Feeding Baby - 18 months

Fifth post in the series:

By 18 months baby is ready to “help” you make food or bring you things to put in food.  She’ll be a lot more eager to try what she’s helped with!

Grow cherry tomatoes and veggies in a garden that she can plant and help nurture.  Grown an indoor herb garden that she can harvest from and add to meals.

Visit orchards, farmer’s markets, pumpkin patches – places kids can see where food comes from!

As an alternative to water, can brew own jug of decaffeinated unsweetened tea (such as peppermint).

Baby shouldn’t watch TV until at least 2 years old.  Then, don’t allow her to watch TV commercials for food – it will make her want, and usually unhealthy.

Baby will master the spoon and begin to use the fork.  Let her experiment, even if messy!

Always eat meals together as a family, and pull baby’s high chair up to table with everyone else (tons of educational and social benefits have been proven).

Teach her ultimately to eat what the family is eating, not to have her own special meal.

Stock up on seasonal foods when they’re available, then you don’t see them again until next year.  Teaches her to look forward to yummy in season foods.

By 18 months she can digest beans well, so start including them more and in greater quantities.

Take her grocery shopping with you, but make sure she’s rested and fed; when she begs for things, allow her to choose one item.

Always keep a fruit bowl out in plain sight.

Don’t give shellfish before age 2.

By 18 months should not be relying on milk (breast or cow’s) for primary source of nutrition.

Choose organic ketchup with no high fructose corn syrup or chemicals.

By age 2:

Daily requirements haven’t changed except calorie intake goes up to 1000 calories.

Aim for:

2 ounces lean meat/beans

1 cup fruit

1 cup vegetables

3 ounces whole grains

2 cups organic whole milk

Continue multivitamins.

Introduce some sweets to teach to moderate (1 small piece of cake at a birthday party okay, every night is not).  Choose sweets with nutrients (see desserts below).

Strictly forbidding a food makes them want it more.  Don’t keep anything in the house you won’t let her have, and don’t forbid things you keep around, offer them in moderation.

Don’t keep junk food in house, don’t use as a reward, but don’t forbid it once child discovers it – okay if has occasional treat at birthday party, holiday celebration, etc.

By age 2 shoot for 3 – 8 oz. servings of milk per day.

Restrict access to the fridge – we control snacks.

Kids ages 2-8 need 2 hours of physical activity/day.

By age 2 can switch to 2% or skim milk.

Baby Fact Sheet 13-18 months

When I was pregnant I read everything I could get my hands on about a) being pregnant, b) the birth process, and c) the early stages of infancy, so that I would be prepared.  After giving birth I read (and still read) everything I can get my hands on about a) what to expect at various stages, b) "how to" books (for raising happy/well-adjusted/green children), c) nutrition books for babies/toddlers, and d) various parenting magazines I've received, mostly for free.

I started jotting down important tidbits, tearing sheets from the magazines, compiling all of the information I thought pertinent to raising a wee one.  And being a list-maker and an organizer, I made these "fact sheets" by age, so that when my baby reached the target age I could pull it out and re-read all the information that I had collected relevant to that age.

By no means am I an expert on parenting, but much of this came from experts through my reading/research.  Take it or leave it, but I thought since I'd compiled it I'd share it.  On that note - if anyone has information they feel is important, I'd love for you to share it in the comments section!

I am copying this from a word document - if you decide to use it, you could simply paste it back into one and print it (this is the last in the series).  I have continued to collect information beyond this age, but what I've done is create a series of file folders labeled by age (1, 2, 3 year olds, etc.) and when I jot something down or tear out a magazine article I want to remember, I tuck it into the age-appropriate folder to pull out when she reaches that age.  I have found, as I parent, that I do not always take the advice in these sheets, as will you.  Modify and learn and practice as you go, but this was a good starting point for me.

INTERACTION

• If baby isn’t pointing by 16 months, talk to pediatrician.


• Dropping/throwing objects is part of learning cause and effect.  Teach baby what he can/cannot throw, and where it’s okay (outside, not from high chair).


• Engage in back and forth conversation instead of just talking to baby (ex. That’s a leaf.  Want to touch it?)


• Use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior.


• Don’t scold baby when she makes a mess, or label (ex. Little troublemaker) – this squelches her confidence.


• Point out objects constantly – talk to baby as much as possible.


• Point, wave and gesture a lot.


• When read to baby, ask him questions about the story.


• Don’t rush to correct baby when she makes verbal mistakes.


• Start doing much less for baby to encourage independence; let him experience some frustration while he figures things out.


• Encourage baby to help you dress him.


•  “Help” clean – give spray bottle with water and a rag and let clean floor while you clean house.


• When toddler is upset, talk about it (label his feelings and give them a reason) – “I know you are upset that I have to change your diaper, but if we don’t you will get a rash and it will hurt.”

PLAY

• Let baby play by self independently while you do household chores.


• Needs exposure to other kids/play groups.


• Transport house into maze with pillows, chairs with blankets draped over, etc.


• Play dress-up.


• Give yogurt/pudding and a silicone basting brush to “paint” with on high chair tray.


• Tape paper to table/floor and give chunky crayons or finger paint.


• Play outside (or inside!) and ask questions that engage senses – “What does the soil feel like?  What does the flower smell like?  Is the pebble smooth?  Does it make a sound if you drop it on the driveway?”  The more she uses her senses, the more she’ll become a trained observer.


• Play in the tub and learn about buoyancy, volume, gravity, cause and effect, etc.


• Pretend play – let kiddo take the lead in whatever he’s interested in.  Don’t always guide play, but be a willing participant and do what interests your child, to help him feel that he’s important.


• Songs/games:


•                 If you’re happy and you know it


•                 Itsy-Bitsy Spider


•                 Pop Goes the Weasel


•                 Pat-a-cake


•                 This Little Piggy


•                 Which hand is it in?


•                 Hide objects under blankets


•                 Peek-a-boo


•                 Sort by size/color and explain


•                 Blow bubbles (outside, in bath tub)

FEEDING

• Encourage baby to use a spoon with sticky foods – rice cereal, yogurt, applesauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes.  Have them practice at beginning of meal when most hungry.  Don’t worry about the mess.


• Can start weaning from breast IF want – no longer the primary source of nutrition now.


• Start to incorporate 2 snacks into diet (amount may vary depending on whether still breastfeeding).

SLEEPING

• Continue with the EASY routine (Eat, Activity, Sleep, You time) – probably go through three times/day (wake in am, breakfast, activity, nap; wake, lunch, activity, nap; wake, supper, activity, bed).

• If baby is only taking 1 nap, encourage a second “rest period” in the crib, even if baby doesn’t sleep (can attach toys to crib).


• Should sleep 12-14 hours/day.


• If haven’t already, introduce a lovey to sleep with.

OTHER

• Don’t leave the TV on – this decreases baby’s attention span and inhibits interaction.


• Defiancecorrelates with increased test scores later – don’t get discouraged!


• Don’t give into temper tantrums.

HEALTH

• If not already, should be brushing regularly with water or fluoride-free paste.


• Ask doc – should take liquid omega-3 supplement (500-700 mg)?


• Don’t medicate a cold in babies/kids under 4 years old – keep the nose clear with a bulb syringe/nasal suction, steam, saline solution, honey (once 1 year old), and vapor rub.


• Schedule a dentist’s appointment.

AGE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

By 18 months should walk well and run, and should be able to name some objects.