Parenting Tips for Your 13-14 Month Old Toddler
Do you know that by the time your baby is a year old, you have done many things already to help him behave well? Babies who are loved, protected, and comforted during their first year feel safe and trusting. They have a close, loving bond with their parents.
During their second year, they will want to follow their parents’ simple requests. They will also come to copy their parents’ caring behavior. As a result, they will be more likely to accept limits, guidance, and discipline during the sometimes rocky months ahead.
Remember that discipline means teaching children how to grow into responsible adults. Discipline may be the most difficult and the most important part of parenting. It is one way to show love.
Until his first birthday, you limited your baby’s activities by distracting him, holding him, and putting harmful things out of his reach. Within the next few months, he will probably begin to understand “no,” but don’t expect him to respond to it very often yet.
You can begin now using words to guide and limit him. Set a few reasonable rules like “No biting” or “No hitting” and stick to them. If he tests you, stop him, tell him the rules again and why you have them, in simple words like “Hitting hurts people.”
Do not hit him because hitting is what you want him to stop doing. He will learn more quickly and easily with teaching and guidance than he will with yelling and hitting as a way to teach him. Be patient with him now; it will pay off later.
