Parents love the baby no matter whom he or she takes after. Babies are adorable, innocent, and cute; however, their brains are like a sponge; soaking up everything they see and hear. Therefore, just like adults, they can develop both good and bad habits along the way. Babies’ habits are not as clear-cut as many people would like to believe. It is difficult to determine which traits develop from nurturing and which are genetically hardwired.
For example, the little one may have a goofy sense of humor, quirky facial expressions, erratic sleep patterns, or meltdowns when someone else holds him or her. Interestingly, studies have shown that members of the same family often use the same peculiar facial expressions to express sadness, anger, concentration, and joy. By the time a baby is a few months old, these distinct expressions usually appear. In fact, according to a recent Israeli study, even people who were born blind made signature looks that closely resembled those of their family members.
Therefore, before a mom or dad gets irritated or laughs because of something his or her baby has done, he or she should take a good, long look in the mirror. The subject of nurture versus nature continues to draw a wide range of views.
The little one can let go of any bad habit by age one if he or she is responsive early on, which is great. No matter whom a baby resembles or takes after, nature and nurture can work together. Everyone wants to be a positive parent and raise well-adjusted, happy kids. Some of the habits parents should encourage include the following.
25 Sleeping On Time
Certain routines add up to a nurturing, calm, and predictable environment for babies. Bath time routines and sleep time lullabies, for example, can help kids develop healthy sleeping habits. Developing good sleeping habits and routines can help little ones gain a sense of inner calm and learn the rhythm of the day.
Babies easily pick up on their parents’ habits by imitating their actions and behavior. Sleeping is very crucial to a growing infant, and if one has a habit of sleeping late or sleeping for a few hours, one’s baby will easily follow suit. It is important for moms to instill good sleeping habits into their kids, even if they are too young to understand. Babies learn as they grow. Whether or not you are ready to go to sleep, you should help your baby sleep at the same time every day. This will instill a healthy sleeping habit, which will also help with the baby’s proper development.
24 Not Skipping Meals
Moms and dads should also instill a routine of regular mealtime from the time the baby starts weaning. This lets the baby grow up knowing that he or she should have three meals a day without skipping. By doing so, children will keep to this good habit even when they are older. Just like good sleeping routines, a routine of regular mealtime helps tremendously when it comes to a baby’s growth and development.
However, if you are busy with work and often skip your meals, your baby will also feel less inclined to eat. Babies grow up watching their parents’ actions and act based on what they deem to be normal. It is important for children to have regular meals because they are growing. They need to keep their metabolism active in order to have lots of energy to play.
23 Eating Healthy
As a parent, you can instill the habit of eating regular meals; however, if your child is not eating healthy food, his or her proper development will have some challenges. When a baby starts weaning, it is important for parents to ensure his or her meals have the ideal nutritional value.
You will have a difficult time convincing your little one to eat healthy food if your regular diet consists mainly of junk food. Like most children, I bet your child loves sharing your food. Kids are more likely to eat healthy food if they see grownups, especially their parents, doing the same. It is a 'baby see, baby do' kind of thing. If possible, make his or her food colorful and enticing. Eventually, this habit will have an impact on their meal choices even when they are adults.
22 Drinking Water After Meals
Babies older than six months need plenty of water to stay hydrated and healthy. It can be a challenge to get a child to drink enough water because he or she may prefer the sweet taste of juices, flavored milk, or yogurts to the plain taste of water. A habit they could have picked up from their parents.
If you regularly drink a glass of water after all your meals, your child will easily pick up on that habit. Essentially, children are more likely to follow suit when parents model healthy habits. On the other hand, if your little one is resistant to drinking plain water, you can put flavor enhancers like cucumbers slices in the water. Giving your baby processed drinks like sodas, however, is strongly discouraged.
21 Being Thankful Before Meals
For some moms and dads, it is important to teach their kids the importance of prayer. They might not yet understand the concept of prayer, but if they see their parents doing it, they will pick up the habit. You can begin to teach your child and talk about prayer even before he or she can speak in coherent sentences.
When your child sees you pray, he or she will begin to see it as an important thing that adults do, and, over time, your child will learn to pray on his or her own. Parents can start by teaching their kids a simple prayer for them to recite before meals and before they go to bed at night. If children practice this habit at a young age, they will continue with it into adulthood.
20 Being A Good Role Model
Babies form a strong attachment to their moms and dads from a very tender age. This attachment develops over time when they see their moms attending to their needs, soothing them, and just taking care of them in general. As they grow older, kids look up to their parents a lot.
Children learn most things by watching their parents’ behavior and habits. The way you act and the kind of model you offer will develop your child’s moral reasoning, empathy, and habits. Hence, it is important for parents to demonstrate the kind of habits and behavior they would like their kids to pick up.
19 Picky Eating
If you are a picky eater, chances are your baby will pick up on that habit. Mealtime should be one of the most important times of your child’s day. You should provide a comfortable and fun atmosphere during mealtime so that the child eats while relaxed.
Some children, for example, will refuse to eat certain foods because of the new tastes and textures they are experiencing. Picky eating can also be because of what mom was eating while pregnant. It is common for kids to react to certain foods negatively; therefore, you should ensure you offer a variety of option with every meal, and, just as important, you need to avoid picky eating as well.
18 Reading Every Day
Babies and toddlers are not old enough to read books but parents can do it for them. Parents should read out bedtime stories to their kids every night, which helps them pick up on good reading habits. The best time to begin reading to your kids is when they reach the age of 6 months. You should choose books with colorful pictures that will make reading a treat for your kids.
If done on a regular basis, this habit will help build your child’s vocabulary, reading skills, and self-esteem, as well as develop his or her imagination. It will also help improve their language command and communication skills.
17 Being Firm
Being firm is a habit a baby can pick from her mom at a tender age. Sometimes, toddlers develop bad habits when they are in certain social settings. They will either throw a tantrum for not getting what they want or display inappropriate behavior. When this happens, parents should be firm in order to help them understand why they should not behave in such a way.
If they repeat the bad habit, parents should repeat the same teaching procedure until the toddler learns and understands that what they are doing is wrong. It is also important to help your child understand the consequences of his or her behavior.
16 Cleaning Up Their Own Mess
You may be the type of parent who would prefer to do it yourself, other than take the time to teach your children to clean. Unfortunately, that type of attitude is wrong. In addition to saving your kids from becoming outright slobs, teaching them how to clean properly offers a great opportunity to instill in them other valuable life lessons.
In addition, by watching you clean up, your little one will be able to learn how to do it quickly. Other than saving parents from the frustration of cleaning up after them, cleaning helps kids develop their attention span and problem-solving skills.
15 Having Good Communication Skills
The capacity to communicate is the desire and ability to connect with other people by exchanging feelings and ideas, both non-verbally and verbally. Most kids learn to communicate in order to maintain interaction with their parents and other adults or get their needs met. From birth, babies communicate through gestures, facial expressions, and sounds.
You can help your baby continue to develop his or her communication skills when you respond to his or her efforts to tell you what he or she wants. You can demonstrate good communication skills by responding to your baby’s gestures and sounds, talking, listening, reading to them, and narrating to them what they are doing at all times. By doing so, your child will learn the language and improve his communication skills and understanding.
14 Being Courteous
Have you ever had to explain to others how your little angel has many great characters and is usually not rude and abusive? If you have, then you how heartbreaking it is. It can make you wonder where you went wrong. Fortunately, it is never too early to start teaching your child good and courteous habits. You should start by teaching your children how to say words like please, sorry, thank you, and welcome, when appropriate.
In addition, when they hear you being courteous and using such words, they can easily learn and pick up from you. The learning will take a lot of practice, but once they learn, you will not have to remind them to say thank you when they are given something or say sorry when they have done something wrong. Being courteous is a habit most people in society admire and it stays with them for the rest of their lives.
Like all parents, you want your kids to be successful in whatever they take on. However, you should also visualize them growing up to be humble people foremost; appreciating what others did to help them get to where they are. No man is an island, and humility gives people a proper perspective.
As a parent, you should never underestimate the value of teaching humility through example. You should consistently model it as a way of life, not an on-again, off-again example. Your children need to understand that abilities, looks, and achievements are not what give them worth. Rather, they are valued simply because they are yours.
12 Mom’s Moods
Often, babies pick up on their parents’ moods. If you are always happy, cheerful and jovial, your baby will also inherit her happy mood and vice versa. Children always mimic their parents’ emotional state and if it is always negative, it can affect them even when they are older.
Before infants are verbal and able to express themselves fully, they are able to tell when their moms or dads are under a lot of stress and pick up on the bodily responses accompanying that emotional state, which makes them develop so much more stress. Stress, anger, and sadness are all inevitable negative emotions; moms and dads should avoid indulging in around their kids.
11 Washing Hands
Kids often pick up the habit of washing hands from their mothers. Therefore, parents, particularly mothers, should lead by example. They should wash their hands before meals, after using the bathroom, and after working or playing. By watching their parents do it, kids will also want to do it.
Washing hands is a simple task for anyone; however, it is not so easy for a kid. Therefore, you should be patient when teaching your kids. It takes time for a child to get into the habit of hand washing and to do it properly. Always offer help when they need it and keep reminding them to do so until the habit becomes part of them
10 Being Physically Active
Parents should always practice what they preach. If a child sees her mom and dad living an active lifestyle, he or she may pick up on that habit. For example, kids are more likely to be into fitness as they grow up if they see their parents exercising regularly.
Today, many children suffer from lifestyle-related diseases like obesity and high blood pressure because of being inactive and eating the wrong food. Furthermore, if you are a couch potato, your child will learn from you and turn into the same within a short while. It is, therefore, important to start teaching them to be active from a young age by being active yourself. They can start by helping out with simple house chores or you go to the park and play with them.
9 Being Respectful
Kids learn many habits at a tender age. They might not quite grasp the concept, but as they grow up, they will get to understand it better. Your child is always watching how you talk to others and how you treat them. He or she will likely pick up on your mannerisms.
In addition, as they watch you, they are also learning how other people should treat them as well. You should always ensure their behavior is in line with what you are teaching them. You should treat them with respect so that they can replicate it when dealing with others.
8 Taking Daily Showers
Children pick up on many different habits. Even something as simple as taking daily showers can be a habit a child picks up from his or her parent. Children should practice this good grooming habit on a daily basis. When kids see their parents taking a shower first thing every morning they will likely follow suit when they are older.
As they grow up, your children will transition from you washing them to washing themselves, and how you used to clean them is how they will continue to clean themselves. Your children can shower in the morning, evening, or during both instances. It will also help rejuvenate their skin and make them sleep better at night.
7 Being Responsible
Parents may be tempted to overlook this habit when their kids are young because they feel they are too young; however, being responsible is a habit that a mom should teach her child from the time the child is able to understand instructions.
It is not easy to get a child to be responsible, but you can show them what responsibility is by taking good care of your own things and space. If you want them to tidy up their rooms, pick up clothes off your bedroom floor first. When they act responsibly, give them plenty of praise so that they can repeat it again and again.
6 Sharing Is Caring
Sharing is a difficult concept for a little kid to grasp. However, it is important for parents to start teaching their child this vital habit as soon as they start comprehending things. Once a child is old enough to go for play dates, he or she will need to be able to share with others.
Children learn a lot from just watching what their moms and dads do. When parents model good sharing and turn-taking in the family, kids pick up on it. It gives them a good example to follow. Children will not get the concept right away, but parents can always start by asking them to share toys with other children while playing.
5 Being Honest
Honesty is a very important habit for kids to learn from their moms and dads when they are still very young. Mothers are usually their children’s’ first role model because they take care of them and spend a lot of time with them. Therefore, their actions and words will either teach them to be honest or dishonest.
Most of the time, children lie to avoid a punishment or to follow in the footsteps of their role models. Parents should be honest at all times, especially when in front of their kids. Since rewards are a great stimulus for learning, parents should reward honesty so that their children can associate it with something positive.
4 Being Helpful
Children can learn the value of helping others at a very early age. If moms and dads are always volunteering to do something good in society such as taking food to the homeless, their children are sure to pick up on that habit. By doing so, they will teach their children not only to be helpful but also to care for other people, especially the less fortunate.
Moms and dads should always encourage their children to provide a helping hand to those in need, which will help them grow up to be humble and generous. Every parent would love to bring up a young lady or gentleman who is always willing to offer a helping hand.
3 Being Disciplined
Parents have the responsibility of instilling discipline in their kids, through the most humane and productive methods available. However, kids will always consider whether their parents are doing what they want them to do, because if they do not, the kids will hardly embrace discipline.
Therefore, moms and dads should teach their kids how to control themselves, for example, instead of retaliating aggressively when another child takes their toy, they should ask for help. Children who start learning discipline at an early age tend to make healthy choices even when mom and dad are not around. Arguably, every parent out there would love his or her child to grow up to be a disciplined adult.
2 Worrying Too Much
Children can sense their parents’ anxiety and worry. If you are often in a state of unease and fretfulness, your child is sure to become agitated as well. Children will either learn or inherit the ability to be anxious or nervous much more than the average person should be.
It is not something one can easily turn off and moms who know they worry too much should try to understand where their anxiety stems from and manage it by learning and practicing stress management techniques. This will not only be of great benefit to the young one, but it will make mom's life so much easier.
1 Good Family Relationships
It is important for kids to see their mom and dad spend quality time with them. During this time, parents can listen to their kids’ stories, share a laugh, or even cook a meal together. Children pick up on such habits and even desire to practice them when they get families of their own.
However, if a mom appears as if she does not like spending time with other family members, or if she clearly has a poor relationship with them, her kids are sure to pick that up. Whomever the mom loves, her baby is sure to love, but whomever the mom dislikes, her baby is sure to dislike.