Your baby has lots of energy! It feels like she is constantly on the move. You may need extra patience to keep up with her. Your baby is starting to get into things, and may find things you don’t want her to have. Since everything she picks up goes into her mouth, it’s time to think about safety. Babies under one year old are too young to understand why they should stop doing something. Your baby may love to throw toys on the floor. She likes to hear the noise and watch the toys bounce. She thinks it’s a great game! Your baby doesn’t drop things to annoy or “test” you. She is learning where things go when they are dropped. Baby proof your house as a form of guidance. One of the best ways to guide your baby and simplify your life is to take time now to baby proof your house. There are numerous books and pamphlets about baby proofing. Learn what you can and if you have any questions ask your baby's doctor for more information on baby-proofing your home. Your baby needs and wants to explore. So it makes sense to baby proof your house, rather than having to follow her around saying, “No”, to everything she does. That approach is exhausting for you and demoralizing for your baby. Another form of child guidance is to redirect. This means moving your baby away from a hazard, such as a lamp cord, to some safe place where she can continue her exploration. You can substitute as a way to guide your baby. Interest your baby in something she can play with. For example, find a different drawer in the kitchen that is OK for your baby to empty. Then gently remove the things you don’t want her to have. As you take it away, say something like, “This could hurt you”. Do not slap your baby’s hands or yell at her. Your baby can’t control her behavior yet. If you spank her, she learns that it is OK to hit. It’s up to you to keep her out of danger, not to punish her for getting into it. If you can strike a balance between setting limits, providing loving care and having a sense of humor, it will help your baby grow up with a good head on her shoulders.

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