Parenting Potpourri: Topics of

Interest to New Parents

If you are a new or prospective parent, you probably are seeking answers

to a variety of baby-related questions. In this chapter we address some
topics that are likely to be of interest to you; they are arranged in
alphabetical order for easy reference. (Much of this material is dealt with
more extensively in On Becoming Babywise II; there is more information
available about On Becoming Babywise II at the end of this book.)

Achievement Levels

Much has been written regarding what an infant is supposed to be doing
physically during his or her first year of life. This includes mastering
such tasks as shaking a rattle, saying “da da,” reaching for bright objects,
and crawling. There are three important things to remember here. First, a
baby’s basic routine enhances learning. Order is an ally of the learning
process. Second, infants will differ in the age at which they master skills.
There is no cause for alarm if your child seems to develop skills more
slowly than you believe he or she should, nor should you constantly
compare your child’s development with your neighbor’s child. Third,
along with his or her physical development, your baby will become more
and more responsive to moral training. Be careful not to focus solely on
your baby’s physical accomplishments without giving due consideration
to his or her developing attitudes. If you have concerns regarding
developmental milestones, bring them to your pediatrician’s attention.