It was cute when your baby first started using his fingers to eat on his own and consequently

y ended up getting food on his face, in his hair, and even in a little circle on the floor around his high chair. But once your little ones reached toddlerhood, and beyond, you're ready for a change. This part of his early childhood development may seem like it will never come but it will! By age 2, your child has the motor skills to use a utensil and drink from a cup using one hand. Thats not to say your attempts at civilized mealtime will always go smoothly: Even if your child likes the idea of using a grown-up fork and spoon, he might sometimes be too hungry or tired to feel like bothering. Here are some tips to help keep your child on track: Lead by example. You might not always be able to eat with your child, but share meals as often as possible so she can watch how you eat with a utensil. It wont be long before she will want to try to copy you. Be consistent. Give your child utensils at every meal once shes developed the skills to use them, even if she isnt interested in using them yet. Over time, shell start to get the idea that this is just how big people eat. Dont force it. On the days when shes just not interested in her spoon or fork, dont pick a battle. Fighting with your child over this issue will just cause a power struggle and make mealtime unhappy for everyone. Be patient and stick with the routine. Before you know it, youll have a proper and pleasant dining companion at the dinner table!

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Share with friends By Margaret Freda Ed.D., R.N., C.H.E.S., F.A.A.N.

Meet our authors

"I've been a professional nurse working with pregnant women and parenting families since 1966," says Margaret Comerford Freda. "Pregnant women and parents need to know as much as possible about their own health and that of their children." Margaret Comerford Freda, Ed.D., R.N., C.H.E.S., F.A.A.N., is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics &; Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, and also serves as Director of Patient Education Programs for that department. Since 1993, Dr. Freda has been the

Consultant for Nursing at the National March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and the Chair of the National March of Dimes Nurse Advisory Council. In addition, Dr. Freda serves as the editor of MCN, The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. Dr. Freda received her Master's Degree in Nursing from New York University and her doctorate in Health Education from Columbia University. She has worked in women's health for her entire professional career. Dr. Freda has published 50 research articles in professional journals, and is a frequently invited speaker at nursing and medical conferences. She has written two books: Perinatal Patient Education, published by Lippincott Williams &; Wilkins, andMiscarriage After Infertility, published by Fairview Press, written with her daughter Carrie Semelsberger, who is also a nurse. Dr. Freda has received several noteworthy awards, such as the Distinguished Professional Service Award and the First National Award for Excellence in Nursing Research from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the Woman of Distinction Award and the Maternal Child Nurse of the Year Award from the March of Dimes, the Patient Care Award for Excellence in Patient Education from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Research Recognition Award from Molloy College, and several Outstanding Research Paper awards at national conferences. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Council for the March of Dimes, and was selected to serve on the Select Panel of the Centers for Disease Control to advise on prenatal health. Dr. Freda has developed patient education booklets and videotapes that are now distributed nationally. Dr. Freda has been married for four decades. She has two daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandsons, and a granddaughter. "Stay rested." That's wonderful advice for your nine-month journey, but it's easier said than done for some women. A growing belly, an active baby, and hormonal changes can make it tough to fall asleep and stay there. Here are some commonpregnancy sleep disruptions and techniques for dealing with them. Tossing and Turning Frequent Urination Your Baby's Activity Sleep-Easy Tips

Tossing and Turning One of the most common sleep complaints during pregnancy, especially in the third

trimester, is finding a comfortable position to sleep in. Try lying on your side with a pillow between your knees for lower-back support. You can also buy a body pillow, which can be molded along the length of your body, offering support where you need it most. Some women find relief by sleeping in a slightly reclined position with lots of pillows behind and around them. Frequent Urination The farther you get into your pregnancy, the more often you will have to urinate, and nighttime probably will be no exception. The need to urinate increases as your growing uterus compresses your bladder. You don't want to cut back on fluids during the day, but you might try to limit drinking just before bedtime. In most cases, frequent urination is just a symptom of being pregnant. But you should be aware that urinary tract infections (UTIs) also have this effect. Frequency isn't the only symptom of a UTI: You may feel that you must urinate right away (called "urgency") and feel pain or burning during the process. If you experience symptoms other than frequency, contact your health care provider. He will probably test your urine to see if you have a bacterial infection. Your Baby's Activity Some women are awakened by the baby's movements during the night. There's not really anything you can do about this, nor would you want to: A moving baby is usually a healthy baby. When babies stop moving or slow down, we become concerned about their health. So while this may be frustrating for you, it is actually a sign of your little one's good health! If your baby is keeping you awake at night, you can try to get some sleep during the day. Even a short nap can help you feel refreshed. Sleep-Easy Tips Here are some other ways to get a good night's sleep:
o

Cut out all caffeine in your diet.

Get some exercise each day. Studies show that regular exercise promotes better sleep. Walking is a great choice for pregnant women. For more information on exercising during pregnancy, see Get Moving!.

Try drinking a glass of warm milk just before bedtime.

Finally, do not take any over-the-counter medications or herbal preparations to help you sleep. Always check with your doctor before treating a symptom on your own.

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There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally." Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies. Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists

Now is when wariness of strangers and separation anxiety will really start kicking in. In a way, it's good news: Being worried about strangers signals that your baby has made a big leap in thinking and understanding. So try to keep any unnecessary separations and disruptions to a minimum at this time. You don't need to overprotect your baby, but you do need to realize that he's going through a major, demanding development spurt. It's important to give him time and space to process strangers. That said, don't shy away from letting your babymeet new people just warn them that they shouldn't pick him up until he's had a chance to look them over and lose his initial wariness. When it comes to separations, be sure to prepare your baby whenever you go away. At this age, he won't really understand what you're saying, but he will read your tone of voice and your body language. Develop a short good-bye routine that he can count on. Be firm, and don't be apologetic about leaving. At first, leave your baby for brief periods with someone he knows. When you come back, let him know you're there. Then gradually increase the time you're apart. This stage will pass, but it can be pretty heartbreaking. Rest assured that all babies have to go through it. Have a question about how you and your baby should handle separation anxiety?See if it's been answered by our experts.

Elaine Zwelling, R.N., Ph.D., has been involved in maternal-newborn health care for 40 years. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Capital University and a master's degree in nursing and a Ph.D. in Family Relations and Human Development from Ohio State University. Dr. Zwelling brings to the Pampers Parenting Network her experience of

helping expectant parents enjoy their pregnancy, plan and create a positive birth experience, and learn about parenting their newborn baby. She is certified by Lamaze International as a childbirth educator, is a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators, and has taught childbirth classes for 25 years. Dr. Zwelling was the director and faculty for the Lamaze International Childbirth Educator Certification Program of Florida; in that role she prepared many nurses to become childbirth educators. Dr. Zwelling was a Professor of Maternal-Newborn Nursing for 23 years at both Capital University and Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. At these institutions she taught undergraduate and graduate students and conducted research. For eight years she was a Senior Consultant with Phillips &; Fenwick, a women's health consulting firm in Santa Cruz, California, specializing in helping hospitals implement family-centered maternity care. Currently Dr. Zwelling is a Perinatal Nurse Consultant with the Hill-Rom Company. In this position, she provides comprehensive support and consultation to hospital maternity units to create quality care environments equipped with the appropriate equipment for labor and birth and provides clinical education for nursing staff. Dr. Zwelling is the co-author of a maternal-newborn nursing textbook,Maternal-Newborn Nursing: Theory and Practice, and has published many professional journal articles related to maternal-newborn health care, family-centered maternity care, and childbirth education. Dr. Zwelling is a recognized speaker at professional conferences and teaches continuing education seminars for childbirth educators and perinatal nurses throughout the country. Dr. Zwelling resides in Sarasota, Florida, and has a grown son, lovely daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

As the "birth day" of your baby approaches, it's a good idea to pack items to take to the hospital that will make the experience easier, more comfortable, and more meaningful. These items should be ready to go about two weeks before your due date. Here are a few suggestions: For Mom For Partner To Make Birth a Celebration For Baby

For Mom

Two bed pillows with favorite cases Lotion or massage oil

Warm socks Toothpaste and mouthwash Lollipops for dry mouth Chapstick or lip gloss Paper fan Soothing picture for focal point Wooden back massager Nightgown(s) that opens in the front for nursing Robe and slippers Shawl or sweater to put over hospital gown for nursing Panties and nursing bras Comfortable clothes to wear home Toiletries and cosmetics For Partner

Insurance information Snacks for labor Phone numbers and change or a phone card or cell phone Reference handouts from childbirth class Change of clothing Toiletries To Make Birth a Celebration

Potpourri to scent the room Music tapes / CDs for labor, birth, and nursing the baby; tape / CD player Camera and film for birth / baby photos For Baby

Going home clothes, including a hat, and blanket Car seat already installed in the back seat of the car

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