Early Motherhood

Rice is easily digested and has low allergen aspects, so it is commonly recommended as the first food you introduce to your baby. Many of the recipes for making baby cereals are time consuming, but with the use of the freezer and a blender, homemade rice cereal is simple and convenient.

This recipe is perfect for infants, but by adding a few “extras” it will tempt the taste buds of kids and adults.

Baby Cereal Ingredients:

• 3 cups of brown rice, cooked according to package directions
• 12 ounces breast milk, water, or infant formula

Baby Cereal Directions:

A child’s first year of life is filled with so many developmental changes. In their first months, babies explore with their eyes, ears, hands, feet, and mouth. At about seven months, babies begin sitting alone — freeing up their hands for more active and exciting exploration. Look out — pretty soon they’ll begin crawling.

Who’s calling me?

Infants love to look at human faces and eyes, bright primary colors, and simple designs. In their first few months, babies develop enough muscle control to lift their heads. A baby will hold his head higher and keep his eyes moving (or at least try to) when you do the following activities together.

Irritant Diaper Rash

Although frustrating for parents, most children get at least one diaper rash, and many get them over and over. If your child gets frequent diaper rashes you might change the type of diaper you are using (cloth vs. disposable diapers), change brands of disposable diapers and/or baby wipes, apply a barrier cream after each diaper change, like Aquaphor or a cream with zinc oxide, and keep a symptom diary to see if you can link the rash to something that your child is eating or drinking.Other things that parents do to prevent diaper rashes include:

• frequent diaper changes

Taking his first steps
That major rite of passage is almost here, if it hasn’t happened already — sometime this month your baby may take his first steps alone. (If he doesn’t, don’t worry — it takes some babies several more weeks or months to become a toddler.) If he’s like most children, your baby will take those early strides on tiptoe with his feet turned outward; keep the camera ready! He may also begin feeding himself with a spoon this month, though his aim won’t be the best.

Growing physical independence
Only one month shy of his first birthday, your baby is no longer a helpless infant who can’t do anything without you. He still needs plenty of care and support, but his growing independence — evident in his solo standing, stooping, and squatting — is becoming apparent. He may walk while gripping your hand, and he’ll hold out his arm or leg to help you dress him. At mealtimes, he may be able to grip a cup and drink from it independently (though some children may not do this for a few more months) and hand-feed himself an entire meal.