Parent guides · Birth to 1 year
Things to do with your baby, by age
One new thing to try for every day of the first year, 368 in all, from skin-to-skin on day 1 to the first family job on the birthday. Pick a month and a kind of activity; each card opens its day, with the steps, the safety notes, and the sources.
Babies don’t keep calendars: a month is a guide, not a deadline. The same activities arrive one a day in Your baby, day by day.
Month
Kind of activity
Showing 368 of 368 activities
Month 1 · Newborn · days 1 to 30
Day 1FamilySkin-to-skin, the first hoursLay your diaper-only baby on your bare chest, with a blanket over their back.Time: As long as you both like, while you're awake
Day 2FeedingSkin-to-skin between feedsAfter a feed, undress your baby to the diaper and lay them tummy-down on your bare chest, head turned to one side.Time: As long as you're both comfortable and you're wide awake
Day 3Sleep and careBright days, dim nights, from day one homeThis morning, open the curtains and let normal household noise carry on.Time: All day
Day 4Sleep and careA three-step wind-downPick 2 or 3 calm steps you can repeat every night, such as a fresh diaper, a feed, and a quiet song.Time: A few minutes before night sleep
Day 5Talking and readingThe narrated diaper change, with a countLook at your baby's face and say what you're doing: "Tabs open. Here comes the cool wipe."Time: Every diaper change
Day 6PlayFollow my faceHold your baby facing you, about 8 to 12 inches away.Time: A minute or two when your baby is alert
Day 7Sleep and careA calm sponge bathWarm the room and gather everything first: towel, washcloth, a basin of warm water, a clean diaper.Time: A few minutes, about 3 times a week
Day 8MovementThe finger-grip gameLay your baby on their back on a soft towel or blanket.Time: A minute, when your baby is calm and alert
Day 8MovementSide-lying play, first tryLay your baby on their side on a blanket on the floor while they're awake.Time: A few minutes at a time during awake play
Day 9FamilyHold and carry morePick a few calm, awake times today to hold your baby, not only when they cry or feed.Time: Extra holding through the day, beyond feeds and crying spells
Day 10MovementChest-to-chest tummy timeRecline with your back propped up, wide awake, and lay your baby tummy-down on your chest.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day
Day 11Talking and readingTalk in parenteseGet face to face, about 8 to 12 inches away, where your baby sees best.Time: A few minutes, whenever your baby is alert
Day 12PlayFind the soundHold your baby upright with their head well supported.Time: A few tries when your baby is alert
Day 13Sleep and careGentle baby massageWarm your hands and the room, and lay your baby on their back on a soft towel.Time: A few minutes when your baby is calm and alert
Day 14Talking and readingFace-to-face chatsWait for a quiet, alert moment: eyes open, body calm.Time: A few minutes during a quiet, alert moment
Day 15Sleep and careA soothing roundCheck the basics: diaper, hunger cues like lip smacking and rooting, temperature.Time: 10 to 15 minutes, then reassess
Day 16Sleep and careThe first tub bathCheck the stump spot. Off and healed means tub; otherwise it's a sponge bath today.Time: A few minutes, about 3 times a week
Day 17FamilySkin-to-skin, the partner's turnPartner: shirt off, sit propped up somewhere you won't nod off.Time: As long as you're both comfortable and you're wide awake
Day 18MovementSide-lying playLay your baby on their side on a blanket on the floor while they're awake.Time: A few minutes a side
Day 18MovementTummy time on a floor blanketSpread a blanket on the floor and lay your baby tummy-down, after a diaper change or a nap.Time: 3 to 5 minutes
Day 19Talking and readingThe serve-and-return gameNotice the serve: a gaze, a coo, a cry, a wiggle.Time: A few minutes, a few times a day
Day 20Sleep and careBright days, dim nightsOpen the curtains and let the house be a house.Time: All day
Day 20Sleep and careA three-step wind-down, three weeks inPick three calm steps: a fresh diaper, a feed, a quiet song.Time: A few minutes before night sleep
Day 21PlayThe copy-me gameWait for a calm, alert moment: eyes open, body still.Time: A minute or two, when your baby is quiet and alert
Day 22FeedingThe narrated feedSettle in where your baby can see your face.Time: One daytime feed
Day 23PlayHigh-contrast lookingFind something bold: a striped shirt, a black-and-white book, a checkered dish towel.Time: A minute or two
Day 24Talking and readingA slow walk with narrationPick the early morning or late afternoon, and put the sunshade up.Time: A short stroll, as long as you feel up to it
Day 25FamilySomeone else reads aloudHand the baby to a seated partner, grandparent, or sibling, head supported.Time: A few minutes
Day 26Talking and readingSing to your babyPick any song: a lullaby, a pop song, one you make up.Time: A song or two, any time
Day 27Talking and readingThe narrated diaper change, part twoLook at your baby's face and say what you're doing: "Tabs open. Here comes the cool wipe."Time: Every diaper change today
Day 28Sleep and careA "what we can do now" lookLay your baby tummy-down on your chest and watch whether they turn their head from side to side.Time: A few minutes, when your baby is alert
Day 29Talking and readingRead your favorite aloudPick the book you'd be reading anyway, not a baby book.Time: A few minutes
Day 30FamilyA keepsake momentLay your baby on their back on a soft towel, with warm hands and a warm room.Time: A few quiet minutes
Month 2 · 1 month · days 31 to 60
Day 31Talking and readingSmile conversationsHold your baby face to face, close enough to see you clearly.Time: A few minutes, whenever your baby is alert
Day 32Sleep and careBabywearing walk at the witching hourPut the carrier on and follow T.I.C.K.S.: Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Supported back.Time: 15 to 30 minutes, up to about an hour at a stretch
Day 33MovementTummy time, four waysChest: while you're awake and reclined, lay your baby tummy-down on you and talk so they lift their head.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, several times a day
Day 34MovementHand discoveryGently open your baby's palm and place your finger or a soft toy in it.Time: A minute or two, during changes or play
Day 35MovementBicycle legs and tummy rubLay your baby on their back and gently move their legs in a slow pedaling motion.Time: 1 to 3 minutes, between feeds
Day 36Talking and readingCooing back and forthWait for your baby to make a sound.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, during calm, alert times
Day 37PlayFollow the face, side to sideWith your baby on their back, lean in until they lock eyes with you.Time: 1 to 2 minutes
Day 38Sleep and careBedtime wind-down, month twoPick 2 or 3 steps you can repeat: a fresh diaper, a feed, a song.Time: A few minutes before the night's first long sleep
Day 39Talking and readingSinging and gentle swayingHold your baby securely, with head and neck supported.Time: A song or two, any time
Day 40PlayThe pause-and-return gameGet face to face and talk, smile, and raise your eyebrows, as in smile conversations.Time: 2 to 3 minutes, when your baby is alert and calm
Day 41Sleep and careThe crib-end swapAt the next sleep, lay your baby on their back as always, but with their head at the other end of the crib, so whatever they like to look at is now on their other side.Time: Ten seconds at each sleep, plus a few switches through the day
Day 42PlayDaylight walkHead out before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., when the sun is weaker.Time: Once a day, any length
Day 43Talking and readingPicture talk and readingPick a board book with faces or bold, bright pictures.Time: About 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 44PlayRattle sound huntHold a sturdy rattle off to one side of your baby's head, out of view.Time: 1 to 2 minutes
Day 45Talking and readingBath-time chatFill the tub with about 2 inches of warm water and test it with your wrist or elbow.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, a few times a week
Day 46FamilyVideo chat with familyHold your baby on your lap, close to the screen.Time: A few minutes
Day 47FeedingPractice pump and bottlePump at the time of a feed you'd miss at work, and set the bottle aside.Time: One feed, with you out of the room
Day 48PlayToy watching on the matSpread a blanket on the floor, lay your baby on their back, and get down there with them.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 49FamilyFace tour: everyone smilesCarry your baby to each person in the house, one at a time.Time: 5 minutes, when your baby is fed and alert
Day 50MovementTummy time on a lapSit with your feet flat and lay your baby tummy-down across your thighs, one hand supporting their head.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, several times a day
Day 51Sleep and careA milestone look, month twoDuring a diaper change, talk to your baby and watch whether they look at your face and settle at your voice.Time: 10 minutes, spread across the day, when your baby is alert
Day 52Sleep and careThe 5 S's, practiced for shot daySwaddle snugly with the hips loose.Time: 2 to 3 minutes, a few times before the visit
Day 53MovementFloor time: the safe play spotPick a spot on a firm floor away from stairs, cords, pets, and anything that could tip; lay down a blanket.Time: 10 minutes to set up, then a few minutes of play
Day 54PlayWatch you walkLay your baby on their back on the floor blanket, or have someone hold them facing the room.Time: 2 minutes, a few times today
Day 55MovementOpen handsWith your baby on their back and your free hand resting on them, stroke the back of one fist from wrist to knuckles.Time: A minute, at diaper changes
Day 56PlayColor lookingPick two bold, solid-colored objects from around the house: a red cup, a blue sock. No screens.Time: 1 to 2 minutes
Day 57Sleep and careCarrier to cribBefore you unclip, check the crib: fitted sheet only, nothing else.Time: 2 minutes, the next time a nap starts in the carrier
Day 58FamilyFootprints for the baby bookSet out washable, non-toxic ink or paint, a stiff card, wipes, and a towel, all within reach before you pick up your baby.Time: 10 minutes, with a second adult if you can
Day 59PlayYour voice from across the roomLay your baby on their back on the floor blanket, facing away from the door, with someone beside them.Time: 2 minutes, a few tries
Day 60FamilyThe first-smile videoProp the phone up or hand it to someone; you stay face to face.Time: A few minutes, when your baby is alert
Month 3 · 2 months · days 61 to 90
Day 61MovementForearm push-up tummy timeLay your baby tummy-down on a firm, flat surface with elbows tucked under their shoulders.Time: 3 to 10 minutes, several times a day
Day 62Sleep and careWarm cloth and a feedHold your baby close; feeding and sucking are among the best-supported comforts.Time: 10 minutes, whenever the leg seems to bother them
Day 63Sleep and careThe shriek checkLay your baby on a safe, flat surface and keep a hand on them.Time: 2 minutes, the next time a cry sounds different
Day 64PlayChuckle huntTry one silly thing at a time: a gentle "boo," a funny sound, or a raspberry on your own hand.Time: A few minutes, when your baby is happy and alert
Day 65MovementHands-together gamesGently bring your baby's hands together over their chest.Time: 1 to 2 minutes, during changes or cuddles
Day 66Talking and readingTalk-and-pause duetsWait for your baby to coo or gurgle.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, several times a day
Day 67Sleep and careThe whispered night feedKeep the light low and voices lower: quiet feeds and changes at night, play by day.Time: The next night feed
Day 68PlayMirror chatsProp an unbreakable baby mirror in front of your baby during tummy time.Time: 2 to 3 minutes, during tummy time or on your lap
Day 69PlayKick and seeLay your baby on their back on a blanket on the floor.Time: A few minutes during floor play
Day 70MovementSwat-the-toyLay your baby on their back under a play gym, or hold a soft toy above their chest, within arm's reach.Time: 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 71Sleep and careThe wet-hair head checkWhile the hair is still wet, sit your baby on your lap facing away from you and look down at the back of the head: is it evenly round?Time: 2 minutes, right after a bath
Day 72MovementRattle in the handPlace a light, sturdy rattle in your baby's palm.Time: 1 to 3 minutes
Day 73Sleep and careThe sleep-sack switchChoose a wearable blanket that leaves the arms free, and nothing weighted.Time: Tonight's bedtime
Day 74FeedingOffer a little less, then pauseMake a little less than usual. You can always give more.Time: One bottle feed
Day 75FeedingBottle practice with a new faceHave your partner, a relative, or the caregiver offer a bottle of pumped milk or formula, and leave the room yourself; another adult may have better luck than you.Time: One feed every few days, 2 to 4 weeks before you return to work
Day 76FamilyThe handover visitBring your baby and one handwritten page: what calms them, how they feed, how they sleep, and what their tired cry sounds like.Time: 30 minutes, before the first day
Day 77Talking and readingLap reading with rhymesHold your baby on your lap with a board or cloth book with bold, bright pictures.Time: 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 78FamilyNarrated family jobsSet your baby in a safe spot where they can see you, such as a play mat on the floor.Time: Any time you're doing chores
Day 79MovementThe toy circleLay your baby tummy-down on a blanket on the floor, elbows tucked under their shoulders.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, after a diaper change
Day 80MovementSupported lap bounceSit your baby facing you and hold them firmly under the arms, supporting the head as needed.Time: 1 to 2 minutes
Day 81PlayThe mouthing basketChoose three things you already own: a clean washcloth, a cloth book, and a rattle that's too big to choke on and won't break.Time: 5 minutes to set up, then any floor play
Day 82FamilySibling floor timeLay the baby tummy-down on a floor blanket, and invite the older child to lie down face to face.Time: 5 minutes, with an adult watching
Day 83Sleep and careHands to mouth, on purposeAt the first grizzle, when your baby is fed and dry, wait: count slowly to ten before you move.Time: 1 minute, at the first fuss
Day 84FamilyBoth parents, one songPick one song you can both stand, and agree on it out loud.Time: One song, a few times today
Day 85Sleep and careThe car-seat fit checkBuckle your baby in at home: back seat, rear-facing, indoor clothes, no coat.Time: 5 minutes, parked, with the baby in the seat
Day 86MovementThe roll rehearsalOn a floor blanket, with your baby tummy-down and alert, hold a toy at eye level, then move it slowly up and to one side.Time: 2 minutes, during floor play
Day 87Sleep and careA milestone look, month threeDuring a cuddle, hold your baby upright and notice whether their head stays steady.Time: 10 minutes, spread across the day, when your baby is alert
Day 88Sleep and careOne nap in the cribPick the nap that usually happens in the carrier or your arms, and watch for tired signs: yawning, droopy eyelids, staring into the distance, fussiness.Time: One daytime nap
Day 89FamilyThe day-one pose, againFind the first photo from the hospital, and set up the same pose: you reclined and wide awake, your baby chest to chest on you, face turned to the side and clear.Time: 5 minutes, in good light
Day 90Talking and readingThe family conversation circleSit in a loose circle on the floor with your baby on their back in the middle, fed and alert.Time: 5 minutes, with everyone who's home
Month 4 · 3 months · days 91 to 120
Day 91MovementReach-and-grabLay your baby on their back on a floor blanket and hold a light, easy-to-grip toy over their chest, within arm's reach.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 92PlayRaspberry laugh gameBlow a gentle raspberry on your baby's tummy or on your own hand.Time: A few minutes, when your baby is happy and alert
Day 93MovementToe discoveryWith your baby on their back on a mat on the floor, gently lift their feet toward their hands.Time: 1 to 2 minutes, during diaper changes
Day 94MovementRoll-over helperWith your baby on their back on a floor blanket, show a toy, then move it slowly to one side and down to the floor.Time: 2 to 3 minutes during floor play
Day 95MovementTummy-time look-aroundLay your baby tummy-down on a firm, flat surface on the floor with their arms forward.Time: 3 to 10 minutes, several times a day
Day 96PlayColor and pattern lookShow a brightly colored toy or book page about a foot from your baby's face.Time: 1 to 3 minutes
Day 97Talking and readingSound copycatWait for your baby to coo, squeal, growl, or gurgle.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, several times a day
Day 98Sleep and careThree-step bedtimePick three steps, like a feed, pajamas, and a song or a book.Time: 15 to 30 minutes before the first long sleep of the night
Day 99Sleep and careThe step-upYour baby stirs and fusses. Run the basics in your head (fed, changed, not sick), then watch for a moment.Time: A minute or two, at bedtime or after a night waking
Day 100FeedingQuiet-corner feedsPick a quiet room, and turn on a fan or soft music to mask sudden noises.Time: Daytime feeds that keep getting interrupted
Day 101Sleep and careSomething cool to gumWet a clean washcloth, wring it out, and put it in the fridge for a few minutes. Cool, not frozen.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, when your baby is gnawing at everything
Day 102PlayPeekabooLay your baby on their back on the floor, fed and alert, and get your face a foot or so above theirs.Time: 1 to 3 minutes
Day 103Talking and readingYour family songPick one song you actually like, in any language. A lullaby, a pop chorus, something your own parent sang.Time: A song or two, every day
Day 104Talking and readingBoard-book timeSit your baby on your lap facing out, back against your chest, with a board, cloth, or vinyl book held a foot from their face.Time: About 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 105FamilyTag-team nightsTonight, before dinner, agree on the handover hour, such as one adult from bedtime to 2 a.m. and the other from 2 a.m. on.Time: One shift each, every night
Day 106Sleep and careThe boring nightBefore bed, set the room: lights as low as you can work in, no toys in reach, phone face down.Time: Every night contact, until morning
Day 107MovementAn hour of tummy time, in piecesAfter the bath, do the wet-hair look from above: round at the back, ears level.Time: 5 to 10 minutes at a time, six to ten times across the day
Day 108Sleep and careThe floor-change habitPut a changing mat on the floor in the room you change most, with diapers, wipes, and a spare onesie in a basket beside it.Time: Every diaper change from today
Day 109Sleep and careThe choke-size sweepGet down on hands and knees in the play area and look at it from your baby's height, under the sofa and the coffee table included.Time: 10 minutes, with the baby in someone's arms or the crib
Day 110MovementSitting on your lap, proppedSit on the floor or a sofa with your baby on your lap facing out, their back against your belly.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, a few times a day
Day 111Sleep and careA milestone look, month fourHold your baby upright against your chest and notice whether the head stays steady on its own.Time: 10 minutes, spread across the day, when your baby is alert
Day 112Sleep and careShot-day comfort, round twoHold your baby on your lap the way the nurse asks, with your face in view.Time: The minutes before, during, and right after each shot
Day 113FeedingWatch for the open mouthWhen your baby starts to stir and root, bring them close with the breast or bottle in view, and watch the mouth before you offer.Time: The next two daytime feeds
Day 114FamilyThe sibling songSit on the floor with the baby upright on your lap, facing the older child, your hands around the baby's chest.Time: One song, with an adult holding the baby
Day 115Talking and readingThe narrated kitchen tourCarry your baby on your hip, head steady and facing out, and walk the kitchen naming what you touch: "Cold. That's the fridge." "Spoon. Shiny spoon."Time: 5 minutes, with your baby alert and your hands free
Day 116MovementPull-to-sit, gentlyLay your baby on their back on a floor blanket and kneel at their feet, face to face.Time: 1 to 2 minutes, once, on the floor
Day 117MovementThe dangling toyOn a floor blanket, with your baby on their back, hold a light rattle or soft ring in your fingers above their chest, within arm's reach; no string or cord, your hand is the string.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, once or twice today
Day 118PlayThe attention gameSit on the floor near your baby and look at something else: a book, the window, your hands.Time: 2 to 3 minutes, a few times today
Day 119FamilyFour-month photo and letterLay your baby on their back in the day-one spot, on the floor blanket or in the bare crib, never on a bed or changing table unattended.Time: 10 minutes, with the baby fed and awake
Day 120PlayThe laugh collectionWrite down, or record, three things that got a chuckle this month: a raspberry on the belly, a sound, a face, a song.Time: 5 minutes tonight, then whenever a new one turns up
Month 5 · 4 months · days 121 to 150
Day 121MovementToy circle tummy timeLay your baby tummy-down on a firm mat on the floor.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, several times a day
Day 122MovementThe swim-and-rock watchTummy-down on a firm mat on the floor; you flat on the floor too, at eye level.Time: 5 minutes of tummy time, once or twice today
Day 123MovementToy hand-offsOffer a light rattle or soft ring by touching it to your baby's palm.Time: A few minutes, a few times a day
Day 124Talking and readingCopy, then add a wordWait for a sound. Don't start the conversation; let them.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, during a calm, alert stretch
Day 125PlayThe crib-kick concertLay your baby on their back on the floor mat and hold a crinkly toy or a soft drum where their feet can reach it.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 126PlayMirror smilesHold your baby facing an unbreakable mirror, or prop one beside them during tummy time.Time: 2 to 3 minutes
Day 127Sleep and careBrush, book, bedWipe your baby's gums with a soft, damp cloth (or brush a first tooth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste).Time: 10 to 15 minutes at the same time each night
Day 128Sleep and careDrowsy, then downRun the usual routine: gums, one book, dim light.Time: A few minutes at bedtime tonight
Day 129Sleep and careOne step at a timeRun the checks: fed, changed, rested, nothing pinching, no hair around a finger or toe.Time: Up to 10 minutes, at a daytime fuss
Day 130Sleep and careThe weigh-in at homeStep on the bathroom scale alone and note the number.Time: Two minutes after a diaper change
Day 131PlayA safe mouthing basketFill a shallow basket with 3 or 4 safe objects of different textures: a firm rubber teether, a soft cloth book, a wooden spoon, a big plastic cup.Time: 5 minutes of floor play
Day 132Sleep and careThe gum rubWash your hands, then sit your baby upright on your lap, facing you or facing out.Time: A minute, whenever the gnawing picks up
Day 133Talking and readingThe name gameFrom one side, out of your baby's line of sight, softly say their name in a sing-song voice.Time: A minute, any time
Day 134FamilyThe slow approachBefore the visitor is in the door, give them the script: talk first, from across the room, for a few minutes.Time: 5 minutes at the start of a visit
Day 135MovementThe container countPut a note on the fridge. Each time your baby goes into anything with straps, swing, bouncer, carrier, stroller, car seat, write the start time.Time: One ordinary day, a pen, and a sticky note
Day 136PlayPeekaboo with a clothSit face to face on the floor, your baby on their back or propped against your knees.Time: A few minutes
Day 137Talking and readingPoint and nameChoose a board or cloth book with big faces or single bold pictures, and settle your baby on your lap with their back against you.Time: 5 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 138MovementLap bounce songsSit with your baby facing you, their feet flat on your thighs.Time: A song or two
Day 139FeedingThe high-chair rehearsalIf your high chair reclines or supports a baby who can't sit alone yet, buckle them in at the table's end; otherwise, a lap at the table.Time: One family meal, 20 minutes or less
Day 140Sleep and careThe bare-crib auditStrip the crib to the mattress and put back only the fitted sheet; no bumper, pillow, blanket, toy, or positioner goes back in.Time: 10 minutes, in daylight
Day 141Sleep and careThe one-hand ruleBefore you lift your baby onto the table, lay out the diaper, wipes, cream, and a clean onesie within reach of one hand.Time: Every change today, a minute each
Day 142Sleep and careThe far-side-of-the-counter habitWalk the kitchen and slide every mug, kettle, and pan to the far side of the counter or the back burner, handles turned in, away from edges.Time: 10 minutes once, then every pour
Day 143Sleep and careThe pinch testBuckle your baby in at home: back seat, rear-facing, indoor clothes, no coat.Time: 5 minutes, parked, with the baby in the seat
Day 144PlayThe shade walkPick the hour: before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., never the middle of the day.Time: 20 to 40 minutes, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Day 145Sleep and careThe temperature practiceGet out the digital thermometer, not an ear one, and read its instructions for a rectal reading; if anything is unclear, ask the office's nurse line to talk you through it.Time: 5 minutes, with the baby fed and calm
Day 146Talking and readingYour turnGet face to face, about a foot away, and wait for a sound.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, during a calm, alert stretch
Day 147FamilyThe partner's lap bounceThe other parent sits on the floor with the baby facing them, feet on their thighs, held securely under the arms.Time: A song or two, with the mother off duty
Day 148Talking and readingThe laundry narrationPut your baby on the floor mat beside the basket, on their tummy to start, where they can see your hands.Time: One basket, 10 to 15 minutes
Day 149FamilyFive-month photo and letterLay your baby on their back in the day-one spot, on the floor blanket or in the bare crib, never alone on a bed or changing table.Time: 10 minutes, with the baby fed and awake
Day 150FamilyThe first-roll videoLay your baby tummy-down on a firm mat on the floor, and prop the phone against a book, recording; your hands and face are for the baby.Time: 5 to 10 minutes of tummy time, phone propped, hands free
Month 6 · 5 months · days 151 to 180
Day 151MovementReach-and-roll tummy timeLay your baby on their tummy on a blanket on the floor.Time: A few minutes, several times a day
Day 152MovementThe roll-back toyLay your baby on their tummy on a blanket on the floor, and let them push up.Time: 2 to 3 minutes, a few times today
Day 153MovementSupported sittingSit on the floor with your legs in a V and your baby sitting between them, or ring them with pillows.Time: A few minutes at a time
Day 154Talking and readingBabble backWait for your baby to make a sound.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, during calm, alert times
Day 155Talking and readingThe name-and-look gameWhile your baby is playing on the mat, kneel just out of their view, behind one shoulder.Time: A minute, a few times a day
Day 156PlayShake, bang, dropOffer a see-through rattle, a wooden spoon, or a plastic bowl.Time: As long as it's fun
Day 157FamilyThe people bookMake a small album of close-up photos of family, friends, and caregivers; printed pictures in a cheap pocket album, or a few photos on a board.Time: 5 minutes
Day 158FeedingThe allergen question, written downLook at your baby's skin and your medicine cabinet. Does the eczema persist or keep coming back, and does it need frequent prescription-strength treatment despite regular moisturizing?Time: 5 minutes
Day 159FeedingThe first-tastes planFind the 6-month visit on the calendar and write "first tastes" on the week after it, pending the pediatrician's go-ahead and your baby's readiness.Time: 10 minutes, with a calendar
Day 160FeedingThe readiness watchBuckle your baby into a high chair, harness fastened, or hold them on your lap at the table while the family eats.Time: One family meal, no food for the baby
Day 161FeedingThe vitamin checkFind the drops you already give and read the label: for a breastfed baby, the dose should deliver 400 IU of vitamin D a day.Time: 5 minutes
Day 162FeedingThe first-food shopping listWrite the iron carriers first: an iron-fortified infant cereal that isn't rice, and a meat you can puree.Time: 10 minutes
Day 163FeedingA seat at the tableBuckle your baby into a high chair, harness clicked, or hold them on your lap, at the table.Time: One family meal
Day 164Sleep and careThe teething logTape a sheet to the fridge. Tonight, write the date and tick what you saw: drool, biting, gum-rubbing, fussiness, extra waking, and a temperature if you took one, the same symptoms the study parents tracked.Time: 1 minute each evening, for a week
Day 165Sleep and careTeething comfort, three waysWash your hands and rub your baby's gums gently with a fingertip.Time: As needed
Day 166Sleep and careThe gum wipeAfter a feed, wet a clean washcloth and wrap it around one finger.Time: 1 minute after a feed
Day 167Sleep and careThe nap mapWrite the start and end of each nap today, and bedtime, on a page you'll keep.Time: 2 minutes, three times today
Day 168Sleep and careArms free tonightIf your baby still sleeps swaddled, or in a sack that pins the arms, switch tonight to a sleep sack that leaves both arms free.Time: 5 minutes at bedtime
Day 169PlayFree floor playClear a safe patch of floor and lay down a blanket or mat.Time: Several times a day
Day 170FamilyThe warm-up minuteHold your baby facing the room and say the line: "This is Grandpa. We're going to watch him for a minute."Time: 1 minute per visitor
Day 171PlaySplash timeRun shallow, warm water and test it with your wrist or elbow; towel, washcloth, and soap within reach first.Time: 5 to 10 minutes at bath time
Day 172Sleep and careThe bath setupBefore any water runs: towel, washcloth, soap, clean diaper, and clothes within arm's reach of the tub.Time: 2 minutes before every bath
Day 173Sleep and careThe cord walkRoom by room, find every window covering with a cord. Replace it with a cordless one, or for now tie every cord up high and out of reach.Time: 20 minutes, once
Day 174Sleep and careThe toilet-roll testTake an empty toilet-paper tube and get down on the floor where your baby plays. Federal rules test toys for children under 3 with a cylinder sized like a young child's throat; household items aren't tested, so the tube is your rough stand-in, not the official test.Time: 15 minutes, at floor level
Day 175Sleep and careBook the infant CPR classFind an infant CPR and choking class near you; the Red Cross runs them.Time: 15 minutes today; a few hours on the day
Day 176Sleep and careThe seat-limit checkFind the label on the side or back of the car seat and read the rear-facing height and weight limits out loud.Time: 10 minutes in the driveway
Day 177FamilyThe video call with a face they knowCall a grandparent, aunt, or friend your baby has met, at a calm, alert time of day.Time: 5 minutes
Day 178Sleep and careThe six-month listWrite the solids question: "Is my baby ready to start, and what should the first foods be?"Time: 10 minutes with a pen
Day 179FamilySix-month photo and letterPut your baby in the spot where you took the day-one photo, propped sitting or on their tummy, with your hands close.Time: 15 minutes
Day 180FamilyThe sitting-up videoLay a blanket on the floor and set your baby in a tripod sit, both hands down, or on their tummy pushing up, with your hands an inch away.Time: 5 minutes
Month 7 · 6 months · days 181 to 210
Day 181FeedingFirst tastes from a spoonBuckle your baby upright in the high chair at a time when they're alert and only a little hungry.Time: A few minutes, once a day to start
Day 182FeedingThe half-spoon ruleOffer a little breast milk or formula first, so your baby isn't starving when the spoon arrives.Time: 5 minutes, at one meal
Day 183FeedingThe food diaryPick a notebook or a sheet on the fridge, and write today's date and the one food on the spoon.Time: 1 minute per new food
Day 184FeedingThe cereal swapRead the box you have. If the first word is rice, finish it slowly and buy an oat, barley, or multigrain infant cereal next.Time: 5 minutes, at the store or the pantry
Day 185FeedingPeanut and egg, early and oftenIf your baby has severe eczema or an egg allergy, talk to your pediatrician before starting.Time: A few minutes, 3 or more times a week once started
Day 186FeedingThe three-a-week tallyOn the calendar, draw a small P on every day your baby eats a peanut serving.Time: 10 seconds per serving
Day 187FeedingThe gag-or-choke drillSay the gag list out loud: noisy, coughing, sputtering, pushing food out; wait a moment, finger out of the mouth.Time: 3 minutes with your partner, no food in anyone's mouth
Day 188FeedingSoft finger-food practiceCut a soft food, like ripe avocado or well-steamed sweet potato, into finger-length strips about the size of a small baby carrot.Time: Part of one meal a day
Day 189FeedingSips from an open cupPour a tablespoon or two of water into a small open cup.Time: A few sips with meals
Day 190FeedingThe not-yet list on the fridgeWrite the choking list from the AAP: hot dogs and meat sticks, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, whole grapes, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, raw vegetables, raw apple chunks, hard or sticky candy.Time: 10 minutes, one sheet of paper
Day 191FeedingTen tries of green beansPick the food your baby turned down this week and serve it after a little milk, so hunger doesn't run the show.Time: 5 minutes, at one meal
Day 192FeedingThe family-meal seatPick the one meal most of the household is home for, and put the high chair, harness buckled, at the corner of the table nearest you.Time: One meal a day
Day 193MovementSitting practiceSit your baby on a rug between your legs, or with pillows around them, hands on the floor in front.Time: A few minutes, several times a day
Day 194MovementThe hand-to-hand toySit your baby on your lap or supported on the floor, and put a small rattle in one hand.Time: 5 minutes, sitting
Day 195MovementRoll to reachLay your baby on a blanket on the floor, on their back or tummy, after a look for anything small within rolling range.Time: About 5 minutes, a few times a day
Day 196PlayThe drop gameBuckle your baby into the high chair and give them an unbreakable spoon, cup, or toy.Time: As long as your patience lasts
Day 197PlayPeekaboo and hide the toyCover your face with your hands or a cloth, then pop out: "Peekaboo!".Time: A few minutes
Day 198Talking and readingThe echo gameSit face to face and wait for a sound: "ba," a raspberry, a squeal.Time: 5 minutes, face to face
Day 199Talking and readingThe ba-ball bridgeWait for a syllable. "Ba" is the classic; whatever comes is the one.Time: 5 minutes, three times today
Day 200FamilyThe two-hundred-day letterDate the page: day 200, and your baby's age in weeks, with their corrected age too if they were born early.Time: 15 minutes, with the six-month letter beside it
Day 201Talking and readingRead and pointSit your baby between your legs on the floor, or on your lap, with a sturdy board book that has big, clear pictures.Time: 5 to 10 minutes a day
Day 202Sleep and careThe first brushAfter the last feed of the evening, sit your baby on your lap facing out, or in the high chair, buckled.Time: 1 minute, twice a day
Day 203Sleep and careThe water questionFind out whether your tap water is fluoridated. If you don't know, write "Is our tap water fluoridated?" as the first question for your pediatrician or dentist.Time: 10 minutes, with a notepad
Day 204Sleep and careThe routine auditOnce your baby is down, write tonight's bedtime as it actually happened, in order, in three or four lines: what you did, where, and roughly when.Time: 5 minutes after bedtime, with a pen
Day 205Sleep and careThe method talkStart with the question, not a method: are the nights working for us? If both say yes, write "not now" and a date to ask again.Time: 15 minutes, both adults, baby asleep
Day 206FamilyThe goodbye ritualPick three words and a wave: "Bye-bye, back soon," and a hand up. Don't make it longer.Time: 5 seconds, every time you leave the room
Day 207Sleep and careThe crawl-level sweepGet down on your hands and knees in one room and look at what's at that height: coins, buttons, small toy parts, batteries.Time: 10 minutes per room
Day 208Sleep and careThe first sunscreenRead the tube: broad-spectrum, SPF 15 or higher, and look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the ingredients list.Time: 5 minutes at home, before the first outing
Day 209Sleep and careThe two lists on the fridgeCard one, headed 911: can't cry, cough, or breathe; struggling for each breath or bluish lips; can't be woken or very weak; purple or blood-colored spots; a seizure or knocked out after a head injury; after a food, swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, widespread hives, or sudden floppiness.Time: 15 minutes, two index cards, a marker
Day 210FamilyThe first-bite videoHigh chair, harness buckled, baby upright. Prop the phone against something so both of your hands are free.Time: 2 minutes, at a meal your baby already likes
Month 8 · 7 months · days 211 to 240
Day 211Sleep and careThe nine-month frameRead the 9-month list out loud, slowly, with your partner if you can.Time: 5 minutes, after a feed
Day 212MovementThe sit-and-reachSit your baby on a rug with you kneeling behind them, your hands open at their hips. No cushion stack to fall off.Time: 3 to 5 minutes, a few times a day
Day 213MovementCushion crawl courseLay two or three sofa cushions and a pillow on the floor in a low, bumpy path. Clear the floor around it first.Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Day 214MovementThe rake-and-eat snackBuckle your baby upright in the high chair and put three or four soft pieces on the tray, like cooked peas or bits of banana, none larger than half an inch.Time: One snack, about 10 minutes
Day 215PlayTwo blocks, one bangSit your baby on the rug with you in front, and hand them one block, big enough that it can't fit entirely in the mouth.Time: 5 minutes, sitting on the floor
Day 216Talking and readingThe syllable volleyWhen a string comes ("bababa"), look at your baby and answer right away with the same string.Time: 2 minutes, whenever the babble starts
Day 217FeedingThe lumpy mashPick one food your baby already eats smooth: sweet potato, banana, or a well-cooked carrot.Time: One meal
Day 218FeedingThe meal mapWrite tomorrow's naps and milk feeds down the left side of a page, as they usually fall.Time: 10 minutes tonight, with a pen
Day 219FeedingBaby at the family tablePull the high chair up to the table at the family's own mealtime, buckled, tray at table height.Time: One family meal today
Day 220FeedingThe half-inch cutCut tonight's finger food, then hold the biggest piece against your little fingernail. The AAP's limit is half an inch; a piece wider than that nail is too big.Time: 5 minutes before tonight's meal
Day 221PlayWhere did it go?Sit your baby on the floor, your hands near their hips if they still wobble, and show them a favorite toy; then cover it with a dish towel while they watch.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 222PlayIn and outGive your baby a mixing bowl or bucket and three or four big plastic lids, blocks, or wooden spoons, each too big to fit entirely in their mouth.Time: About 5 minutes
Day 223PlayThe yes cabinetPick the lowest cabinet your baby can reach from the floor and empty it. Anything sharp, breakable, or small enough to fit entirely in their mouth goes up high.Time: 15 minutes to set up, then a few minutes of play
Day 224Sleep and careThe swapPick the one object your baby reaches for most that isn't theirs: the phone, the remote, your glasses. Pick its replacement and keep it within arm's reach all day: a cup, a wooden spoon, a lid.Time: 3 tries, spread over the day
Day 225PlayMirror facesSit on the floor in front of a wall mirror with your baby on your lap, both of you facing the glass.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 226FamilyThe slow visitorBefore the relative arrives, tell them the plan: "She's at the shy stage. Talk to me first and let her come to you." Saying so ahead of time keeps it from feeling personal.Time: The first 10 minutes of the next visit
Day 227FamilyThe next-room goodbyePick your goodbye and keep it to three beats: a sentence, a kiss, a wave. "Bye-bye! I'm going to the kitchen. Back in a minute."Time: 30 seconds, several times today
Day 228Sleep and careThe quiet reassuranceWait a few minutes first; many babies grumble and resettle on their own.Time: Under a minute, at the next night waking
Day 229FeedingThe night-feed questionWrite down what the last three nights actually looked like: when your baby woke, whether they fed, how much, and whether they went back down.Time: 5 minutes with a pen, in daylight
Day 230Sleep and careThe gate checkStand at the top of the stairs. If there's no gate, that's today's purchase: a hardware-mounted gate screwed into the studs.Time: 20 minutes, with a screwdriver
Day 231Sleep and careThe anchor afternoonPick the one piece your baby plays nearest: the nursery dresser or the living-room bookcase.Time: 20 to 30 minutes, during a nap or with your partner on the floor with the baby
Day 232Sleep and careThe battery huntWalk every room your baby plays in and collect into the bowl each remote, key fob, scale, musical card, tea light, and small toy that takes a coin cell.Time: 15 minutes with a bowl and a roll of tape
Day 233Sleep and careThe mug rule for guestsBefore anyone arrives, clear the coffee table and the arm of the couch; the middle of the dining table is the mug zone.Time: One sentence before the kettle boils, then the whole visit
Day 234Sleep and careThe bath handBefore the water runs, stack the towel, washcloth, soap, diaper, and pajamas where you can reach them without standing.Time: The whole bath, timed
Day 235Sleep and careThe bag sweepEmpty your bag onto the counter: pain relievers, vitamins, the inhaler, sanitizer, lip balm, loose coins.Time: 10 minutes at the counter
Day 236Talking and readingThe TV-off hourPick the hour the TV is usually on while the baby plays, and turn it off; put your phone face-down on the counter.Time: 1 hour, with 10 minutes of counting inside it
Day 237Talking and readingName what they seeThrough the day, catch ten stares: the ceiling fan, the cat, the spoon, the bus going by.Time: All day, ten times
Day 238FamilyThe sock hand-offSit on the floor with the basket, your baby sitting in front of you, and hand them a clean sock.Time: 5 minutes beside the laundry basket
Day 239FamilyEight-month photo and letterUse the same spot as the seven-month photo if you took one: baby sitting on the rug, you within reach but not touching.Time: 10 minutes, baby fed and rested
Day 240FamilyThe sitting-alone videoProp the phone against a book on the rug and sit the baby in front of it with a favorite toy, you right beside them.Time: 2 minutes, baby rested, floor cleared
Month 9 · 8 months · days 241 to 270
Day 241Sleep and careThe screening previewOpen the CDC's 9-month list on your phone or print it.Time: 10 minutes, with your partner if you can
Day 242Talking and readingThe name from across the roomWait until your baby is busy with a toy and you're across the room, behind them or off to the side, out of their line of sight.Time: 1 minute, three times today
Day 243Talking and readingUp?Before you lift your baby, kneel or crouch to their level, raise your own arms, and ask, "Up?".Time: A few seconds, every pickup today
Day 244FamilyPractice goodbyesWhen you step into the next room, say, "I'll be right back," the same words each time.Time: A minute or two, a few times today
Day 245PlayPeekaboo behind the doorSit your baby on the floor facing a half-open door, with another adult or a safe cleared rug around them.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 246MovementPincer pickingWith your baby upright and buckled in the high chair, put a few soft pieces of food on the tray, like cooked peas or bits of banana.Time: During a meal or snack
Day 247Talking and readingTalk back with wordsWhen your baby babbles, look at them and answer right away.Time: A few minutes, many times a day
Day 248FeedingThe five-food plateCook until soft: a piece of banana, a scrambled egg, a spoonful of well-cooked pasta, a little finely chopped cooked chicken, and a few cooked peas or potato cubes. Any three of the five is fine.Time: One meal, 15 minutes
Day 249FeedingThe snack shelfPick two snack times for tomorrow that sit between milk feeds and meals, and write them on a sticky note on the fridge; the AAP's 9-month shape is 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks.Time: 10 minutes tonight, for tomorrow
Day 250FeedingThe meal cupPick one cup and keep it: open, straw, or a sippy without a valve. Put a tablespoon of water in it.Time: Every meal, a minute each
Day 251MovementThe crawl chaseClear the rug of anything small enough to go in a mouth, then get down on your hands and knees a yard away, facing your baby.Time: 5 minutes, on a cleared rug
Day 252MovementCruise to the toyCheck that the couch or low table is sturdy, won't tip, and has no sharp edges.Time: A few minutes, several times a day
Day 253MovementThe floor hourPick one childproofed room. Check the floor and between the cushions for coins, toy parts, and pen caps.Time: 60 minutes, in pieces, with a timer
Day 254Talking and readingParentese on purposePick one routine today and do it in full parentese: high, slow, sing-song, eyebrows up, about whatever is in front of you. "Where's your sock? Here's your sock! On it goes."Time: 5 minutes, at a diaper change or a meal
Day 255Talking and readingFollow the pointWhen your baby stares at something or reaches toward it, look where they're looking.Time: Anytime, all day
Day 256MovementBarefoot on three surfacesRug first: sit your baby on it barefoot and let them push, kneel, and grab your legs to pull up. Name it: "Soft."Time: 10 minutes, socks off
Day 257Sleep and careThe two-minute checkWhen the cry starts, pause a moment and listen. If it's winding down on its own, stay out.Time: 2 minutes by the clock, at the next night waking
Day 258Sleep and careThe method, written downWrite the bedtime routine as three lines: brush, book, bed, with the time.Time: 15 minutes, both adults, one sheet of paper
Day 259Sleep and careThe seizure sentenceSay the four steps out loud, in order: floor, head to the side, nothing in the mouth, 911 at five minutes.Time: 2 minutes, with your partner, on a well day
Day 260Sleep and careThe whole-house walkSplit the rooms. Each adult takes a list with eleven words on it: gates, windows, outlets, cords, small things, anchors, batteries, magnets, hot drinks, water, poisons.Time: 45 minutes, two adults, half the house each
Day 261Talking and readingBye-bye and pat-a-cakeWave and say "bye-bye" whenever anyone leaves the room, the house, or the car, and lift your baby's hand to wave too.Time: A minute or two, many times a day
Day 262Sleep and careThe three-rule listTogether, name the three things in your home that are truly dangerous for a baby who moves: the stairs, the stove, the cords, whatever yours are. Those are the only "no"s.Time: 10 minutes, both adults, then the fridge
Day 263PlayThe pot-and-spoon drumTurn a steel pot or mixing bowl upside down on the kitchen floor and set a wooden spoon beside it. Add a plastic container and a saucepan lid for different sounds.Time: 5 minutes, floor cleared first
Day 264PlayThe mirror weather reportSit on the floor with your baby on your lap, both of you facing a mirror, close enough to touch it.Time: 3 minutes, after a nap when the face is changeable
Day 265Talking and readingPoint-and-name pagesSit your baby between your knees on the floor with the board book on the rug, so both hands are free for the pages.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, the same book as last night
Day 266FamilyThe lap introductionGreet the visitor yourself, warmly and at length, with the baby on your lap facing the room. The baby reads your face first.Time: 10 minutes, after a nap and a snack
Day 267Sleep and careThe vaccine questionFind the vaccine record from the 6-month visit and read what's on it: which doses, which dates.Time: 10 minutes, with the record card out
Day 268Sleep and careThe nine-month listWrite question one about food: what's in the diary, what's refused, and whether the amounts look right for 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks.Time: 15 minutes, both adults, the food diary open
Day 269FamilyNine-month photo and letterLay the blanket from the first photo in the same spot, with the same window, and sit the baby on it, you kneeling an arm's length away in case of a topple.Time: 10 minutes, the day-one spot, the baby rested
Day 270Sleep and careThe after-visit noteOn the back of whatever the clinic handed you, write the answers to your five questions in one line each, in the pediatrician's words as near as you can remember them.Time: 5 minutes, in the car before you drive, or at the kitchen table if the visit is still ahead
Month 10 · 9 months · days 271 to 300
Day 271Sleep and careThe twelve-month frameOpen the CDC's 1-year list on your phone or print it.Time: 10 minutes, with your partner if you can
Day 272MovementThe pull-up spotPick one piece of furniture that passes the test: sturdy, won't tip, no sharp edges, on a rug. If it's tall, it's anchored.Time: A few minutes, several times a day
Day 273MovementThe soft landingStand your baby at the sofa on a rug, their hands on the cushion, your hands under their arms, carrying none of their weight.Time: 5 minutes, two or three times today
Day 274MovementThe cruise courseBuild a line: the sofa, then a sturdy low table or padded ottoman against its end, with no gap wider than your baby's reach. Everything sturdy, won't tip, no sharp edges; anything tall, anchored.Time: 5 minutes, a few times a day
Day 275MovementPush-the-box walkFind a sturdy empty box, like a diaper box, with the flaps taped shut so the top is flat.Time: About 5 minutes
Day 276MovementThe standing countWhen your baby pulls up at the sofa, start counting out loud, slowly, from the moment both hands are on the cushion.Time: 2 minutes, once a week
Day 277MovementThe sock-off hourSocks off before the morning floor time, and leave them off.Time: 60 minutes, in pieces across the day
Day 278MovementThe pea pickWith your baby upright and buckled in the high chair, put one soft cooked pea, or one bit of banana, alone on the tray.Time: During a meal or snack
Day 279PlayThe drop zoneBuckle the harness and set a laundry basket on the floor right under the edge of the tray.Time: 5 minutes, before a meal
Day 280PlayThe cup and the blockSit on the kitchen floor with a wide plastic cup or tub and three wooden blocks or large plastic lids, each too big to fit entirely in the mouth.Time: About 5 minutes
Day 281Talking and readingThe point-and-name walkStop at the first thing your baby stares at or reaches toward. Look where they're looking.Time: 20 minutes outside, stroller turned to face you or baby in a carrier
Day 282PlayHand it to meHold out your open hand, palm up, close to the spoon or toy your baby is holding, and ask, "Can I have the spoon?"Time: A few minutes, at a meal and once on the floor
Day 283Talking and readingThe gesture trioWave: whenever anyone leaves the room, wave and say "bye-bye," and gently help your baby's hand wave too.Time: A few seconds each, many times today
Day 284Talking and readingThe consistent-name dayPick five things your baby meets every day: the cup, the dog, the ball, the bath, the cat. Write one name for each on a card on the fridge.Time: 5 minutes to set up, then all day, every adult
Day 285Talking and readingThe three-turn ruleEvery babble you notice today gets three turns: their sound, your answer, and your answer to whatever comes next, even if what comes next is silence.Time: All day, counted at one meal
Day 286Talking and readingThe page turnSit your baby between your knees on the floor with the book on the rug, both of their hands free.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, a thick board book
Day 287FamilyThe timed goodbyePick a rested, fed hour; separations are harder when a baby is tired, hungry, or sick.Time: 2 minutes by the clock, two or three times today
Day 288FamilyThe drop-off rehearsalThe caregiver arrives early and sits on the floor a few feet away while you and they talk; a new sitter should arrive early enough to get acquainted.Time: 20 minutes, with the sitter, grandparent, or a center teacher at a settling-in visit
Day 289FamilyThe slow handoffTen minutes with the baby on your lap while you and the visitor talk; the visitor sits a few feet away and looks at you, not the baby.Time: 20 minutes, after the nap and the snack
Day 290Sleep and careThe quiet returnBefore bed, write two sentences on a card by the nursery door: "I'm here. It's sleep time." and "Night-night. Back in the morning."Time: Under a minute, at every waking tonight
Day 291FeedingThe bottle mapList every bottle from today with its time and what it was for: a meal, a nap, bedtime, or comfort in between.Time: 10 minutes after bedtime, both adults
Day 292FeedingThe milk questionWrite the first question for the 12-month visit: whole milk or 2%, and from what date; whole milk is the recommendation for most children from 12 to 24 months.Time: 5 minutes with a pen
Day 293FeedingThe refused-food returnPick the food your baby pushed away most recently and cut it to half an inch or smaller.Time: One meal, two minutes of it
Day 294Talking and readingThe positive-words dayEvery time a "don't" starts in your mouth, turn it into the thing you want instead: "Time to sit" for "Don't stand," "Cup stays on the tray" for "Don't throw".Time: All day, with a pencil on the fridge
Day 295Sleep and careThe water sweepStart outside: tip every bucket and the wading pool upside down, and from now on empty them right after use.Time: 10 minutes, one walk through the house and yard
Day 296Sleep and careThe table-edge clearStand your baby at the table and then the counter, your hands on them, and watch where their fingers land. That line is the new edge.Time: 5 minutes, then a habit
Day 297Sleep and careThe high-shelf hourStand your baby at each piece of furniture they cruise, your hands on them, and note the highest thing their fingers touch. Everything on that shelf moves up one, and the furniture gets anchored if it isn't.Time: An hour, one room at a time if you need to
Day 298FamilyThe video call, namedCall someone your baby knows, and say the name before the face appears: "Grandma. Here's Grandma." The same name every time.Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Day 299FamilyTen-month photo and letterTake the photo in the day-one spot: your baby standing at the sofa with your hands ready behind them, or sitting there if standing isn't here yet. There's nothing to prove.Time: 15 minutes
Day 300FamilyThe standing videoPut the phone on the floor, propped against a book, so the baby is filmed from their own height and not from above.Time: 2 minutes
Month 11 · 10 months · days 301 to 330
Day 301Sleep and careThe almost-one listTake the fridge page from last month, or print the CDC's 1-year list fresh.Time: 10 minutes, with your partner if you can
Day 302Talking and readingThe word logPut a small notebook where the baby eats. Every time a sound lands on the same thing twice, write the sound, the thing, and the date: "mog, milk, Tuesday."Time: 2 minutes, a few times a day, for a week
Day 303Sleep and careThe one real noWith everyone who cares for the baby, pick the single real danger in your house that can't be moved out of reach today: the oven door, the stairs, the floor heater. That one thing gets the word "no".Time: 5 minutes to decide, then all day
Day 304PlayThe brush and the cupSit facing your baby with a soft baby hairbrush. Brush your own hair slowly, three strokes, saying "brush." Then hand it over and wait.Time: 5 minutes, twice today
Day 305FamilyThe block in the binPut a low, open bin on the floor and four blocks beside it. Drop one in yourself, slowly, and say "In!"Time: 5 minutes, at tidy-up time
Day 306PlayThe two-cup hideSit facing your baby with one small toy and two identical plastic cups. Let them watch you put the toy under the left cup. Ask, "Where did it go?" and cheer when they find it.Time: 2 to 5 minutes
Day 307PlayThe game they startSit on the floor facing your baby and do nothing for a full minute. Watch for a move aimed at you: a clap, a hand over the eyes, a block held out, a raspberry.Time: Whenever it happens, a few minutes each time
Day 308MovementThe let-go secondStand your baby at the sofa on a rug, both hands on the cushion, and kneel behind them with your hands hovering at their ribs, not touching.Time: 2 minutes, once today
Day 309MovementThe two-hands walkOn a rug with nothing on it, stand your baby up facing you and take both their hands from above, their arms at shoulder height, not pulled up over their head.Time: 2 minutes, once or twice today
Day 310Sleep and careThe shoe fit checkIf your baby isn't walking outside yet, today's check is the box: close it, write the date on the lid, and leave it. Bare feet indoors.Time: 1 minute, if shoes have started; otherwise none
Day 311MovementThe both-sides watchSit your baby on the floor and hold a toy out to their left, at shoulder height, just past reach. Note which hand comes up.Time: 5 minutes, at two different times of day
Day 312FeedingThe family plateCook one meal. Before the salt goes in, take out a small portion for the baby.Time: Tonight's dinner
Day 313FeedingThe grape cutTake the grapes, cherry tomatoes, and hot dogs out of the fridge: round and firm, the shapes the AAP's list is about.Time: 5 minutes at the counter, no baby involved
Day 314FeedingThe first bottle to goLook at the bottle map, or make one now: every bottle of the day and when it happens. Circle the nap bottles and the bedtime one; the mealtime ones stay for now.Time: One decision today, then a week
Day 315FeedingThe three-cup trialBreakfast: a tablespoon or two of water in a small open cup. Hold it to the lips and tip just enough for a sip; let your baby's hands come onto it.Time: A few sips at each of three meals
Day 316FeedingThe milk planWrite the birthday week's date at the top. Under it, line one: what the main drink is until then (breast milk, formula, or both), unchanged.Time: 10 minutes with a pen
Day 317FeedingThe water-not-milk nightIf you haven't asked, stop here and write the question for the pediatrician: "Does this baby still need to eat at night, given their growth?". That's today's whole activity.Time: One night, or one sticky note
Day 318Sleep and careThe nap-to-bedtime mapDraw one line across a sheet of paper, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and tape it to the fridge.Time: 2 minutes, three times today, then a week
Day 319Sleep and careThe vacuum from your armsPick the loud thing your baby fears, parked and switched off, across the room. Sit with your baby on your lap and look at it together: "That's the vacuum. It's loud. It's off."Time: 2 to 3 minutes, once today
Day 320FamilyThe goodbye, same wordsWrite the ritual on an index card in three lines: the words ("Bye-bye! I'm going to work. Back after your nap."), the gesture (kiss, wave), and the rule (then go).Time: 5 minutes to write it, then every leaving
Day 321Sleep and careThe standing-reach sweepPick one room. Stand your baby at each piece of furniture they pull up on, your hands at their ribs, and watch where their fingers land: that's the new shelf.Time: 20 minutes, one room
Day 322Sleep and careThe window checkGo to every window your baby could reach from furniture: a sofa, a bed, a chair, a crib, a toy chest. Count them; the number is usually higher than you'd guess.Time: 15 minutes
Day 323Sleep and careThe pull-up testPut the baby on the floor with someone, or in the crib. Go to every piece they could pull up on: dressers, bookcases, the TV stand, the changing table, the nightstand.Time: 15 minutes, every room with furniture
Day 324Sleep and careThe outgrown checkFind the label on the side of the infant seat and write down its top weight and top height; those two numbers, not your baby's age, are what end the seat.Time: 10 minutes
Day 325PlayThe outside hourPick shade and a time outside the hottest part of the day. Hat on, sunscreen on the uncovered skin that's left, SPF 15 or higher.Time: About an hour, in the shade
Day 326Sleep and careThe fever cardOne index card, three rules. Rule one: thermometer, never a hand.Time: 10 minutes
Day 327Talking and readingThe TV-off eveningThe TV stays off from dinner through bedtime, including as background, and the phones go face-down in another room.Time: Dinner to bedtime, one evening
Day 328Sleep and careThe birthday-visit listQuestion one: "Which vaccine schedule do you follow, and what's due today?"Time: 15 minutes, both adults
Day 329FamilyEleven-month photo and letterTake the photo in the day-one spot: your baby standing with one of your fingers in each hand, or sitting, or on your hip. Whatever they do today is the pose.Time: 15 minutes
Day 330FamilyThe first-word videoPick the moment the sound usually comes: the cup, the dog, the door. Set the phone where it can see the baby's face and the thing.Time: 5 minutes, when the word is likely
Month 12 · 11 months · days 331 to 365
Day 331Sleep and careThe last-month listPrint or pull up both lists, the 1-year list and the 15-month list.Time: 10 minutes, both adults if you can
Day 332Talking and readingPat-a-cake, their turnSit facing your baby on the floor and sing one round the usual way, guiding their hands if they want it.Time: 2 minutes, a few times today
Day 333Talking and readingThe doorway waveEvery time anyone leaves a room or the house, stop at the doorway, wave, and name it: "Bye-bye, Daddy." Help your baby's hand wave too, if they want it.Time: 10 seconds, at every doorway today
Day 334Talking and readingThe name they chosePut a page on the fridge with a column for each person in the house, and one for the dog.Time: All day, one line at a time
Day 335Sleep and careThe swap, month twelveName the three things your baby grabbed most this week that they can't have: the phone, the remote, the plant.Time: 5 minutes to set up, then all day
Day 336PlayThe block and the cup, timedSix blocks on the rug, one wide plastic cup, your baby sitting. Start a one-minute timer on your phone, for fun.Time: 1 minute, three rounds
Day 337PlayHide-and-findSit on the floor with a favorite toy and a small blanket. Let your baby watch you slide the toy under, leaving a corner showing, and ask, "Where did it go?"Time: 5 minutes
Day 338MovementPush-and-carry walksFind a sturdy box with some weight in it, a diaper box with a few books inside, or a laundry basket with the laundry still in it. It should slide, not skid.Time: 5 minutes, a few times today
Day 339MovementThe one-hand walkStand your baby at the sofa, or on the grass, with the other adult a few feet away.Time: 2 minutes, once or twice today
Day 340FeedingThe held-cup sipA small open cup with an inch of water in it, your baby in the high chair, harness on, before the food.Time: 1 minute, at one meal today
Day 341Sleep and careThe barefoot-inside ruleShoes live by the door, on the outside of the rule. Inside, the baby goes barefoot, or in socks on carpet; on a slick floor, bare feet rather than socks, since nonskid is the point.Time: 2 minutes to agree, then it's the rule
Day 342MovementThe both-hands dayEvery handoff today, alternate the side: the cup from the left at breakfast, the spoon from the right, the block from the left, and so on. Don't steer the hand; just watch which one comes.Time: All day, one note at the end
Day 343FeedingThe same-plate dinnerCook what the family is eating. Before the salt goes in, set aside your baby's portion.Time: Tonight's dinner, no extra cooking
Day 344FeedingThe list reviewRead the not-before-1 list out loud, one of you reading, the other saying where each food is in your kitchen right now.Time: 10 minutes, both adults, after the baby is down
Day 345FeedingThe milk measurePour 8 ounces of water into the cup your baby drinks from. See how many of that cup make a day: 2 of them is 16 ounces, 3 is 24, the ceiling.Time: 5 minutes, with a measuring jug and water
Day 346FeedingThe bedtime bottle swapThe milk moves to dinner: the usual amount, in the high chair, from a cup you hold or a straw cup, while the family eats.Time: Tonight, if the pediatrician agreed at the 9-month visit or since; otherwise 2 minutes to write the question
Day 347FeedingThe iron plateBreakfast: iron-fortified oat or multigrain cereal, mashed with breast milk or formula, with a few small pieces of a vitamin C fruit beside it.Time: Three meals, no extra time
Day 348Sleep and careBook the dentistCall a pediatric dentist, or ask your pediatrician's office who they send one-year-olds to. The AAP's deadline is the first birthday, or within 6 months of the first tooth.Time: One phone call
Day 349Sleep and careThe routine, writtenWrite tonight's routine as a few short lines with a time beside each: bath, brush, book, the song, down awake.Time: 10 minutes, one index card
Day 350FamilyThe sitter's cardSide two, line one: the goodbye ritual, word for word, so the sitter hears the same thing you'll say at the door.Time: 10 minutes, the second side of yesterday's card
Day 351FamilyLaundry basket helperBasket on the floor, baby sitting beside it, the clean pile within your reach and not theirs. Drop one sock in yourself, slowly: "Sock. In the basket."Time: 5 minutes, during your own laundry
Day 352FamilyClean-up songPick one short song, eight bars at most, and decide it's the only clean-up song this house will ever have.Time: 2 to 5 minutes, before dinner and before bed
Day 353FamilyThe napkin carrierWith the table set except for one napkin and the stove still off, pick your baby up and hand them a cloth napkin: "Napkin for Mama."Time: 1 minute, before dinner
Day 354Talking and readingName the feelingPick the moment in advance: the end of the bath, the goodbye at the door, the block tower that falls. One moment, not all of them.Time: A moment, once today
Day 355Talking and readingAdd-a-word talkWait for a sound aimed at something: the cup, the dog, the door. Don't start the conversation; let them.Time: A few minutes, many times a day
Day 356Talking and readingPoint-and-name book timePick one sturdy book with clear pictures and sit so your baby can see your face and the page.Time: 5 to 10 minutes, once or twice a day
Day 357PlayBall roll and kickSit on the floor facing each other, legs apart, a soft ball between you. Push it slowly into their lap and say "Your turn."Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Day 358PlayOutdoor explore walkStroller to somewhere with grass or a bench, not for the whole walk; a strapped-in stroller ride is still strapped in.Time: 20 minutes or more, today and tomorrow and the day after
Day 359Sleep and careThe walking-height sweepKneel until your eyes are where your standing baby's eyes are, and look at what's reachable from there: the table edge, the second shelf, the windowsill, the cord behind the TV.Time: An hour, two adults, two halves of the house
Day 360Sleep and careThe rear-facing promiseFind the seat's label and read its rear-facing limits out loud: the top weight and the top height. Those two numbers are the only ones that end rear-facing.Time: 15 minutes, at the car
Day 361Sleep and careThe fever card, updatedCopy the front of last month's card as it stands: thermometer, the within-24-hours rules, the over-104°F line, dehydration.Time: 10 minutes
Day 362Sleep and careThe twelve-month listLine one: "Which schedule do you follow, and what's due today?"Time: 15 minutes, both adults
Day 363FamilyThe year letterLay the twelve monthly photos in a row, day one to the eleventh month, and write the firsts beside each in the order you remember them: the first smile, the first laugh, the first roll, the first bite, the first sit, the first stand, the first sound that meant something.Time: 30 minutes, with the photos
Day 364FamilyThe same-blanket photoFind the day-one blanket, or the closest thing to it, and spread it in the same spot, in the same light if you can.Time: 15 minutes, before the nap
Day 365FamilyThe first family job, for realOne toy, one open bin on the floor, and the same short clean-up song from now on. Sing it, drop a toy in yourself, and say "In!"Time: 5 minutes, before the cake
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