Behavior and Emotions

Thinking, Feeling and Doing

• I am usually happy and friendly.
• I am developing strong emotional ties to you and other people that I care about. I might cry when you leave.
• I am becoming my own person, with my own identity that is separate from you and my family.
• I can tell the difference between you and me.
• I am getting more independent every day and like to do things for myself.
• I can be very demanding and can be easily frustrated. I might even have temper tantrums.
• I can feel fear, anger, sympathy, anxiety and jealousy.
• I know how to get your attention.
• I am starting to know my family's schedule and how I fit into it.
• I recognize places and things that I have seen before.
• I can play alone but I like it if you or another adult is near by.
• I enjoy music and love to dance.
• I can be very affectionate when I'm tired, have a wet diaper or have done something wrong. I can also be cranky when I'm tired.
• I might tell you when my diaper needs to be changed.
• Never shake me if I cry or am unhappy. Shaking can cause brain damage, blindness, paralysis or even death.

Sleeping

• I might be sleeping longer at night now that I am so active during the day.

Playing

• I like toys that I can push or pull behind me when I walk.
• Other toys I might like are books with large pictures and simple stories, blocks, nesting toys, shape sorters and pegboards, digging toys, dolls, cars, trucks, trains, bath toys, large crayons, toy telephone, stuffed animals and other toys made for my age.
• I might also like things from around the house like wooden spoons, old magazines, baskets, cardboard boxes, paper tubes, and pots and pans.
• I love playing peek-a-boo.

Eating

• I am not growing as fast as I was during my first year and do not need to eat as much food.
• I might be fussy or picky with my food. My appetite will go up and down. I might eat a lot one day and then just pick at my food the next day. I might only want to eat one type of food for two or three days and then refuse to eat it the next time you give it to me.
• I still need about 16 to 20 ounces of milk or milk products (like cheese and yogurt) every day. If you are not sure how much milk to give me, talk to our community health nurse.
• I can hold a spoon and can drink from a cup.
• It is a good time to start weaning me from the bottle. Start by giving me a cup at one meal and gradually every time I have milk.
• I will probably make a mess when I try to feed myself. Please be patient with me.
• I am learning skills that I need to feed myself. A plastic cup with a lid and a mat under my highchair can help you manage the mess.
• I probably need a snack between meals. Try giving me small pieces of soft-cooked vegetables, cheese, whole grain muffins, plain crackers or yogurt.
• My food should be finely chopped or mashed. Do not give me hard foods, like nuts or seeds. These foods can make me choke.

Child Care

• If I need child care, talk to a community health nurse. She can tell you what to look for in a child care setting.