When to wean your baby
It's important that you start to wean your baby at the right time. If you're too early, your baby's digestive system may not have fully developed to ensure that he/she is able to absorb the requisite nutrients from solid food. If you're too late, then your baby will be missing out on essential vitamins and nutrients that he/she needs in order to grow properly. Experts recommend that the best time to wean your baby is around 8 – 12 months, the latest being around 18 months.
How to avoid milk allergies
Some babies can develop skin allergies to milk, which can be avoided in several ways. Firstly, make sure your baby's room is not too hot. Secondly, try to avoid contact with furry pets to cut down irritation by fur, dirt and germs. Thirdly, make sure your baby's clothes are made from natural, breathable materials to ensure his/her skin can "breathe" and that they are not too tight. Lastly make sure your baby drinks plenty of water and juices to help flush out any allergies.
Autumn baby care tips
During the autumn months when the weather is dry and cool, it is common for your baby's skin to become dry, to peel or even develop mild eczema. Experts recommend using baby moisturizing lotion containing natural ingredients on your baby's skin regularly to lock in the necessary nutrients, prevent chapped skin and maintain your baby's skin wellbeing.


Interacting with your baby
Your baby may begin to display interest in what adults are saying around the age of 2 months. This is a good time to start saying simple words repeatedly to your baby to encourage him/her to start making noises. You may also find that your baby likes making sounds even if he/she is alone and once you find that your baby is making noises that sound like words, you should continue to teach him/her more words and eventually sentences.
Your Baby's First Words
Babies tend to start saying simple words between the age of 10 - 13 months. Of course, some babies may have a head start and others may take their time, but generally speaking, your baby may be able to say "Mama" or "Papa" around 11 months and have a basic conversation with you around 2 years of age.

For those parents whose babies seem to be taking their time in learning to speak, there's nothing to worry about. Here are a few tips which may help encourage your baby's speech development:

Speak to your baby often and listen to the sounds or words that he/she may be making.
Encourage your baby to speak through playing games and repeating the names of his/her favorite toys, objects or people.
Speak to your baby during meal times and repeat the names of his/her favorite foods.
Be patient and don't rush or pressurize your baby in any way.

If your baby is having difficulty in speaking at 15 months or above, you should consult your family physician. It's important that your baby develops his/her speech abilities at the appropriate age to pave the way for other important developments as he/she continues to grow.
Developing your babies' independence
Some babies tend to get particularly attached to a certain person, be it his/her parent or nanny, and may tend to cry or appear fretful when that certain person leaves the room or is not around. Normally, babies tend to become more independent as they grow older, especially after they've entered kindergarten, so there is no need to worry. To encourage your baby, you can let him/her come into contact with more adults and other children so that he/she can feel more at ease with strangers and gradually develop his/her independence as well as communication skills.
Smart babies
Every parent hopes to have a smart and active baby, so a good way of encouraging your baby to develop is through early learning. Early learning doesn't necessarily mean attending baby classes, you can simply start at home through playing various games with your baby. You can help to develop your baby's movements and flexibility through simple games like hide n'seek and develop his/her sense of sight and language by reading simple stories and going through picture books together. Plus you can encourage your baby to have his/her favorite toys to keep him/her interested - you can learn whilst having fun!
My baby's legs
Some parents worry that using diapers may affect the shape of their babies' legs or even develop bow legs as a result. There is, in fact, no need to worry about this since bow legs are predominantly caused by two situations. The most common being when a baby tries to walk before he/she is physically ready to. A baby's legs have to grow strong enough to be able to support his/her own weight, and any undue stress on them before this point may cause the bones in the legs to bend.

Another reason may be the lack of calcium and/or vitamin D, which can lead to weak bones and sometimes bow legs. As you know, milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D, so make sure your baby drinks plenty of it!
Learning to crawl
Your baby will go through several stages before he/she can learn to walk. He/she will initially learn to maneuver himself/herself, then sit upright, crawl, stand and finally walk. Learning to crawl is an essential stage as it will help to strengthen your baby's arms, legs, waist and back to enable him/her to move onto the standing/walking stages. Crawling is also a form of exercise which is great for your baby's growth and development.

Your baby will normally start to crawl round about 6 months of age and you can encourage him/her by crawling together and by playing games using balls or other toys to keep your baby motivated. Also, make sure your baby is in comfortable clothes to make crawling as easy as possible.