Babyproofing

Our little guy is getting braver by the day. He will crawl across the living room, around the couches and through the dining room, inevitably toward the floor lamp and cords, the fireplace, the plants, and any speck of dirt or dust bunny that he can find. We have already moved one of the plants and may need to take down a wall scroll that hangs within his reach.

My Baby Week 33
At this age, your baby is probably beginning to understand the word no. Don't be discouraged if he doesn't always obey; testing boundaries and asserting independence are signs that your baby is developing right on schedule! In addition to telling baby “no”, you will want to divert his attention to something else. You can help him to learn which behaviors and toys are acceptable and which are not by patiently reinforcing his desirable behaviors.

Reading to your Baby

Most believe it's never too early to begin reading to your child, even if they aren't the most active participants in the reading process. The basic message is that it's a good habit to get into and setting aside time for reading each day can be a great time to bond with your little one. At this point, you may want to select books with bright colors and bold illustrations to capture her attention. She may be more interested in tasting the book, turning the pages, and wandering around while you read. Don't worry, in a few months, she will be more interested in the words that you read.

Plants and Flowers

Did you know that many common house and garden plants could be poisonous to your little one if they are ingested? Since your infant is at an age when he is apt to put anything and everything in his mouth, you may want to consider removing certain plants from your home entirely, or at the very least, placing them far out of reach from your exploring baby. If you hang plants up high to be out of reach, be sure that no leaves or flowers can fall into an area that your baby could reach. If you do keep poisonous plants in your home, be sure to label them clearly. Even if you know all the names of your plants, chances are most of your babysitters won't and if your child accidentally ingests a leaf or two, labeling the plant will help expedite communication with their doctor or poison control.

Some poisonous plants include:

* Iris
* Lily of the Valley
* English Ivy
* Hyacinth bulbs
* Azalea
* Daffodil bulbs
* Rhododendron
* Rhubarb leaves
* Tomato plant leaves
* Holly and Mistletoe

Though you may have heard that the Poinsettia is poisonous, Holly and Mistletoe are the real culprits. Poinsettias are not poisonous, but they can be irritating, so you should still be cautious and keep this plant out of baby's reach.