Reading to your baby is something that is so easy and you only need to do it about 15 minutes a day (more is great too), and it will really help them with many things.  It will help them with their vocabulary, it will help them with word association, and even help when it is time to go to school.  Something that I have noticed about Alex is in the beginning he couldn’t sit through a page without wanting to get up, and now we read a page and then we talk about the pictures.  He likes to be involved and I think it helps him understand what we have just read.

If you feel like you just don’t have time to sit and read, then try reading a story before bed!  Get excited to read to your baby and they will get excited too!  I just have to add yet another plus to reading to your baby and that is the bonding time, who else can make these stories come alive!

Yes, this is expected. I talk a lot about children being sponges, part of their social learning is through modeling. This is when a baby/toddler/child sees you doing something and tries to copy it. This can be a great thing, or a bad thing. If you are polite and kind to others, good chances that your child will see you doing this and copy you. If you are hitting or verbally abusive to others this will also be something that your child picks up on. Try to life a healthy life style and you will pass this down to your child as well.

You are not the only one that your child is going to be modeling, other people that you surround yourself with will be part of this as well. Consider all of the people that watch your child and make sure they are positive role models.

Just know that children see most everything we do and hear most everything we say. In time it will be repeated. I am not saying to walk on eggshells around your children, but just aware that if your children are around they are probably paying attention.

If this is what you want to try, then there is no harm in it.  The thing is that the big potty can be a little bit scary to a toddler, and with some, the sound of the flush is a little scary.  This is the method I was going to use but I then got some really good advice about how to potty train.  If you get a little potty and put it close to the big potty and help your toddler learn to use it by doing it with them it will help them get the hang of it.  Even if you aren’t really, just sit with them and show them how it is done.  Also if you know you close to training time start taking your toddler with you when you potty and tell him/her what you are doing so that they will have a better idea when they are learning.

The fact that your baby is a sponge to things that he/she sees and hears doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Use that “sponge” time to really talk to your baby, let them scribble on paper and let them know what colors they are using. Sing the ABC’s with them and make education fun and exciting! Read at bedtime and get them to love books! Your baby will mimic you, so why not use it to everyone’s advantage? This is even a great way to get your baby to eat healthy. Your baby will want what you are having.