Some commonly asked parenting questions:
Q: |
When should my child start sleeping through the night? |
A: |
Most babies start sleeping “through the night” (or at least most of the night) around six months of age. This is the age that sleep associations begin to form, and your child can associate falling asleep with being in his crib or safe sleep space so when he wakes between sleep cycles, he recognizes familiar surroundings and can soothe himself back to sleep. Most children between 6 and 12 months of age need around 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, so be sure to schedule in naps and nighttime sleep! |
Q: |
When can I feed my baby solid food? |
A: |
The earliest that it is safe to feed solid food (including rice cereals) is four months, unless otherwise counseled by a pediatrician. Before four months, babies receive all of the nutrition they need through breast milk or formula and their systems are not yet able to process solid foods. The majority of children can wait for solid food until five or six months, especially if breastfed. For more information, check out the website http://www.healthychildren.org/. |
Q: |
What is discipline? |
A: |
Discipline is nothing more and nothing less than teaching your child appropriate behaviors so that he can grow up to be a safe and productive member of society. Discipline comes from the Latin for teach and it begins early, from a serious “no no” to your baby crawling towards an electrical outlet, to a simple explanation to your toddler as to why hands are not for hitting. Discipline does NOT mean punishment and should never involve physical pain such as slapping or spanking. For more discipline ideas and discussion, see http://www.stophitting.org/. |
Q: |
Why is my child biting me and other children? |
A: |
Before children can fully use language, they tend to use their bodies to demonstrate their different wants and needs. Biting can mean that a child is hungry, angry, bored, teething, or annoyed with you. They use their teeth to communicate since they can’t fully communicate with words. A harsh or excited response will only encourage the behavior. Try to respond calmly, saying “Biting hurts. Ouch. No.” You can also try offering something crunchy to chew on (if the child is old enough), a cool washcloth or teether to soothe gums, tapping gently on closed lips while saying ‘no no’ and explaining about the different things that it IS okay to bite. |
Q: |
My neighbor’s baby walked two months earlier than mine. Does that mean my baby is slow? |
A: |
Children develop at their own rate within a wide range of acceptable timelines. Walking is one of the milestones that varies greatly from child to child, from nine months all the way to fifteen or sixteen months. As long as you are providing your child with plenty of tummy and floor time so that she has the opportunity to move her body, she will walk when she is ready! For more information on milestones, check out this resource. |
Q: |
My baby can’t talk yet or understand what I’m saying to her. Why should I read her a book? |
A: |
While it is true that your baby is not understanding yet ALL of the words you are saying to her, she is processing some of them, and more importantly, is soothed by and attracted to your voice. Reading to your baby not only promotes early literacy and a lifetime of learning, it also helps with healthy attachment, hand/eye coordination, and concentration. Best of all, it’s an easy and fun thing you can do every day to help your baby learn! |
