10 Healthy Habits To Teach A Baby

A year ago I was at Target with Laila and she was so small, she was still in her little carseat as I pushed her around the store. A woman came up to me and said, “Enjoy this! They grow so fast!” I had heard this phrase {what seemed to be a million times already} and smiled and said, “Oh I am enjoying EVERY minute!”

With a blink of an eye, my little newborn baby who was in her little carseat, was suddenly climbing on the cupboards, emptying every drawer in sight, crawling up the stairs and blowing kisses to every person she could see. I couldn’t BELIEVE how fast the time was going. It was going almost TOO fast!

I noticed Laila was picking up on things that I never even taught her! At first I thought, oh it must be an instinct and babies just KNOW what to do – but then I realized, NO! She is learning these things from ME! For 14 months, she has been watching every step that I have made. To this day, she watches me do the dishes and clean our kitchen. She watches me sweep and mop. She watches me text and blog. She watches me brush my teeth and do my hair. She watches how I eat and how I act. Through watching and observing, she has learned a lot about life.

The woman at Target was right! Our babies grow so quickly – NOW is the time to teach them! NOW is the time to show them love! NOW is the time to create healthy habits.

Today I want to share with you 10 HEALTHY HABITS TO TEACH A BABY! When our babies are just little, we can start teaching them good habits, so by the time they are toddlers and kids – they will be healthy and happy!

1) DIET: How important is it for our children to eat healthy?! As adults when we are trying to lose weight they always say, “It is ALL in your diet!” At a young age, make sure they recognize healthy foods and the importance of eating right. Well balanced meals and small healthy snacks are a perfect way to get them to love fruits and veggies. Don’t forget that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but the most forgotten.

2) BRUSH TEETH: We bought Laila her first toothbrush and toothpaste a few months ago and she absolutely LOVES it! We are pretty sure she is going to be a dentist when she grows up. She is a very independent girl, so the second I gave her a toothbrush – she wanted it herself. I thought she would just hold it or put it in her mouth, but no! She was putting it in and out of her mouth as if she had brushed her teeth every day of her life! She had been watching us do it every day of her life – so she knew what to do! Get your baby a little toothbrush and baby friendly toothpaste. Not only will they probably love it – it is an awesome habit!

3) GO OUTSIDE: Be active! We love to go outside and I encourage you to get your babies in the habit of it. They love the fresh air and warmth of the sun! Go to the park – go for a walk – go run errands – go visit a friend. Get out of the house. Not only is this healthy for the babies, but it is healthy for YOU! Get into the habit of being active and seeing the world!

4) READ BOOKS: I have to admit that I am not much of a reader myself, but I do know that it is a VERY good habit to get our children into. They can learn so much from reading and will help them as they enter into preschool and Kindergarten! Set aside some time for reading each day. Not only is it quiet time, but it is a fun cuddle time too. Point out pictures and what things are – you will be surprised how much they will learn! Laila loves this book that has fish in it. Every page I turn she points to the fish and says, “ISSHHH!!” Take the time with your baby to read, you won’t regret it.

5) WASH HANDS: Laila crawls – EVERYWHERE! So you can only imagine how dirty she gets! We have made it a habit to wash our hands every time we come inside from playing and after dinner when she is a mess. She has learned now when we say, “wash your hands” she puts her hands under the water. She also knows when we put soap on them how to put them together and scrub. Kids get dirty at all ages – so this is an important one to remember no matter how old your kids are!

6) BE SOCIAL: We aren’t the perfect examples of this. In fact lately we have been calling Laila, Angelica, like the girl from the show Rugrats because she likes to take charge and steal toys. HA! BUT I promise we are learning and TRYING to teach her good social skills. It is important to have play dates and to have your baby interact with other babies and children. They can learn a lot from each other and the habit of being with other people is always a good thing. Start the play dates young – I know they will love it!

7) LISTEN TO MUSIC: We ALWAYS have music on. Music can really affect how you feel, even babies. Turn on some light music as you play or even turn up the volume with some fun music and have a dance party! {We have those OFTEN at our house… almost daily.} Music can bring peace into your home and make you feel alive! Babies love to get their wiggles out and have some fun. Music is the perfect way to do so!

8) DRINK WATER: Tiny and new babies don’t need water – in fact, I have heard you aren’t supposed to have them drink water until they are six months old. {I am not a doctor, but this is what they say here} BUT water is super healthy and good for you! Get your baby into the habit of drinking water now, so when they are older they will like it too! I know this is something that even I need to work on, for myself!

9) TRY NEW THINGS: Often times we get into routines, which is fine, but it is fun for babies to have new experiences. I’m not talking about anything too crazy – but pull out the color crayons and coloring books. Teach them to love drawing. Pull out a puzzle or blocks – teach them to love building. Pull out a ball and have them catch – teach them to love sports. It is fun to try new things and to find new talents! I say, try it all and see what they enjoy and are good at! You never know until you try, right?!

10) ENJOY LIFE: Always remember your baby and children are watching you. Even as an adult – I STILL watch my mom! If you are happy, they will learn to be happy. Have fun! Make memories! Show love to each other! And ENJOY life. Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Life is to be ENJOYED, not just endured.”

This list might be overbearing. As moms, we have so many responsibilities and feel like we can’t teach our kids everything. Here is my suggestion: Choose one and focus on it. For example, if you want to teach your baby the good habit of reading, set aside time each day and read together. Their love for books will grow as they get to spend time with you, hear you voice and look at pictures.

I know that our children are ALWAYS watching us. By teaching them as babies these healthy habits, they will have the opportunity to grow into happy toddlers and kids!

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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

April 3, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 9 Comments