When my Penguin turned a big ONE. I was confused about where had the time gone. The mother in me was sleep-deprived, emotionally exhausted, crying over breastfeeding issues and suddenly my boy was one. I am not cliche but those days really felt unreal. I had a bucket list with Penguin when he turned one month old and soon it was filled with a long list. So, sharing here my bucket list as Penguin turned one. Some of them make lovely memories for a lifetime. 10 things to try before the baby turns one.
1 – Document each month and milestones
As a new mother, I was always exhausted. But at the end of 1st month, I realized that tiny human was indeed changing. He was getting muscles/fat over bones. His sleeping pattern was getting crazy. He would respond to the sound of the rattle and his grandparent’s voice. I started recording new events and milestones. Almost two years later those are the most precious memories for us. We had monthly photoshoots done at home.
2 – Introduce books
The first introduction was quite an unconscious way. My mother used to read the newspaper every afternoon. When Penguin was about 3 months old he started to respond to the flip of pages. He used to try to pull them and tear them. Taking that as a clue I introduced him to books during tummy time and soon he grew interested in books. According to studies, exposing babies to books in the first year is crucial to their intellectual and emotional growth.
3 – Exercise with baby
I gained 17 kilos during my pregnancy and with difficult breastfeeding experience, I forgot to take care of myself. 4 months after the baby I started babywearing and going regular walks twice a day. I started stretching twice a week or whenever time permits. Soon, I lost all pre-pregnancy weight with proper diet and exercise. I feel fitter now. Though I don’t have a flat tummy still I can run behind now a toddler all day. Exercise and get fitter now. Elsewhen once baby starts walking you might tire out easily.
4 – Photoshoot
Get a professional shoot done. Though you might be able to click those perfect Instagram pictures. Yet getting one done would be worthy. You might choose to do the shoot indoors or outdoors, during a party or a cake smash. We had a memorable cake smash too.
5 – Celebrate a festival with elders
In India, we celebrate a festival every now and then. As we stay in a nuclear setup, we wanted to celebrate at least one with the entire family and tam-jham. Luckily Penguin celebrated many functions with family during that year. Take lots of photos and videos of those get-togethers.
6 – Introduce Music
Introducing music to an infant is the easiest thing. Starting with rattles to kitchen vessels infant can create music and stay glued. Once infants can sit independently banging vessels would their favorite play. You can enjoy a personally curated rock concert. Just kidding!
7 – Vacation with baby
Go on a vacation with the baby. Till baby is under 6 months old and if exclusively breastfed, it’s the best time to travel without fussing over baby food. Later keep your baby food items handy and travel. See the places through the delighted eyes of a baby and relax. It is the best way to unwind.
8 – Solo flight with baby
If you feel adventurous take a solo flight with a baby. You can never forget that experience. I had a flight to remember and we thrived well.
9 – Introduce flavors of Sweet, sour, bitter and salty food
Generally, babies are introduced to solid food after 6 months. Some parents start with fruits others go with veggies. You might choose traditional weaning or baby-led weaning. We choose traditional weaning with fruits and moved to vegetables. Further, we tried introducing a variety of food with different tastes, texture, and nutrients. By end of 1st year, Penguin had tasted sweet apples, sour lemons, bitter turmeric, etc. However, we refrained from adding salt and sugar in his diet. Water was introduced after 6 months.
10 – Endless cuddles. Wear them.
By the end of the first year or little later babies would start walking. Soon they would love to run around and you would miss those chubby delicious cuddles. Spend time in cuddling them. If you like, try babywearing. It would allow you to do your daily work while wearing the baby. It eases your life.
What were your memorable events, milestones as the baby turned big ONE? Did you have any wishes as your kids officially turned toddlers?
I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter.
Image by esudroff from Pixabay
Such nice things to do with our cute little ones before they turn 1. I had spent a lot if time with her reading books, going for walks.
Thank you Jhilmil. We have many good memories of the walks we went to.
very nice tips, i have done almost all of these. Only thing i regret not doing is a maternity shoot!
I can surely understand that feeling.
You have sorted the list of well for parents to do before kids turn one. I am sharing with my bhabhi now.
Glad to hear that Amrit 🙂
God bless the little one. You are right that new mommies just forget to capture the true emotions of a child as they get busy with different chores but one should rather fully enjoy each phase.
That’s the intent. Time flies and kids grow up the first year, or rather every moment is special.
Penguin is such a cute nick name.. I think such points are worth noting as in the daily hustle, we tend to just focus on baby’s sleep and feeding.. But making the infant year memorable can be easily done by focusing on these..
Infancy passes quickly between sleepless nights and learning ways of parenting. Hope this post reminds parents to live the moments.
So many exciting things to do before baby turns one. Great way to making beautiful memories
The memories that we parents would relish for years. 🙂
I really loved your post buddy and glad dad i did try most of them with my kid when he was young 🙂
Yay! High-five on enjoying and making beautiful memories.
I too have done most the the things mentioned in the list; and my solo flight with her still me jitters when i think of it,LOL.
I could relate to that feeling of solo flight. I was scared before taking one.
hey thank you for sharing this wonderful tips one of my friend has recently become a mom for sure will share with her 🙂
That’s great Neha. Hope she makes lovely memories.
I have not noted month wise growth but yes …introduced music a lot to them..Lovely points
Thanks Ruchi.
Oh Wow! He is so cute and yes of course like Mumma, he is also fond of reading too. Nice post. Loved the ideas.
You post has reminded me, when angel turns one. I had done almost all the things which you had mentioned in the post. indeed first year of baby’s life is most special and we should try to treasure these sweet tiny moments for future.
You have created amazing memories with your little one.
Looking at these lovely pictures reminds me of how beautiful are the days when your little one is turning into toddlers and creating some special memories will always give you a chance to relive them again
Except for the professional photoshoot, I tried everything with both my kids before they turned one. This list makes me nostalgic about the time gone by
Lovely post. I have done all from celebrating to photos, babywearing to cuddles. except for solo flight. Though have traveled with him a lot in first year.
Solo flights were adventurous. The day before solo flights I felt like going for bungee jumping. Haha. Thanks for reading
I can completely relate to looking back and thinking, my baby is One! Where did time fly? Lol… love your ideas especially getting a photo shoot done.
Thank you Ankita. Glad you liked it.
This is such a useful list. I did 7 of those 10 things with my daughters before they turned one. I regret not introducing a lot of food textures to them early opn and the consequences went on for loooong.
I learnt about food texture when I saw my cousins struggle. So, I wanted to get it done early. Thanks for reading Shalu.
There are a few things that I still ahevnt done even when my kids are 2.5. Photos hoot and memory books are on my list now.
I am sure you much have clicked a thousand pictures when twins were One. Milestone pictures are just another memories, Charu. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
a very cute post Gunjan. It took me back to my first year with babyT. I wish I had taken more pics and recorded more milestones.
No amount of pictures make us feel enough for first year. Thanks for appreciation Tara. I am known as Pragnya, though Gunjan is also a nice name. 😉
haha Im so sorry Pragnya. I think I was reading blogs back to back.
Haha. That’s okay. Happens to me often.
Except for the photoshoot, I pretty much did everything with both of my kids during their first year. Thanks for writing these down. It’ll help a lot of new mommies.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for reading Surbhi 🙂
Same here when you are first time mom, you got to do a those above mentioned things as you feel your kids memories should not get missed out. I love all those pics which we saved as memories…
Sneha, aren’t those pics one of the best memories? Thanks of reading dear.
Such a beautiful and heartfelt post, loved reading about the memories you created. We used to celebrate our son’s birthday every month, decorate the house and cut the cake and then take loads of pictures. Those were the wonderful days, it was something we used to do to bring some joy and fun to celebrate parenthood.
Oh wow! You took an effort to celebrate each month. Those days were real fun and marked parenthood survivals 😉
Totally agree with you and these are really amazing tips! thanks for this post.
Thanks for reading Zainab!
These are such precious moments with the baby before he/she turns 1, Pragnya!
And I’m glad that we had all of these with our baby before she turned 1.
Glad you enjoyed all, Ashvini, as baby turned one. Thanks for stopping by.
These are wonderful tips! I agree that celebrating festivals, going on walks etc. are great activities that can help you bond with the baby.
Thanks a bunch Neha!
Wow that’s a good big list and I am happy I have done all of it..solo flight was most challenging as it was international one.and 8 hours delay
Oh dear flight delays are the worst. Hope you managed it well. Traveling with infants and kids are challenging. Thanks for stopping by.
I think I did not do the first one, and I wished I had done it 🙁 and of course introducing books to babies is the easiest because they are so curious about everything 🙂
True Veena. Little and curious human accepted books easily.
One is big number is sent baby’s. Life do as for parents. The first year is filled with so many things that moves around the new born. Taking time out as a family, relaxing with the baby and celebrating every moment is very important.
#MothersGurukulreads #Myfriendalexa
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Alpana.
The kids growing phase is always something to cherish with. I still remember, my son was born a bit sooner than expected, and I was on travel. No one wants to send his picture saying it’s not good for baby 🙂
Had to fly back after 14 days to see his face! Memorable moments.
Now, things are completely different,
The wait to see first glance of your own child after waiting for 9 months and the unexpected 14 days must be tough. And the moment you met your son must be one of the most beautiful moment of your life. True, time has changed so much.
Yes, a beautiful moment, and memorable. I received the call about his birth when I was at the top of the Eiffel Tower! So, very very memorable!!!