment

One Too Many (8)

In the past, I worked with Veronika on handing her one toy when she already held another in her grasp; it’s a great way to help little finger muscles practice gripping and letting go. Today, the challenge was harder: what would she do if she was holding two toys and presented with a third?

Use toys that are very similar for the best results (otherwise this becomes more like a game of toy choice). We have small shapes that she can grab on to easily, and which are quite alike, so they worked great for this game.

One Too Many (1)

She took hold of the circle when I handed it to her first, and it was easy to take the rectangle in her other hand.

One Too Many (2)

But oh no! What would she do now that triangle came along?

One Too Many (3)

It took a moment, but then rectangle was dropped.

One Too Many (4)

Uh oh, here comes rectangle back again! Who would be sacrificed?

One Too Many (5)

Down goes circle!

One Too Many (6)

She delighted in the game, and I could almost see her brain processing what to do each time. And of course there was the good fun of simply handling and gnawing on the shapes, as well.

One Too Many (7)

Pelvic Lifts with Baby on Board

Leave a comment

Pelvic Lifts (4)

I just love it when activities are mutual beneficial, don’t you? In this easy little move, mama gets to tone up and feel strong, and baby gets a fun ride – a win-win!

To do the move, I lay down comfortably on an exercise mat, with my knees bent. Veronika sat on my tummy, her back resting against my thighs, and I held her securely around the middle.

Now raise your pelvis off the floor, so your torso and hips form a straight line. Exhale on each lift, and inhale on the way back down, repeating 10 times.

Pelvic Lifts (3)

Of course for me this was exercise, but for Veronika, it was pure fun! She absolutely adored the ride. Many thanks to big brother Travis who captured the beaming smile on her face.

Pelvic Lifts (1)

She loved it so much that we repeat several times throughout the day now; it’s a surefire way to get her to giggle and laugh. Mama gets toned, and baby gets happy!

Pelvic Lifts (2)