My Child’s Milestones: A #ParentingNerd Chronicle
by Shining Mom
My boy has just turned 5 years old and I cannot begin to tell you how much I get reminded of my mom’s warning way back when he was still small —that years pick up speed as they roll along. Each birthday, each time another mile-marker strikes, I feel a tug at my heartstrings as I realize that he’s not a baby anymore (Am I becoming too emotional or something?). I also feel this great sense of pride knowing that I am raising a brilliant kid! I guess my fellow moms could relate to this.
As I write this post for #ParentingNerd about my own child’s physical and mental development, I am overcome with emotion as I revisit those wonderful memories of his growing years – moments when he first learned to sit, walk, talk, and so on. Allow me to share them with you.
Embracing Our Little Boy’s Physical and Mental Development
When I gave birth to our first-born (our second child is on the way), I was so overwhelmed with the enormous blessing entrusted to me and my husband. I could still vividly remember that very moment when he was placed in my arms and our eyes locked for the first time... that was one Utopian moment, an unexplainable happiness. As days passed, seeing him grow bigger and bigger brought us great joy.
It’s so true that a child’s first year is characterized by rapid physical growth. My child’s birth weight tripled in a year, and I am amazed at how he learns new skills quickly -- like learning how to sit, for example. At about 6 months old, my child learned to sit on his own, and after a few months, he learned how to crawl and stand!
Although I constantly cross-check my child’s skills against the milestones indicated on parenting websites, it really didn’t bother me if he was mastering the skills early or a bit late, because I know that each child is unique and progresses at his or her own pace.
I was that kind of mom who never rushed my boy to crawl, stand and walk, as I knew these milestones would come when his muscles are ready, but I did provide him opportunities to develop the skills by giving him plenty of floor time. I think by allowing my child to play on the floor (mostly barefoot), I encouraged him to crawl, stand and eventually walk. When he was learning to stand on his own, I would put him in a walker for not more than an hour a day, so he could use his legs and feet to move around the house to satisfy his curiosity (I knew walkers can be dangerous, so the kid was closely monitored).
While he was learning to crawl and walk, I made our home safe to explore. To child-proof our home, I kept the kitchen safe (knives and anything hazardous were kept away), I attached corner and edge guards, I placed rubber mats in his play area, and many more. I’m sure you, too, have a long list of your own when it comes to keeping our homes safe for our kids!
The most awaited moment came exactly two weeks before his first birthday. My husband and I were then playing with him in the room when he suddenly stood up and took his first step all by himself! That small first step meant so much to us and made us really proud! A week later, he could already walk!
It’s Never Too Young to Read to Infants
As a mom and former teacher, I know the importance of reading (and even talking and singing) to our children even while they are still young. Reading to the little ones helps contribute to the development of their growing brains. The more words they hear, the more they learn. My husband and I set a reading time before going to bed every day since the benefits of reading are so compelling.
When he was still small, the books that we read aloud to our kid over and over were, “I Am Blessed” by Grace Maccarone and “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam MacBratney. How I miss those moments when he was still oh-so-small that we could cuddle him in bed for our family reading time! Some things have changed a bit these days, though. Now that he’s five, it’s the boy who reads aloud to us most of the time (he started reading aloud short stories for us at age 4!).
I’d like to think that my child’s exposure to books has helped develop his understanding of vocabulary and then later on his speech. It has also helped him recognize letters and words so learning how to read them were never difficult!
As of now, my child already has a wide vocabulary, and is learning more and more each day. But I also can’t help but reminisce about that one early morning while I was strolling him in front of our house to catch the morning sun -- the moment when he suddenly uttered his very first words: “Mom-ma! Mom-ma!”
On Eating Healthy
I cannot stress the importance of breast milk enough, but giving them healthy food when they start to eat solids is also important for their growth and development. I started giving my son his first solid food at 6 months. He loved eating mashed potatoes, carrots and fresh fruits like bananas and mangoes back then. I also gave him nutritious meals such as CERELAC because it’s loaded with protein, iron and vitamin A -- much-needed nutrition for his small tummy. Proper nutrition is essential in protecting your child from the risks of micronutrient deficiencies, so make sure that your little one gets the correct amount daily!
These days, I try to give him a wide variety of nutritious foods from all the different food groups: beans, fish, eggs, bread, nuts, dairy products and fruits and vegetables. They say that a plate which contains different colors of fruits and vegetables usually provide different nutrients, so I try to put in as much color as I can on his plate.
Oh Kyle! You are growing bigger and bigger each day, and you are learning more and more! It pains me a little to realize that you aren’t a baby anymore... but it makes my heart overflow with joy when I pause to think how brilliant you are becoming and reminisce about all the beautiful memories you bring. Indeed, years pick up speed as they roll along because time flies by so fast when you are having fun.
DISCLAIMER:
CERELAC is not suitable as a breast milk substitute.
Infants six months onwards should be given fresh, indigenous, and natural foods, in combination with continued breastfeeding.
CERELAC is solid food for kids aged 6 months onwards. Opinions and experiences expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.
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