Author(s): Gary Ezzo

Baby

The period between 12 and 18 months places a child on a one-way bridge to the future. Infancy is a thing of the past and toddlerhood is straight ahead. A baby still? Not really, but neither is he a toddler and that is the key to understanding this phase of growth. This is a period of great exchange: baby food exchanged for table food; the high chair for a booster seat; finger feeding replaced with spoon.; babbling sounds transition to speaking, the first unsteady steps are conquered by strides of confidence, and the list goes on. Moving forward at lightning pace, pretoddlers are driven towards a new level of independence, equipped with a mind of their own. Whether a parent is ready or not the childs natural inclination and challenge of I do myself will become increasingly apparent, not to mention frustrating. The drive toward independence is very strong yet unpredictable. He is always in motion and not easily restrained, directed or controlled, but he needs to be! Boundaries will be tested, rules understood as suggestions, and curiosity will become a force to reckon with. How will a parent meet the unfolding challenges? The answer begins with understanding the various growth transitions of the one-hundred and eighty days linking babyhood with toddlerhood.