Arial
I do everything that i can to stimulate my sons interests and would like to increase my knowledge on what I can do to encourage anything and everything that he can learn on the way to toddlerhood :) any ideas that you have or have tried on your baby/child would be great to hear.
@trollbert... seriously... do you not have anything better to do? I wish i could be your friend. You're obviously in desparate need of some love. You probably want to put up a front but i am seriously here to help you if you need someone to talk to. Send me an email and i can try to help you as much as i can :)
Answer
I would take my son out for a walk daily when he was 9 months. It was the dead of winter here (January - Feb) but I would just bundle him up, put the weather guard over the stroller and off we'd go. He would often fall asleep but he would be up for at least some of the time, I would talk to him about the cars going by, or the busses..etc. Some of his first words were car and bus lol
I sang LOTS of song to him. The main ones were 'the wheels on the bus go round and round...", "Zoom, zoom. zoom, wer're going to the moon...", itsy bitsy spider...etc. Basically the songs that have a lot of movement and touching. He still loves those songs and he's almost 22 months.
On the nicer days, I would put him in the backpack carrier (BOBA carrier) and put my Suze's Kindercoat over top... and we'd go for long walks. I could talk to him a lot easier when he was on my back, and he LOVED it (actually still loves it).
I took him to the mall pretty often. It was a warm place that we could walk around and see things. I would just bring snacks with us (he was eating soft chunky foods by then), and I'd point things out to him. He seemed to like it.
I often took him swimming in warm teach pools. He loves to swim now, I think because I took him when he was so little. It's a great bonding experience too.
I think I started to take him to the gymnastics club around 9 or 10 months. Of course he couldn't run around but he liked to hold on to my hands and jump, with help, on the trampolines (the small ones). He also loved balls at that stage and the big exercise balls were fascinating for him. It was just somehting fun for him to do.
I also took him often to the library. He still loves it. I would pick out books for him (we still do that weekly) and we would also go to one of the free mom and baby programs that they offered through the week. I don't know if your library hosts these types of programs but they are great to start around 7+ months. Babies at that age like to watch other, older kids playing. It's good for them to watch interactions.
I also took my son to our community centre and parenting centre. I should add that I live in a traditionally high needs area so there are probably a few more services than average for parents, but you should be able to find parent-baby programs hosted by your local community centres, libraries, parenting centres (if you have them), cultural centres, churches...etc. They are a great resource for both you and your baby. Most of the programs offered from these venues are free. There are pay services too. I know there are things like gymboree, kindermusik....etc. I don't know how much they would get from these types of programs when they are so young but my son loves the kindermusik program now that he's a little older.
I should add that I read A TON to him. I would just 'read' the very simple board books to him. Basically I would describe what was going on in the picture, I rarely read what the words said. I don't think he was pointing by 9 months but he would stare at the pictures. Of course, his attention span was pretty short so once he start to seem bored with them, I would stop, and we'd get back to it later in the day. Now he goes and 'reads' to himself all the time. I have started actually reading soft covered books to him already (with pictures of course). He loves Caillou and Handy Manny.
Oh, I took him to the zoo when he was about 11 months, so if you've got a zoo where you live, that might be a good place to go.
Really, it's just to get your baby out and about - to stimulate your mind and provide a break from the dailiy monotony, and also for your son to just be a part of life. I don't think they necessarily take in life changing knowledge at that age but it provides stimulation. Also you probably will talk to him about things he's never seen. Even though he doesn't get what you're saying, he will be able to hear the excitement in your voice, and that's stimulation enough for their little brains. You certainly don't have to get out every day (I know it can be hard, especially if you live in a cold place) but if you can get out once or twice, it'll be good for you - which will make you a happier mom, which makes a happier baby ;)
Have fun!
I would take my son out for a walk daily when he was 9 months. It was the dead of winter here (January - Feb) but I would just bundle him up, put the weather guard over the stroller and off we'd go. He would often fall asleep but he would be up for at least some of the time, I would talk to him about the cars going by, or the busses..etc. Some of his first words were car and bus lol
I sang LOTS of song to him. The main ones were 'the wheels on the bus go round and round...", "Zoom, zoom. zoom, wer're going to the moon...", itsy bitsy spider...etc. Basically the songs that have a lot of movement and touching. He still loves those songs and he's almost 22 months.
On the nicer days, I would put him in the backpack carrier (BOBA carrier) and put my Suze's Kindercoat over top... and we'd go for long walks. I could talk to him a lot easier when he was on my back, and he LOVED it (actually still loves it).
I took him to the mall pretty often. It was a warm place that we could walk around and see things. I would just bring snacks with us (he was eating soft chunky foods by then), and I'd point things out to him. He seemed to like it.
I often took him swimming in warm teach pools. He loves to swim now, I think because I took him when he was so little. It's a great bonding experience too.
I think I started to take him to the gymnastics club around 9 or 10 months. Of course he couldn't run around but he liked to hold on to my hands and jump, with help, on the trampolines (the small ones). He also loved balls at that stage and the big exercise balls were fascinating for him. It was just somehting fun for him to do.
I also took him often to the library. He still loves it. I would pick out books for him (we still do that weekly) and we would also go to one of the free mom and baby programs that they offered through the week. I don't know if your library hosts these types of programs but they are great to start around 7+ months. Babies at that age like to watch other, older kids playing. It's good for them to watch interactions.
I also took my son to our community centre and parenting centre. I should add that I live in a traditionally high needs area so there are probably a few more services than average for parents, but you should be able to find parent-baby programs hosted by your local community centres, libraries, parenting centres (if you have them), cultural centres, churches...etc. They are a great resource for both you and your baby. Most of the programs offered from these venues are free. There are pay services too. I know there are things like gymboree, kindermusik....etc. I don't know how much they would get from these types of programs when they are so young but my son loves the kindermusik program now that he's a little older.
I should add that I read A TON to him. I would just 'read' the very simple board books to him. Basically I would describe what was going on in the picture, I rarely read what the words said. I don't think he was pointing by 9 months but he would stare at the pictures. Of course, his attention span was pretty short so once he start to seem bored with them, I would stop, and we'd get back to it later in the day. Now he goes and 'reads' to himself all the time. I have started actually reading soft covered books to him already (with pictures of course). He loves Caillou and Handy Manny.
Oh, I took him to the zoo when he was about 11 months, so if you've got a zoo where you live, that might be a good place to go.
Really, it's just to get your baby out and about - to stimulate your mind and provide a break from the dailiy monotony, and also for your son to just be a part of life. I don't think they necessarily take in life changing knowledge at that age but it provides stimulation. Also you probably will talk to him about things he's never seen. Even though he doesn't get what you're saying, he will be able to hear the excitement in your voice, and that's stimulation enough for their little brains. You certainly don't have to get out every day (I know it can be hard, especially if you live in a cold place) but if you can get out once or twice, it'll be good for you - which will make you a happier mom, which makes a happier baby ;)
Have fun!
9 month old sleep problem?
HappyMum :
My 9 month old baby is use to sleeping while being breast fed. i have been able to manage this since i work from home, but am keen to get her to start falling asleep on her own and in her own crib. Please suggest some tips that I can use to get her into the habiting of falling asleep on her own...Thanks :)
Answer
My baby is 13 months old now and I had the exact same problem. He is now totally sleeping in his crib at night and for naps. Before it was him breastfeeding on demand (all of the time!) which I had no problem with. He would feed and then fall asleep in my arms for naps on the couch or wherever I was. At night he would feed and fall asleep in bed with us.
After a while though I wanted him to be able to fall asleep by himself and get better quality sleep because he was also waking up every 2 hours during the night to feed (but would only suck for a few seconds and fall back asleep.)
I read this book that basically said it is more detrimental to your baby letting them wake up and have fragmented/interrupted sleep than to let them soothe themself/cry themself back to sleep. Because sleep is so important. This book is called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.
It prevents and treats sleep issues from newborn to 3 years old. I actually just got it from a friend whose sister is a doctor and prescribes it to all of her expecting patients. I read it in a week and it turned everything around. My baby is going to sleep around 7-8 every night in his crib and stays sleeping until the morning. He has two naps a day, in his crib. It really is great. He wakes up in the night still once or twice, but I leave him for maybe 20 seconds and he's back asleep. (He's just taking another stab at it incase I'll run to him like I used to :)
It says that in the beginning there will be more crying, but by the end, no crying and healthy sleep habits.
I never wanted to let my baby "cry it out." But I realize now that for the crying at the beginning it is all worth it for him and myself because we are both no longer sleep deprived.
So what I did was breastfeed him until he was sleepy but not totally asleep. As soon as he would look really tired and stop sucking for a second, put him in his crib. He would cry and it was extremely hard but I knew he had a clean diaper, he was fed, tired, and that he needed to go to sleep and to learn to fall asleep on his own.
The first night he cried for about 40 min, then every night it was less and less. After a few days they learn that mom/dad aren't going to come in and play with me or give me attention and fall back asleep.
The same thing for naps. When they are obviously sleepy, feed them and put them down awake but sleepy. Let them soothe themself and they will go to sleep.
It is really really hard at first, but when your baby actually sleeps on their own, it's amazing. (12 months of getting up every 2 hours is just too much.)
Anyway, there is so much more in this book I would really recommend it if you can find it.
I hope any of that helped ! Good luck, you're not alone :)
My baby is 13 months old now and I had the exact same problem. He is now totally sleeping in his crib at night and for naps. Before it was him breastfeeding on demand (all of the time!) which I had no problem with. He would feed and then fall asleep in my arms for naps on the couch or wherever I was. At night he would feed and fall asleep in bed with us.
After a while though I wanted him to be able to fall asleep by himself and get better quality sleep because he was also waking up every 2 hours during the night to feed (but would only suck for a few seconds and fall back asleep.)
I read this book that basically said it is more detrimental to your baby letting them wake up and have fragmented/interrupted sleep than to let them soothe themself/cry themself back to sleep. Because sleep is so important. This book is called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.
It prevents and treats sleep issues from newborn to 3 years old. I actually just got it from a friend whose sister is a doctor and prescribes it to all of her expecting patients. I read it in a week and it turned everything around. My baby is going to sleep around 7-8 every night in his crib and stays sleeping until the morning. He has two naps a day, in his crib. It really is great. He wakes up in the night still once or twice, but I leave him for maybe 20 seconds and he's back asleep. (He's just taking another stab at it incase I'll run to him like I used to :)
It says that in the beginning there will be more crying, but by the end, no crying and healthy sleep habits.
I never wanted to let my baby "cry it out." But I realize now that for the crying at the beginning it is all worth it for him and myself because we are both no longer sleep deprived.
So what I did was breastfeed him until he was sleepy but not totally asleep. As soon as he would look really tired and stop sucking for a second, put him in his crib. He would cry and it was extremely hard but I knew he had a clean diaper, he was fed, tired, and that he needed to go to sleep and to learn to fall asleep on his own.
The first night he cried for about 40 min, then every night it was less and less. After a few days they learn that mom/dad aren't going to come in and play with me or give me attention and fall back asleep.
The same thing for naps. When they are obviously sleepy, feed them and put them down awake but sleepy. Let them soothe themself and they will go to sleep.
It is really really hard at first, but when your baby actually sleeps on their own, it's amazing. (12 months of getting up every 2 hours is just too much.)
Anyway, there is so much more in this book I would really recommend it if you can find it.
I hope any of that helped ! Good luck, you're not alone :)
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