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What to expect: Babies cry.

Needs: Love and basic care.

A baby can't be spoiled by too much love. Also needed: nutrition, kisses, steady change of diapers, change of scenery.

Six Months

What to expect:

• Child is always moving.
• Favorite game: dropping and throwing toys.
• Child puts everything into the child's mouth.

Needs: Same as infancy. Protection.

Never leave child unattended. Babies roll off beds, changing tables. Unless baby is on the floor, keep a hand on the baby or use a restraint system. Keep small things off the floor and out of reach.

Discipline:

• Take things away from baby or take baby away from things.
• The word "NO" should be used in moderation, gently. Be kind.

Nine Months

What to expect:

• Baby is crawling, pulling up.
• Child has no concept of property.
• Everything is a toy.
• Still puts everything in mouth.

Needs:

One Year

What to expect: Child needs to explore and is into everything.

• Likes to dump things out.
• Child must touch and taste everything that is new.
• Likes to tear paper apart and pull plants over to see what will happen.
• Enjoys throwing food on the floor to see what will happen.
• Wants to eat what others are eating.

Needs:

• lots of hugs
• safe environment
• firm limits
• plenty of sleep
• nutritious food

Discipline: The best discipline is distraction and a firm voice.

• Physical punishment is not understood by the child.
• Remove the child from the problem or take the problem away from the child.

Fifteen Months

What to expect:

• Likes to put things in and take them out again.
• Wants to feed self but can eat only with fingers.
• Takes one nap per day, usually in the afternoon.
• Goes to bed easily.
• May start biting. Teething pain makes gums sensitive and biting makes them feel better.
• Does not understand the word "don't".

Needs: Close watching, gentle corrects, and encouragement.

Discipline:

• To stop the child, physically move him.
• Yelling or hitting won't teach the child "NO".
• Do not expect the child to obey, even though the child understands much of what you say.

Eighteen Months

What to expect: Still into everything.

• Starts climbing.
• Needs pull toys and toys to hug and cuddle.
• Can drink from a cup by himself but spills all the time.
• Can fill a spoon but can not turn the handle to get it in the mouth.
• Refuses to let parents feed him.
• Easily upset.
• Wakes during the night.
• Can remove clothes and shoes and prefers not to be dressed.
• Often disobeys.
• Runs away from parents.
• Starts sit-down temper tantrums.
• Refuses to cooperate either by saying "no" or pulling away.

Needs:

A few rules are necessary but the child forgets all the old ones when given a new rule. Use kindness to correct the child or you will have a very anxious 3 or a very naughty 3.

Discipline:

Twenty-one Months

What to expect:

Can handle a cup well but spills all the time. Wants to push the stroller. Likes to run around without shoes or clothes. Can indicate the child's needs. the child's behavior starts to get worse. Demands things, NOW! Biting can be a problem.

Needs: Give more love during bratty stages.

Two

What to expect:

Likes to remove everything from drawers and cupboards. Can hold a glass with one hand but still has difficulty with a spoon. Is not interested in eating and becomes a poor eater. Dawdles, plays and refuses to eat at meal times. Can help in getting dressed by putting arms and legs in the holes. Asks "What's that?", refers to himself by name, and LOVES to say "no". Likes to be outdoors and makes a short walk last a long time. Picks up everything the child sees. Under pressure, runs from parents. May be ready to use a toilet but will not have adequate control for another year. Out-of-control temper tantrums when frustrated or tired -- very classic behavior. Calls parents back after put to bed. Needs bedtime rituals in order to go to bed. Makes rituals out of everything. Wants to make the child's own decisions.

Two and a Half

What to expect: This is THE Age of Conflict.

• Child is never sure whether the child wants to be independent and separate ("Me do it", "myself,""no,no, no")
• or dependent and treated like a baby ("Hold me", "carry me", "help me").
• Parents never know what to expect.
• Temper tantrums increase and are used for attention and control.
• Child wants the same foods all the time, refuses any change, says "no" even when the child means "yes"
• Starts to stutter or stammer
• Masturbates frequently
• Wants to be treated like a baby when the child gets tired.

the child is just starting to learn the rules and tells himself "no, no" while breaking them.

Needed: Patient, kind, firm parents.

Discipline:

Three

What to expect: Likes to do things by himself.

• Can unbutton and unzip the child's own clothes.
• Does not know the front from the back or which shoe fits which foot and the child doesn't care.
• Favorite expression is "All by myself" but cries easily when the child can't do it.
• He wants to help parents do things.
• Refuses to hold parent's hand even though the child must.
• Wants to walk in stores instead of riding in stroller.
• Develops sudden fears and phobias.
• Resists taking naps but needs one.
• Can control bladder and bowel functions, but still has accidents.
• By 3 and 1/2, child whines all the time.
• May stammer and stutter when upset or excited.
• Nose picking, fingernail biting, and tumbsucking reach a peak.
• Child also learns to spit.
• Favorite lines are "Don't look," "Don't laugh", "Don't talk" which the child uses on parents.
• Prime time for imaginary friends.

Needs:

Four

What to expect: The "Out of Bounds" 4 is exuberant and rebellious.

• the child talks well and thinks the child is a big shot.
• Fours tell outrageous lies and are very stubborn.
• They talk all the time and mix reality and fantasy.
• They ask "why" in order to argue.
• They are bossy and defiant, "I won't".
• They refuse to nap but will fall asleep at 5:30 and wake up ready to stay up all night.
• They think up all sorts of ways to avoid getting in bed.
• At night, they are likely to have bad dreams.
• They can dress and undress themselves with little assistance.
• They eat too fast or not at all.
• They can now wash hands and face and brush teeth without assistance if they have been trained.
• They run ahead of adults and refuse to hold hands.
• Fours play feelies with other children and need honest information about bodies and babies.
• A fussy four needs exercise and then a rest.
• When excited, the child will need to urinate.
• When stressed, the child's stomach will hurt.

Needs: Social opportunities.

• Small play groups.
• Props for pretend play.
• Art materials for creative expression.
• Tolerance.
• Parents with a sense of humor.

Five

What to expect:

• A five can take charge of bathroom responsibilities, wants to tie shoelaces, can dress with skill, can safely cross streets, needs to help with the family chores, and cannot be left alone.
• Investigates everything -- including fire.
• Eats more than ever before.
• When playing, makes up rules as the child goes along.

Needs:

Six

What to expect:

• Is fiercly independent, a real "know it all".
• Is obsessed by rules.
• In perpetual motion, especially at the table.
• Seldom finishes food and has no table manners.
• Always in motion but clumsy, can run into the wall and trip over the child's shadow.
• Six tattles to let adults know that he/she knows the rules.
• May have temper tantrums again.
• Worst behavior when the child is with the child's mother.

Needs: Responsibility for self-care. Hates to be babied.

Discipline: Six is best with the father.

It is better to let father take over the difficult times such as meals, bath, and bedtime. Make expectations clear and consistent.

Seven

What to expect:

• Seven complains all the time, mostly about parents. At this age, most children decide they are adopted, even if they aren't.
• All they think about is playing.
• Feel mistreated by everyone, withdraw from trouble and complain.
• Do care what others think about them.

Needs:

Eight

What to expect:

• Demands attention from parents but wants parents to think the way the child does.
• Overly sensitive to parents approval or disapproval.
• Often fights with mother.
• Sees every situation as black or white.
• Believes all rules are black and white and has trouble playing with peers.
• Boys want to play with boys and girls want to play with girls.
• May cry when tired and has stomachaches when worried.

Needs:

Nine

What to expect:

• Fiddles with things and is increasingly awkward.
• Friends are more important than mother.
• Rebels against too many directions and direct orders.
• Thinks all adults are stupid.

Needs:

Ten

What to expect: The most docile age.

• Accepts parents wishes and generally obeys.
• Learns to disobey in small rebellions: doesn't mind immediately, argues.
• Sees rules as flexible and makes excuses for all misbehavior.
• Demands that friends keep promises.

Needs:

Eleven - Twelve

What to expect: Peer pressure is intense.