The baby of 1 year and 8 months

While you are probably already weighing in at your baby’s 2nd birthday party, in turn, he wants more to enjoy every moment of learning, which means playing a lot and getting to know each other.

It is still too early to know how to deal with frustrations – we adults don’t always know – and tantrums and cries happen, especially because he is very curious and wants total independence, to be able to do what he wants.

Because of that, he will move, and a lot, in all things and will want to go to many places. Take extra care with medicines and cleaning products, and protect stairs and windows. With him able to climb and drag chairs, accidents are much more likely.

At times he is very affectionate, sits on his lap, sends a kiss, gives hugs. In others, he bites, knocks, screams. This confusion of emotions you need to learn to deal with for years to come, which may be simpler than you think. For professional help, check out the Tantrum and Neuroscience course.

To learn a little more about activities to stimulate your 1 year and 8 month old baby, keep reading.

 

Stimuli and Games

Dancing is an activity that appeals to all age groups, even newborns feel comforted when dancing embraced with their parents. In this phase in which the baby is now, the game is even better, because he will move on his own and will develop coordination and speech.

Turn on the sound and let it create steps. It is fun to imitate the movements he makes and then change, he imitates yours. Diversify musical styles, he creates a preference and soon starts to choose the songs he most identifies with. Infant ones are usually the top of the list, but babies always surprise, so enjoy these moments with him.

Drawing becomes more interesting. With fine motor skills developing, he begins to draw a little firmer lines. The use of paint can be very interesting, prepare a space in the yard for him to create or line everything with newspaper.

Playing ball is getting better. Even though he doesn’t have much sense of direction and space, the kicks get stronger and the shots with his hands, faster. If you live in an apartment, look for a freer place to spend a few moments playing ball.

An activity proposed to help develop speech and knowledge of colors is to have pots and balls of different colors and ask him to associate each one. Between mistakes and successes, he will learn to speak the name of the colors.

 

Food

Each person’s reality calls for the family meal time to be adapted. At this age, some babies go to school, others stay with nannies or grandparents, and some mothers choose to stay full time.

Whatever your situation, try to be with the baby at least during a meal. Seeing you eating and participating in the table with the family, helps him to try new flavors and is stimulated to eat the same foods as you.

Make adaptations too so that he can sit at the table. The armchairs allow you to remove the table and fit close to the table. There are also specific furniture and seats for this interaction.

Keep offering healthy foods, avoid excess salt and pepper, industrialized and with sugars as much as you can. Fruit juices can remain sugar-free, even if grandparents and uncles insist. Get your baby’s palate accustomed to natural flavors.

 

Sleep

Some babies are more agitated and refuse to stop at bedtime. This is completely normal at this stage. Even if his activities are different and his hours of sleep are shorter, maintaining his sleep routine is important for him to sleep well at night.

If you are having trouble getting your baby to sleep, contact us and learn more about the Baby Sleeper course. Access our social networks and share experiences with other mothers.

 

Dealing with bites, slaps and kicks

As they are still learning to deal with their own emotions, slaps, kicks and bites are part of the development, as well as tantrums and other reactions.

However, you need to know how to proceed when this happens. Hitting back or shouting can have the opposite effect and will not solve the problem. Showing how you behave in the face of the situation is a way to teach your baby.

Be firm in teaching that he cannot do this and maintain the same procedure each time you repeat yourself. Talk to him about what you did simply and directly and make him understand that it is wrong, without explaining too much.

If he does that to you, react differently to his. Pick him up, hold his hand and caress his face, showing that the reward is much better than if he hits.