https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:10:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920745 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:21:14 +0000 Smurfette 1920745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: yes I forgot! R loves to help me unload the dishwasher. I have to be careful one day she was carrying a plate across the kitchen. Luckily she didn't drop it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920674 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:01:40 +0000 Adira 1920674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Ummm... I don't know! :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920671 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:59:44 +0000 Smurfette 1920671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: doesn't day care work on these things with him?</p> <p>R can wash her hands, well her version, we help her. But she can wipe her mouth and then dry them off. We are working on an open cup at home after brushing her teeth, with water in a dixie cup. She also does it once a day at day care. She is great with a spoon and fork, still chooses her hands most of the time. She brushes her teeth, but mostly it is her sucking on the water/toothpaste. </p> <p>She can take off her shoes and socks but that is all. She can't dress herself otherwise. She knows to hold her arm up to put in the sleeve, but that is all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920659 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:55:42 +0000 Adira 1920659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: Xander's behind too! He can feed himself just fine and use both spoon and fork (although sometimes he ignores the fork), but dressing himself?? Washing his hands?? Ooops - I hadn't even practiced these things with him!</p> <p>He can take off his socks and he knows the gist of how to take off his shoes, but needs help. Needs help taking off his jacket and most of his clothes. And can't put anything on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920635 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:47:55 +0000 avivoca 1920635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From reading this thread, we've started having her brush her teeth when we brush ours (I brush them properly after), having her help clean up her toys while we sing the clean up song, and she hands me things out of the dishwasher sometimes. She tries to brush her hair now, but she can't get the tangles out so I go after and get them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920633 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:47:02 +0000 illumina 1920633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: we have had to ban LO from "helping" with the recycling because she just goes straight for the empty milk bottles and runs off with them around the house ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920624 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:44:55 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 1920624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsH: Hahaha, that was my first thought too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920609 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:39:38 +0000 illumina 1920609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good thread :) At 13.5 months, LO helps with putting out the laundry and putting it away. She also brushes her teeth (though we do it properly afterwards) and we're starting to work on tidying her toys away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920161 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:36:14 +0000 MapleMoose 1920161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 12 months and she helps unload the bottom rack of the dishwasher (hands us the clean dishes), gets her shoes/bib when we ask, carries her toys from room to room, selects books for us to read and turns pages and points out things, moves her highchair (on wheels) out when we tell her it's time to eat and pushes it back against the wall after eating, self-feeds with hands and spoon, drinks from open/sippy/straw cups, brushes her hair, puts her hands under the water and dries them on a towel, points to what shirt and pants she wants to wear in the morning, takes off her shoes/slippers and socks, hands us items that we point to and ask "can I have xyz?", feeds treats to the dog, started mimicking the hand signals we use with the dog and directs these towards the dog. We ask if she wants to help us do something and she gets so excited! My mom watches her once a week and has LO help unload the dishwasher, sort clean laundry for folding (although LO prefers to unfold clothes), etc. My LO has never been a napper and has low sleep needs so l wouldn't get anything done during the day if I didn't find ways for LO to participate in tasks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1920070 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:20:45 +0000 MrsH 1920070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I need to work on my parenting skills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919858 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:32:03 +0000 LuLu Mom 1919858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 25 months and although she can do most things on the lists, she in a phase where prefers to have people do it for her. She tends to get very upset if things don't' go right immediately, and gets frustrated (that comes from daddy.) So we are working on in, she's very independent always has been "I DO IT MOMMY" is a frequent phrase but it's usually followed up 10 seconds later with "I CAN'T DO IT, MOMMY DO IT NOW." it's a bad cycle we are in, but we are working on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919824 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:11:10 +0000 autumnlove 1919824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO 2 is 18 months and she likes to brush her teeth and hair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919823 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:11:09 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1919823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo attempts to brush his teeth ehile i brush mine (i help after). He also tries to brush his hair. He puts his dirty clothes in the basket, and knows where to go for various things so i dont have to carry him. He also has to help clean up when his independent playtime is over and he is getting much better at it (he still needs specific instruction from me..."put the truck on this box" not just "clean up!") He cant dress or undress yet, so thats really it for us. I think mostly you can just teach them and push them a little at a time when you see the things they are capable of and interested in. My lo is 20 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919814 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:08:11 +0000 fairy 1919814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried a lot of these with a doll so that it was both self-care and doll-care/care for others haha. She will wipe her own face with a wipe and wipe her doll's face, and also wipe up her tray when she is finished. She will put things away, but only if asked to (guessing it will be like that for a long time :wink: ), and attempts to brush her own hair and teeth (I brush her teeth first and then she gets to try, and rinse the brush off), and will wash her hands with help. I let her try and pick out an outfit from her closet, but she usually just picks up the first thing she sees. She will lift her legs for me to put her pants on and cooperate like that, but doesn't dress herself yet. And she can use utensils but isn't that good with them yet so she usually just uses her hands. And open cup is a no-go so far haha she always spills it down her face. I shower with her and she will sometimes scrub my leg after I wash her, haha, so I think she likes the "care" stuff. Thanks for the list! (my dd is 16 months btw) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919807 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:06:04 +0000 Raindrop 1919807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow I totally suck at teaching self care it seems. LO is almost 3 and barely knows half of what he should know. Jeez. *Sadly walks away* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919793 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:02:10 +0000 blackbird 1919793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E looooves to dress herself and has been since she was about a year old. She'll try to "brush" my or her hair, put on pants, etc. She will mostly just lift her legs b/c she knows that's the next step and she's obsessed with shoes. Also likes to "brush" aka chew on her own toothbrush </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919777 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:54:04 +0000 cmomma17 1919777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, my LO is a little behind on self care it seems! He's 18 months and has mastered anything eating related, lol, but that's it! He can "clean" which is whipping a rag around, can throw trash away (and sometimes things that aren't trash!) and he likes to pretend to brush his hair. But dressing himself? Washing his face? Not even close! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919761 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:45:06 +0000 .twist. 1919761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been trying a few things with L, but have been getting fickle results. lol. </p> <p>Sometimes he likes to put his shoes away, other times he doesn't give a crap and he'll leave them where they lie. </p> <p>I keep trying though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1919755 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:42:16 +0000 daniellemybelle 1919755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: We are in about the same spot I think! DH has started trying to get her to help him recycle but she tries to drink from the empty cans haha! :shocked: </p> <p>@sera_87: That's awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1916051 Sat, 25 Oct 2014 22:36:05 +0000 sera_87 1916051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 26 months he can do pretty much everything on that list (excluding the 3-4yr stuff). He was doing most of the things listed from the age of 15 months or so. </p> <p>ETA: he can also put on his own shoes and blow his nose with a tissue (and then put that tissue in the garbage). Oh and if you ask him to fetch you something he will get it for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1916047 Sat, 25 Oct 2014 22:23:06 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1916047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much! She's 13 months &amp; attempts to dress herself but is in no way good at it lol she "brushes" her own teeth &amp; can follow a few directions. Maybe I'll start trying to get her to clean herself up after meals like the list suggested! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-self-care-dodid-you-start-at-12-18-months#post-1916035 Sat, 25 Oct 2014 22:04:31 +0000 daniellemybelle 1916035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO (12 mo) is astounding me with her independence in just the past couple weeks! She is very into dressing herself recently &amp; I found her putting a skirt on today :heart: She is pretty good at putting on shoes believe it or not! She fed herself dinner with a plastic spoon tonight. </p> <p>So I feel like now is a good time to start practicing some things like putting her shoes in the same place, washing hands, etc. I found a list online that was helpful: <a href="http://www.positiveparentingconnection.net/giant-list-of-self-care-skills-for-babiestoddlers-and-preschoolers/" rel="nofollow">http://www.positiveparentingconnection.net/giant-list-of-self-care-skills-for-babiestoddlers-and-preschoolers/</a></p> <p>What do or did you do with your LO at this age? </p>