Baby Stuff Review

Good friends of ours just had an adorable baby girl and it reminded me I’ve held onto Buzzfeed’s “23 Incredibly Helpful Charts for New Parents” in my email for way too long.

By doing so, my son has passed the stage when almost all of this is relevant. For example:

How do you know when your baby is hungry?  When he tells me he’s hungry. And if he doesn’t like his dinner, he can starve! [Evil parent cackle but … let’s be serious … every day moment with a toddler.]

What’s the deal with breastfeeding? Oh God, get over yourself. Breastfeeding makes much smarter babies unless it absolutely does not, in which case it doesn’t matter and do what is best for you and your family. The amount of time spent reading, researching, writing, arguing, viciously arguing, apologizing, unapologizing, and then blogging on this issue should be spent on things like education and a super pill that prevents parents from needing sleep or … let’s say hygiene.

When should you vaccinate your child? If your answer is never, you have gone to the wrong blog. Head over to your nearest health food store or yoga studio for your usual medical advice. (Reminder: I am not a doctor. Don’t trust me.)

Of course, there’s still the very relevant car safety seat advice:

But then, lo and behold, came this gem:

I have been woefully ignorant to the child labor rules for toddlers! Our son cleans up messes (usually by cleaning up spilled yogurt with a yogurt-filled paper towel that then lacquers the entire table with yogurt), helps water the plant (it’s a cactus; it will survive), and helps put away his toys (he’s been doing that for a year to the level of OCD concerns). Lately, he’s also been bringing the laundry hamper around the house to supplement the last year’s task of throwing laundry from the washer to the dryer because we made the horrible mistake of buying a house with front-load. (DON’T DO THIS TO YOURSELF WITHOUT A TODDLER TO DO IT FOR YOU!)

Check out the list of tables (they’re generally quite good for newborns) and pass it on to new parents you know!

 

Judging Each Other

Buzzfeed presented 17 things parents judge each other for but really shouldn’t.

Sure, it’s great not to judge but … you know … sometimes it is. Let’s investigate:

1. How you feed your baby.

Why not to judge: Breastfeeding is natural and easy for some — medically impossible for others. Do not judge on breastfeeding or formula feeding a baby.

When to judge: When I saw a 3-year-old drinking a venti chocolate chip frappaccino with a cookie. That judging is A-OK. Also, if you breastfeed a child who is old enough to have a serious post-drink discussion with you about your parenting.

2. Pacifiers.

Why not to judge: Because kids differ. My son is 2 1/2 and we’ve been down to pacifiers only in his bed for about 6 months now. I’d like to get it gone completely, but he loves it so much he was born with a chaffed thumb from sucking.

When to judge: When it’s in his high school backpack.

7. How you educate your kids.

Why not to judge: People’s lives differ. Sometimes the best school in the area is the Catholic School. Sometimes it’s a public school. Sometimes the options are not very good (or you are a military family always on the move) and you are able to home school your child. Different children and different families require different things.

When to judge: When you barely have a middle school education and you’re home schooling your kids. This scares me greatly.

8. Sleep.

Why not to judge: Children are different. While I would strongly discourage anyone from bringing their kid ever into their bed because it sets a pattern, this was an issue with our son because he was sick for a period after starting day care, coughing all night every night, and awake yelling so we brought him into our bed. Now, at age 2 1/2, he generally sleeps through the night in his own bed (last night from 8:30 – 6:30!) but those moments when he’s cuddling against you are some of the best ones.

When to judge: When you have to move into college with him so you can share a dorm bed.

11. Using a leash on your kid.

Why not to judge: I’m out of compassion on this one. When I see a kid on a leash, it’s usually because the parents are morbidly obese and unable to chase after a toddler or too lazy to attempt to do so. Kids run — either teach them not to or keep up. (Also a possibility is that you have too many kids to handle but, again, that’s not an issue to solve with a leash.)

When to judge: Always.

Drinking Buddies

So, it’s been awhile, and in this time I’ve started to weigh the pros and cons of continuing this blog. However, no matter how many cons there are (no one reads it; it takes time), the pro will always win: this is my own “scrapbook” of sorts to my son, written in a personal and informational way. So onward we go …even if unpublished!

Upcoming posts might help to celebrate my son’s first birthday with discussion of:

(1) First hair cut. YAAAH!

(2) Norovirus. BOOOOO!

But rather than dwell into the roller coaster ride of the past few months (still generally quite good), let’s explore the world of what a one-year-old should be drinking.

 

No matter what site you read, there seems to be general agreement not to start cow’s milk with a baby until he is one year old. Of course, I highly doubt this rule was followed when I was a baby and I am 6’3″ with multiple advanced degrees, so let’s remember our sanity, folks. Still, it’s nice to all agree on something after the brutal, violent chronicles of formula v. breastmilk (and, yes, I understand 12 months is a START not necessarily a PUSH. Keep on keepin’ on, crazy people who judge others.)

So, that being said, we started our son on organic whole milk around his first birthday and then read:

“Babies can’t digest cow’s milk as completely or easily as breast milk or formula. Cow’s milk contains high concentrations of protein and minerals, which can tax your baby’s immature kidneys. In addition, cow’s milk doesn’t have the right amounts of iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients for infants. It may even cause iron-deficiency anemia in some babies, since cow’s milk protein can irritate the lining of the digestive system, leading to blood in the stools. Finally, cow’s milk doesn’t provide the healthiest types of fat for growing babies.” (BabyCenter)

Whew, glad he wasn’t drinking milk at 11 1/2 months old. That sounds like it would be brutal! I’m so glad science found the exact date it’s OK! (Yes, some sarcasm here.)

We treated it like a science experiment, with my brief chemistry days making a return — is the meniscus at 4 oz? 3 oz? . As he had been receiving five bottles a day of 5.5- 6 oz of formula, our goal was to whittle him down to five bottles a day of 4 oz of milk. And because we’re people who bought a house, got married, and moved across the country in a single month, why not also transition him from bottles to sippy cups at the same time?

Recipe for disaster? Actually, no. So far it’s been going quite well.

Milk Chronicles

We started our son on about 1 oz organic whole milk / 5 oz formula the week before his birthday. Yes, I know … the quote above considers this akin to poisoning and abuse.

We started exclusively in bottles and, within a week, he moved to 2 oz organic whole milk / 3 oz of formula (yes, for an overall decrease of 1 oz). At daycare, they often give the infants his age sippie cups, so there was some experience there.

Then, when we went to his 1-year appointment, the doctor said we could switch him to 2% organic instead of whole milk. The reason is that he was in that 75-85% for weight that puts him at risk of obesity. I checked with our in-family doctor and she agreed to this as well.

What type of milk?

Based on some anecdotal information (can’t find a study!), this seems to be fine. Despite web sites decrying 2% before age 2, it seems to not be an issue.

This choice quote gave me some comfort:

“If your toddler has an overall balanced diet, then switching to two percent milk is fine. As your pediatrician mentioned, low-fat and whole milk have equal amounts of vitamins and minerals. In fact, an 8-ounce glass of low-fat milk contains more protein than an 8-ounce glass of whole milk (10 grams versus 8 grams). Whole milk contains 3.5 to 4 percent fat, and this extra fat is primarily saturated fat, which your toddler can do without. But your growing toddler still needs fat in his diet. That is why I do not advise giving skim milk to infants”(Parenting.com)

So, here we are, two weeks after his first birthday, and he’s exclusively on 2% milk. That was surprisingly easy. He does seem to be a bit hungrier now at times (likely due to a reduction in overall liquid from 30 oz of formula to 20 oz of milk a day), so we try to supplement with as much water as possible.

We are also focusing on organic milk, though “There’s no conclusive evidence that these kinds of milk are better for children, but there’s no harm in them.” (BabyCenter)

How much milk?

We now might want to reduce down a bit more. As stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

“Most kids will get enough calcium and vitamin D if they drink 16 to 20 ounces (2 to 2 1/2 cups) of cow’s milk a day. Offer 1-year-olds whole milk (unless they’re at high risk for obesity). Don’t offer more than 3 cups of milk a day or your child may not have room for the other foods she needs to round out her diet. If your toddler’s still thirsty, offer water.” (BabyCenter)

Another opinion, making us worried about iron deficiency (which is a thing in our families): 

“To help prevent iron deficiency:

• Limit your child’s milk intake to 16-24 full ounces (480-720 milliliters) a day.
• Increase iron-rich foods in your child’s diet, like meat, poultry, fish, beans, and iron-fortified foods.
• Continue serving iron-fortified cereal until your child is 18 to 24 months old.” (KidsHealth)

A British site says “Nutritionists recommend that one-year-olds drink no more than 350ml of milk a day” (BabyCentre), but this is America and we refuse to learn the metric system, so not like any of us across the pond here can read that into ounces. (That being said, the suggestion translates to 12 oz.)

Right now, he’s getting 20 oz of 2% cow’s milk a day, in 5 bottles/cups (see below). This is the max of suggestion 1, but within the range of suggestion 2. We should reduce, but he generally eats his food, so it’s not like it’s filling him up.

Still, we are very mindful of obesity concerns even though he looks healthy and not obese (well, at least not in the cheeks area!)

Sippie Cup Chronicles

So, how about the transition from bottles to sippie cups?

Let’s just sum up all of the advice across the Internet with this quote:

“Between 12 and 18 months of age is a good time for transition to a cup. Instead of cutting out bottles all at once, you can gradually eliminate them from the feeding schedule, starting with mealtime. Offer whole milk in a cup after the child has begun the meal. If you are breastfeeding, only offer milk in a cup and avoid the bottle habit altogether.” (KidsHealth)

We have certainly done that and, with our son’s five “substantive” drinks a day (water not included), the three at school are now in sippie cups, one at home is in a sippie cup (dinner) and two at home are in bottles (not due to our preference but because he has bottle #1 while we’re getting dressed at 6am and bottle #2 at the end of the day when he’s tired and sometimes passes out.)

All in all, our 12-month-old is completely off formula and heading off of sippie cups, so we’re way ahead of the game. We just need to be mindful of his weight, stick to 2%, and possibly reduce the number of ounces he gets a day and/or serving. Let’s hope that, at the 18-month check-up his weight and height are more in balance! (81% weight, 57% height or so right now).

Update: At 13 months, he is still drinking his first and last milk of the day via a bottle, but exclusively drinks out of sippie cups the other times. We also switched his “snack” drink to water and reduced his dinner drink a bit, so that should have helped with the amount! 

A Brush With Destiny

If you’re like me, you are now experiencing a baby getting his first teeth. (See here for more on when this should happen.) Mom blogs around the Internets make sure you know this is a painful process (usually more for the parents for kids) and that no one is getting any sleep (except for the kid when you’re stuck at work).

Sure, the worst is yet to come for my son, but he’s a happy little guy so far. The drooling also is no more than normal. However, that might not mean much when the normal state of drool is like this:

This is not my baby. It is also not my dog. This is a cartoon.

So now that he got his two front teeth as a belated Christmas present, what do we do with them? Well, it’s important to start proper hygiene young, or so my wife says. (I think it’s just because she’s sneaking him chocolates and needs to wipe away the evidence!)

If you look at the Internet blogs, they say that you’re supposed to start this before the first tooth sprouts out. (Oops!)

Pre-Tooth Baby

If your baby doesn’t have teeth yet, it’s advised to gently wipe down the baby’s gums “at least twice a day” with gauze or a soft, wet washcloth. (WebMD) We did not do this and he’s not on his way to his first baby root canal yet, so we’re not that concerned. However:

Tooth Baby (a technical term)

Once your baby gets his first teeth, it’s time to start using a toothbrush.

WebMD provides this advice:

“At first, just wet the toothbrush. At around age 1, you can start using a pea-sized amount of a non-fluoridated toothpaste. Wait to introduce fluoride toothpaste until your child is at least 2 years old. Brush gently all around your child’s baby teeth — front and back.”

That sounds reasonable, right?

Well, put down your pen and re-think everything you know. Times they are a’changin because of … SCIENCE!

That’s right, folks, people from the “Fluoride Lobby” (also known as “Legitimate Scientists Who Care About Your Oral Health”) have changed their tune. WebMD is sooooo 2013.

Now, the American Dental Association says:

“Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt, instead of waiting until children are older…”

Why is this?

Because, as Americans, we are now fat heaps of body mass that consume “Fruit by the Foot” by the Mile.

Choice Quote: ““By starting earlier, we can effectively reduce a lifetime of disease for a lot of kids.”

So, what was this, a single finding from one study?

Yes. One study that analyzed 17 studies.

Also, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry already said this before it was cool. (Their report is here and includes a helpful photo of what a “smear of toothpaste” and a “pea-sized” amount of toothpaste is. Hate to get that wrong and send your child into a lifetime of tooth disaster!)

So, Lots of Fluoride Is Great, Right?

No, of course not! That would be too simple. Instead, you want to use a very, very small amount for babies and make sure they do not swallow it.

“The new A.D.A. guidelines stress that children should spit out toothpaste as soon as they are able, but not being able to spit does not preclude the use of a rice-grain-size bit of fluoride toothpaste.” (The same article)

Sure, his parents know dental health, but don’t they realize there is a 99% chance he is either going to fall off the sink or poop onto the bathroom floor? And why is there no mirror? (Life was difficult in the olden days.)

So, yet again, moderation is key. It’s time to get with modern times, folks!

(First) Step It Up!

Baby feet … or adult feet on an adult with clear foot growth issues

Like a drunken sailor after an evening spent with Captain Morgan, my son is now teeter-tottering around the house in a stumble that is equal parts adorable and terrifying.

For many months we have been saying “He is just about walking!” However, we weren’t ready to pull the trigger and say he’s taken his first steps. (Do we hold a parade when he does? If so, is he expected to walk in it because that seems a bit demanding.)

So, when were his official “first steps”? I haven’t the foggiest idea. After he took his first two steps (let’s say in Decanbruary), my wife and I decided it should probably be three steps before we call it “first steps.” Then, after he could take three, my wife suggested a volitional component that he seek out walking on his own and not just because we stood him up and then waved him over with toys and promises of human affection.

Then, about a month later, I put up a video of him walking about 5 steps to my wife onto the World Wide Webs and everyone immediately started pronouncing that those were his first steps.

Oopsie.

In that magical Decanbruary month, my son was in the 8-10 month range, so is that about right for the ol’ typical baby? Let’s check the Internet!

Visual approximation of a baby’s first steps

“Most babies take their first steps sometime between 9 and 12 months” (BabyCenter)

“[In Month 12], Your baby may be taking her first tentative steps. Or she may still be clutching the edge of the coffee table, content to “cruise” around” (WebMD)

“By 12 months he may walk while gripping your hand, though he may not take his first steps alone for a little while longer.” (BabyCentre) (Note the placement of the E. It’s British!)

Well, it looks like he took his first steps on the early side, which matches for his teething on the later side. (See here.)

So, now that he’s taking steps, cruising around, and trying his best to MacGyver every baby-proofed contraption, we’re very excited for his developmental milestone, right?

Yes, we are very happy and very proud … and OH MY GOSH WHAT IS HE DOING NOW?!?! HOW DID HE GET TO THE STAIRS?!!? WHAT’S IN HIS HAND?!!? WHY DID WE WANT SO BADLY FOR HIM TO WALK!?!?

The Whole Tooth

It’s been a little while since posting, so let’s do a quick update before discussing the main point of this post: teething. For those with no interest in my child, you can just skip to the bold header below. However, my child’s grandparents would like to show you about 10,000 pictures and speak to you about why you’re not interested in my child.

At just about 10 months old, my son is now:

(1) Cruising around the furniture, on the verge of walking. We’ve said “He’s about to be a walker*!” for about two months now, but he’s … about to be a walker. I promise this time.

* “He’s a walker!” is a forever ruined phrase after “The Walking Dead”, as both babies and zombies take steps with the same drunken swagger.

(2) Standing up by himself without support. The current record is 20 seconds. If standing becomes an Olympic sport, we’re going to sign him up. (If trampoline is an actual Olympic sport, is standing really that far behind?)

(3) As the beginning of January, eating the full menu at day care. In other words, as I sit at my desk eating a cold sandwich of low sodium ham and reduced fat cheese on fiber supplemented bread, he is having a “meatball sub”, “teriyaki chicken” and “quiche.” It’s a rough life for a baby.

(4) He has his two front teeth starting to peek through, which brings me to:

THE WHOLE TOOTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH 

Teething. Not my baby, but my baby is getting these two front teeth as I type.

Now that you’ve made it through my bad pun, let’s look at when babies generally start to get teeth:

“Most babies get their first tooth at around 6 months, but your child’s chompers may appear as early as 3 months or as late as 14.” (Parenting.com)

The teething literature is pretty consistent … in that it prepares you for great inconsistency. The general logic is that the first tooth comes around 6 months. For my son, it was just past 9 months. However, to prevent people from freaking out, articles will say things like:

“It is completely normal for your baby to get her first tooth at 18 months. And there are rare cases when an infant is born with teeth.” (Just the facts blog)

And now you’re freaking out that a tooth-filled monster is going to come out of you at birth looking like a Gremlin.

Again, not my baby. This is a Gremlin.

Teething is, unfortunately, not a short process. It’d be great if it was just one, painful night of “wham bam, tooth’d ya up, ma’am.” Instead, “The last teeth to appear (the second molars, found in the very back of the mouth on the top and bottom) usually begin coming into place by the second birthday. By age 3, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth.”  (BabyCenter)

That means you might have more than 2 1/2 years of teething. Woo hoo! What fun!

So, at the end of the day, just remember that babies start getting teeth at a wide range of times, so don’t fret if yours is a toothless wonder at 9 months like ours or if she’s got teeth already at 3 months.

And for those brave souls who want to look at potential symptoms of teething, here’s a comparison of two lists. There’s an X if the symptom made both lists and comments if applicable:

• trouble falling asleep (x)
• fussiness/irritability (x)
• drooling  (x)
• runny nose
• rash around the chin or mouth (x)
• red cheeks
• swollen gums / gum pain (x)
• biting (x)
• an increased need to suck (but be careful with teething gels)
• rejection of breast or bottle (x)
• congestion
• coughing
• diarrhea  (Note: oh hell yeah; be prepped for this fun. And you thought getting poop in your own armpits was over.)
• low-grade fever
• bleeding gums
• ear pulling (This is where I’ll see if my wife reads this blog, as I had an “A HA!” moment researching this, thinking: So THAT’S why he does that! Note: This is also a sign of an ear infection, so get it checked out by a doctor. A blog is not a doctor and my Ph.D. is not a medical degree.)

(Sources: Just the facts blog and What to expect blog)

Get outta here!

As we pass the six month mark, we’re constantly reminded that some parents don’t take their babies out of the house. I think this is a recipe for disaster. Your baby will never be accustomed to the outside world and you will start bemoaning the existence of your child, as you are afraid to cross the precipice of your front door as if your front lawn is a giant lava pit and you just don’t have Mario’s jumping skills no matter how many mushrooms or leaves you consume.

There’s so much you can do with a baby and it’s important to keep living your life! Don’t lock your kid at home like it’s a prison!

Our son went to his first afternoon house party yesterday and he was very well-behaved. People kept coming up to us saying they didn’t know there was a baby in the house. That is an excellent compliment, but one that we’re getting used to. We took him out to Ethiopian a month ago and he was complimented by an aged lady dinner. And this wasn’t a Betty White (Oh, she is just so adorable!) old lady. This was an uppity lady who was a real jerk to the wait staff. So it means more to us.

My mom often reminds me that the first time I ever went out to dinner was on the way home from the hospital. We can’t beat that, as it took us about a full week before going out to dinner with our son. And do you know what happened?

Did he scream and yell and cause a fit? No. 

Did he make the dinner awkward for everyone involved? No.

Did we sometimes forget we had brought a baby out with us? Well … but that’s a good thing. I mean, we didn’t ACTUALLY forget … he was just so quiet! 

The thing is, newborns sleep a lot so there is a good chance you can go out to dinner, go shopping, live your life, and the baby will sleep. Just make sure you have a packing mule (preferably a relative) behind you lugging all of the things you might need.

Of course, don’t be an idiot about it. I’d like to think that the reason some doctors recommend two months is because of dumb parents who feel a 100-degree day is an appropriate time to put their baby in their nice new flannel jumpsuit and then take them on a tour of a leper colony. So, don’t do that. Take your baby out, get him accustomed to the outside world, and you’ll reap the rewards. Experts agree. I mean, you’re going to a restaurant, not into outer space.

Do not let your babies go to outer space. This is particularly apt if you saw “Gravity.” In other news, go see “Gravity” if you can get a babysitter.

So, here are a few tips adapted from Babble, which is a Disney company so you know they’re serious about keeping your baby healthy (because healthy babies become paying customers later!):

• If you don’t want a person touching and rubbing you, don’t give your baby to that person. I don’t care if it’s a distant friend or a close relative. If she looks messier than your child after a serving of peas, keep your distance.
• Blankets are key. If your baby is in the car and the sun is shining too brightly, a blanket will do. If you’re out for a walk and it’s too cold, a blanket will do. If you’re hanging your baby off a balcony to an oohing public … no, don’t do that. Even if your child is named Blanket and you’re Michael (Am I the biological father? Hahahahahaha…. no) Jackson.
• Bring sunscreen. Babies are as sensitive to light as vampires, but less likely to glitter (for the Twilight lovers who don’t understand what vampires really are).

So, moral of the story: Get a life! Yes, you have a baby. And, yes, that can make it harder to go out and require a lot of planning, but it is doable. And the more you do it, the more trained you will be and the more accustomed to the outside world he will be! So, go have some fun, ya hear?

Do Babies Understand What You Say? (The First Year)

You know you’ve said a few words around your baby that you’re happy he doesn’t understand. But what do they understand? Are they likely to ignore the word or look like the baby in the photo below (who I presume is listening to gangsta rap)?

Here’s a nice little timeline of when babies understand your words, with the ideas from here. Spoiler alert: They think you’re as difficult to understand as you think Ozzy Osbourne is.

Newborn to 3 months

In the first three months, your baby is learning all about the new world around him.  He will start to recognize voices and faces, connect that you are the provider of food, and make simple cause-and-effect connections. For example, I’m pretty sure my son thinks that every time the kitchen sink turns on it’s to make him a bottle. This is often correct, but sometimes very disappointing when doing the dishes doesn’t lead to a fourth dinner for him.

At the end of this period, your baby will do some coo’ing and it’s encouraged to talk to him as if you’re having a conversation. Sure, it’ll be a bit one-sided, so you might want to use the time to practice your arguments against people who talk back. You can also practice your singing skills as babies have worse musical taste than teenagers: they smile at EVEERRRYYTHHIINNG.

4 to 7 months

This is a pretty good time. Your baby will recognize his name and start to make that connection. With our son, we’ve been starting to use his name to get him to turn, but it’s likely just recognizing our voices. I’ve found that I can say something a room away and he’ll hear me and turn his SONAR right to my direction.

He will also recognize voices of people he knows and this is when “stranger danger” starts. We just crossed six months and he’s doing OK with this so far, but we shall see. We have some plans Saturday where he will see a lot of new people, so this could be a real win … or debacle (and I’m just talking about the Nebraska-Illinois game!)

8 to 12 months

He’s almost a year old but it’s still not too impressive in the linguistic brilliance department. He will start to understand simple words — like “NO” in such phrases as “NO!!! PUT DOWN MOM’S PINOT GRIGIO!!!!”

As he is gaining a better understanding of tone, this is the perfect time (if you haven’t already) to respond strongly with tone, even if the words are meaningless. If he does something he shouldn’t, speak sternly. You could say “OOGA BOOGA BOOGA” in a stern tone and it will be likely as efficient as “Don’t do that” at this juncture, though.

Gesturing also starts here. Waving hello or goodbye or shaking your head yes or no can take off in these months.

Throughout the entire year, though, it’s important to talk to babies like they’re real people. Let me change that: like they’re smart, real people. All of the baby talk isn’t going to help, especially because he’s likely to learn most by imitating you. Unless you want your 14-year-old baby talking his way to being picked last for dodgeball, use real words and talk as if it’s a real conversation!

Enjoy the transitions from silence to coo’ing to babbling to words (which usually start after one year)!

Oh, Sit!

As we pass the five month mark, the major “developmental milestone for the sixth month” (as the pros call it) is sitting up.  This is the first step on the path to sitting in a seat in an Ivy League classroom. Because, yes, the day your child learns to sit predicts exactly what college he will go to. Note: Not true. Stop being obsessive. If you worry about things like that, you’re crazier than Glenn Close in “Fatal Attraction” and just as untrustworthy around bunnies.

So, this sitting thing … big deal? 

Big enough deal. I mean, it’s no learning how to bring mommy and daddy a bottle of wine after a long day, but it’s a big deal. Sitting independently opens up a whole new world and builds on strong head control and good muscle strength in his back and neck.

Again, from the Internet. Not my baby.

So, when does it happen? 

Generally, babies learn to sit on their own between the age of 4 and 7 months. One Web site states: “Most babies can sit well for several minutes without support by the time they’re 8 months old. (Even babies who’ve mastered sitting will topple over eventually, often because they lose interest in being upright.)”

Our son hit this point at 5 1/2 months, so he’s ahead of the game. He can sit on his own (made much easier when he is obsessed with his new favorite toy — his toes) and can sit for about 10 minutes. When he gets really excited, though, he smiles and laughs and either face plants or falls backwards.

So, what happens when for the average baby? 

At three to four months, your baby should learn to do baby push-ups. In these, he will push himself into a push-up position and then just stare at the sky or ahead at you until he gets tired of prepping for Jersey Shore Junior. (Note: We were in this stage for about a month and he was much more successful doing pushups while laying on mom or dad’s chest rather than on the floor.)

At five to six months, your baby will be able to sit well with some support, holding up his head. He might be able to sit for a few moments, but not for much. (Well, the average baby, sure … at this point, we were already prepping for long Sundays of watching football on the couch together. (Side note: It was a great start to football for the baby. He was very concerned about their performance, of course, and one time,  after a bad play, he spit up in disgust on his shirt with that team’s name, requiring a new outfit. He is already a fickle fan.))

At seven to eight months, he will be able to sit unsupported and might be able to get from lying down into a sitting position. (Our son has a bit to go before this happens, but given we’re good with sitting before six months, I’m not worried. He still does not really “get” rolling from on his back onto his stomach, but is an expert at the other way.)

What’s next?

Our son is unable to move himself forward. In this manner, he’s a bit like the Dallas Cowboys offense.  However, he is great at pushing himself backwards and going in complete circles. (Also, not coincidentally, like the Dallas Cowboys offense). So, as we wait for crawling to begin, we bought a giant rug for him to play on and will soon prepare to put gates in front of the staircase.

Additional note: Today (at 5 1/2 months) we went on our first stroll in the, umm, stroller, without him in his carseat. He was just big enough (barely) to sit in the baby stroller by himself (and, as stated above, was a pro at sitting). We made it about 3.25 miles round trip, which was a whole new world for him, as he sat in the car seat facing the inside of the stroller on previous walks. Now we’re just waiting for the days when he can push mommy and daddy in their twin wheelchairs around the nursing home.