I'm just jumping in here. I found this site while looking for Objectivism literature for Children online. I am raising 3 boys trying to balance Objectivist philosophy with good old fashioned values. Bu old fashioned, I mean the ones my Grandparents were raised with, work hard at something you love and you will succeed to the extent you work at it.
I've been reading the thread here and I feel I need to comment. While I agree with raising our children to be individuals, it is also our duty as parents to teach self control and discipline. We can't do this if we allow our children they can have whatever they want when they want it, behave they way they want when they want. Even from a very young age, children need to be taught respect for others as well as themselves. I'm not talking altruism here, you can't make it through school or any field of business without it.
"She is almost one year old now. Although we've been spoiling her and treating her like she can do no wrong, I have observed from about the 8th month onward, an increasing attitude from her. She wants to do certain things and when she can't get her way, the wailing begins."
I agree that this is normal for an 8 month old, but when the child gets to be 2, 3, or 4 and has had no discipline until then, you are setting yourself up to be the puppet of your child. They will not respect you if they know they can walk all over you and you will be better off putting them in public school than trying to homeschool a child that will not listen to you. Basic right/wrong, self respect and respect for others can be and should be taught from a very young age.
That being said, your daughter seems like a beautiful, normal baby. They all grow and mature at different rates. I know 2 little boys that are twins, 3 yrs old. One is potty trained, speaks well and is learning his letters. The other has no interest in potty training and is still working on clear speaking. They are both normal. They were born a few minutes apart and are completely different developmentally. It will all work out in the end and the slower boy may grow up to be the more successful. My second son was on the bottle until he was 18 months old. He didn't even get a tooth until 15 months. Just relax and let her find her way with those things and don't worry that saying no is going to somehow cause her to be dependent. She can still be an individual without being spoiled. Kids do wrong, it's part of being a kid. It's our job to teach them the right things without suppressing their innate curiosity and sense of self.