March

Top 5 Useful Habits to Form in Your Baby Between 12 and 20 Months Old

Posted In: baby care, parenting by Infant Care

Summary

Helping your baby to form useful habits between 12 and 20 months old can make a huge difference later on in life as they grow. Now is the time to implement discipline and to start teaching them good habits regarding cleanliness and self care.

Below are 5 things to teach your child to make them more independent and create less work for you:

1. It’s time to start teaching them about brushing teeth.

You can buy starter kits for around $5. The kits include a small toothbrush and toothpaste, which is safe to swallow. I started my daughter out by putting toothpaste on the toothbrush and brushing her teeth for her after she was done eating breakfast in her highchair. By the time she was 15 months old, she was walking and running through the house and was able to understand that brushing teeth was fun and important. She knew what a toothbrush was and how to use it.

I simply take her into the bathroom, put toothpaste on the toothbrush and hand it to her. She brushes all of her teeth and her tongue and when she’s done, she hands it back to me to rinse off.

Putting a stool in the bathroom can help when training them to rinse the toothpaste out.

2. Once your baby starts walking, he or she can begin to learn about washing hands.

Washing hands can be very important. Kids get into everything, especially once they are mobile. I started my daughter out around 16-months by picking her up and turning the water on warm. I helped her put her hands underneath the water flow and rubbed soap into her hands. Eventually she understood how to do it on her own.

Have your child wipe his or her hands off on a hand towel when they’re done. Make a big deal out of it and clap your hands to encourage them that they are doing something positive.

3. Children love to be helpful, allow them to help you in picking up after themselves.

Kids learn by watching. Talk to your children as you do things and encourage them to put things away with you. Don’t make a big deal out of it if they put something in the wrong spot or lose interest. Make it a fun game and eventually, they just pick it up. By 15 months old, my daughter was able to put her toys away herself. She had a clear understanding of where things went and because she saw me cleaning all the time, she eventually picked up the habit.

4. Children need to be napping and going to bed at the same times each day.

Children need to follow schedules. It’s very important for their wellbeing and if you have them on a sleep schedule, you are less likely to have to deal with a cranky baby later. Make sure that naps and bedtime is the same each day, but try to schedule it in keeping with your child’s natural clock.

5. At 15 months, your baby can start drinking from a straw.

About 15 to 16 months old is when a child can watch you drink from a straw and can learn to do it too. This is when many kids show an interest in drinking out of something like Mommy and Daddy do. A straw allows them to do this. Show your child how to do it first and then offer the straw to them. It may take a few tries, but it won’t be long and you’ll be amazed at how fast and easy it is for them to pick up.