EVERYONE’S FAVORITE Groups
Your Baby Week 52
Congratulations! It's your baby's first birthday! Can you believe that an entire year has passed since the birth of your child? And what an incredible journey it has been! As your child reaches his first birthday, you may reflect on the year that has passed or even back to when you were trying to conceive, or first found out you were pregnant. You may remember the first fluttering in your tummy, those first little kicks that soon turned into power kicks, and then your first labor pains. You may think back to the car ride home from the hospital and those first few nights at home, and all those diapers!
Your child's first birthday marks their graduation from infancy to toddlerhood. Over the past year, your baby has reached so many impressive milestones with your love and care. You, your partner, your baby's siblings and other caregivers should all be so proud! The upcoming year will be just as exciting. Among the developments to come, your child will begin to interact more with other children their age and their vocabulary will begin to increase at an amazing rate, reaching up to about 50 spoken words in the next 12 months!
Milk
Now that your child is about to turn one, you may be considering introducing cow's milk into his diet. When you do make the switch to milk, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you give your child whole milk until at least his second birthday. Though the rest of your family may be drinking skim milk, growing children need the extra fat and cholesterol whole milk contains. And remember to choose pasteurized, it's the safest for their little bodies.
Fussy Eating
Parents of fussy eaters can often find themselves wondering whether or not their child's nutritional needs are being met, especially if your child seems to reject everything you place down in front of them. The good news is that your child's appetite is a great guide to how much he should be eating. A hungry child will eat, so don't force the issue if he isn't hungry, and try to limit snacks before mealtimes.
If your child never seems to be hungry, his appetite may be ruined by an unexpected culprit: juice. Sipping on a juice cup all day can certainly fill your child up, making every mealtime a struggle.
Your child can also receive valuable nutrients from unexpected places. Protein doesn't just come from meat or fish. Peas, cheese, eggs, yogurt and beans are all great sources of protein and your child may prefer to eat these items rather than a plate full of fish. And if you haven't tried it yet, start offering your baby fresh fruits. They are a great source of vitamins and they taste great! You may want to introduce new foods one at a time, so if he does have a food allergy, it will be easier to determine which food he is reacting to.
