Stupid questions from 1st time mom: 6-12 months

[alison]

I can't speak to the formula vs whole milk issue--what did your dd's pediatrician say? I think this is a good question for him/her, because the advice can really depend on your dd as an individual.

As for diaper changes--give her a toy or book to look at? I give dd my phone to play with.

[MrsK]

Diaper changes go more smoothly if I give him a book. We started milk at 1 year. You may want to ask the peditrician about her nutritional needs. Re: shoes, our peditrician recommended soft-soled shoes until he is walking well.

[SuzySunshine]

I'm currently reading Happiest Toddler on the Block and just today I read the part where he said to have a special diaper changing cookie, give her half at the beginning and the other half at the end. Then you phase the one at the beginning out and then the one at the end, supposedly it goes quickly.

I put Adele on whole milk right after her first birthday, I put Robert on whole milk a couple of weeks before his first birthday. I worried more about switching Robert because he wasn't eating very well either but my ped said to go ahead and that he would even himself out, I also give each of them one gummy vitamin a day but Robert has 12 teeth so he can chew it.

[DCJenn]

When we brought the dude back at 13 months, we put him back on formula just to catch up on some much needed nutrition and calories and then transitioned him straight back to whole milk (which he's still drinking at almost 7. The kid hovers in the 10 %ile for weight- he's practically see-through.) We had no issues. Of course that was when he'd eat anything we'd put in front of him, too. He gets gummy vitamins whenever I remember to give them to him.

Jenn

[Vishenka69]

I haven't spoken to the pediatrician yet. I'm not particularly impressed with our group, so I wanted to find out what you guys did.

I think I'll start giving her milk for the nap and see how that goes. She's pretty big, so weight/height are not an issue. She also has 8 teeth (with more coming any day now), and has been doing a good job chewing regular food, so I think vitamins shouldn't present a problem.

Thanks.

[MrsK]

Another thought re: teeth. You may want to start looking for a pediatric dentist. BabyK has 6 teeth and he is seeing a dentist next week. We've been brushing his teeth before bed since they came in too.

[Pollyanna]

Another thought re: teeth. You may want to start looking for a pediatric dentist. BabyK has 6 teeth and he is seeing a dentist next week. We've been brushing his teeth before bed since they came in too.

WOW, the youngest our kiddos have ever been to the dentist is 3 years old.

[v-girl]

I didn't take Kenny until yesterday - he'll be 4 in March.

[SuzySunshine]

Good I was starting to think I was late. Adele (3) hasn't been yet but I will probably take Robert when I take her because he already has almost all of his teeth.

[migirl]

Our family dentist doesn't see kids until they turn 3, either.

[MrsK]

Our peditrician says that in a lot of communities, pedidontists will not see children until they are 3 or 4 unless your child has had a dental injury. However, if you are able to, you should bring your child to the dentist once their teeth start coming in. Our peditrician recommended it at 1 year. Some recommend it as early as 6 months. In either event, when the kiddos start teething, you should wipe their gums with gauze before bed and not let them sleep with milk in their mouths. We nursed to sleep until BabyK was almost a year old but we started using a fingertip toothbrush to clean his teeth at bathtime when he was about 9 mo. Now that he's weaned, we use the fingertip brush at bathtime and then give him a drink of water at bedtime. Also, they brush teeth after meals at his day care.

Incidently, BabyK is very enthusiastic about teeth. One of his first words, after "mom-mom" and "daddieee" was "tith" (teeth). He'll remind us to brush his teeth if we forget. I don't think that we'd be as diligent about his dental care if BabyK wasn't interested and cooperative.