The Mom I Want to Be

 

Bubbles are the next best thing to singing when it comes to cheering up a fussy baby. Blow them within reach of your seated baby so she can bat at them; say “pop” when they burst as they hit the ground. Later, your baby will try to “catch” them, and later still she’ll want to blow them herself (good training for blowing on hot food). Even if your baby just sits and watches the bubbles cascade down around her, she’s getting a good visual “tracking” workout–essential for reading skills later on. Hint: Bubbles are inexpensive enough to buy several bottles. Keep one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, one in the backyard, and one in the stroller to pull out at the beach or playground.