Book excerpt: Why do toddlers throw food on the floor again and again so that they can watch you pick it up? What's the best way to help a child learn to walk? When does a child understand the word 'no'? Babies and toddlers are fascinating and changing all the time. Each month brings with it a breakthrough in new skills and abilities. Each chapter explores the developmental areas for each age band, checklists for development and ways to stimulate these skills. There are suggested activities for each topic making this a truly practical book.