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Recommend Your Fave 1st Year Book
It's official - I'm a mommy! Claire Elizabeth made her grand entrance into this world on June 20th and changed my life forever. Being her mommy is the most difficult, yet most rewarding job/privledge/responsibility I've ever had.
I so appreciate everyone on Mom2Mom who supported me throughout my pregnancy. The words on encouragement regading the scheduled c-section were amazing and really needed at a time when I was extremely nervous. As it turns out, I was a huge fan of the c-section and couldn't imagine her birth any other way.
Although it's taken me almost 4 months to update everyone - Claire is happy and healthy and doing well. Being the proud mommy that I am, I've posted a few of my favorite photos taken from birth to present.
BUT - the real reason for this post - I need your help again!
I would love to be working with Claire on developmental skills like rolling over, etc., but I'm not sure at what age she should be doing what. I'd love to have a month-to-month or a week-to-week "guide" of sorts in a book that focuses on baby's first year. Does anyone have a favorite they'd like to reccomend??
Comments
Every child develops at their own pace, you can't really make them do things. You can try to put something out of her reach, and see if she will roll to it, or roll around on the floor with her. I love Babycenter http://www.babycenter.com/baby. Some kids never do some things, like crawl, roll over, etc, and jump ahead. Some do everything by the book. No 2 kids are alike. My kids sat up at 6 months (the older 2) and 4 months(the baby) and all 3 were rolling very early. The oldest crawled at 8 months, the middle 6, and the youngest at 5. The youngest also was the earliest walker, at 11 months.
I have worked with children of all abilities from ages 0-5 for the last 17 years. I have never really seen 2 kids the same age, do the same things at the same time!
Just get down on the floor and play...that is the best thing you can do for her at this age :)
Becka+Chris= Nick 8 Michele 5 Wyatt 20 months
www.learnandgrowtogether.com
Relax and save your pro-active developmental inclinations for when you are trying to get her to clean her room when she's 10, do her homework when she's 13 or talk to you without rolling her eyes when she's 15!!!
Ha! Okay, I don't think I did a good job of explaining my desire. I'm not wanting to "push" her into doing anything - I just feel like I don't have a clue about each stage of development.
Of course I shower her with kisses, lots of cuddles and as much play time as physically possible - all VERY important and fun for both of us! However, I think I would feel like a better mommy if I was more educated (that's just my 'need-to-know' personality).
I'm just wanting to understand the stages of life she's going through and do what I can to help her grow happy, healthy and strong! Surely there is a good book out there that just gives new parents a general overview of what to expect in the first year??
I really hate the What To Expect series lol. (and that is my professional opinion) They have actually scared some moms into anxiety!
If you want to have some suggestions, I would get The Baby Book by Dr. Sears, go to www.pediacast.org, and/or get Taking Care Of Your Baby And Child. Also, anything by Dr. Harvey Karp or Elizabeth Pantley is awesome, as is Becky Bailey.
I could go on about what books to read, but being a parent educator and Child Development major I read more then most lol.
Becka+Chris= Nick 8 Michele 5 Wyatt 20 months
www.learnandgrowtogether.com