Eating Schedule for 18 month old child

My daughter eats 7 times a day. She is very picky. One week she may love spaghetti and the next she slaps it out of my hand. One thing is for sure. She does not like meat. It's quite odd to me. She chews hard substances that require her to utilize her teeth, but she will not eat meat. Fortunately her diet is well balanced enough to provide for her nutrional needs.

Here are some examples of what she has during her feeding times:

7:00 Whole Milk w/ Carnation Instant Breakfast

9:00 Breakfast: Juice w/ [Oatmeal] [Multigrain Cereal] [Pancakes]

10:45 Snack: Whole Milk w/[Goldfish Crackers] [Peanut Butter Cookies] [Fig Newtons] [Fruit]

12:00 Lunch: Juice w/ [Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwhich w/crackers] [Grilled Cheese Sandwich w/crackers] [Gerber Graduates meal] [Leftovers]

3:00 Snack: Whole Milk w/[Goldfish Crackers] [Peanut Butter Cookies] [Fig Newtons] [Fruit]

5:30 Dinner: Juice w/[Home Cooked Meal] [Graduates meal] [Leftovers]

7:30 Whole Milk w/Carnation Instant Breakfast

What should my child know?

Many of my family and friends ask if I am going to home school my daughter because of the structured education that I offer during weekdays. I always tell them "No, but she will be well prepared when she starts school." I set designated skill days for my daughter each week. This began when she was about 4 months and has changed as she has developed. Once she has mastered a skill, I review the skill twice a week and help her practice a new skill on certain days. Currently we have:

Math Monday
Spanish Tuesday
Bible Study Wednesday
Reading Thursday


I am going to review some of the things that I do for each day in subsequent posts. However listed below is an example of her current cognitive skill set.
-Points to body parts when asked
-Points to colors when asked
-Points to numbers
-Points to letters when asked
-Verbally identify many objects
-Verbally counts (as she can best say the numbers)
-Verbally identify colors (as she can best say the color)
-Verbally telling me she needs a diaper change ("I boo boo")
-Ask 3 to 5 questions without prompt
-Responds to questions (obeying the command, by pointing, saying yes, no, or i don't know, or crying)
-Say Hello and Goodbye without prompt (picks up on social cues)
-Plays well alone
-Identifies some written words (probably memorization)
- Placing large puzzle pieces in correct spot
- Doing the appropriate age activities (stacking blocks, sorting, throwing and kicking ball, etc)

18 Months and Finally Walking

After some much needed rest from the blogging world, I am back to let you know that my little girl started walking FINALLY. In fact her pediatrician recommended physical therapy (even though I absolutely didn't think she needed it). The following Thursday, without any intervention or help from anyone, my husband looked at her and said "Stand up". She got up and has been taking steps ever since. She still enjoys crawling. It seems that she is able to move with supersonic speed on her little knees and prefers to only stand and walk if there is fun music in the background.

15 Months old and still not Walking!!

Well my little girl crawls and cruises but she she has a fear of letting go.  I often see her pressing her stomach against the table while standing or leaning on the wall when she is reaching for something.  Yesterday she suprised me.  While we were in the kitchen, I saw her lean against the stove to stand and then let go.  She did this twice and after she was satisfied, sat down and crawled to the living room.  So for all you worry warts like me, try to relax.  Eventually your child will walk.

Diaper Deals

Amazon is running a fantastic diaper sale. I ordered 150 Size 4 Huggiesdiapers for $31. With Free Shipping, it was better than going to the store with a coupon. When my daughter was a newborn, the store brands worked great.  However with the passing of time and more food consumption, I found myself changing diapers more frequently.  What seemed to be a deal, became a source of frustration.  More store trips, more accidents, and more money in the long run.  My order with Amazon was $0.21/diaper.  While I was waiting for my shipment, I purchased a 30 pack of Parent's Choice (Walmart brand) diapers for $6.  That averages out to $0.20/diaper.  From my experience, I have to change my daughter much more when she wears the P.C. brand.  So what do you think now? All I have to say is think wisely and don't nickel and dime yourself to death in the journey called parenthood.  

Teach Your Baby to Read

So you have seen the commercials and morning shows that feature 2 year old children reading. You've started to get worried that your child may be left behind if you don't invest in the
Your Baby Can Read System. Oh yes, I used the word invest because it is a hefty sum. You buy a bunch of learning dvd's (forgetting that too much television rots the brain). You run around like a chicken with its head cut off and forget that you read well and never had any of the new early childhood development kits. Did you know that by 3rd or 4th grade, most children are on the same level? No matter what, where, or when they started, their comprehension of math and reading is on target with children of the same age. However I know that there are still parents who are convinced that their child is advanced and in line to be recognized as the next genius. If you are truly interested in teaching your child to read, start with the basics and build upon them. Here is a routine that I have done with my daughter since she was around 5 months:

Items Needed: A pack of alphabet flash cards, books

1. With a clear and steadily paced voice, sing the alphabet while showing each card with the uppercase letters.

2. Say the alphabet while showing each card with the lower case letter.

3. Once your have repeated this for several weeks, help your child practice saying each letter. (This step will only work if your child is able to babble or talk.)

4. After several more weeks have passed, say the alphabet letter. Then iterate the consonant letter sound. For example say "B" and then say "buh." Keep making the consonant sound until your child does it. Then give them praise by clapping or smiling.

5. Most importantly READ to your child. Books with one sentence per page can be very helpful in learning individual words.

This is only the beginning, but it will help your child understand the basics of learning to read.
Be careful about how you teach your child to read. There has been evidence that "sight" or "whole word reading" can be detrimental. I will blog about the differences in an upcoming post. Remember, In the long run it doesn't matter whether your child reads at 2 or 7. What matters is that they become a literate adult that understands how to master their language by comprehending and conveying meaning to other people.

Copycat Parents

Have you had to deal with a copycat parent? You know the the one I'm talking about. She buys every new toy that you buy your child, she starts adjusting her child's learning activities to yours, she even starts to copy your home life. What to do? Although you may struggle with the decision to be around this person, it is much better to end your relationship. Please note that I did not say distance yourself, I said END THE RELATIONSHIP. If you continue to associate with the person, you will subject yourself to unhealthy emotional stress, exhibit competitive behavior, and second guess the development of your child. Every parent experiences a little of this, but when you are around someone on the extreme end of the spectrum, you must let the person go. You may feel guilty about separating your child from their friend and you may feel as if you are not trying hard enough. However, allow a few weeks to pass, and a spirit of peace will enter your heart to let you know you did the right thing. Please leave a comment if you have ever experienced this situation.