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Your child's feeding timeline

When do children graduate from a liquid-only diet to eating solid food, when will they be able to feed themselves, and when, oh when, will they stop making such a mess?

Here's an approximate idea of when to expect everything from solids and finger food to spoons and cups.


Baby

Birth to 4 months


Dines exclusively on breast milk, formula, or a combination of the two. Has a natural ability to root, suck, swallow, and gag. (Not to mention burp!) Instinctively pushes most solids out of her mouth thanks to the tongue-thrust reflex, also called the extrusion reflex.


Red flag: If you notice signs of trouble with feeding – maybe your baby isn't gaining weight as expected, or during feedings she frequently arches her back, becomes irritable, coughs, or chokes – contact your baby's doctor.

4 to 6 months


May be ready for solid food, although breast milk or formula is still enough. Signs of readiness: Opens his mouth when he sees a spoon approaching. Can close his mouth around spoon and begins successfully using his tongue to move food around in his mouth. Makes chewing motions, but sometimes still sucks on food.

Is able to grab a piece of food with the palm of his hand, curling all five fingers around it, and move it (with imperfect aim) to his mouth. Can sit upright in a highchair.

7 to 9 months


Time for finger food! Can use her thumb and index finger (the pincer grasp) to pick up small pieces of food. Has increasing success eating food that's offered on a spoon.

With help from you, she can drink (messily) from a regular cup. Can practice drinking skills and hand-to-mouth coordination – without spills – by using a sippy cup.

8 to 10 months


Drinking and chewing ability improves. Curves his lips around cup rim, catching more liquid when drinking. Begins rotary chewing (moving jaw diagonally to move food to the side or center of his mouth). Spontaneously starts taking in less liquid and more solid food.

10 to 12 months


Holds cup and spoon, starts self-feeding. Uses her lips to help coax food off spoon and swallows with lips closed. Points to or reaches for food when hungry. Shows interest in what you're eating. If your child can sit up for an extended period on her own, she may be able to join you at the table using a booster seat, though many parents prefer to keep their child in a highchair for now.

5 things you didn't know about baby development


Infant development is so mysterious and complex that some scientists devote a lifetime to studying it. In the laboratory of your own nursery, you'll be blown away by how quickly your baby changes. Here are five of the top surprises of this magical part of parenthood.
Your newborn can do tricks!

Eat, sleep, p**p, cry… Isn't that all newborns do? Nope. A recent BabyCenter survey revealed that many new moms are shocked to discover that their baby can do quite a bit more than that.

Think newborns just lie around and sleep? Your baby may actually be able to lift his head from your chest by 2 or 3 weeks of age – and sometimes well before that, says pediatrician Ruth Lotz.

"No one believes me, but my little guy lifted his head for three seconds right after he was born," one BabyCenter mom says.

Your newborn also arrives equipped with all kinds of fascinating reflexes: Stroke his cheek, and he'll turn his head toward you (rooting reflex). Put your finger in his mouth, and he'll suck it with the strength of a vacuum cleaner (sucking reflex). Hold him with his feet touching the floor, and he'll do a little step dance (stepping reflex). These reflexes help him develop and survive – plus they're great entertainment for you.

Another fun thing to try: Stick your tongue out at your newborn.If he's not too tired, hungry, or distracted – and if he's in the right mood – he may stick out his own tiny tongue right back at you! (This is a great activity for older siblings. They'll be delighted that they "taught" their baby sibling to stick out his or her tongue!)
Babies know more than we give them credit for

With all the sleeping and drooling, it's easy to assume that babies don't have that much going on upstairs. But as researchers continue to discover, newborns know a lot more than they let on.

For example, babies can recognize their mother's voice from birth. "This shows that babies absorb auditory stimuli in utero, and they can remember it," Lotz says. In other words, your baby was paying attention to your conversations long before she was born.

They can also smell odors, good and bad, and detect sweet and sour tastes.

Although you might imagine that your baby would just as soon look at her teddy bear as at you, science has found that's not the case. Babies are especially attuned to human faces, preferring them to random designs. As Alison Gopnik, author of The Philosophical Baby: What Babies' Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life, puts it, "They understand there's something special about people."

Even more striking is that on some level, newborns understand that they are people themselves – or at least, that they're somehow similar to the grinning, babbling thing leaning over their crib.

"Babies start reproducing gestures as early as the first few days of life," says Gopnik, a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley. "This shows that they're linking other people's faces with some inner concept about themselves." That is, your baby is taking a small step toward eventually understanding that she has a face just as you do, and that she can manipulate it, just as you can.

Perhaps most fascinating of all, there's clear evidence that babies are driven to explore the world from an extraordinarily young age. In one study, says Gopnik, researchers found that at just a few months old, babies were more interested in mobiles they could control than in mobiles they couldn't manipulate.

"Babies seem to recognize connections between what they do and what happens in the world, and they're interested in experimenting with these," Gopnik says. In a way, your adorable infant is a miniature scientist.
Babies get around in different ways

Eventually, your snuggly lap-baby will venture into the world of mobility. But as for what this will look like, no one can predict. He may go for the more typical sequence: rolling over, followed by sitting, crawling, pulling up, cruising, walking, and running. On the other hand, he might march to his own developmental drum.

Some babies never get the crawling memo. "My son turned 10 months yesterday and just took his first steps. He completely skipped crawling," one BabyCenter mom says in surprise. She's not alone. Lotz estimates that about 10 percent of the babies in her practice bypass crawling.

Is this something to be concerned about? Definitely not.

Other babies take things in the opposite direction, showing no interest in going vertical for quite a while. Instead, they're perfectly content to roll from one side of the room to another, even as their counterparts crawl alongside them.

"One of my 8-month-old twins is now getting into the crawling position, while the other wants nothing to do with anything but rolling around," one BabyCenter mom says.

Still other babies are bottom scooters, moving from place to place on their bottom by pushing with their arms and legs.

As long as your baby is developing within age-appropriate guidelines, there's no need to worry. Give him plenty of space to do his thing, and eventually he'll graduate to other ways of getting around.

If your child isn't walking by 18 months, however, talk to his doctor. It could be a sign of a motor delay.
The range of normal is wide

Watching your baby transform from a flailing newborn into a chattering explorer is one of the biggest joys of parenthood. But it can be hard to not worry when your baby is developing at a different rate than her peers.

Don't despair. "The range of normal is huge, and every baby has his own unique timetable," says Lotz.

It may also help to know that these timetables are not predictive of future success. Just because your baby waits 17 months to take her first step doesn't mean she won't one day outrun you. "My son didn't walk until he was 15 months," says one BabyCenter mom. "I thought it would be indicative of his future athletic skills, but he's by far the most athletic of my three kids."

And while Lotz says early language development is sometimes correlated with later academic achievement, the opposite is absolutely not true. Being a late talker doesn't mean your child won't ace those third grade vocabulary tests down the road. (Einstein is famous for being a late talker, for instance.)

"Development is such a nonlinear, dynamic system," says Gopnik. "You really can't make specific predictions about someone based on when they reach milestones. That's like trying to predict the weather 30 years in advance."

That said, if your baby doesn't reach milestones within the usual guidelines, talk with her doctor. (Babies born prematurely often take longer to reach developmental milestones.)
You have the power to boost brain development

Browse any toy store and you'll see all kinds of products designed to boost your baby's brain power. And you may find a variety of gym and music classes for babies in your area. Toys are fun, and classes are a great way to meet other parents – but will your baby fall behind the other babies if you don't do all this stuff?

No, definitely not. Nothing can replace plain old exploration and interaction to help your baby thrive intellectually. "Babies don't learn from flashcards," says Gopnik. "They learn by exploring the world and by having people pay attention to them."

Talk to your child from day one. Research shows that children whose parents spoke to them extensively as babies have significantly higher IQs and richer vocabularies than kids who didn't receive much verbal stimulation.

Don't be afraid to give your baby some independent time, too. "I leave my 5-month-old to play on her mat by herself for a short time in the morning," one BabyCenter mom says. "I sit by and enjoy a coffee while observing all the neat things she can do with her toys to amuse herself."

In fact, says Lotz, babies learn a lot even by hearing you talk to someone else. So stop feeling guilty about chatting on the phone while your little one plays on the floor! She's developing the entire time.


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How to buy baby and toddler shoes

Before babies starts walking, they don't need shoes. In fact, supportive shoes like hard-soled Mary Janes may actually get in the way of your child's developing mobility. Socks, booties, and soft-soled baby shoes are useful for warmth, but bare feet are fine, too.


Once your child takes those first steps, it's time for a pair of real shoes. Unlike "baby shoes," which are more like slippers, first shoes will have a flexible, nonskid sole (probably rubber) and a more substantial upper. Shoes protect kids' feet outdoors and anywhere else that could be hazardous – a splintery surface, for example.

Indoors (and outdoors on safe surfaces, such as sand), it's still a good idea to let new walkers wear soft baby shoes or socks. Your child can even go barefoot, if it's warm enough. Toddling around with feet bare or lightly covered actually helps little ones build strength and coordination in their legs and feet.

Note: Your child's foot is still developing, so it won't look (or act) like an adult foot. If your child still has a padding of baby fat under the arches, for example, she might appear a bit flat-footed. Or she may have a tendency to turn her toes in when she walks, called in-toeing or toeing in.

Mention any concerns to your child's doctor. It's easier to correct foot problems when your child is younger.
What to look for when buying

Choose a breathable, lightweight material. Soft leather or cloth is best. Avoid stiff leather shoes, which can hinder foot development, and synthetics, which don't breathe.
Bend the soles. They should be flexible and gripping, not smooth and stiff. A nonskid rubber sole with ridges will offer good traction.
Check the fit. Have your child try on the shoes and stand up. There should be just enough room to squeeze your pinky between your child's heel and the heel of the shoe, and a full thumb-width between the end of your child's longest toe and the front of the shoe. The shoe should provide just enough wiggle room without being too big. Because baby feet grow quickly, it's a good idea to check every month to make sure the shoes still fit.
Give it a squeeze. If the shoe is made of soft fabric, try to grab some of the material on the top of the foot when your child is wearing them. If you can't, the shoes might be too tight.
Shop later in the day. Babies' feet swell and are often bigger at the end of the day. Shoes purchased in the morning might feel tight in the evening.
Look for problem spots. Your baby's shoes shouldn't need any breaking in. Let your child toddle around indoors wearing the shoes, then take them off and look for any irritated areas on your child's foot.
Make the choice: laces versus Velcro. Velcro fasteners make it easier to get shoes on and off, and you won't have to worry about retying laces all day. But a child may figure out how to remove his shoes and take them off when you wish he wouldn't! If you choose shoes with laces, make sure they're long enough to tie into double knots, so they won't come undone as often.

What it's going to cost you

Simple baby shoes can cost as little as $15 to $20. Fancier shoes, of course, can cost a lot more.

Your child's size and growth timeline

Lots of parents wonder whether their child is bigger or smaller than other kids the same age.

To give you a benchmark, here are the values from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile for weight and height – meaning that half of kids fall within these ranges. A quarter of kids fall above these numbers and a quarter of kids below them.

At each well-child visit, the doctor will weigh and measure your child and tell you his height and weight percentiles. (You can also compute them yourself, using our Growth Percentile Calculator.) Talk with the doctor if you have any concerns about your child's growth.

The data below comes from the World Health Organization for children under age 2 and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children age 2 and older.

What kind of water should I use to prepare baby formula?


How to mix and store formula

Watch a pediatrician demonstrate how to make baby formula and store it safely.
The American Dental Association recommends not using water that contains high levels of fluoride when mixing powdered or concentrated baby formula. Too much fluoride puts your baby at risk for enamel fluorosis, a condition that develops while the teeth are forming in the gums. It's not a disease, but it can result in faint white lines or white spots or areas on the permanent teeth.

If you're on a public water system, check with your local water utility. If your tap water is fluoridated or has substantial natural fluoride (0.7 mg/L or higher), consider using a low-fluoride alternative water source.

Bottled water known to be low in fluoride is labeled as purified, deionized, demineralized, distilled, or prepared by reverse osmosis. Most grocery stores sell these types of low-fluoride water. You may even see water specifically labeled for formula use. (By law, bottled water must meet the FDA's Standard of Water Quality, which is at least as stringent as the EPA's standards for tap water.)

Some home water treatment systems remove fluoride, too.

If you choose tap water, use the cold-water faucet and allow the water to run for a few minutes before you use it. This reduces the chance of lead and other mineral contamination.

If your baby's healthcare provider or local health department has advised you to boil the water you use for formula, be sure to bring the water to a rolling boil. Boil it for about one minute, and then allow the water to cool before using. Don't boil the water more than once or for too long, since that can increase the concentration of impurities.

If your water supply comes from a well, have the water tested to make sure it's safe before using it for your baby. Well water could contain a high level of nitrates, for example. Boiling well water doesn't assure that the water will be good for your baby — in fact, boiling the water would make the nitrates more concentrated.

Teething signs and symptoms

Children experience teething differently – from when teeth emerge to the types of symptoms and how much pain they feel.

Here's how to spot the signs that your baby is teething, so you can offer remedies to treat the discomfort.
Signs that your baby is teething

Symptoms can last for just a few days, right around the time a new tooth is coming in, or as long as several months, as a group of teeth make their way through. For a few lucky babies (and parents), teething doesn't cause any noticeable signs at all.

What's tricky is that there's no single set of teething symptoms. "No more than a third of babies have any one symptom," says pediatrician Deb Lonzer, chairperson of the Department of Community Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. "So, one third of the kids might drool, another third might be irritable, and another third might have trouble sleeping."

For this reason, the following list of symptoms is just a guideline.

Signs your baby is teething may include:

A tooth visible below the gum
Swollen, bulging gums
Trying to bite, chew, and suck on everything she can get her hands on
Drooling
Irritability
Rubbing her face
Difficulty sleeping
Turning away food
Grabbing her ears

If you observe several of these symptoms together, the likelihood that teething is the culprit is higher – but there's always the chance that something else is to blame.
What not to chalk up to teething

If your baby is suffering from diarrhea, fever, or a runny nose, don't dismiss it as merely a sign of teething, especially if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours.

Even though plenty of parents swear that these symptoms seem directly related to their child's teething, there's no scientific proof that they are linked. A comprehensive analysis of 78 studies published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in 2007, for example, found no connection between high fever and teething.

So if your child exhibits diarrhea or fever, call his doctor to rule out anything more serious.
When to worry about a late teether

The first pearly white typically peeks through between 4 and 10 months of age, but it's also perfectly normal for it to show up a little later. If your child's teeth are slow to appear but her bone growth, skin, and hair are normal, there's likely nothing wrong.

Still, if your baby reaches her first birthday with no tooth in sight, mention it to her doctor, who may refer you to a pediatric dentist. Occasionally, children can be missing a primary or permanent tooth, but it's not usually a long-term concern. By the time your child is 8 or 9, you can consult with an orthodontist who will review the options, which include closing the gap with braces or fitting an implant.

Late teething doesn't signal problems with a child's overall development. And there's actually a potential upside to being a late bloomer, says pediatrician Paul Horowitz, founder of Discovery Pediatrics in Valencia, California: The later these teeth come in, the less time they have to develop decay before they fall out and make way for a child's permanent teeth.

Teething is a long, long developmental stage. And if your child is bothered by teething pain, it seems even longer.

Here's the lowdown on when your baby's teeth will appear, which teeth will show up next (there's actually a predictable order!), the signs that your baby is truly teething and not just extra cranky, and what you can do to help soothe the discomfort.

Teething remedies: How to treat teething pain

To ease your child's teething pain and relieve tender, puffy gums and other teething symptoms, consider these remedies.
Cold things

In the same way that ice works on a sprained ankle to numb pain and decrease swelling, cold compresses and foods soothe sore gums.

Place a wet washcloth in a plastic bag and chill it in the freezer for an hour. (For an added soothing touch, soak it in chamomile tea, which has been shown to calm fussy babies and help them sleep.) When you remove the washcloth from the bag, your child will enjoy munching on it, since the fabric massages ridges in the gums and the cold numbs the pain.

Try a refrigerated pacifier or teether. (Don't store the teether in the freezer, because it can get so hard when frozen that it might damage a baby's gums.) There are a variety of refrigerated teethers on the market, including some that have plastic handles so your baby's hands won't get cold.

If your baby has started solids, offer frozen fruit in a mesh bag or freeze a bagel and let your baby chomp on it. A cold large carrot (not a baby carrot, which can be a choking hazard) allows you to hold one end while your baby gnaws on the other.
Pressure

Teething babies crave pressure on their gums since it helps distract their brain from the sensation of teething pain.

If your baby rejects cold items, chewing on a room-temperature teether may do the trick. Some teethers even vibrate. If one type doesn't work for your child, consider trying another.

Or give this strategy a go: Rub your baby's gums with a clean finger until the friction makes a squeaky sound. Not only will the pressure feel good, your baby will probably love the sound your finger makes.
Topical medication

Many parents choose to use a topical anesthetic – a numbing gel or cream that you rub on your baby's gums – to relieve teething pain. These are available over the counter in drugstores.

Be aware that those containing benzocaine may not be safe for teething babies. In rare instances, benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious condition in which the amount of oxygen in the blood drops dangerously low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that benzocaine products shouldn't be used on children under 2 without guidance from a doctor.

Another risk is that the medication won't stay where you put it. Even if you rub it directly onto your baby's gums, he might swallow some of it with his saliva, numbing his throat and relaxing his gag reflex – which can interfere with his ability to avoid choking.
Painkillers

If nothing else is working and your baby needs relief, your doctor might recommend trying an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen. (Note: Never give any medicine to a baby under 3 months old without first checking with a doctor.)

For babies at least 6 months old, ibuprofen is an option, too, and can also help reduce inflammation in your baby's gums. But bear in mind that the drug can irritate the stomach, which may be problematic if your baby's already turning down food (which some teething babies do).

Aspirin is off-limits for anyone under 19 years old. Don't give it to your baby or even rub it on her gums. The drug is associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.

If a painkiller isn't doing the trick and symptoms persist beyond 24 hours, consult your pediatrician.
Homeopathic remedies

Some parents swear by homeopathic teething drops and tablets. (In homeopathy, an active substance is diluted over and over again to the point that it's nearly – or entirely – undetectable, then given to the patient. The idea is that it will stimulate healing in the patient's body.)

However, many pediatricians claim that the risks of homeopathic treatments far outweigh any potential benefits. While homeopathic treatments are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to meet certain standards for strength, purity, and packaging, they're not rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness the way prescription and over-the-counter medications are.

Before using a homeopathic remedy, check with your child's doctor or the FDA, which has recalled certain homeopathic products due to safety concerns.

Revealed: List of UAE public and private sector holidays in 2015

Luckily for UAE residents, several holidays next year seem to lead to extended weekends

Defiance: Why it happens and what to do about it

Why kindergartners defy their parents

Your 5-year-old is probably well past the temper-tantrum stage (most of the time, at least). But she's not exactly obedient, either. In fact, she refuses to come to dinner when you call her, ignores your requests to pick up her socks, and teasingly rolls the soccer ball around on the kitchen floor despite your rule about playing ball in the house.

"So what's going on here?" you wonder. "Did I mess up somewhere along the way, or is my kid just out to get me?"

Believe it or not, you're probably doing fine. Frustrating as it may be, it's normal for kindergartners to test adult guidelines and expectations. At this age, "defiance is about finding a way to assert yourself," says Susanne Ayers Denham, a professor of psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Unlike a younger child, your little rebel probably won't have a fit when you ask her to do something she dislikes. But she may pretend she didn't hear you or respond very s-l-o-w-l-y to your request. ("You mean, you wanted those socks picked up today?")
What you can do about defiance

Be understanding. When you tell your kindergartner to come in for lunch and she yells, "Not now!" and then fumes when you make her come in anyway, try to put yourself in her shoes. Give her a hug and tell her you know it's tough to leave her friends, but lunch is ready.

The idea is to show her that instead of being part of the problem, you're actually on her side. Try not to get angry (even if the neighbors are checking out the show your 5-year-old is putting on). Be kind but firm about making your child come in when she must.

Set limits. Kindergartners need — and even want — limits, so set them and make sure your child knows what they are. Spell it out: "We don't eat in the living room" or "You must come in when I call you the first time."

If your youngster has problems abiding by the rules (as every 5-year-old will), work on solutions. Talk the situation out and try to get to the bottom of your child's defiance. Maybe she sneaks food out of the kitchen because she knows that you frown on snacking before dinner. In that case, she needs to hear that healthy snacks like fruit or cheese are okay.

Or maybe she'll admit that she fights getting dressed every morning because she's feeling burdened at school, she doesn't like her new teacher, or she's worried about the cliquish girls in her class. Once she knows that you're working with her to solve the problem, she's likely to tone down the attitude.

Reinforce good behavior. Though you may be sorely tempted to give your 5-year-old a verbal lashing when she defies you, hold your tongue. "When a child behaves badly, she already feels terrible," says Jane Nelsen, author of the Positive Discipline series of books. "Where did we ever get the idea that in order to make children do better, we first have to make them feel worse?" In fact, doing so may only produce more negative behavior.

Instead, try to catch your child acting appropriately and encourage her to continue. Remember, disciplining your kindergartner doesn't mean controlling her — it means teaching her to control herself.

Punishment might get her to behave, but only because she's afraid not to. It's best for your 5-year-old to do the right thing because she wants to — because it makes the day more fun for her or makes her feel good.

Still, let your child know that when she breaks a rule, there will be consequences. Be specific and logical rather than punitive: "If you play with the soccer ball in the house, we'll have to keep it in the garage."

Use time-outs — positively. When your kindergartner's ready to bust a gasket because she isn't getting her way, help her cool off. Rather than a punitive time-out ("Go to your room!"), encourage her to retreat to a comfy sofa in the den or to a favorite corner of her bedroom.

Maybe your child would even like to design a "calm-down place" for herself — with a big pillow, a soft blanket, and a few favorite books. If she refuses to go, offer to go with her to read or talk.

If she still refuses, go yourself — just to chill out. Not only will you set a good example, but you might get a much-needed break. Once you both feel calmer, that's the time to talk about appropriate behavior.

Empower your kindergartner. Try to provide opportunities for your 5-year-old to strut some of her cherished independence. Instead of demanding that she do her homework right after school every day, give her the choice of doing it then or right after dinner if your schedules permit. Ask if she'd like to have peas or green beans with dinner, or if she wants to rent a movie or a computer game for the weekend.

Another way to help your youngster feel more in control is to tell her what she can do instead of what she can't. Rather than saying, "No! Don't kick that ball in the house!" say, "Why don't you go outside and practice?"

Your child is old enough to understand explanations now, too, so tell her why it's not a good idea to kick a ball inside or why it's important to eat nourishing snacks instead of junk food.

Choose your battles. If your fashion-savvy kindergartner wants to wear a polka-dotted dress with wildly striped tights, what do you care? If she wants waffles for lunch and peanut butter and jelly for breakfast, what's the harm? Sometimes it's easier to look the other way — when she splashes in a mud puddle on the way home, for example, or stuffs her puppet under her bed instead of putting it on the proper shelf.

Compromise. Avoid situations that might spark your kindergartner's defiant streak. How realistic is to expect a 5-year-old to behave for more than an hour or so at your office? If she's got a new Barbie that she's loath to share, put it away before her cousins come over to play.

If you find yourself in a tricky situation, try to meet your child in the middle: "You can't chase Aunt Sarah's cat around, but maybe you can fill his food bowl." It's not 100 percent foolproof, but it's worth a try.

Respect her age and stage. When you ask your kindergartner to make her bed or sweep the porch, make sure she knows how. Take the time to teach her new tasks, and do them together until she really gets the hang of it. Sometimes what looks like defiance is simply the inability to follow through on an assignment that's confusing.

Finally, respect the unique world your 5-year-old lives in. Rather than expecting her to happily jump up from a game she's winning to come set the table, give her a few minutes' notice to help her switch gears. ("Shannon, we'll be eating in five minutes, so please finish up and set the table.")

She probably won't be overjoyed about having to leave the fun to fuss with forks — in fact, she's likely to grumble all the while. But as long as you're patient and consistent, your youngster will eventually learn that defiance isn't the way to get what she wants.