Thinking, Feeling and Doing

• I know my family and like to be around them.
• I love to interact with people and can be easily entertained.
• I might cry or act shy when people I do not know get too close to me.
• If I am unhappy or frustrated, I might cry, kick, bang or throw things. But please never shake me to make me stop. Shaking can cause brain damage, blindness, paralysis or even death.
• I will try to copy some of the things you do, like making different faces.
• I will feel happy when I do something new or challenging.
• I am getting better at telling the difference between different textures, shapes and sizes.

Sleeping

• I like to nap during the day and will probably still want 2 naps every day.
• I should have a regular bedtime and bedtime routine.
• I will probably sleep through the night.

Playing

• I need to play and move! I learn more about myself and my world when I play.
• Some of the toys I might like are unbreakable mirrors, musical toys, like bells and tambourines, baby books with board, cloth or vinyl pages, stacking toys in different sizes, shapes and colors, large building blocks, balls of all sizes and squeeze toys.
• I might get tired of a toy or activity, but I never get tired of your attention.

Eating

• I still need breast milk or iron fortified infant formula to help me grow. I can have whole milk after I am 12 months old but I should not have skim or 2% milk until I am much older.
• I have used up all of the iron stores that I had from birth. I must now get my iron from foods. Infant cereals with added iron are a good source of iron and are easy for me to eat.
• You can gradually introduce me to vegetables and fruits that have been completely mashed and strained.
• I can also eat meats that have been cooked soft, mashed and strained. Chicken and lamb are good meats to start with.
• When I try a new food, wait 3 to 5 days before introducing another food. This will give us time to see how I accept each new food.
• I will keep my lips tightly closed if I do not want the food you are offering me.
• Try giving me foods that I can eat with my fingers, like plain crackers, dry toast, soft fruits or chunks of cooked vegetables. But do not give me food with nuts and seeds. They can make me choke.
• I can eat egg yolk but should not have egg white until I am over 1 year old.
• With a little help, I can drink my milk, unsweetened fruit juice or water from a cup.
• I do not need foods that have added salt, sweeteners or other seasoning.

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.