You've been a new parent for 48 weeks! 👏

Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, RN, CCRN, CPN & Adda Bjarnadóttir, MS, LN

Month 11: We declare this…

As your baby graduates to become a more independent toddler, you’ll be able to focus more on some things you want to do. Go ahead. Get nuts. Declare this next year to be the Year of You!

To do: Create some goals for yourself

Give yourself the time and space to really think about what you want to do as your baby gets older. I mean, let's be real — your baby is still going to need you a ton, but there’s a definite difference between the needs of a newborn and a toddler. Spend some time thinking about your needs and interests.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Your hobbies

Are there hobbies you've been neglecting during this first year of your baby's life? Maybe you love painting, but haven't had the time to focus on it. Or maybe you miss those hikes you used to go on with friends. Whatever it is, see if you can set a goal to dedicate a certain amount of time per month to your interests.

New skills

Is there something you've been dying to try? Maybe you wanted to learn a new language, take a cooking class, or start kayaking. Whatever it is, give it a shot.

Health goals

Health goals for your whole family are great, but what about for you? Do you want to lead a more mindful life? Take up kickboxing? Cut down on how much sugar you eat? Making your own health a priority is one of the most important goals you can set for yourself, so get to it!

Little goals

Goals don't have to be huge to have an impact. Maybe you want to be a bit more social or keep your desk tidier. Don't assume that a small change isn't worth making. In fact, they can be a lot easier to stick to.

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Eat

Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins. Make a batch of these and store them in the freezer. You'll thank yourself later.

Turkey Taco Lunch Bowls. You can prep this high-protein lunch ahead of time and have it ready to bring to work the next day.

Asian Salmon and Sweet Potato Bake. This easy dish has lots of healthy omega-3s, thanks to the salmon.

Drink

Electrolyte-rich drinks. Tired of drinking plain water? Enjoy one of these refreshing beverages.

Shop

A wall planner. If looking at a visual representation of your goals is your happy place, these wall planners on Etsy will make your day. You can choose a yearly planner or one of the smaller, specific goal planners.

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Your baby at 48 weeks

At this point, your baby is beginning to understand the idea of parallel play — playing next to someone else. That means that it's a great time to introduce them to playdates with other babies. They won't really understand the concept of making friends just yet, but it will help them begin to learn how to interact socially with others, which is super important. Bonus for you — having another parent to talk to during the playdate.

Your baby is still chatting up a storm and you should keep right on chatting with them. Your little babbler may not make much sense yet, but you’ll notice a pattern to their sentences. The more you respond and engage them in conversation, the quicker they'll learn.