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Children are born and then they grow--and grow, and grow. As they grow they show many changes in their abilities and behavior. Here’s what you can expect in your child's development from birth to 18 months.
This is a time of fast physical growth and development. For instance children will nearly triple their weight. They gain skills in feeding themselves, learn to walk and develop early language skills. Children learn about the world through all of their senses. They need to explore in order to learn about things, people, sounds, smells, and what happens when they do something. Most importantly, at this age children learn who they can trust to meet their needs.
There are many behaviors that challenge parents at this age. Babies have needs that require parents or other caregivers to always be with them. Feeding, diapering, and comforting must be done when they demand it. As they grow you can look for infants to be making messes, and exploring everything in their environment. As they approach 18 months of age, children begin expressing frustration and anger. They are also likely to ignore a parent's commands.
From birth to 18 months, parents must make the child’s environment as safe and unrestricted as possible so he can explore everywhere. Put locks on cupboards, gates on stairs, and remove other things that you don't want them to have. In other words, childproof their environment.
During these first 18 months it’s important that parents respect the child’s feelings. Explain the reasons behind your actions, especially those actions that make them unhappy. When you need to remove something, say "I can see you’re not happy I took those buttons away. I know you want to play with them, but they are too small and I’m afraid you might swallow them."
It’s important to know you can’t spoil a baby. In fact, the quicker you respond when a baby cries or in some other way lets you know they need something, the more secure the child will be. An infant that feels secure is happier and easier to live with.
Most discipline methods at this age are ineffective. Children under 18 months are not able to understand or respond to usual discipline methods such as time out, consequences, or spanking. Any form of physical punishment is very dangerous for infants and can cause serious physical damage. The best way to guide a small child’s behavior is to redirect their interest. If your child keeps playing with the buttons on the TV, tell her she can’t push those buttons and then give her something else to keep her hands busy, such as blocks or a toy with buttons she can push.
From birth to 18 months you will see many changes in your baby. As a parent or caregiver some of these behaviors may upset you. Other behaviors may delight you. Remember, it is normal for babies to be into everything. It is your child's job to explore and learn all about her environment at this time. It is your job to respond to her needs and make her environment safe.
Source(s)
Habisch-Alin, Allen, Greder, Olson, and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of MN (2008). Positive Discipline: A Guide for Parents (item # 07461). St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension.
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