Though at this point his vocabulary likely consists of only a couple of words besides "mama" and "dada," your baby can probably babble short, fully inflected sentences that sound like he's speaking a foreign language. Act as though you understand. Your baby may be able to respond to simple questions and commands, especially if you give him some clues with hand gestures. For example, ask "Where's your mouth?" and point to it. Or try "Hand me the cup" and point to the object. He may even answer you in his own way, using his own gestures, such as shaking his head for "no." Because he's receptive now, it's a good time to begin to teach your baby how to help out. Emphasize "please" and "thank you," and make toy cleanup time fun by turning it into a game. Though he probably won't get the idea just yet, it's not too early to start. Break the task into very small parts. At this age, he'll need you to work with him by his side.
Because he's receptive now, it's a good time to begin to teach your baby how to help out. Emphasize "please" and "thank you," and make toy cleanup time fun by turning it into a game. Though he probably won't get the idea just yet, it's not too early to start. Break the task into very small parts. At this age, he'll need you to work with him by his side.
It's up to you to help your baby make connections between objects and their names — the more you do, the faster your child's vocabulary will grow. Keep talking to your baby and labeling things. Count stair steps as you climb them, and point out the names and colors of the fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Read your baby a picture book and ask him to point to or name familiar objects.
Solicit his opinion once in a while: Ask him if he'd like to wear the red or the blue socks, or if he'd like to play with his blocks or his stacking rings. Give him only two choices — both of which are right in front of him. He may not answer, but then again, he may surprise you.
Noah has had a rough week. He has had his first real battle with diaper rash, and it got very bad. We are fortunate that it took this long for him to get a real case, but it broke my heart to see all of the red welts all over his little bottom. His diaper rash is almost fully cleared up now though. Then Noah managed to get a tuna can out of the trash can and cut his finger on it. It was the smallest little cut, on his little pinky finger, but it was deep, and it took me an hour of applying pressure to finally stop the bleeding. And now that the cut is finally healing he has come down with a cold. Ugh. This poor kid can't get a break this week! He is a trooper though, and has been holding up well through all of it. It was all much harder on me than on him.
Noah says "yeah", "yes", and "no, no, no" a lot now. After I tell him no for something he usually responds with a chorus of "no, no, no" himself.
He still can't get enough reading, and brings me book after book all day long. I hope this love for learning and reading carries on with the years.
1 comment:
Aww, poor little guy, and poor you! Definitely been there before. Hope next week is a better one!
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