Baby Data

It's probably no surprise that I am motivated by statistics (the core of my undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering). I really find data fascinating and eye-opening...and baby data is no different.

A lot of people will tell new moms not to "watch the clock" when feeding a newborn, stressing over naps, or counting the minutes of what seems like endless crying. Well that doesn't work for me. I NEED the data. I need to see trending to find some hope of optimism in what is a very challenging period in my life with a newborn.

There are a lot of methods out there, but I think the easiest way to track the baby data is through an app (I use Total Baby), since nowadays your phone is always within arm's reach. Most programs will keep track of when and how long your baby eats, sleeps, and needs a diaper change, along with doctor visits, milestones, and even pictures.

Here's where I've noticed the big advantage of tracking: when you use it for more than one kid. I used the app with Bugga, and I'm now using it with Bella. As I go through the daily and weekly challenges with Bella, I am finding that I very much forget exactly how things went down with Bugga. Did Bugga wake up this many times at this age? When did we move Bugga to the crib compared to Bella? And I can just look it up in seconds. There's nothing like an instant point of reference when going through all these stressful moments where you feel like you will NEVER come out the other side because this moment is just the WORST...only to see that your first child acted the same way at this age and you lived to tell the tale...or at least the data did.

Your Child's Milestones

I am by no means a stickler for keeping up with the Joneses as far as what my children can or cannot do compared to the next kid. That being said - er, written - I still want to know when I can expect different abilities and personality traits to appear. This also helps me to know what I can help her to learn, since she might be developmentally ready.

As I read magazine articles and websites, or talk to other moms, I will collect what I learn in this post, so I can always have it as a reference for what fun stage will come next!

0-2 Months

• Lifts head when lying on tummy (1 month)
• Responds to sound (1 month)
• Stares at faces (1 month)
• Smiles and laughs (1 month)
• Can see black & white colors very well (1 month)
• Notices hands (2 months)
• Gurgles and coos (1-2 months)
• May roll over on their own (back to tummy) if baby is on the lower side of the scale, but will likely lose this ability until closer to 4 months. (2 months)

3-4 Months

• Visually tracks moving objects (3 months)
• Recognizes your face and voice (2-3 months)
• May be able to roll over from tummy to back (3 months)
• Turns toward sounds (3 months)
• Can bat at toys (3 months)
• Can bear weight on legs (4 months)
• May cut first tooth (4 months)
• May imitate sounds (4 months)
• Can grasp toys (4 months)

5-6 Months

• Plays with hands and feet (5 months)
• Recognizes their own name (5 months)
• Can rollover both directions (6 months)
• Can sit without support (6 months)
• Ready for solid foods (6 months)
• Turns toward sounds and voices (6 months)
• Passes an object between hands (6 months)
• May start crawling (6 months)

7-8 Months

• Starts to exhibit stranger anxiety (7 months)
• Can wave goodbye (7 months) 
• Can stand while holding onto something (7 months)
• Can pull to a stand (7 months)
• Combines syllables or jabbers (7 months)
• Understands object permanence (7 months)
• Crawls (7 months)
• Can say "mama" or "dada" but not necessarily to anyone in particular (8 months)
• Points at objects (8 months)
• Cruises around furniture (8 months)
• Enjoys peek-a-boo (8 months)

9-10 Months

• Can drink from a sippy cup (9 months)
• Eats with fingers (9 months)
• Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent (9 months)
• Can pick things up with pincer grasp (10 months)
• Crawls very well (10 months)
• Gestures to communicate (10 months)
• Can stand alone for several seconds (10 months)
• Puts objects into containers (10 months)

10-12 Months

• Some babies can take a few steps at this point (11 months)
• Understands "no" (11 months)
• Can squat from standing position (11 months)
• May say another word besides "mama" or "dada" (11 months)
• Imitates others (12 months)
• Can say two words besides "mama" or "dada" and uses them well ("hi" or "bye") (12 months)
• Capable of going up and down stairs by themself (12 months)
• Can walk alone (12 months)

13-18 Months

• Can bend over to pick something up (13 months)
• Can hold out their arm when you are dressing them (13 months)
• Loves looking at their reflection in the mirror (13 months)
• Can roll a ball back and forth to you (13 months)
• Starts to imitate other people (14 months)
• Can point to one body part when asked (14 months)
• Can respond to basic instructions (14 months)
• Initiates games (14 months)
• Uses 3 words on a regular basis (15 months)
• Walks backward (15 months)
• Able to scribble with a crayon (15 months)
• Tries to "help" around the house (15 months)
• Can put finger to mouth and say "shhhhh!" (15 months)
• The "no"s begin! (15 months)
• Can turn book pages (16 months)
• Temper tantrums due to frustration begin (16 months)
• Becomes attached to a soft toy/blanket (16 months)
• Starts climbing on everything (16 months)
• Can stack 3 blocks (16 months)
• Starts to use a spoon/fork (16 months)
• Has learned the right way to use objects (telephone, spoon, books) (16 months)
• Can take off one piece of clothing without help (16 months)
• Switches from 2 naps to 1 nap (16 months)
• Uses 6 words regularly (17 months)
• Has fun pretending (17 months)
• Throws a ball underhand (17 months)
• Can feed a doll (17 months)
• Likes riding on toys (17 months)
• Able to speak more clearly (17 months)
• Sorts toys by shape, color, or size (17 months)
• Able to kick a ball (17 months)
• Dances to music (17 months)
• Will sit down and "read" board books alone (18 months)
• Can scribble with a crayon (18 months)
• Can create two-word phrases (18 months)
• Can stack 4 blocks (18 months)
• Brushes teeth with assistance (18 months)
• Throws a ball overhand (18 months)
• Showing signs of toilet readiness (18 months)
• Takes apart toys and puts them back together (18 months)
• Able to understand simple instructions (though will need repetition) (18 months)
• Understanding "I am my own person" - leads to running away when in public! (18 months)

19 Months - 2 years

• Able to run well (19 months)
• Understands up to 200 words (19 months)
• Recognizes errors (when you say "up" but mean "down") (19 months)
• Washes and dries hands with help (19 months)
• Takes off own clothes (20 months)
• Learns 10 or more words per day (20 months)
• Can go up stairs standing up (20 months)
• Can stack 6 blocks (21 months)
• Can name pictures in a book (21 months)
• Follows 2-step requests like "please pick up that toy and bring it to me" (22 months)
• Can do simple puzzles (22 months)
• Can draw a straight line (22 months)
• Can name several body parts (22 months)
• Can put on loose-styled clothing (22 months)
• Might be ready to transition from a crib to a bed (22 months)
• Understands opposites (22 months)
• Uses 50-70 words (23 months)
• Can open doors (23 months)
• Can sing basic tunes (23 months)
• Has interest in playing with other kids (23 months)
• Asks "why?" (23 months)
• Talks about self (likes/dislikes, wants/needs) (23 months)
• Can name 6 body parts (24 months)
• Can speak in 2-3 word phrases (24 months)
• Can go down stairs standing up (24 months)
• Can arrange items into categories (24 months)
• Learns how to jump (24 months)
• Understands gender differences (24 months)

2-3 Years

3-4 Years

• Understand how to take turns, share, and follow directions (3-4 years)

4-5 Years

• Schools expect children to recognize uppercase letters, rhyme, and describe a basic plot; (start of kindergarten)
• Should know how to count to 20 and identify simple shapes (start of kindergarten)

5-6 Years

• Learning to tell jokes, but not quite understanding the concept of a punch line (5-6 years)
• Learning to use exaggeration ("school-age")

6-7 Years

7-8 Years

• Understanding punch lines in jokes (7-8 years)
• Start requesting privacy (7-8 years)

8-9 Years

9-10 Years

10+ Years

Living the Baby Life

I'm pretty sure my husband and I did not realize how much our social lives would change post-baby. Sure, we knew we would be doing more kid-friendly activities, and probably be spending less time in the bar scene. But it never even crossed my mind to think about day vs. night entertainment and how our social time of the day would change.

While pregnant a daydreamed of us introducing Bugga to all our favorite music by spending her first summer picnicking outside amphitheaters so we could bring along all our bulky baby gear and still enjoy the sounds we love. My husband and I talked about how fun it would be to now have an excuse to go see all those great animated movies that are now released every other weekend.


Well here we are, Bugga's first summer, and guess what? Babies have a bedtime. And it is generally before it even GETS dark, so all those summer concerts that normally start at 7pm? Not happening. Oh and taking the baby to the movie theater? Yeah, I didn't even THINK about the volume in those places - apparently it is very dangerous for tiny ears.


So for awhile we are limited to daytime events, squeezed between meals and nap times, and reasonable decibel levels. Gives my husband an excuse to invest in a stellar home movie system.

Happy 4th of July everyone! I'll be catching my fireworks on tv this year!

Listmania: Parenting Ideas

This is yet another list for me to collect ideas that I will use somewhere down the road, and you are welcome to as well. As usual, please feel free to make suggestions, and if it is something I think has a place on the list, I will not only add it into the post, I will give you credit via a link back to your blog (should you have one).

Parenting Ideas

Description: Once in awhile, through all those suggestions that are thrown at you from everyone from the dry cleaner to the grandmothers, a couple gems float to the top. I want to remember how to be the best parent I can be, and I may not always remember the right idea at the right time. I hope this list helps me stay on top of my parenting game, even if just a little bit.

1. Going to the beach? Take along baby powder - it's a miracle worker with getting sand of everyone's legs and feet.
2. Bored Jar: If your child child complains of boredom, they have to pick a slip from the jar and do the activity, good or bad. It might be going for ice cream, it might be cleaning their room.
3. Leave love notes on your child's pillow when they least expect one.
4. Hug your child every day when they wake up and when they get home from school.
5. Timers set definite boundaries. For example, with a timer, you can say, "I'm setting the timer. I want your room cleaned (or your shoes on, or the dishes unloaded) in 15 minutes. If you haven't finished by then, your correction is…." This method not only spurs on easily distracted children, but it also leaves little room for arguing about a job that isn't finished and whether the correction is warranted.Say something great about your child to someone else, knowing your child can hear you (but not necessarily with your child standing right there).
6. Make fun shaped sandwiches for lunches using cookie cutters.
7. Set family rules. “Our family rule is that the room has to be clean by 5:00 each day. Either you can clean it or I will. But, anything that I find laying around will go into a box in the garage and be unavailable for the next week." If your son doesn’t have his uniform for practice, he’ll learn an important lesson when he explains to the coach why he’s not prepared. If you find that your kids don’t even miss the toys or clothes that you hauled out to the garage, that lets you know they probably have more than they need and it’s time for a big donation to Goodwill Industries. 
8. Come up with a secret word, phrase, or hand gesture that means "I love you" so you and your child can communicate without them being embarrassed in front of their friends.
9. Next time your child "forgets" to put something away, like video games or sports equipment, put it away for him. When he asks where it is, tell him that he'll just have to look for it. Believe me; he will learn that it's a lot more trouble to find something that Mom has hidden than it is to put it away in the first place.
10. Ignore phone calls during quality time, and make it clear you are choosing to be with your child instead.
11. Decorate your child's mirror with a fun surprise message.
12. Your words help your child build self-esteem. Tell her she is beautiful.  Praise specific features of her body.  Encourage her to wear clothing that makes her feel comfortable. Let her choose her hair length.  Allow her choices with clothing. Realize it's okay if clothing is sometimes wrinkled or mismatched. Be there with love and affection when someone teases her. 
13. Send your kiddo something in the mail with an actual STAMP! What could be more fun?
14. If time-outs don't work, try a "time-in." This can be accomplished by sending your child to a designated spot where he must complete a task that has a definite beginning and end. This could be putting together a small puzzle, stringing 50 beads on a piece of yarn, or tracing the alphabet. A time-in diverts his energies and encourages him to focus on something positive.
15. If your child likes to stomp off to his room or stomp around in anger, send him outside to the driveway and tell him to stomp his feet for one minute. He'll be ready to quit after about 15 seconds, but make him stomp even harder.
16. Use a WHEN-THEN routine. “WHEN your room is clean (which means I can see your entire floor and the horizontal surfaces are clear of clutter) THEN, you can have your TV time, or THEN we’ll leave or practice, or THEN you can join us for dinner.” Creating a When-Then routine in which the room must be cleaned before a more enjoyable part of the routine occurs – creates a natural incentive. If you follow a When-Then routine every single day- there’s no need to fuss or fight about it. As my mother-in-law says, it’s the law. It’s just the way we do things around here. That’s called “letting the routine be the boss” so you don’t have to be.
17. Watch what you say! Don't criticize your own body. Never make fun of the way someone else looks. Say that cosmetics make us look different or fancier not prettier.  Never say, "I wish I looked like her." Don't freak out if she gets dirty. Avoid fawning over beautiful models and actresses.
18. Lead by example: Limit access to media. Provide your daughter with dolls with dark and light skin. Don't always wear makeup. Provide healthy food to make it more likely for your child to have a healthy body. Encourage physically active play and activities. Wear a swimsuit even if you don't feel like wearing one, so you can swim with your child. Develop a social circle that expands outside your likely-homogenous neighborhood. Eat all foods in moderation.  Provide opportunities for your child to develop her unique talents. Celebrate exercise for making the heart healthy. Celebrate acts of the heart.

What else???

Feed Me

My daughter has been exclusively breastfed since birth, and somehow, fortunately, we are still going strong 4.5 months in. (This is absolutely NOT a blog about the best way to feed your child – I say to each her own, and only you know whether breastmilk or formula works for your little one.)

The main challenge I have at this point is trying to fit in 6 full feedings throughout a day, when a baby this age is also supposed to be sleeping 12 hours or so at night (and just so we're clear, that also isn't happening). We strive for a meal every 3 hours starting from the time we wake up, but by the end of the day we are on 2-hour cycles just to be sure we fit them all in before bed. I constantly feel like I am falling behind schedule throughout the day. It’s exhausting. 

I am trying out a variation in my schedule where I front load a couple of my 2-hour cycles first thing in the morning. This way if we should be so lucky that she does nap later on, she doesn’t need to miss a meal in exchange for sleep. She does not nurse overnight, so there are no bonus feedings.

How do you make it work??