Useful and inexpensive gift ideas for 9-12 month old babies
Here we are at another appointment in our little column. Until today I have tried to give you some suggestions on gifts for children of different ages: newborn 0-3 months , 3-6 months , 6-9 months .
Today I take care of the quarter from 9 to 12 months . A period of great motor development for the baby, the period in which some children (not all!) start to crawl (mine did it very little) and others to walk (my baby started at 11 months, for other babies times, however physiological, are different).
From 9 to 12 months , children sit up straight, some begin to crawl, some to crawl, they grab objects by opposing thumb and forefinger. Around the year they acquire greater autonomy in the game, they try to imitate the words that the interlocutor produces and they “examine” the objects through their mouth, eyes and hands.
Very important in this phase (but also before and always!) is the safety of the home environment. A “child-friendly” home will be a home where they can move freely and in total safety (and where mothers can feel more relaxed! 🙂 )
In the light of this knowledge, we can focus on targeted gifts and ideas, respecting a philosophy that is as ecological and natural as possible and without too much material and economic waste.
Let’s start with home security . A few small tricks are enough to ensure that the child who starts crawling or climbing can do it without obstacles.
Corners, drawers, doors, stairs, bathtub, sockets are the parts of the house to which we must pay more attention and use small precautions to make them safe.
After preparing the house for our children’s progress, let’s see some ideas for them to play and have fun.
This is the moment that most of all involves discovery, children begin to understand that they can make small shifts. If we haven’t already done so, let’s create a corner of their own (even if the toys will be everywhere anyway!), a soft carpet with things familiar to him: the treasure basket , some stuffed animals, household items. I had also put a mirror, recognized the image of him and laughed a lot!
For the first few steps, my little girl got on well with a trolley and a stool that went around the house. We didn’t have the walker due to my choice, after having researched the pros and cons for a long time, and we didn’t miss it. For the first steps trolley on the market there are different models, I advise you to test their solidity, stability and materials (preferably wood ) .
Books
As written above, in this period of time the child makes the first attempts to imitate words. What better occasion to satisfy this ability than reading a good story. Giving away and reading books is a precious thing! From the Natiperleggere
website :
At 9 months
He is always attracted by the photos and figures in the book which he tries to take and eat . He easily passes the book, if it is not cumbersome, from one hand to the other; he points to the pages with one or more fingers. He tries to turn the page full hand if he has seen his parents do it. You show him the books while holding him in his arms. Or you can lie down on a carpet together with the child, looking at the book together.At 12 months
Holds the book in hand, if helped, and turns several pages at a time, always with a full hand. Give the book to the adult. Books must always be sturdy and easy to handle. They can now be even bigger. The favorite pictures concern family actions (eating, sleeping, playing) and small animals, while the favorite texts are always nursery rhymes. Better to try to avoid pictures of things that the child does not yet know. He begins to notice if the image of a face is upside down.
This is the type of books that the site recommends:
- Cardboard books that can “resist” the child
- Hand-sized books that he can manipulate easily
- Books with photos of faces
- Books with rhymes and nursery rhymes to repeat and sing.
Federica Rossi of the Mammamogliedonna blog recommends here some titles suitable for the age group we are considering. Thanks Federica! 😉
Little shoes
When babies start to crawl, crawl or walk it is important that there is nothing at their feet that makes them slip, but something that allows a “natural” contact with the ground, without interfering with their attempts.
This type of shoes are the ones I had taken from my little girl even before she started her first little steps. They are comfortable, soft and with a non-slip sole.
I hope I have been useful to you on this occasion too and as always I await you in the comments with your suggestions and advice!
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.