12-Month-Old Baby

Arms hurt from picking up baby? Many new parents note pain in the inner part of their wrists (thumb side), which gets worse when picking up a baby under the arms.

It's not carpal tunnel (which you may have experienced during pregnancy), but a condition called DeQuervain's tenosynovitis — a fancy name for an inflamed thumb tendon.

Also known as "mother's thumb," It's caused by the excessive use of the wrist, which happens when you’re picking up your baby, because the wrist and thumb are shouldering most of the weight. Fluid retention also contributes to the inflammation.

If you're suffering, try resting your wrists as much as possible. If you must pick your baby up under the arms, keep your wrists perfectly straight without letting them dip down.

Your doctor might also fit you with a wrist splint, and if the condition persists, may recommend a cortisone injection (not to worry — it's safe for breastfeeding) or, for last-ditch relief, surgery.

For everyday aches, tame the pain —  or prevent it —  with these strategies:

Work out with weights to strengthen your arms and shoulders, use arm rests or pillows when nursing, switch arms often when carrying the baby and the gear, use a baby carrier or sling to transfer your baby's weight from your arms to your back, and soothe sore muscles with a heating pad.

To the high-chair set, mealtime is just as much about experiencing food as it is about eating it.

Squishing those sweet potatoes between his fingers is a fascinating science experiment, smearing them on the tray is an art project, swiping them onto the ground is a lesson in cause and effect, and eating them ... well, that's just gravy.

If you want less discovery and more eating during mealtime, try offering only a couple of finger foods at a time and keep the portions pint-size. Too many choices and too-big portions can overwhelm a little eater.

Don’t make a huge deal about it if he chooses to play with his food, but do set limits on the scope of the mealtime mayhem (squishing as he nibbles, fine — flinging instead of eating, not so fine).

Leave pressure off the menu — let him eat as much or as little as he wants —  and avoid the kind of overreactions that are sure to inspire a second serving of antics.

If there is one thing that little ones love more than playing with their food, it's getting your attention for playing with their food.

It can be stressful to bathe a squirmy baby in the tub. For someone who’s just discovering his mobility, it’s no fun taking life sitting down … even in the bath.

Luckily, older babies may be stubbornly squirmy but still easily distracted. So keep the distractions coming.

Make the tub fun: sing a special, silly bathtime song, blow bubbles for him to pop, make a splash (if he’s game, of course), fill and empty cups, float and sink ships, or dunk the dolly.

And try to work fast — unless your little one’s really grimy, a few quick swipes with a washcloth should get the job done with a minimum of wriggling.

The less attention paid to the wriggling, by the way, the better — both smiles and scolding will reinforce the behavior you’re trying to discourage.

Create a diaper-changing station on each floor of your house if possible so you don't have to traipse up and down steps for every change, and keep a few changes of clothes handy in each spot too.

In your little one's closet, install a low-hanging rod, and presto: You'll have double the amount of hanging space. If there's room for shelves, even better — use them for extra diapers, out-of-season clothes (stored in clear plastic bins), and the like.

As your baby grows and becomes more interested in toys and books, keep a bin or basket with a few fun choices in all the rooms you spend lots of time in together.

But consider making one room (maybe the living room, master bedroom or your office) a baby-free zone — the one place you can go to escape primary colors!

Give him every opportunity to stand (and move) on his own two legs.

Push-toys are terrific for fine-tuning locomotion, but find other opportunities to help him master mobility.

For example, let him push a pint-sized stroller, or entice your brand new toddler to toddle over by sitting a few steps away and holding a favorite toy.

Does your tot love pulling your hair? Keep those tiny fingers busy with finger games and songs, rounds of patty-cake, and something else to pull on ... one without nerve endings (like a long-haired stuffed animal — which you can let him tug on without the ouch).

Tickle his sense of touch with a variety of fabrics — soft, silky, furry, fuzzy — and when he goes for your hair, pull out that faux-fur pillow for him to stroke instead.

Trying to buy some stuffed animals for your little softy? Take note of these guidelines when shopping for your older baby:

1. Steer clear of features made of buttons, beads or other small objects that could fall (or be chewed) off. The same goes for clothing, accessories and any other decorations. The bottom line: Any items that are glued or sewn on have a good chance of ending up in a baby's mouth.

2. Check ears, paws, tails (and everywhere else) to ensure that the toy is wire-free. Even if the wire is covered with "fur," there's a chance it could poke through and injure your little one.

3. Anything that's stringy (like hair, ribbons or leashes longer than 6 inches) should be avoided or removed if at all possible.