Your baby rolling over is her first way of moving around on her own, and it’s just a preview of the exciting motor developments soon to come, like crawling, standing, and walking. Find out when your baby will take her first roll, plus how to keep your little tumbler safe.

When will your baby roll over?
She could roll herself from back to front as early as 3 months, though she might not be able to reverse the move from front to back until about 6 months of age. Anything in between is considered normal motor development.

If your baby hasn’t started rolling yet, watch for these signs, which indicate that she could start very soon: First, she’ll begin using her arms to arch her back and lift her chest. She’ll also start to rock on her stomach and kick her legs, and she might even try to make little swimming motions with her arms.

This is a very exciting time for both you and your baby, as she puts all her energy into these efforts and you encourage her. When she finally succeeds, it will be a thrilling and strong bonding moment for both of you.

If you want to help encourage your baby to roll over, there are plenty of things you can do:

1.    Use the power of eye-catching baby toys. You can place a few of your baby’s favorites just out of reach to encourage her to move toward them. 

2.    Remember tummy time. By spending time on her stomach, your baby will work to push on her arms and arch her back to lift her head and chest. These are important motor development skills and muscle-building activities that eventually lead to rolling.

3.    Be enthusiastic! Your baby will respond to the excitement in your voice and your happy expression when she does something right, so stay upbeat.

All these movements strengthen your baby’s body, preparing her to roll over for the very first time. It’s your job to be ready when she does, so always keep a close eye on her when she’s on a high surface, like the bed or her changing table. Otherwise, she might try to scoot right off.

Once your baby rolls over for the first time, there’s no stopping her! Rolling is usually the precursor to crawling -- but some babies love rolling so much, they opt to do it (or other movements like scooting or slithering) over crawling.

Finally, an important note about motor development: Most babies start rolling by the time they reach the 6-month mark. If yours hasn’t, check in with your pediatrician to make sure everything’s on track. Every baby develops at her own speed, but double-checking with the doctor and sharing your concerns is always a good idea.

Photo by João Victor Fonseca on Unsplash

From the day your baby is born, you long to hear her form those precious first words. In the meantime, though, there’s plenty you can do to help get your baby talking.

Within the first eight to ten weeks of her life, your infant’s vocal tract will likely have matured enough to allow her to make her first coos. These will be one-syllable squeaks and squeals, and vowel sounds like “eh,” “ah,” and “uh.” By 4 months, you might start hearing consonant sounds like “ba,” “pa,” and “ma,” and by 10 to 12 months, your baby might utter her first words, which will often be “mama” or “dada.”

The great news is that you can help encourage your baby’s speech development. A baby's relationship and interactions with the people closest to her offer the best possible opportunities for language development. 

Here are simple, fun ways you can help get the conversation flowing.

• Get chatty. Whether you’re narrating a diaper change, making animal sounds, or discussing the state of the union, listening to you talk is the primary way your baby learns language. The key is to speak slowly and melodically, exaggerating the highs and lows of your pitch.
   
• Answer back. Tune in to what your baby is telling you with her eyes, facial expressions, and gestures. For example, say things like, “You've had enough milk? No more milk!” and “Yes, that is a scary noise!” This lets your baby know that you care about what she thinks and feels, and it encourages her to continue communicating. Pause after asking questions to indicate that it’s her turn to speak.
   
• Read to your baby. Make reading baby books part of your daily routine. Studies show that children who are read to frequently in early childhood have larger vocabularies and better grammar than those who aren't.
   
• Strike a chord. Singing nursery rhymes, pop songs, and even your own silly made-up tunes (“It’s pajama time, yeah, yeah!”) will catch your baby’s interest and boost her attention span.
   
• Say hola and bonjour. If you’d love for your baby to be bilingual, she’ll have an easier time learning to speak a foreign language if you expose her to it when she’s young (ideally before 9 months) and her brain is still forming connections.
   
• Be a narrator. Point out and label things in your environment wherever you go. Babies learn by hearing, mimicking, and repeating, and less so from what they see on TV. So even when it may be tempting to turn on a video, your baby will learn more from you when you narrate how you empty the dishwasher, select foods at the supermarket, or clean up the toy room.

All the cooing, singing, talking, reading, and narrating will pay off when you hear those magical first words. The more you continue to engage your baby, the more you’ll boost her language skills.

Photo by Michael Kilcoyne on Unsplash

As any seasoned mom with her fair share of wins and losses can attest to, the potty training process is rarely linear. Potty training requires your child to hit key emotional and physical development milestones, and it’s perfectly normal for a child to experience accidents and setbacks.

That said, no one wants to step in a puddle of pee! 

Even the most patient parents can easily become frustrated during potty training. (And the fact that there’s so much conflicting advice on the subject only adds to our frustration!) Many experts, however, recommend the use of rewards to incentivize the process.

There’s just one catch: You don’t want your child’s quest for a token or treat to take over the process. Always remind your child that even though getting treats and prizes is fun, these things are nothing compared to the prospect of going in the potty like a grown-up does. If you choose to use a reward system, there are a few simple tricks to keep the focus on becoming a big girl -- not on the reward.

First, remember that your praise and enthusiasm are the ultimate reward. Show that you're proud of your child even when she attempts a step -- sitting on the potty, for instance, without producing anything. Encouraging small successes goes a long way.

It's a good idea to keep rewards small and inexpensive. Don’t overdo it or your child will become accustomed to big prizes for something that happens multiple times a day!

You may also want to stay away from edible rewards, like candy, as it can teach your child to see treats as something she gets for being good, which is a slippery slope with many children.

A reward board, instead -- to be filled with checks or stickers -- is a great visual reminder of your child’s potty training goal and how much progress she is making.

No matter what you choose as a reward, be sure to give it instantly. Most children cannot make the connection between a behavior and reward if the two are separated by several hours.

Above all else, don’t punish your children for potty training slipups. Be prepared with a change of clothes and try not to make it a big deal. Saying something like, “Oh, you had an accident. That’s OK! Let’s clean it up and try again later,” boosts your child’s confidence and encourages her to move forward.

As babies grow into children, parents transform into diaper-changing superheroes. In the blink of an eye, we can take off a wet! In a flash, we can wipe a dirty bottom! We can basically deal with any and all messes our little bundles of joy have in store for us. 

Despite our mind-blowing diaper skills, most of us are very excited to enter the potty training phase. But don’t rush it: This is a process that really depends on your child’s emotional and physical readiness. Most children show signs of being ready for potty training between 18 and 24 months.

When your child is ready to potty train, she might begin to talk about it or show interest in other ways. She may ask questions about other children going to the bathroom or want to watch you while you go to the toilet.

Your child may also begin to announce that she needs to pee or poop. She might squat or pull down her pants when the urge strikes. She’ll probably get irritated when she’s wearing a wet or dirty diaper. Other common signs that your child is ready to potty train: helping dress herself, the ability to follow simple instructions, and a desire to wear real underwear.

The process of potty training usually takes about six weeks, although it can take more time, even if the child is emotionally and physically ready to potty train. In addition, bed-wetting at night is common and normal. It may take several years for your child to be potty trained at night, even if she’s consistently trained during the day. Every child is different!

For the past few months, you’ve delighted in your toddler’s rapidly improving coordination, his increased attention span, and his better grasp of the world. As he enters his 21^st month, you’ll see those skills becoming even more refined and polished.   

Around this age, your toddler is also making a bid for more independence. Encourage that do-it-myself spirit. So long as he’s safe, let him tackle some of his own chores, like brushing his teeth or fetching his own things.

The work of play

At this age, playing is your toddler’s most important activity and the main way he’ll learn to function in the world. Although he’s totally self-centered right now, your toddler is slowly mastering the skills that will allow him to become socially adept later on. Take advantage of that trait with these tips:

• Let him take orders. Good news: Your toddler is starting to understand simple commands, which makes for more interesting play. Practice giving your toddler two-step commands like, “Kick the ball and run toward mommy,” or “Pick up the toys and put them in this box.”

• Encourage mimicking. Toddlers this age like to imitate what adults are doing, such as sweeping the floor and raking leaves. Consider giving your toddler his own broom or rake to help out. Also show him how he can put his stuffed animal to bed the way you do with him.

• Get outside. Going outdoors gives your toddler the chance to run, climb, and jump -- important skills that are helping him become more coordinated. He’s also becoming more playful. Take advantage of park playgrounds. Give him a piggyback ride. But keep an eye on your toddler’s safety while he runs around.

• Host playdates. Sure, your toddler may be pretty self-absorbed. But don’t let that deter you from inviting other children over to play. Spending time with peers is the best way for your toddler to learn how to socialize. As long as they’re safe, let them figure out how to play together, even if it’s more parallel play than interactive playing.