“Can you explain why we don’t need to tell toddlers to say sorry, thank you, please, etc? My child’s caregiver told her she needs to say sorry when she “does something bad”, which in this case was poking the caregiver’s eye. My daughter is 19 months old. “Say please.” “Say thank you.” “Say you’re sorry.” “Say … Continue reading Please, Thank You, I’m Sorry…Trusting Children to Develop Social Skills and Manners In Time
Develop your parenting skills with Regarding Baby to: ~ Understand & respond sensitively to your baby’s cries ~ Transform routine caregiving chores (diapering, feeding, bathing) into times of connection and co-operation About Regarding Baby The word Regard has several meanings; a protective interest, a feeling of respect, and affection. One of my most important teachers, … Continue reading About
“What are some things to say to a baby when he is upset for no clear reason (fresh diaper, fed, not too cold/warm, not tired, etc)? My husband and I have gotten into the habit of saying ‘You’re OK’ to our 3 month old. We say it more as a reassurance that he is indeed … Continue reading Entering Into A Conversation With Your Baby
Tabitha writes, “I wanted to share an experience from my family’s first vacation. I just returned form a two-week stay in Mexico with my husband and 15 month old daughter. The first week was shared with my entire extended family as we celebrated the wedding of my younger sister. I was extremely excited to introduce … Continue reading The Gift in Slowing Down to a Child’s Pace
Calmly setting and holding to necessary limits can be trying for parents, especially in the face of a toddler’s strong feelings of displeasure or upset. One of the most frequent questions I receive from parents is “How do I set or hold a limit when my child is upset?” For instance, “It’s time to get … Continue reading No Ifs, Ands, or Buts: Setting Limits With Empathy
(With thanks to Janet Lansbury for the title!) I actually took this picture of R’s play space about three weeks ago, but it seemed appropriate to post here, today. R had been playing, and then went for a nap, and I went to tidy up her play space and happened upon this scene, which just … Continue reading The Cat in the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!
“Go slowly and with great patience.” Magda Gerber Emma writes: “I really struggle with a particular issue at meal times with my 11 month old son. He is awesome with washing hands, but pulls away, pulls at the cloth, and tries with all his might to throw it on the floor when I wipe his … Continue reading Toddler Testing: Problem or Opportunity?
“Trust your baby’s competence: she wants to do things for herself, and she can do things for herself. You also know that your child does need help, but try to provide just that little amount of help that allows the child to take over again. Let her be the initiator and problem solver. We can … Continue reading Trusting Baby To Be A Problem Solver
Natural, unassisted gross motor development means waiting for baby to choose tummy time. This is how it happens, or at least how it’s happening here… One day before her 5 month birthday, R. turned onto her tummy all by herself. She was startled and didn’t like it much, and immediately let out a loud wail. After … Continue reading Tummy Time Baby’s Way
Is The “Happiest Baby On The Block” the Most Oppressed? Why I’m Not A Fan of the “5S” Method Of Calming Crying Babies, continues to generate a lot of interest and (sometimes) heated discussion, eight months after it was first published. One of the biggest arguments in favor of Dr. Karp’s “Happiest Baby” books and … Continue reading Take a CALMS Approach to Your Crying Baby