Toddler Tuesday: 5 fun kid games.

Now that your baby is entering the world of the big kids, it's time to have some fun! Not that there wasn't a great deal of fun to be had watching your baby suck on her own feet, but now that she's starting to walk, talk and interact more, you can play too! Many games will spring up naturally between you and your little pal, but sometimes it helps to get an idea or two for new games to try.

1. Chase me!
This is the "Monopoly" of toddler games. You can play one-on-one or with a lot of friends, it can go on for a very long time, and depending on who you're playing with the rules might be slightly different. Basically, you either let your toddler get a little ways ahead of you, and then make a big deal about how you're going to catch him, or you can run away very slowly, shrieking about how scared you are that your toddler is going to get you. Whenever anyone gets "caught" kisses, hugs and tickling are the result.

2. Funny face.
This is a great one for a quiet Saturday when you just want to sit with your little jitter bug on the couch. How it works is, you hold her on your lap facing you. Then you poke your cheek and make your eyes cross as if there were a button in your cheek that made you cross your eyes. Then when she pokes your cheek you do it again. You can also touch your nose and stick out your tongue, pinch your chin and wiggle your eyebrows, or any other variation you might think of. This gets really fun when you bring in a mirror and watch your sweet little clown-bottom try some funny faces of her own.

3. Where did you go?
This is a good toddler game to play if you have missed the gym and need a workout. What you do is sit on the floor, and wait for your toddler to walk behind you. Then you make a big show of looking for him while purposefully missing where he is over and over. As your toddler tries harder and harder to show you where he is, you can actually pick him up to look under him. Then toss him onto your shoulder and lumber around the room turning quickly from side to side when you hear him laugh, saying "I know your around here somewhere, I can hear you laughing!" When you are out of breath, you can find your toddler again and tumble to the floor expressing to him how much you missed him and showering him with kisses and tickles.

4. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!
This is also a good exercise game. This one is excellent for little climbers. In this game, you sit slightly forward on a chair, with a good sized space between you and the back of the chair. Then you encourage your little jaguar to climb up. As soon as she gets right behind you, reach back and get a good hold of her then start the count down. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!! At which point you jump up and run around the room, giving your little astronaut a good bumpy piggy-back space ship ride, complete with the best sound effects you can produce. Dump her in a pile of pillows and cushions, or carefully on the couch, then return to your chair. Try to act like you don't know why she is laughing and climbing up behind you again until she gets all the way up, then repeat the flight around the room.

5. Wrong words.
This is one of my son's favorites. When he brings me a book that I have read a hundred times and I need to spice it up a little for my own sanity, this game comes in real handy. It's pretty simple, You start reading the book, but when you come to certain pivotal moments in the storyline, you say the wrong word instead of the one on the page. Most likely your little smarty pants will correct you on your "mistake". If he doesn't, you can pretend to try to correct yourself, substituting sillier and sillier words for the one you got wrong until your toddler either corrects you or turns the page. Then you can continue to make mistakes on the next page. If my son isn't enjoying the game when I substitute funny words, I will often change my strategy to substituting funny sounds. Sounds which toddlers find particularly funny are squishy sounds, ding-dong's, woo-woo-woo's and "stinky" sounds.

It is amazing how quickly playing a game with your toddler can transform a dull or frustrating afternoon into a fun and special bonding time for you both. It can seem like it would be hard to shift gears from grouchy and grumpy into giggles and grins, but it happens very easily when I hear my little guy laugh. I hope you find these tips helpful. Please forward them to any parents of toddlers you know who might also like them, and as always, questions and comments are welcome. Happy parenting!

By: Naomi Tripi
http://tripibabytips.blogspot.com

5 tips for teaching your baby to sit up.

One of the first developmental milestones that new parents look forward to is the day their baby learns to sit up. Most babies will learn to sit by themselves somewhere between 6 and 8 months, however, it can happen as early as 4 months or as late as 10 months with no cause for alarm. As soon as your baby can support and control her head and has mastered rolling from back to belly, she can start learning to sit. There is no way to insure that your little Buddha will develop at the same pace as other babies, but if you are becoming concerned, and want to help encourage her to learn to sit, here are a few things to try.

1. Build core strength.
The muscles in your baby's back, sides, belly and thighs are essential support for a sitting baby. These muscles are easy to strengthen as well. To work all the muscles together, you could hold your baby in a sitting position on a medium sized exercise ball, and slowly roll the ball a couple inches forward, backward, then side to side. As the surface your baby is sitting on angles downward, your baby will automatically lean "uphill". The muscles are flexed, and the concept of self-correcting for balance is reinforced. Though you can also work each of your baby's core muscle groups separately, it is a good idea to strengthen them with balance-reinforcing activities.

2. Go through the motions.

Now the process of maintaining a sitting position is only half the puzzle your baby has to figure out. Getting there is the difficult part. One of the best and easiest ways for a baby to get into the sitting position is to first raise himself up on his hands and knees, then to walk his hands backward, while letting one leg collapse into a sitting position, then the second one. To teach the technique, you need to walk your baby through the process about 5 or 6 times in a row a couple of times a day. This will help create muscle memory which will give your baby a clear process to follow when they are ready to try it on their own. Start with your baby on his tummy, then help him prop himself up with his arms. Next, push your baby's legs under him one at a time, keeping one hand under his stomach to lend support in case he collapses. Then, take hold of both of your baby's arms, moving your hand from under the tummy to hold one, and physically walk them back toward your baby's knees. Be careful not to let your baby lunge forward during this process, try to keep the balance of weight over your baby's knees. Try to naturally guide your baby to collapse his legs into a sitting position by leaning to one side and then then the other while walking your baby's arms more slowly back toward his knees. Once he is in a sitting position, let him enjoy the position for a minute or two, then lay him back onto his stomach, and begin again.

3. Be the "Bumbo".

Although a Bumbo or Bumbo type seat is great for certain things, I highly discourage parents from leaving their baby's in them for very long. It is not because there is anything wrong with the Bumbo, it is because those seats do their jobs too well. Your baby is completely supported on all sides, and does not have to work at all to keep her balance. As a result, muscle development can be slowed, and balance-correcting skills can fall behind. I think the best sitting support system there is, is you. You can sit on the floor with your baby in a sitting position between your legs. Offer maximal safety in the form of blankets and pillows and minimal support, only correcting your baby's balance a moment before she topples over.

4. Toy with motivation.

As your baby's interest in toys develops you can capitalize on his burning desire to grasp his favorite toy. If you dangle it just outside of his reach, he will be highly motivated to figure out a way to get at it. For example, if your baby is able to get into the "crawl" position, on his hands and knees, try dangling his favorite toy an inch or so above his forehead. In order to see it better he will be motivated to back up. Then if he wants to grasp it he will have to figure out how to take the weight off of his hands while maintaining his height. This technique can be used at every stage of development, from rolling over to standing, and even walking. Try to be conscious of not frustrating your baby though. If he begins to fuss quite a bit it's a good idea to allow him to get the toy and play with it for a while before resuming the exercise.

5. Solo act.

After your baby has gotten the basics of balance down, whenever you have a few minutes when your baby is happy and content, prop her up with a few pillows, maybe a "Boppy" pillow and a few others, give her a toy. Then let her be on the floor by herself until she needs your help. The Independence promotes self-reliance and self discovery. Without your hand to catch her and sit her back up when she falls to the side she will have a more personal experience with the physics involved in keeping herself upright. I do not recommend that you remove yourself too far from your little wibble-wobbler, just move a few feet away so you can observe, but not intervene unless she gets herself in an uncomfortable position. If she falls to the side, if she is in a safe position, do not sit her back up for a few seconds. These moments just after slumping too far to the side are the ones where most of the learning happens.

Over time your baby will eventually sit, even if you don't use any of these techniques. These are just ideas to help you encourage your baby's development to stay on schedule. I have seen quite a few babies learn to sit early, and most of them were babies that I worked with, and who I used these techniques with, but they don't always help. Every baby has their own natural schedule for development, and sometimes it is quite resistant to our attempts to speed it up. Some babies even learn to walk before they learn to sit up without help. If you have found these tips to be helpful please forward them to any new or expecting parents you might know. Happy parenting!


There is a NEW post from NAOMI up today (9/5/14)! Check it out HERE.

5 tips for keeping your baby fit.

Most babies come fully equipped with instincts that they need to help them grow and develop into healthy active adults, but we give them the things they weren't born with like protection, nourishment, love and healthy habits. For example, a baby does have an instinct to nurse, but not for brushing her teeth. This is why I think it is a great idea for parents to start a morning exercise routine with their babies that consists of developmentally appropriate strength building movements. Just ten minutes in the morning is enough for a baby, they will tire quickly if you push them too much but just a little exercise is invigorating. These moves have the added benefit of also being able to help your baby expel gas. I would recommend either feeding your baby after the exercise, or at least an hour before to prevent causing any digestive discomfort.

1. Baby pull ups.
This move is good to start trying when your baby is one month old. Lay your baby on your lap with your knees together. Your baby's head should be by your knees, and the bottom should be on your thighs. Wrap your baby's fingers around your thumbs so he is holding on and begin to slowly lift your thumbs away from your baby, upward. Your baby should hold on tight and pull back on your thumbs, and even tense his neck or try to lift his head a little. Don't actually lift your baby off of your legs, or raise his head more than an inch or so in case his strength suddenly gives out. Simply pull up, then lower your baby gently back down 4 or 5 times with slow fluid motions. This move primarily tones your baby's arms, but the neck and stomach also benefit.

2. Baby squats.
To start this move, you can keep your baby laying on your lap as described in the first tip. Then, place the palms of your hands against your baby's cute little bare feet and press up toward her bottom. If your baby doesn't push against your hands, try tickling her feet for a couple of seconds before trying again. if your baby's legs tremble or shake when you are beginning to push, don't worry, this is fairly common in newborns, it comes from a lack of muscle tone. This exercise is actually one of those that physical therapists use for helping tone a baby's legs. Repeat 4 or 5 times, as you do these exercises with your baby every morning, your baby will quickly become stronger and able to do more.

3. Baby push-ups.
Although your baby will do a lot of this kind of exercise when placed on a blanket on the floor for tummy time, most of the work down there will be done by your baby's back, not the arms. This exercise is very similar to the first one, except that you will pull your baby's arms toward your chest to get ready, then push them back toward your baby's own chest. Think of your thumbs as the bench press weight bar, and your lap as the bench. If you don't meet any resistance try making the first little push of the motion two or three times very quickly, as soon as your baby begins resisting your pressure, keep pushing steadily toward your baby's chest.

4. Baby sit ups.
Now I know your baby won't be sitting up for a few more months, but that doesn't mean you can't start building the strength your baby will need right now. This exercise move is a lot easier if you prop your baby up with a pillow or rolled up blanket so he is in a reclined but sitting position. Now, lift his legs up about 4 or 5 inches off the ground and tickle his knees. The knee tickling isn't important, it's just fun. Now holding his knees, pull his legs quickly toward you just a little bit, and as soon as you have resistance press them down to the floor and hold them firmly, pulling just a little bit toward yourself. Your baby should let out a big grunt and try to lean forward. This is what a sit-up looks like at the age of 1 or 2 months. Only do 4 or 5, unless your baby insists that you keep going. He is the boss after all.

5. Baby side-lifts.
Now this move is really for the strengthening of your baby's neck. The muscles that keep your baby's head steady are not in the front or the back, they are on the sides of the neck. To start, roll your baby onto her side, and prop her up on a pillow, a rolled up blanket or your lap. Hold her with one hand on her chest and one hand on her back, and lift her up until she is almost perpendicular, then lower her back down. When she feels the motion of being lifted she will automatically stiffen the muscles in her neck to help lift her head. Don't support your baby's head on the side, her shoulder is there and provides plenty of support, but do be prepared to quickly lower your baby back down if her head starts to wobble or look uncomfortable. This move is a good one to practice all through the day. Whenever you pick up your baby, roll her onto her side and lift her up sideways before positioning her on your shoulder or lap. The more often you do this exercise, the sooner your baby's neck will be strong and stable.

I hope you and your baby have a great time doing these exercises together. Who knows, getting your little one into a healthy groove with working out every morning, may just inspire you to make it a part of your morning routine as well! If you like to work out at night, and want to do these exercises at bedtime with your baby, try to finish the excises part of the routine at least an hour before it is time to go to sleep. Exercise can get babies wound up and can make sleep difficult if the two are too close together. Please pass these tips on to any new or expecting parents you know, and if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Happy parenting!

For safety tips and my "Tripi's Tip of the Day" visit http://www.everythingmom.com/blogs/naomitripi/