This month, your baby will be much more active as he begins to push-up and rock-and-roll around on his own. All that wiggling around even may help baby move forward or backward. One of your baby's favorite playthings this month may be his toes. He'll delight in reaching out and grabbing them to put in his mouth. While lying on his stomach, your baby will learn that he can crane his neck to see what's going on around him. There's a lot happening in the world, and he wants to see it all!
Milestones this month
- Your baby is able to reach accurately for an object.
- He can hold his head steady when sitting upright.
- Baby can raise his chest with arm support while lying on his stomach.
- He can roll over in one direction.
- Baby can grasp a rattle.
- He pays attention to very small objects.
- Baby squeals with delight.
- He spontaneously smiles.
- Baby mimics sounds and gestures.
- He turns towards the source of a sound or voice.
- Baby gets attention by babbling.
- He makes different sounds for different needs.
All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 5-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that he will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with his doctor.
Coordination cues
Your baby's ability to reach out accurately is a signal that his coordination is more keen. He now can transfer a toy or object from hand to hand. To reinforce this new talent while you change his clothes, encourage baby to transfer a favorite toy from one hand to the other as you put each arm in a shirtsleeve. With his increased control and dexterity also comes the ability–and inclination–to bring toys and other objects to his mouth.
Your baby also is gaining a new understanding of how to grasp and hold objects. The way baby shapes his hand to grasp a round object will be different than the way he grasps a flat object like a page. Baby also will begin to use his hands more often to push away things he doesn't want, like that dropper full of medicine.
Strength training
Your baby's strength is increasing, too. He's now strong enough to roll over from his stomach onto his back, push himself up so part of his chest and stomach are off the floor, and rock himself on his stomach. Leg strength is growing as well. With you there to balance him, your baby is able to stand and support his own weight for short periods of time.
Sounds are golden
This month, your baby will stay alert for longer periods of time, which means he'll need more attention from mom and dad than he did in months past. Keep these thoughts in mind as your family life begins to become more routine:
- Your baby is becoming a better communicator. He may begin to mimic and express his own range of sounds based on his needs. You'll soon be able to tell whether or not these vocal gestures mean he's happy. If your baby wants attention, he'll babble away to get it. If you laugh every time he makes a cute little coo or sound, your 5-month-old will learn to repeat it to get your reaction.
- Your baby also is learning to locate the source of your voice. Talk to him from across the room and he'll turn his head toward you. He'll begin to watch your mouth when you talk, and increasingly he'll be able to tell where your voice is coming from.
- Your baby's new ability to distinguish and mimic different sounds and gestures are examples of his new vocal coordination and control. Vocal play can be an entertaining activity this month while you encourage and reinforce these new skills.
Milestones this month
- Your baby now can sit on her own.
- She rocks and pivots while lying on her stomach.
- Baby can roll from her back onto her stomach–and back again.
- She digs her fingers and toes into the floor to push herself toward a favorite toy.
- Baby can eat a cracker.
- She can pick up a cereal ring or other small object.
- Baby has more than doubled her birth weight.
- She can say vowel-consonant combinations.
- Baby expresses unhappiness when an object or toy is taken away.
- She can pass objects from one hand to another.
- Baby looks for dropped toys.
- She has discovered herself in the mirror, and loves having conversations with this new little friend.
High energy Aside from the temporary annoyances of teething, this phase of your baby's life is filled with boundless energy. Baby becomes a virtual wiggle worm when you attempt to feed or diaper her. Squirming and arching her back as you hold her are baby's ways of saying, "Put me down–I've got work to do!" Baby's also honing her fine motor skills, and water play can provide great training. If you include toy pitchers, buckets, and watering cans in her bath, you're sure to elicit both giggles and improved coordination. Any of the various commercially available activity boards also will help baby master several small motor skills. Many of these boards can be safely attached to the side of a crib, letting your baby entertain herself–and learn–before and after sleep time.
Chitchat is good!
As your baby's happy talk becomes more precise, there are many ways you can help her develop her language skills
- Always speak slowly and clearly when you talk to baby.
- Use short sentences and continue to identify objects, showing baby the objects as you say their names.
- Repeat the sounds your baby makes. After a time, slightly alter the sounds and wait for her to repeat them to you.
- Focus on repetition. Singing the same songs or reciting the same nursery rhymes not only entertains your baby, but the repetition will help her learn.
- Read, read, and read some more. Ask your baby simple questions about the pictures in the books you read.
- Don't talk at your baby. Give her time to respond–even if it's just in her own way.
YOUR STRONGER 7-MONTH-OLD
From day one, your baby has maintained that special spot in your heart. But by month seven, he knows it and he intends to keep it that way. Baby will push the limits in all his activities; in fact, he's already learning how far he can go. Why is it that your childcare provider considers him an angel at lunch but he throws sweet potatoes at you at dinner? It's because baby knows that your love and acceptance (if not your patience) are endless. Keep in mind that it's good for baby to start maintaining some control over his environment, but as his parent, you need to determine how far he can go.
- Your baby now can bear weight on his legs when you hold him upright.
- He can sit without support.
- Baby can stand while holding onto someone or something.
- He can pull himself up to a standing position from a seated one.
- Baby walks by holding on to furniture.
- He babbles.
- Baby plays peekaboo.
- He plays patty-cake.
- Baby waves good-bye.
- He can say "mama" or "dada."
All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 7-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that she will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with her doctor.
Ready for action As your baby cruises through his seventh month, he's more aware of how strong he is -- and how that strength can get him where he wants to go. With strength comes your baby's desire to get moving, and he'll be crawling soon.
Caution! Some parents buy baby walkers to help their little ones travel from room to room. Many doctors discourage the use of baby walkers. Too many emergency rooms have seen babies who've fallen down staircases while in a walker; walkers also can tip over or roll onto the fingers or toes of other children at home. Some doctors also believe that too much time in a walker can slow a baby's muscle development.
- Expect plenty of testing
Prepare yourself for the manipulation game. Your baby has learned that a mere squawk from his mouth will send you running; the insistent lifting of his arms all but guarantees you'll sweep him off his feet. Resist the temptation. Here's how to help your baby learn to entertain himself for short periods of time: - Devote short periods of time to him all day, or see that your child-care provider does. Sit down and read him a book, play finger games with him, or help him build a tower of blocks. Let him know you're always availableñbut just for limited amounts of time.
- Provide a change of atmosphere if baby starts to fuss. Place baby onto a blanket on the floor or move him to another room. (Just make sure he's not fussing because he's tired, hungry, or in need of a fresh diaper.) Monitor his surroundings periodically, occasionally replacing the few toys that are within his reach. Don't let piles of toys accumulate around him; they can overwhelm him.
- If his crankiness doesn't subside, go to baby and show him how to play with a particular toy or object, but don't sit down with him or pick him up. After a brief demonstration, go back to your own tasks. And don't hesitate to tell himñin a calm, pleasant voiceñthat you need to do your work, too. Keep chatting or singing to him as you busy yourself within his earshot; return to him if he threatens to erupt but before he actually starts to scream. (You don't want him to think that this is the ultimate way to bring you back to your senses.)
Changing eye color Sometime between 6 and 7 months, your baby's eyes may change color. Until now, they've appeared blue. The amount of pigment in the eye's iris determines the permanent color, a pigment which may not be fully developed until your baby is closer to a year old. Blue eyes still could turn brown, but brown eyes won't become blue.
YOUR CRAWLING 8-MONTH-OLD
Take time to celebrate your baby's latest milestone: Crawling. And keep in mind that crawling means different things to different babies. One may be content to continue scooting along on her tummy. Another may navigate by walking on both hands and feet, her bottom pointed toward the sky. And yet another may be able to master a route using her hands and knees.
- Your baby now can crawl or scoot on her stomach.
- She can sit without support.
- Baby can "rake" a small toy toward her on the floor and pick it up.
- She can get into a sitting position from her stomach.
- Baby can pull up to a standing position from a seated one.
- She walks by holding onto furniture.
- Baby can stand alone (for at least a few seconds).
- She looks for dropped objects.
- Baby shows unhappiness when you take something away.
- She plays peekaboo.
- Baby can say, "mama" or "dada."
- She plays patty-cake and waves good-bye.
- Baby understands the meaning of "no."
All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 8-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that she will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with her doctor.
Where the action is
Your baby's new mobility means that it's time to further baby proof your home. Your baby will display an uncanny knack for finding any small item left lying on the furniture or floors -- and for putting it immediately in her mouth. Likewise, dropping her favorite items, picking them up, and putting them back in her mouth will be a favorite pastime. Remove any pacifier, bottle, toy, or food item that's been dropped before it finds its way back into your baby's open mouth.
A change in temperament Just a few months ago, your baby was a social butterfly. But these days you may notice a change in her happy-go-lucky disposition, and ask yourself:
- Why is she so afraid of everything?
- Why do her surroundings seem to intimidate her?
- Why does she sometimes howl in terror at the sight of even close family friends and caregivers?
Helping your baby find comfort in new surroundings
- Hug and talk softly. Don't push your baby into situations with others if she's afraid. As you approach others, give baby little hugs and quietly tell her who's ahead. Alert the others to her anxieties, and ask them to move slowly. Suggest they talk to baby quietly and smile often, rather than pick her up or hug her. Remember -- even the sudden movements or loud laughter of others can panic her.
- Accept separation anxiety, and move on. Your baby wants to be with you, so she may fall apart when you leave the room. Sometimes your baby even may lose control when her dad is left in charge. The good news is that most times, once you leave the room, your baby is just fine with another familiar face. If her separation anxiety is serious, you may have to limit your time away from your baby until she passes through this phase.
- Let her find security. Now that your baby knows she's her own person and not a part of you, she may find that scary. She may attach herself to something else that brings her comfort -- a blanket, a pillow, a pacifier, or a doll -- something that doesn't walk away from her. Don't make an issue of it, but limit its use to the home or bedtime. And keep it clean, even if you have to throw it in the washer while your child is asleep. Don't allow her security object to be a bottle of milk or juice -- sucking on these liquids for long periods of time, especially during the night, can cause tooth decay.
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