Does your baby not want anything or is he just negative? Neither! He is a toddler! Shaking his head and saying "NO!" profusely is normal for your baby at this stage. However, just because he says no doesn't mean he means no. More than likely he is just practicing this new way of communication and if you asked him anything, including, "Do you want a cookie?" his response would be no.

To avoid a negative answer, ask questions that can't really be answered with a yes or no. Give choices to your child. "Do you want the ball or the rings?" or "Do you want apple juice or pear juice?" If your baby still shakes his head, offer him both toys, or just pick which of the choices you think he will like best.

Week 51 Milestones

Your baby is getting very picky in his food choices. He has found his favorites and will often not want to eat foods that you give him. When feeding your baby, make sure you offer him small portions of every option so that he can choose what he wants to eat. If he seems to lack an appetite these days, keep the liquids during the hours before his meal down to a minimum.

What Might Concern You at 51 Weeks

When should you give your baby a nice, fluffy pillow? Until now you have kept pillows out of the crib, as well as other stuffed objects, because of the fear of SIDS. For yourself, you can't imagine not having a soft place to lay your head, but for your baby they have never known anything different. And there is really no reason why your baby needs the pillow now.

The same holds true with blankets. Full footed sleepers are still plenty to keep your baby warm at night. While comfy blankets are your staple, your baby isn't used to it, and doesn't necessarily need it at this point. Pediatricians regularly recommend waiting till about two years before bringing out the pillows and blankets.

This Time Last Year...

You were 39 weeks pregnant. How did you imagine having a 51 week old baby would be then? Visit our Fun Birthday Facts Calculator for more trivia about your baby's birthday like what happened on that day in history, when your baby will be driving, and more!