Don’t call my baby a toddler

“When does a baby become a toddler?”

Some mama friends and I were wrapping up an evening out. We were lingering over our wine or brownies (or, in my case, both) while we waited to pay the check. And I asked this question, which had been on my mind lately.

Peeper pulls herself up with a little leverage from the futon, book shelves, the dresser, the fridge, practically anything. And she cruises along the furniture to get to a book or the remote control when it’s beyond her reach. She also loves “walking” while holding our hands—she can step all the way down the hallway in mere seconds. Kid is fast.

Then last week, she stood up on her own. She was climbing on Eric when she propped herself up and then let go of him altogether. She stood like that for a good long while, at least in baby time, before lowering herself back down.

It may be months before she consistently stands and then walks—the milestone that marks the transition between baby and toddler, so say my mom friends.

But I’m so not ready to have a toddler. Or rather, I’m not ready to not have a baby.

Ten Thousand Hour Mama

Peeper is already outgrowing her tiny self anyway. She almost always squirms away when I try to snuggle her. She shares—the other day in the park, she gave me the leaf she was playing with, let me hold it for a moment, took it back and then gave it to me to start the cycle all over again. And she’s developing a sense of humor: She thinks it’s hilarious when I mimic her, like when I chew on her sock (one of her favorite pastimes).

Don’t get me wrong, I love this growth. How could I not fill with wonder when my daughter proudly shows me the stalk of grass she just discovered?

Ten Thousand Hour MamaBut giving up calling my baby a baby will be difficult. A toddler can toddle away.

The other night as Peeper played with a stack of magazines, I told her that even when she’s a toddler, a pre-schooler, a kindergartener and, hell, a 30-something, she’ll always be my baby.

0 thoughts on “Don’t call my baby a toddler

  • April 25, 2014 at 10:18 am
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    Oh I totally feel you on this one. So silly but when Lincoln turned one my baby center emails that were titled “Your Baby This Week” turned into “Your Toddler this Week”. Made me excited and sad at the same time! Little dude isn’t walking yet Baby Center – He isn’t a toddler yet! Let me have my baby for a few more weeks 🙂

    Reply
  • April 25, 2014 at 4:13 pm
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    I don’t think there is anything wrong with always calling her your baby!

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  • April 25, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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    My mom still calls me her baby – and I love that she still thinks of me that way! She WILL always be your baby 🙂

    Reply
  • April 28, 2014 at 1:55 pm
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    Adorable! She will always be your baby. Mine even corrects me, “no mama, I a big gull.” My heart breaks a little every time I hear her say that more clearly.

    Reply
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