Monday, September 16, 2013

What does an 8-month old baby need on a visit to Grandma's?

best infant toys 2 months
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kcat


My baby is 2 months old, but he and I are visiting his grandma's house when he is 8 months old. Grandma wants to start buying things he will need when he visits such as a car seat, cradle, etc.

What things do 8 month old babies use?
We are flying to Grandma's house, so we won't have much with us other than clothes and a few toys.
And we'll be staying at Grandma's for at least two weeks and maybe as much as a month.



Answer
A car seat and a safe place to sleep are the most important things. Most 8 month olds sleep in a crib at home (or co-sleep with mom) but usually a pack'n'play is more practical for traveling. Grandma could then fold it up and store it away easily when you aren't there. If you expect to visit again in the next few years, I would tell her to get a convertible car seat (not an infant one) that can go rear facing or forward facing. An 8 month old will do just fine in one of those, and then it will still be usable for several more years. Most 4 year olds can still fit in a convertible seat. If she gets an infant seat, you'll only be able to use it for this visit and will need a different one the next time.

Otherwise, an exersaucer, walker, or other play equipment is nice, but not essential. Chances are he'll be playing with Grandma more than by himself, so it may not get much use. I wouldn't buy something like that for just one visit.

A high chair is convenient for meal times, but again not necessary. They also make booster seat/high chair combos that strap onto a regular chair, which is what my parents have for when we visit. It's small and stores away easily when we're not there and works as a high chair with tray for a baby or as a booster seat for a toddler/preschooler. Plastic bowls/plates and baby spoons if you choose to spoon feed, but those you can easily bring with you in your luggage.

You might want a stroller, if you plan to be taking baby out for walks or something a lot. I usually brought our stroller on the plane to have a place to for my daughter to sit while we were in the airport, and also so I had less to carry! You can check it at the gate and pick it up at the other end.

You'll need diapers, but you won't know what size until closer to when you visit, as it depends on your baby's body shape and weight at the time. Also wipes of course.

So much suggestions for Grandma would be: a convertible car seat, a pack'n'play, a high chair/booster seat combo, and a few plastic bowls/plates/spoons. If she has money to burn and really wants to, she could also get some sort of play equipment or toys.

Is there a such thing as spoiling a infant?




Nydia L


My son will be 2 months on August 8th and my grandmother tells me that if i continue to hold him allday that he will become more spoiled. He does cry when he is put down and yes as soon as me or my husband picks him up he stops. She also says that when i put him in daycare next month that its going to be hard because he is going to be used to someone holding him.


Answer
It's an old wives tale that you can spoil an infant. Babies don't cry to manipulate, they cry to communicate.

When your son cries he is telling you that he is scared, uncomfortable, or unsure of how to handle this strange world when he is used to being in a dark warm place all cuddled up. When you pick him up he learns that he can trust you to care for him, which is the beginning of forming your relationship with your son that will carry over into discipline and other parts of his future.

He is still so little that he can't self-entertain when he is put down. As he gets older (closer to 3 months and up) he will be more interested in the world around him and probably won't want to be picked up as often.

One month makes a big difference. Don't worry about things you can't forsee. A month ago my 3 month old wanted to be held all the time. Now he can lay for periods of time looking at his playmat toys or in a swing with a mobile or just on the ground looking around.

One thing I do recommend is to have a cool and calm demeanor when picking him up or he will sense that being away from you should cause anxiety.

I had a baby like that and I bought my daycare provider a carrier (I recommend ergobaby) to use in case she needed to carry him around while doing other things. I included the link just in case.

Hope that helps. I think you are doing a great job.




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