16 months

Behavior and development

How does the baby develop?

You can be very scared of any sudden loud noises. A 16-month-old baby may shrink, cry loudly and become frightened by the sound of a vacuum cleaner, thunderstorm, sirens, fireworks or an exploding balloon.

Children still enjoy exploring their surroundings like they did in the past few months: grabbing objects at random, observing them closely, putting them in their mouths and hitting them on the floor. But you'll also find that your baby loves to challenge his physical limitations. Children know they can now walk on their own, so they will try to walk while carrying something heavy like a block box for example.

When your baby is 15 to 18 months old, he or she may quit sleeping in the morning because a nap in the middle of the day or at lunch can be more than enough. Initially, the nap may last longer than you did before. Pay attention and put your baby to sleep that is not too late to keep him from falling asleep at night. You will probably need to shorten your baby's nap time if it's too long during this habit change time.

What do you need to do to support your baby?

Always be calm and comfort your baby needs. A hug and acknowledging your baby's feelings at that time may be enough for your baby to feel secure. Or mother could add: "Look, was it so sudden it scared me?" The mother shows her how to cover her ears to at least help her manage her fear. You will eventually get over your fear of loud noises when they know where they come from and that they are actually completely harmless.

Bedtime will be smoother if the mother can create bedtime habits for the baby to follow. A good bedtime routine long enough will help put your baby in a comfortable state, but you shouldn't let them become too long or too complicated and make them work that only you can. that the babysitter cannot replace the mother. The best time to lull your baby to sleep is about 20 to 30 minutes.

Your baby may still need compensatory resting time for how often he used to sleep in the morning. Feed your baby and do simple, gentle activities such as listening to soft music, watching a book or resting on a blanket on the sofa (not in bed - which will make your baby want to sleep). Avoid carrying your baby in the car while he used to sleep in the past - because he may doze off then, then skip the nap and then become irritable when afternoon arrives.

Health and safety

What should mom discuss with the doctor?

Consider whether or not to give your child a flu vaccine. You can ask your doctor for more details about the schedule of vaccines, dosage, warnings ...

If you want to help your baby eat enough to make up for any deficiency in the diet: Ask your doctor about how to safely supply vitamins for your baby.

Mother should know more?

You may be afraid to see a doctor. Some tips can be used to comfort your baby:

Don't see your doctor too soon, but be on time for your appointment. If you miss it early, make the time you wait with your baby go by faster by interacting with your baby as much as possible.

Bring your baby's favorite toy, because that way he will pay more attention to his toys and feel more comfortable.

See a certain doctor regularly. That way, your child can get to know the doctor better and their surroundings. On the contrary, the doctor will also get to know the baby better and the examination of the baby will be easier.

Mother's concern

What are the things you need to care about?

If your baby is not sick but slowly gains weight while still growing, the doctor may recommend increasing the amount of food he eats in meals and snacks. Your baby may need to see the doctor more often to make sure he or she will start to gain weight again.

If your baby is still under 2 years old, you should not let your baby watch TV. However, just looking at the TV for a while will not harm your baby much and it will be a good measure in case the mother needs to be a little away from the baby.