Amelia Bedelia and the Baby

Amelia Bedelia and the Baby is the ninth book of the Amelia Bedelia series written by Peggy Parish. Published in 1981.

Story
Mrs. Rogers tells Amelia Bedelia that Mrs. Lane is going to bring his husband home from his work and asks Amelia to be the babysitter for Mrs. Lane's daughter Missy Lane. Amelia doesn't know anything about babies, but Mrs. Rogers says she's very good with children (and babies too). So Amelia runs to the Lanes' house and knocks on the door. Inside, Mrs. Lane hands Amelia a list of things to do.

Amelia finds Missy in her pen. The baby begins to cry. Amelia reads the list: "Give Missy a bottle". Amelia, thinking about the fragile kind of bottle, denies. She decides to give Missy a can... or maybe a box. She decides to give her both. Missy doesn't want any of them and keeps crying. Amelia thinks the baby needs food. As she goes to the kitchen to get a cookie, Mrs. Carter comes in through the back door and drops off a basket of strawberries. She asks if Amelia has given the baby a bottle and she says she hasn't. Amelia puts away the strawberries and Mrs. Carter finds the right kind of bottle for Missy. She sips in it and feels better.

Next, the list reads to give Missy a bath and Amelia does so before she puts the baby back in her pen. Afterwards, the list reads to use baby powder. Amelia does it on herself! Next, the list reads: "From 2:00 until 3:00 is naptime". Amelia refuses, saying she doesn't like to take naps, so instead she cooks strawberry tarts, while Missy takes a nap.

Now Missy is crying again, and the list reads to give her a mashed banana. Amelia mashes the banana and gives it to the baby. Missy hits the banana, leaving a mess in her pen, and then eats it. Amelia gives her another bath. She returns to the list, reading to put Missy in her stroller, but first put a sweater on her, and Amelia does so. Next, the list reads to take her out for a while, to which Amelia thinks means to take the baby out of the stroller. She puts Missy back in her pen.

Next, the list reads "Playtime is until 5 o'clock." So Amelia begins to play with Missy's toys. After 5 o'clock, she reads the list, telling her to give Missy some baby food for her supper and put on a bib. She put the bib on herself and cooked baby (miniature) food: baby hamburgers, baby potatoes, and baby tomatoes, and put ketchup on them. Missy eats them up, and Amelia gives her one of her strawberry tarts. Missy eats that one as well, leaving a red mess on her face.

Just before Amelia goes to wash the baby again, Missy's parents come home. Mrs. Lane wonders what the red stuff on her baby is. Amelia explains it's the "baby food" with ketchup and strawberry tarts, and Missy loves them. Mrs. Lane is unhappy, saying Missy can't eat things like that. Mr. Lane eats a strawberry tart and feeds one to his wife, causing her to lose her anger, and Missy begins to cry again. Mrs. Lane apologizes and asks Amelia if she wants to come back again, but Amelia has to go to her home.