Some babies — and therefore some parents — hate tummy time at first, while others are into it right away. Whatever the case for your little one, though, the goals are consistent: Keep your little one engaged and interested in tummy time — and do it in a safe and expert-approved way. Here’s everything you need to know about when to start tummy time and how to make it enjoyable for all.

The post How to Know When to Start Tummy Time With Your Baby appeared first on Mom.com.

The first month of having a new baby is full of exhilarating (and terrifying) firsts. While it may feel as if you’re incredibly ill-equipped — like, who allowed you to take home this tiny human — remember both you and your baby are new at this! It’s OK that some days you feel like you can’t even brush your teeth or remember to pee. That’s normal. (But seriously, remember to pee. No one likes bladder infections.)

You’re doing a great job — plus, reading a piece about your baby’s first-month milestones automatically counts as good parenting. We hope this series can provide a general guide about your one-month-old’s development, some ideas on how to interact with them, offer a few tips on how to care for your little one, but most of all, impart some comfort.

Your 1-Month-Old’s Milestones

It may seem as if newborn infants do nothing except eat, sleep, cry, and excrete — but even during this first month of life, your baby has been hard at work. By the end of the first month, they will be much more alert and responsive, gradually smoothing out their body movements and have greater coordination — in particular, putting their hands in their mouths.

Remember that children develop at different rates and there is a wide range of normal. Milestones give an idea of what physical skills and behaviors to expect when your infant is at this stage of life. There is no need to start comparing your child and competing with other babies at this young age (or ever).

Here are some other milestones to look for at 1 month:

• It's no longer a random reflex, it's the real thing. Your baby is social smiling.
• Put your face one foot in front of your baby's face and make silly facial expressions. See if they can imitate you. Endless entertainment.
• Baby's hands start to unfold and extend from those tightly curled little fists.
• Soon, your baby will be able to reach for an object, but for now they mostly swipes aimlessly with their arms.
• See if you notice your baby turn their head if they hear a familiar noise.

Your 1-Month-Old’s Development

For folks who love statistics (or just want to know if you should worry), the average 1-month-old baby weight and height according to the World Health Organization is 9.3 pounds and 21.1 inches for girls, and 9.9 pounds and 21.5 inches for boys.

“They should be able to look from one side, back to the middle and may sometimes seem cross-eyed, which is still normal,” explained pediatrician Dr. Steph Lee. “1-month-old babies should be trying to turn their heads from side to side while on their back and may turn toward your familiar voice.”

Please notify your child’s pediatrician if your baby shows any of the following signs of developmental delay at the second, third, or fourth weeks of life:

• Poor sucking and slow feeding
• When shown a bright light, doesn’t blink
• Doesn’t focus and follow an object close to them that is moving side to side
• Seems stiff or rarely moves limbs
• Seems floppy or excessively loose in the arms and legs
• Even when not crying or excited, their lower jaw constantly trembles
• Doesn’t react or respond to loud sounds
  

  

A General Schedule for Your 1-Month-Old

Honestly, it’s likely unrealistic to get a 1-month-old baby adhering to any sort of schedule. If you do, just count your blessings and don’t tell anyone, because no one likes a braggart. But instead of a strict schedule you follow to the minute (good luck with that), you can try to establish a pattern of behavior.

Some folks like a “sleep, eat, play” routine (which generally works for the first baby but is unlikely for subsequent babies). Others prefer to set a habit of going on morning walks to the park, or perhaps the only energy they can muster is to remember to feed, hold, and change the baby based on their cues. Whatever you have the capacity for, be flexible.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

If it feels like your whole life revolves around feeding your baby this month, well, that's because it does. We know the cycle: It takes 30 minutes to feed, an hour goes by, and there your baby goes rooting and signaling for food again. This feels like a lot of work and like it just can't be right, but it's the natural feeding pattern for a newborn.

Human babies are built to feed frequently. Breast milk is digested quickly and can pass through your baby's tummy in 45 to 90 minutes. Watch for hunger signs like rooting, tongue movements, wiggling, stretching, and making noises.

During the first month, expect your baby to eat 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours, getting around 20 to 30 ounces a day. Most babies will have at least one fussy period during the day when they seem to feed continuously (seriously, for hours), also known as cluster feeding. If you're formula feeding, you can keep to the same every 3 to 4 hours schedule, and try not to overfeed the baby — a few ounces at a time should do the trick.

If you haven't introduced a bottle yet, go for it! Breastfeeding experts recommend starting with a bottle of pumped breast milk between 2 to 4 weeks. It's a good idea to give a breastfed baby a bottle at least 3 to 4 times a week; you will need to pump during that bottle feeding or it will eventually lead to a drop in supply. If you stop offering a bottle, your baby might lose the practice, forget they liked it, and refuse the bottle down the road. Having the bottle allows someone else to take over a feeding, put the baby to bed, or for you to go elsewhere for more than 2 to 3 hours.

Practical tip: Don't give up on bottle feeding. If your baby refuses, try different nipples, feed in a different chair than the normal breastfeeding one, have the baby face you (instead of the cradle position known for nursing), or walk around the house while trying. Eventually it will happen, but sometimes breastfed babies take many weeks to get the hang of it.

Try a pacifier and see if your baby likes it. Research shows that pacifier use does not confuse babies or interfere with breastfeeding.

Play: Toys, Games and Activities

While you may think 1-month-old babies can’t really play, that’s not entirely true. Mom Kia Chambers shared with Mom.com, “Some of my favorite activities were reading to him, playing him music, talking to him, bonding during breastfeeding, laying baby on my chest for tummy time, and of course kisses from mommy!”

Dr. Steph Lee explained that the brains of newborns are rapidly growing. “Even the simplest activities help their development in the first month,” the spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) told Mom.com. “The more you talk, read, and sing, the more your baby will learn your voice and bond with you. It also helps with hearing and recognizing sounds.”

Look for "quiet alert" times — when your baby has just woken up and isn't starving — to put him on his tummy. If he face-plants, that's fine, just lie down with him and talk to him on your tummy too. The best place for your baby when he's not in your arms is on a flat, safe surface like a play mat (go easy on the bouncers and other devices), where he can move arms and legs.

Baby's vision is still really blurry, so high contrast black and white (or red and green) patterns will catch attention most.

Like touch, a sense of motion (the vestibular sense) develops very early, so babies have a natural love for being bounced and carried. Both physical contact and motion are soothing and "organizing" to a baby's nervous system, and research shows they're good for other parts of brain development too.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

Depending on the child, babies at 1-month-old need about 14 to 17 hours a day. While that may sound like a lot, their sleep is often broken up into smaller chunks — sometimes as small as 1 to 2 hours at a time. Most babies take about three daytime naps and have one longish stretch of sleep of about 3 to 6 hours around 4 to 6 weeks of age (if your baby was born early, you'll want to factor that in).

A one-month-old's internal clock is still developing, says Heather Turgeon, sleep consultant and coauthor of The Happy Sleeper, and it's being shaped by things like feeding, social activity, and most of all, light.

Practical sleep tip from The Happy Sleeper: Have an eye toward putting your baby down around 7 p.m. By about 8 weeks old, most babies do well with an early bedtime because the internal clock is developing rapidly. The best stretches of sleep will grow from here.

Newborn babies often also experience day/night confusion where babies who normally sleep a lot during the day are wide awake at night. This is thought to happen because in the womb, all your walking and movement during the day rocks them to sleep, but at night, when you’re asleep, they will be wide awake.

Common 1-Month-Old Health Conditions

There aren’t too many 1-month-old specific health conditions. Rather, here are some that are common to babies:

Constipation
Your child should produce at least 5 to 7 wet diapers and 3 to 4 dirty diapers a day. Some signs of constipation are:

• Infrequent stool
• Stool is clay-like and hard in consistency
• Stool has streaks of blood
• Your child strains and cries while attempting a bowel movement
• Refuses to eat
• Their belly is hard

Congestion
Since babies get 10 to 12 colds a year, it’s totally normal for your baby to get runny and stuffy noses. It’s also possible for babies to have allergies or infections — which can contribute to congestion, too. Some congestion remedies include running a humidifier, using a nasal aspirator, and offering a lot of fluids.

Coughing
For 1-month-olds, coughing is often as common as the cold or flu, but cough medicine is not recommended for children under 2 years. Usually coughs aren’t terribly worrisome, but please consult a medical professional if your child exhibits coughs that include:

• Barky or like a seal
• Whooping
• Wheezing
• With a fever
• With vomiting
• Persistent

Special Recommendations

One important thing to note about sleep: Children under 1 years old are at risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation in sleeping environs, and other deaths from unknown causes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year about 3,600 babies in the U.S. die from SUID. Click here for recommendations by the AAP on how to keep your child safe from SUID. You can also refer to the Safe to Sleep campaign for resources.

Coming Soon: Your 2-Month-Old

Rolling back to side, and laughing!

The post Your 1-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the first two months and, hopefully, you’re getting the hang of feeding, changing, and living with a new baby. Of course, now that you likely got used to dealing with a 1-month-old, your baby has to go and change things up a bit. Your 2-month-old is probably a lot more alert and awake for longer stretches of time — which is great except that you may perhaps feel pressured to entertain them. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered on what you need to know about your 2-month-old.

Your 2-Month-Old’s Milestones

As mentioned already, your 2-month-old is likely a lot more awake and active than they were a month ago. They may be sleeping more — and may also be fussier in the evenings — which is totally normal. Crying tends to peak in babies at 6 to 8 weeks, but if you think they’re colicky and inconsolable, consult your pediatrician.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some other 2-month-old milestones include:

• Smiles at people.
• Can briefly self-soothe (e.g., sucks on hands).
• Tries to look at parents or caregivers.
• Coos or gurgles.
• Starts following objects with their eyes and recognizes people from a distance.
• Cries or fusses when bored or if an activity doesn’t change.
• Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy.
• Smoother movements and arms and legs are more extended.

Your 2-Month-Old’s Development

You’re nearing the end of the “fourth trimester” — the first few months when your baby is adjusting to the outside world. Their nervous system is becoming more regulated and they’re “waking up” to their environment. Little babies need lots of help from us, so it’s important to keep them close by, let them hear the sound of your voice, and respond to their needs. It can feel like an around-the-clock job, but you’re laying great groundwork of trust and security with your baby.

At two months, the average baby weight and height according to the World Health Organization is 11.2 pounds and 22.5 inches for girls and 12.3 pounds and 23 inches for boys. Your baby should be about 1.5 to 2 pounds heavier and 1 to 1.5 inches longer than last month, but remember, there is a wide range of normal. Don’t put too much stock in measurements and focus on the overall health of your child.

Please notify your child’s pediatrician if your baby shows any of the following signs of developmental delay such as:

• Stops doing something they used to do, or their development has consistently regressed or stopped altogether.
• Doesn’t use a part or side of their body, or is only using one hand or side of their body.
• Is too floppy and seems particularly limp or droopy. This is usually a sign of being sick or an infection.
• Shakes or jitters too much — especially their whole body.

A General Schedule for Your 2-Month-Old

Now that your 2-month-old is awake for longer stretches, it’s a little bit easier to adhere to a schedule — but don’t fret if it’s not manageable. Honestly, babies still don’t do much at this stage beyond eat, sleep, and excrete, so it’s OK to just go with the flow. If possible, you can try to establish a pattern of behavior, so their sense of day and night is more pronounced.

Like in month one, you can continue the “sleep, eat, play” routine. Just remember to give yourself grace, follow cues, and be flexible.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

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At two months, your baby should still either be drinking breastmilk or formula or some combination thereof. Don’t feed water to your 2-month-old unless your pediatrician has recommended it due to a medical reason.

If you’re breastfeeding, continue to feed your baby on demand. The old-school idea of highly scheduling a baby’s feedings is known to put nursing moms at risk of not producing enough milk. To keep the biological system of supply and demand going strong, try the following:

• Feed your baby when they signal hunger (every 2 to 3 hours).
• Don’t wake the baby to feed. Let baby sleep if they’re sleeping for longer stretches.

Bottle-feeding babies will have about 4 to 5 ounces per feeding, but this can vary from one feeding to the next. Instead of getting hung up on the number of ounces, look for signs of hunger and satiation, pediatrician Yael Wapinski told Mom.com. Formula-fed babies are at greater risk for overfeeding, so note the signals your baby is giving instead of trying to get them to finish off a bottle.

“Pay close attention to the baby’s cues to try to differentiate hunger from tired from just needing soothing,” said Wapinski. “You don’t have to respond right away to fussiness with a bottle, unless it’s the appropriate time (based on their pattern) for them to be fed.”

You may notice your baby feeds very frequently in the early evening. Most babies have a period (often in the late afternoon or early evening) when they fuss and “cluster feed.” We don’t know exactly why this is — overstimulation, tiredness, or taking in more calories before bed — but whatever the reason, your baby may need a lot of extra contact and soothing at the end of the day.

Play: Toys, Games, and Activities

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Your baby is working so hard to coordinate arm and hand movements. If you put them on a play mat, they might be able to bat at an object above them — as simple as it looks, that’s incredible work involving the interplay of millions of neurons. Don’t worry about fancy toys or gadgets — simple movements and exercises are important play for your baby.

Lie on the floor with your baby and talk to them. If they’re not feeling tummy time, here are some ideas:

• If your baby only lasts for 30 seconds at a time on their tummy, that’s OK.
• Instead of plopping your baby directly onto their tummy, start them on their back, look at them, and tell them you’ll roll them to their tummy, and roll them gently from their hips.
• If your newborn is hopelessly face-planting, use a small rolled-up blanket under their armpits. A feeding pillow is too much support.
• Get on the ground with your baby or try a tilted mirror.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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Hang in there. Your baby is probably still waking up multiple times a night, but hopefully they have one stretch of 4 to 6 hours of nighttime sleep. That stretch will grow, and eventually they’ll be able to put themself back to sleep in the middle of the night without you. On average, your 2-month-old will sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day and take about three naps during the day. Day/night confusion should be subsiding by this time, but it may still occur.

Little babies still need to be fed at night, says sleep consultant and author Heather Turgeon, so if a well-meaning advice-giver tells you to wean or withhold a feeding, remember nighttime feeds are natural.

If you don’t already have one, start doing a bedtime routine. “Routines are powerful,” said Turgeon. “One of the best things parents can do is go through a simple set of steps before bed — ideally ending with the baby falling asleep on their own in their regular sleeping place (rather than being transferred into a crib or bassinet already asleep).” You don’t need to get fancy here, just be calm and consistent.

For example, here is a possible bedtime routine:

• Bath (this doesn’t need to be every night)
• Pajamas
• Feeding
• Books
• A song
• Into bed

Pacifiers are recommended for sleep as a sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) precaution, so use one if your baby likes it. The advice is use a pacifier at the beginning of the night or beginning of naps, but not to endlessly insert it throughout the night.

Common 2-Month-Old Health Conditions

At the two month mark, there is generally a 2-month-old checkup appointment with your child’s pediatrician. At the 2-month checkup, the AAP and CDC recommend the following immunizations:

• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Poliovirus (IPV)
• Rotavirus (RV)

If your baby did not get the second dose of Hepatitis B (HepB) at the 1-month checkup, they will also recommend that. If you’re concerned about side effects or adverse reactions, please consult with your doctor. You may also want to consider asking about supplementing a breastfed baby with vitamin D drops.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID-19, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID-19 protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Special Recommendations

This is just a reminder that children under 1 year old are at risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation in sleeping environs, and other deaths from unknown causes. Here are recommendations by the AAP on how to keep your child safe from SUID. You can also refer to the Safe to Sleep campaign for more resources.

Coming Soon: Your 3-Month-Old

Laughing and holding things with their hands!

The post Your 2-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

Your baby is 3 months old! You’ve made it through the fourth trimester and your baby is likely smiling and copying everything they observe. Your baby’s brain development is booming. You might feel at this point like they are truly “awake” — no longer a drowsy newborn but alert and ready to play.

In some ways, it can feel like you’ve turned a corner and things are easier. Maybe life has a new balance or you’re getting a golden four-hour stretch of continuous sleep. On the other hand, there’s more work involved in parenting your baby during the day, because baby is so ready to learn and interact. However you’re feeling, it’s totally normal. Read on for all the essentials about what you need to know regarding your 3-month-old.

Your 3-Month-Old’s Milestones

At three months, not only is your baby more in control of their body, their arm and leg movements continue to be smoother. Their “startle” reflex has likely disappeared and they are also more active and socially aware, interacting with people and very fun. Your baby may be able to laugh now and make other sweet noises. They know your face and your voice well.

They’re probably also obsessed with their own hands, spending a lot of time examining their movements and bringing their hands together. They may be able to meet in the middle, which gives their playtime lots of potential for passing objects between their hands.

Your baby will be a lot stronger and coordinated and, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some other 3-month-old milestones include:

• Stretching out: Your baby looks more relaxed, straightening and kicking out their legs. Their hands are also not always balled up in fists and they begin to open and shut their hands.
• Preparing to roll over: When lying on their stomach, they will raise their head and chest and support their upper body with their arms. Though most babies can’t roll from back to stomach yet, some babies may be kicking forcefully enough to kick from stomach to back. Don’t leave your baby alone on furniture since they might roll over and fall.
• Grabbing deliberately: Babies this age might start swiping at dangling objects, moving their hands and eyes in coordination, bringing their hands to their mouths. They may even be able to grasp and shake toys.
• Bouncing: If you hold up your baby in a “standing” position like your lap or a hard surface, they’ll push down on their legs and bounce, practicing carrying some of their weight on their legs. Avoid leaving babies in bouncer seats or harnesses because those don’t allow your child to use their muscles as much, slowing their movement progress.
• Socializing: Your baby may watch faces intently, recognizing familiar people and objects from a distance, smiling at the sound of your voice. They will babble and imitate some sounds, movements, and facial expressions. Your 3-month-old will be more communicative and expressive with their face and body and enjoy playing with people so much, they may cry if you stop.

Your 3-Month-Old’s Development

At three months, it’s common for babies to undergo a 3-month-old growth spurt. Your baby will likely be extra hungry, cranky, tired, and wake more at night. Luckily, growth spurts usually only last a few days so don’t worry. Your baby will be back to their usual self soon enough.

According to the World Health Organization, the average baby weight and height for a 3-month-old is 12.8 pounds and 23.5 inches for girls and 15.4 pounds and 24.2 inches for boys. In general, your baby will gain about 1.5 to 2 pounds and be 1 to 1.5 inches longer than last month. Remember, there is a wide range of normal so don’t put too much stock in measurements. Focus on the overall health of your child.

Please notify your child’s medical professional if your baby shows any of the following signs of developmental delay by three months, such as:

• Does not respond to loud sounds.
• Does not follow moving objects with their eyes.
• Does not grasp and hold objects.
• Does not smile at people.
• Cannot support their head well.
• Does not reach for and grasp toys.
• Does not babble.
• Has trouble with moving one or both eyes in all directions.
• Crosses eyes most of the time. (It is normal to occasionally cross their eyes in the first few months.)
• Does not pay attention to new faces or seems very scared of new faces or environments.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 3-Month-Old

As with the previous few months, your 3-month-old will likely still have a somewhat erratic schedule. However, the more you try to establish a pattern of behavior, the better. By now, they should no longer have issues with day/night confusion and can stay awake 1 to 1.5 hours before needing a nap of 30 minutes to two hours. If everything about schedules for 3-month-olds seems to revolve around sleep, that’s because they’re still sleeping a lot.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

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At three months, your baby should still either be fed breastmilk or formula or a combination of both. Unless your pediatrician advises water for a medical reason, don’t give your 3-month-old water. Your baby doesn’t need water for hydration since breastmilk and formula provide the necessary water and nourishment. If you’re worried about their hydration, track their wet diapers and see if your baby has four to five very wet diapers a day.

Suddenly, there’s so much more to do and see, so babies can become more distracted and have a harder time concentrating for a full feeding session. If that’s the case, try (if possible):

• Feeding your baby in a quiet, dark place.
• Using a breastfeeding cover.
• Nursing while lying down or with the baby in a baby carrier or sling.
• Nursing while in motion (e.g., rocking or walking).

Nursing babies at this age are eating every three to four hours. At night, your baby may have dropped a feeding or two.

If your baby is taking formula, the rule of thumb is 2.5 ounces per pound after 3 months of age, says Dr. Yael Wapinkski. That’s not an exact calculation, though. Watch your baby and try not to swoop in with milk for every fuss (maybe your baby is tired, needs company, needs space — try to tell the difference so you don’t end up feeding at every peep).

For breastfeeding moms going back to work, Wendy Haldeman, one of Los Angeles’ leading lactation consultants, recommends taking a “returning to work” breastfeeding class. Her best advice for a breastfeeding mom making the move back to the office: “Try and store up to 100 ounces of frozen milk prior to returning,” she told Mom.com.

Note: If you must return to work during COVID, please protect yourself and make sure you and your company are following CDC COVID protocols.

Play: Toys, Games, and Activities

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Forget the fancy toys and developmental gadgets. Your baby is a social creature, and they’re learning all the time from their interactions with you. “Babies are working on establishing a strong relationship with caretakers, so just letting your baby listen to you talk or examining your face and expressions and intonations as you speak to them will engage them more than any gadget,” said Wapinski.

Your baby is learning to control their hands, bring them together, and open and close their fingers to hold objects. Some simple activities you can do with your 3-month-old include:

• Providing simple objects to pass between their hands and look at.
• Placing a mirror in front of your baby and watching their expressions.
• Placing them on their tummy for supervised tummy time.
• Holding objects about a foot away and moving them around for your baby to practice tracking the object with their eyes.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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If nighttime sleep has gotten better but daytime sleep is more difficult, you’re not alone, says Los Angeles sleep consultant and author Heather Turgeon. Three-month-olds are famous for catnapping and they often sleep for 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch. “This can be so frustrating for parents,” said Turgeon. “You barely have time to check your email and have a snack before your baby is awake again.”

The advice Turgeon gives her clients for this age is to note the time the baby woke up (in the morning or from a nap) and try to put them down again after 90 minutes. Whether a baby has slept for 20 minutes or two hours, Turgeon says they usually need another nap after 90 minutes of awake time. As long as you’re practicing putting your baby down awake, they will eventually learn how to self-soothe and their naps will grow to more like an hour and a half.

Don’t succumb to the sleeping-through-the-night competition, says Turgeon. Babies sleep through the night at all different ages, but at 6 months is when your baby’s biology is on their side. That’s when almost all babies are capable of sleeping 11 to 12 hours (even though it may include feedings).

Common 3-Month-Old Health Conditions

At three months, you may have some concerns about the following which are common in most babies:

Drooling and teething
Babies can start teething anywhere from 3 to 12 months. Common signs generally include a lot of drooling, crankiness, sore and swollen gums, disrupted sleep, loss of appetite or pulling off the nipple, rash around mouth, increased biting and gum-rubbing or ear-rubbing, mild temperature elevation, or diarrhea. The symptoms are often confused with cold symptoms.

Spitting up
It’s very common for babies to spit up between three to 12 times a day until they start eating solid foods. Usually, it’s because the muscle at the bottom of their esophagus is still very weak. Because the muscle opens and closes to let food into the stomach, it’s very easy for food to come back up. In addition to spitting up after feeding, they can also do so when they cry or cough too hard.

Unless your doctor is worried about your baby’s growth and development, don’t worry about the spit up. It often looks like a lot more than it actually is due to it being liquidy and spreading over a large area.

Losing hair
While hair loss occurs during the first six months of life, it usually peaks at around three months. Most causes of hair loss are harmless and no cause for worry. Some babies lose hair while new hair grows in so you never notice, and some babies lose hair much faster and end up looking bald! Don’t worry — your baby is still supercute!

Coming Soon: Your 4-Month-Old

Putting everything in their mouth and rolling over!

The post Your 3-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

Your baby at four months loves to play and laugh. What else is your baby up to these days? Drooling, putting your keys and any other item within reach into their mouth, smiling ear to ear when you walk in the room? Or maybe showing off their new rolling and pushing-up skills? Your baby is a social creature — playing with them is just going to get more and more fun. Find out what else your 4-month-old is all about in the rest of the article.

Your 4-Month-Old’s Milestones

At 4 months, your baby’s weight has just about doubled. Their head is stronger and able to stay upright. Your baby likely has started rolling — but if they haven’t, remember that babies roll over at all different ages — just make sure yours is getting lots of time on the floor to move and exercise. Listen for coos and babbles as your baby starts to express themselves verbally.

Regarding their movements, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lists these other 4-month-old milestones:

• Establishing muscle control to coordinate their eyes and head movements.
• While on their tummies, they can raise their head, push up on their arms, swim with their arms, and rock from their tummy to their back.
• Strengthening their back and neck muscles and developing better balance in their torso, head, and neck.

Your 4-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization, the average baby weight and height for a 4-month-old is 14.1 pounds and 24.4 inches for girls and 15.4 pounds and 25.2 inches for boys. In general, your baby will gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and be about 1 inch longer than last month. Remember to focus on the fact that your child is growing healthily and not emphasize the percentiles. Your baby’s height and weight are not grades, and there is a wide range of normal.

Please contact your child’s pediatrician if your baby shows any of the following signs of developmental delay at four months, such as:

• Doesn’t track things as they move.
• Doesn’t smile at people.
• Can’t support head or keep it steady.
• Doesn’t babble or make sounds.
• Doesn’t try to put things in their mouth.
• Doesn’t try to stand or bounce or push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface.
• Has difficulty moving one or both eyes in all directions.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 4-Month-Old

Gone are the days when your baby just sleeps all day. Your 4-month-old wants to play and interact with you, and you’re likely both endeared and at your wit’s end because what exactly are you supposed to do with a 4-month-old all day? Don’t worry so much — whatever you do, whether it’s sing, read, or even just chat while you carry them in the baby carrier or sling — as long as your baby is healthy and safe, they’ll develop just fine. (Plus, it’s literally the first time they’re doing anything, so you can’t possibly disappoint them.)

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

A baby’s growth booms in the first three months of life, so yours will add weight more slowly now. At this point, the amount of milk a baby takes in doesn’t change very much. Breastfeeding newborns tend to increase their consumption of milk until about 3 months, and then plateau, says Wendy Haldeman, R.N., lactation consultant and cofounder of The Pump Station in Los Angeles. “In the first three months, human babies need lots of energy to stay warm, but once a baby has developed enough brown fat to stay warm, she can now use those calories for growth.”

Tempted to try solid foods? It’s an exciting prospect and a fun new chapter for you and your baby. Here are some signs that your baby may be ready soon for solid foods:

• Can hold head up and for long periods.
• Can sit up (while propped) in a high chair.
• Doubled birth weight and is at least 13 pounds.
• Interested in food and opens mouth to try to eat.

Check with your pediatrician, as most experts will recommend holding off another month or two. Your baby’s nourishment is fulfilled by breast milk or formula at this age.

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“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solid foods at 6 months of age,” Dr. Steph Lee, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told Mom.com. “Before 6 months of age, babies may not hold their head steady enough or have enough tongue coordination to mash and swallow solids.”

Dr. Lee also advised against giving the baby any water because breastmilk and formula have enough water. “Water has no calories and can make a baby feel full without the necessary nutrition,” she said.

Play: Toys, Games, and Activities

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The best place for your baby — when they’re not in your arms or on the go — is on the floor, and especially on their tummy.

It sounds silly to say this, but it’s a good reminder: It’s OK to leave your baby to entertain themselves if they’re content. Working on shaking a toy, rolling around or just watching a shadow on the wall — it’s actually a good idea to let your baby have some alone time (with you nearby).

Some other activities you can play with your 4-month-old include:

• Peekaboo
• Hide a toy or object (poorly) and have your baby find it.
• Let them explore child-safe objects that have different textures, weights, shapes, and sizes.
• Play with bubbles.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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At four months, your baby should be sleeping about 10 hours at night (including waking to feed) and napping around five hours spread over two to three naps during the day. However, you may also have a formerly good sleeper who now wakes up multiple times a night. That’s the dreaded “sleep regression,” and it often rears its head between 3 to 5 months.

“When babies get a burst in cognition and consciousness around this age, it’s common for sleep to get very bumpy,” said sleep consultant and author Heather Turgeon. “In our practice, we hear parents saying all the time, ‘She thinks she’s a newborn again!'” It’s normal, and the silver lining is that it means you have an aware and smart baby on your hands.

Try to ride the wave and avoid adding in lots of extra bouncing, feeding, rocking, and so forth, says Turgeon. The mistake many parents understandably make is starting to do all these new habits and soothing tricks they didn’t need before — the baby gets quickly addicted. Of course, you want to help and soothe your baby, but the key is to help them just enough and gradually fade that help so they can take over.

Should you “sleep train” your baby? Turgeon says that depends on what you mean by sleep training. It’s still very natural for babies to wake up and feed at this age, so it’s too early to think about weaning, and breastfeeding moms’ milk supply can be seriously dented by too-early night weaning. In her sleep consulting practice, Turgeon likes for parents to hold off on structured sleep plans until the baby is about 5 months old (depending on the maturity of the baby), and even then babies can still keep feedings in place while you’re working on self-soothing skills to improve overall sleep.

Here are some signs your baby may be ready for sleep training:

• They eat a lot more and have gained weight.
• Have naturally dropped a night feeding or two.
• Decreased Moro (startle) reflex.
• Your baby has gotten into a regular sleep routine.

Common 4-Month-Old Health Conditions

At the 4-month mark, there is generally a 4-month-old checkup appointment with your child’s pediatrician. At the 4-month checkup, the AAP and CDC recommend second doses of the following immunizations:

• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Poliovirus (IPV)
• Rotavirus (RV)

Coming Soon: Your 5-Month-Old

Sitting up and burgeoning independence!

The post Your 4-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

If you can believe it, the middle of the year is approaching! Your baby’s mind is twinkling with consciousness and all the great work you’ve been doing to respond to them and make them feel secure is paying off. You’ll know this because your baby will eventually start to show signs of independence. The classic example of this is when your baby can eventually crawl away (looking back to check you’re there, of course) to explore the world.

Your 5-Month-Old’s Milestones

At five months, most babies at this age can sleep a stretch of 6 to 8 hours continuously, roll over, and stay sitting up without being propped. Your baby may start recognizing the sound of their own name and turn when you call their name. Their hearing and vision are mostly developed and are eagerly soaking in as much as they can about their environment.

Your 5-month-old can likely distinguish tiny things and colors, tracking moving objects. They may be able to pick up items with one hand or pass an item from one hand to the other. They might also be chatting and giggling away.

Additionally, they will discover cause and effect and start making connections that their actions are causing a result. Your baby will thoroughly enjoy confirming their theories by shaking or dropping objects over and over again to see if the always make the same sounds or elicit the same responses. Though this will be super annoying, this experimenting is an important part of your baby’s developmental process.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some other 5-month-old milestones include:

• Starts to “tripod” when sitting, leaning forward and extending arms to balance their upper body
• May be able to pick up things
• Brings feet and toes to their mouth
• Discovers other body parts
• Repeats one sound for a whole day (or several) before switching to another
• Realizes object permanence

Your 5-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for a 5-month-old is 15.2 pounds and 25.2 inches for girls and 16.5 pounds and 25.9 inches for boys. For these next few months, your baby will gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and be about 1 inch longer each month. Focus on the overarching growth and not specific numbers. Remember there is a wide range of normal.

Please contact your child’s pediatrician if your baby shows any of the following signs of developmental delay at five months such as:

• Doesn’t track things as they move
• Can’t support head or keep it steady
• Doesn’t babble or make sounds
• Doesn’t try to stand or bounce or push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
• Has difficulty moving one or both eyes in all directions

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 5-Month-Old

As the memory and attention span of your 5-month-old increases, you’ll find that your baby will start to incorporate what they’re learning through their play and exploration of the world. If they’ve dropped down to two naps from three, you are now faced with even more waking hours. Don’t worry about trying to entertain a 5-month-old all day. Whatever you do will likely be fine.

Just remember to talk to your baby. Explain what you’re doing even if you feel stupid narrating your life to a baby who doesn’t really carry their part of the conversation. Remember that as long as their surrounding environment is safe and free from choking hazards or dangers, you can let them amuse themselves as you take a brief break nearby.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

Even though 3 out of 4 moms in the U.S. start out breastfeeding, by 6 months between 50 and 80 percent (depending on the state) have stopped, and many more are supplementing with formula. Why do breastfeeding rates drop off so far shy of the 1 to 2 years recommended by major health advisors like the AAP and the WHO? The reasons are many, said lactation consultant Wendy Haldeman, R.N. The big ones are:

1. Returning to work
2. Cultural norms and moms being told (even by their pediatricians, in some cases) that there are no nutritional advantages to human milk after 6 months
3. Peer and family pressure to wean
4. Night weaning too early

That means enlisting support if you’re trying to make it to the one-year mark, or further. Join a nursing moms support group, talk to fellow breastfeeding moms who have successfully kept their supply up while working and politely change the topic when a friend or family member expresses dismay that you’re still breastfeeding.

Pediatrician Dr. Yael Wapinksi says most babies peak in milk consumption around 30 to 32 ounces a day, give or take, so if your baby is bottle feeding, that will be her rough benchmark for the rest of the year.

Time to think about all the delicious flavors and foods you can start introducing to your baby! Talk to your doctor about the right time to start, but the AAP recommends 6 months for the tasting to begin. At this point, solid food is not a nutritional “must,” but more of an introduction to flavors and textures.

Pediatrician Dr. Steph Lee told Mom.com, “You don’t have to give water to a baby, because breastmilk and formula have enough.” Plus, water has no calories but can make a baby feel full — which is not advisable since it has no nutrition.

Play: Toys, Games and Activities

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What’s one of the most common anxieties in parents in the first six months? “Parents often worry that they’re not doing enough or using the appropriate toys to encourage their child’s development,” said Dr. Wapinski. She said a lot of parents come into her office worried that they don’t have the right games or gadgets to boost brain growth.

“A baby doesn’t need any specific ‘prop’ for development at such a young age,” she reassures her patients. “It is just as important to talk or sing to your child as to give them a specific game.”

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Your baby is a little scientist so they don’t need much. They will do the rest. Some ideas of what to engage your child with are:

• Simple toys without too much in the way of flashing lights and sounds
• Basic materials like a wooden spoon and salad bowl
• Your company
• Fresh air and nature

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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At this age, most babies need about 11 to 12 hours of nighttime sleep and take 2 to 3 naps per day (depending on the length of the nap), said Los Angeles sleep consultant Heather Turgeon.

Your baby should be able to sleep a good stretch of the night, said Turgeon. Some babies wake up to eat at this age, but the overall night should be getting easier, not harder. If you’re working hard to put your baby to sleep after the age of 5 months, you might be “over-helping,” said Turgeon — which is a super commonplace for parents with babies at this age.

A healthy, realistic expectation for a 5-month-old when it comes to sleep? “Most 5-month-old babies are capable of putting themselves to sleep at bedtime and waking 1 to 2 times in the night to be fed,” Turgeon said. They wake for feedings, but they can go back to sleep again smoothly.

“If you’re still bouncing, rocking or feeding all the way to sleep, you might be getting in the way of your baby’s natural sleep and self-soothing abilities.” That’s when most of her clients call, said Turgeon. “They’ve gotten themselves stuck in a habit that they know is hindering sleep, but they can’t figure out how to back away without being too harsh.”

A few other sleep reminders:

• Continue placing your baby on their backs to sleep
• Follow the AAP recommendations to keep your child safe from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)
• If your baby can roll over, stop swaddling them
• Remove loose blankets, pillows, and soft toys from your baby’s sleeping area

Common 5-Month-Old Health Conditions

At five months, there really aren’t any unique health conditions to look out for. Likely, your baby will be experiencing:

• Sleep regression
• Teething
• Possible growth spurt
• Losing hair
• Spitting up

If they get a cold and cough, remember cough medicine isn’t recommended for children under 2 years old. For their coughing and congestion, you can run a humidifier and use a nasal spray in conjunction with a nasal aspirator.

Coming Soon: Your 6-Month-Old

Solid foods and scooting!

The post Your 5-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

Can you believe you kept a tiny human alive for half a year?! Your baby is 6 months old and likely extremely opinionated. They might only want you to hold them, or they might hate certain foods or textures as you start introducing solids. Make sure you record their funny faces when they try foods for the first time as future blackmail material when they hit their teenage years. But for now, your baby should really love you and like hearing you call their name.

Your 6-Month-Old’s Milestones

At six months, your baby may start to sit up unsupported, roll from their stomach to their back (or the other way around), and may even start to scoot. Some babies may even be able to start crawling or some proto-version of crawling. If your baby rarely spends time on their tummy, they’ll likely start crawling later or skip it entirely and start cruising (walking while holding onto objects).

Your 6-month-old can likely distinguish between someone they are familiar with and strangers, as well as feed off of other people’s emotions. They are tiny Narcissuses and love to gaze at themselves in the mirror (but who can blame them?) and love to play. Your baby may continue to put things in their mouth and try to grab objects outside of their reach. They may even try to have a conversation with you as they respond to sounds with their own sounds.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some other 6-month-old milestones include:

• Make sounds expressing their happiness or annoyance.
• Babble vowel sounds (e.g.: “ah,” “eh”, “oh”).
• Start making “m” or “b” sounds.
• Roll over from tummy to back or back to tummy.
• Rock back and forth when on all fours or crawl backwards.
• Sit without assistance.

Your 6-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for a 6-month-old is 16.1 pounds and 25.9 inches for girls and 17.4 pounds and 26.6 inches for boys. In the next month or so, your baby will gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and be about 1 inch longer. Don’t worry if your baby is not in the highest percentiles — those percentiles aren’t grades. Focus on the fact that your baby is growing and developing, and remember normal is a wide range.

Please contact your child’s doctor if you are concerned about your baby and especially if they show some of the signs of developmental delay at 6 months such as:

• Doesn’t reach for things outside of their reach.
• Doesn’t roll over in either direction.
• Doesn’t babble, make vowel or squealing sounds.
• Doesn’t respond to sounds.
• Doesn’t show attachment to parents or caregivers.
• Seems either very stiff or very limp.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the CDC.

A General Schedule for Your 6-Month-Old

If you’re exhausted with your 6-month-old even though it seems as if you did nothing all day, don’t worry. It’s totally normal. It can actually be very difficult to play with babies because not everyone loves to do it or finds it fun. While there are lots of activities you can do with your baby at six months, it’s also OK to let your baby entertain themselves. You do not have to be “on” all the time. It’s OK to set your baby in a bouncer or swing and have them watch you cook or fold laundry or use the bathroom.

Keep in mind that what you do in your daily routine is interesting enough for your child. Taking your baby while running errands, picking up other children, or even attending Mommy and Me classes or going to the park all count as “play.” It may be boring or routine for you, but those are precisely the things that will stimulate your baby’s mind and teach them about the world and how it works.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, feed, nap
• Afternoon: play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, nap, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

Welcome to the world of solids! Most doctors and nutrition experts agree that by 6 months, babies are ready for the new tastes and textures of food. “A baby with good head control who watches eagerly when you prepare foods, readily opens their mouth and sits up without support is developmentally ready to try solid foods,” said board-certified infant feeding specialist Cynthia Epps.

Breast milk or formula can continue on as usual — the solids you introduce at this point are more of a bonus. Solids don’t take the place of milk, which is still your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Your baby will need about 32 ounces of formula or six to eight feedings a day.

You don’t need to start with the traditional rice cereal, unless your doctor recommends it. Many nutrition experts recommend that a baby’s first foray into foods be with green or yellow vegetables, diluted with water, breast milk or formula. You can start with one meal per day and bump that up to two meals per day when your baby is 7 months.

Make sure to resist the urge to introduce a lot of new foods at the same time to your baby. Space out new foods every few days so that if there is a negative reaction, you can easily identify the culprit.

Here are some foods that are easy to prepare and puree to start trying with your baby:

• Bananas
• Avocados
• Pears
• Sweet potatoes
• Green beans
• Carrots

Play: Toys, Games and Activities

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If you haven’t already, now is the time to learn and practice a repertoire of baby songs. Sit your baby in front of you and sing songs. Don’t be bashful about belting them out — and if they involve hand motions, even better. Remember the classics, like:

• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• The Wheels on the Bus
• Where Is Thumbkin
• Open Shut Them

Peek-a-boo also never gets old. It’s thrilling for your baby to see you, then not see you, wonder what’s about to happen, and then: poof! They see you again. Your baby is testing their mature level of “object permanence,” which tells them things are there even when they can’t see them.

If it fits in your schedule, join a Mommy and Me class or an informal playgroup for babies of the same age. We’re not meant to do this parenting thing alone, so joining a group gives you the chance to learn from others, and share information and support. Babies also love to watch and learn from each other.

Note: Please keep in mind that the CDC currently recommends you only gather with people within your household.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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Six months is a fair age to expect your baby to sleep well, said Heather Turgeon, sleep consultant and co-author of The Happy Sleeper. At 6 months, their internal clock is mature and they’re capable of self-soothing. This doesn’t mean they have to sleep 11 to 12 hours straight, said Turgeon, but they can fall asleep on their own — and when they wake up to feed, they can go back to sleep smoothly without much fanfare. Whether a parent decides to wean a baby from night feedings — or not — is a matter of choice. It’s perfectly natural for a baby this age to still feed one to two times in the night, said Turgeon.

“Six months is when a lot of families call us for help,” Turgeon noted. “If a baby isn’t in the habit of falling asleep independently at bedtime, it can start taking longer and longer to get that baby to sleep, and they’re more likely to wake in the night, too.” At this point, a lot of parents feel stuck. “To get unstuck at this age, you need a plan for how to back off from over-helping while still being responsive and supportive to the baby,” said Turgeon. “It’s tricky, and that’s where hand-holding through the process can be a game changer.”

Your baby should be sleeping about 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, of which about 3.5 hours should be split between two to three naps. Your child should be awake about two to three hours between naps, but this will adjust as their circadian sleep rhythm becomes more established.

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If you notice your baby is having trouble sleeping at night, there are several possible reasons such as:

• Sleep regression
• Teething
• Growth spurts
• Practicing rolling, crawling, creeping

It’s OK if your 6-month-old ends up sleeping on their stomach — even when you put them down to sleep on their back. As long as they can lift their head and shoulders when on their tummy or can roll over, you should be OK. Make sure you follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to help avoid sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), and keep the sleeping area free of loose or soft blankets, pillows, and toys.

Common 6-Month-Old Health Conditions

When your baby hits six months, there is usually a 6-month-old checkup appointment with your child’s medical professional. At the 6-month checkup, the AAP and CDC recommend third doses of the following immunizations:

• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)

Depending on the dosing schedule and type of vaccination, they may also receive the third dose for these immunizations:

• Hepatitis B (HepB)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Poliovirus (IPV)
• Rotavirus (RV)

Coming Soon: Your 7-Month-Old

Separation anxiety and raking objects to themselves!

The post Your 6-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

At 7 months old, your baby is probably giving you mixed signals. One moment, they’re itching to crawl away from you — or attempt to — and explore everything at floor level and perhaps shove it in their mouth. Make sure you babyproof your house — cover outlets, sharp corners, protect loose wires, secure or strap any furniture that can topple (e.g., dressers, TVs, bookshelves), and remove choking hazards (if it can fit through an empty toilet paper tube, it’s chokable).

The next moment, your baby is showing signs of separation anxiety. Reaching for you when someone else is holding them, crying when you disappear into the next room or leave the house — these are signs of a very normal part of a healthy attachment relationship between parent and baby. Hold your baby a lot, get down on the ground and play, keep your routines predictable — as time goes on, your baby learns that you do go away, but you always come back. It’s not always easy for you to always be so needed, but just know that this, too, shall pass.

Your 7-Month-Old’s Milestones

At seven months, your baby may rock back and forth on hands and knees, a precursor to crawling. They may rake objects toward themselves to grasp them, and you’ll hear different, more mature sounds and babbles in baby conversation now. If your baby doesn’t try to make or copy any sounds by the time they are 7 months old, there may be a problem with their hearing or speech. In cases of partial hearing loss, babies may still turn their heads to follow sounds or be startled by loud noises, but they will have difficulty emulating speech. Confer with your doctor to get proper testing.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some other 7-month-old milestones include:

• Sitting without support.
• Crawling.
• Pulling up from a sitting to standing position.
• Rolling over from tummy to back or back to tummy.
• Imitating sounds and babbling.
• Picking things up with their whole hand.

Your 7-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for a 7-month-old is 16.8 pounds and 26.5 inches for girls and 18.3 pounds and 27.2 inches for boys. Your baby may gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and grow another half or ¾ inches longer in the next month. If your baby is on the smaller side, remember that babies come in all shapes and sizes. As long as your baby is growing and developing, they are totally within the wide range of normal.

Please notify your baby’s pediatrician if you have concerns and if they show some of the signs of developmental delay at seven months, such as:

• Doesn’t respond to or imitate sounds.
• Doesn’t roll over in either direction.
• Doesn’t show attachment to parents or caregivers.
• Doesn’t follow objects with both eyes whether near or far.
• One or both eyes consistently turn in or out.
• Eyes persistently drain, tear, or are sensitive to light.
• Doesn’t bear weight on their legs.
• Doesn’t try to get your attention.
• Seems either very stiff or very limp.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 7-Month-Old

This month shouldn’t look too differently from the last — unless your baby has newly dropped a nap from three naps to two. Hopefully, you’re a little more used to how active and curious your 7-month-old is and are getting the hang of dragging an energetic baby everywhere. Take your baby to the park (while practicing proper social distancing), go on walks in the neighborhood, or try activities or read books to your baby. Remember that they’re busy exploring and expanding their world right now, so it’s perfectly fine to let your baby crawl around your floor as long as you’ve cleared or secured your home for their safety.

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, nap
• Afternoon: feed, play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

You’re not just feeding your baby solid food, you’re laying the groundwork for their relationship to food over the years. This means thinking not just about what you’re feeding, but how you’re feeding it.

“The goal is to let the initiation to eat or not eat come from the baby,” said Los Angeles Mommy and Me group leader and author Julie Wright. Early on, that means respecting the baby’s cues and trying not to have an emotional reaction, positive or negative, around whether your baby eats. Enjoy food with them — have a version of what they’re eating so they see you eating, too.

You can offer two foods at two meals a day, said board-certified infant feeding specialist Cynthia Epps. Keep the food servings separate, with each averaging approximately 2 ounces of puree. “Between 7 and 8 months, two purees of green and yellow vegetables and/or any of the various potatoes — peeled, steamed sweet potatoes, yams, red, white, or yellow potatoes, and fingerlings — can build your baby’s meals,” said Epps. “Fruits are optional, and may be offered as little as two to three times a week to minimize the development of a sweet tooth.”

Sample feeding schedule:

• Morning: Breast or bottle feed.
• Mid-morning: Breast or bottle feed.
• Lunch: 1 to 2 ounces green/yellow veggies, diluted with water. You may offer the solids first and finish the meal with breast/bottle feeding.
• Mid-afternoon: Breast or bottle feed.
• Dinner: 2 ounces veggie puree or baby cereal diluted with water. Breast/bottle feeding, as desired.
• Bedtime: Breast or bottle feed.
• Night feed(s): Breast or bottle feed, if needed.

Play: Toys, Games, and Activities

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When you play with your baby, try to hang back and watch. Let them lead the play — and you follow. Pause and notice what they’re doing: Are they trying to communicate, are they pointing at something, watching shadows on the wall, or reveling in the sound of a toy shaker? Whatever it is, see if you can join in and let them lead you. Add to what they do and build on their curiosity instead of trying to direct the play — this is a great parenting skill to practice.

Some other activities you can try:

• Help stack blocks or cups, and have your baby topple them down.
• Provide different (safe) objects for your baby to throw and shove in their mouth.
• Sing and dance to the same songs repeatedly.
• Read books with textured material or interesting designs and fun sounds on the page.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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At this age, babies need between 10.5 to 12 hours of nighttime sleep and take two to three naps per day (depending on the length of the nap), said sleep consultant Heather Turgeon. A typical 7-month-old’s sleep schedule will look something like this (adapted from Turgeon’s book The Happy Sleeper):

• Bedtime: 7 p.m.
• Wake time: 6 a.m.
• Nap 1: 8:00 a.m.
• Nap 2: 12:00 p.m.
• Nap 3: 3:30 p.m. (short nap)

If your baby’s naps are long, they may only take two naps. Most babies move to a two-nap schedule by 9 months of age, and those naps will be around one to two hours each, said Turgeon.

Common 7-Month-Old Health Conditions

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For many babies, their first teeth may start coming in at seven months. Dr. Steph Lee, spokesperson for the AAP, suggested your baby no longer go to sleep with a bottle of either milk or formula “because sugars from liquid left in the mouth while sleeping can cause tooth decay.” Dr. Lee advised transitioning to only water for naptime or bedtime.

If your baby doesn’t have any teeth yet, you can still take steps to keep their mouth healthy. “Wipe the gums twice a day with a wet cloth, after the first feeding and before bedtime. This will get rid of any leftover food and helps your baby get used to the dental care routine,” she said.

Coming Soon: Your 8-Month-Old

Mobile babies and new foods!

The post Your 7-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

Is your baby on the move yet? At 8 months old, they may have figured out a unique form of scooting, or they may be starting to crawl (or look as if they want to). It’s a trip the first time you set your baby down, leave the room, and come back to see them in a different spot. Imagine how it feels from their perspective, to know that so much is within reach! If you haven’t already, it’s time to take the glass vases off low shelves and cover sharp corners — the more baby-proofed space your little one has to move around in, the more exercise and safe experimenting they can do.

Your baby may also be experiencing separation anxiety and start crying if you leave the room or someone else holds them. Don’t worry — this is perfectly normal and part of forming a healthy attachment. However, it can break your heart when you have to leave or take a break, so be prepared. Your baby will be fine and will learn that you always come back.

Your 8-Month-Old’s Milestones

Your 8-month-old can probably sit unsupported, and this is usually the time when the average baby starts to crawl (sometimes backwards!). Some babies find alternative ways of getting around (scooting or moving while sitting up). Their baby babbles are becoming more sophisticated and adapting word-like sounds as they try to get and keep your attention.

Your baby also easily rolls over now, and every time they’re on their back, your 8-month-old will be super active and want to flip over. Be especially mindful during diaper changes, and consider changing them on a bed or the floor to lower the risk of your baby falling. Never leave your baby unattended.

They may also give into the temptation of climbing up stairs and get stuck at the top. Teach your child how to get down the stairs by slowly crawling backwards. Your baby may also start standing while holding onto something and take tentative steps.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some other 8-month-old milestones include:

• Separation anxiety.
• Self-awareness (e.g., realizing that their reflection in the mirror is them).
• Crawls
• Rolls over from tummy to back or back to tummy.
• Begins to comprehend what you’re saying.
• Starts to make sounds that sound like words.

Your 8-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for an 8-month-old is 17.4 pounds and 27 inches for girls and 19 pounds and 27.8 inches for boys. Your baby may gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and grow another half or ¾ inches longer in the next month. If your baby is on the smaller side, remember that babies come in all shapes and sizes. As long as your baby is growing and developing, they are totally within the wide range of normal.

Please check with your baby’s doctor if your 8-month-old shows signs of developmental delay at eight months, such as:

• Doesn’t babble.
• Doesn’t show interest in games of peekaboo.
• Doesn’t enjoy being around people.
• Doesn’t try to get your attention.
• Doesn’t follow objects with both eyes whether near or far.
• Doesn’t bear weight on their legs.
• Seems either very stiff or very limp.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 8-Month-Old

Since your 8-month-old is now awake for about 10 hours a day, you may feel a lot of pressure to entertain them all day. Never fear: You don’t have to do anything special. There are lots of fun activities you can do at home, or you can venture out to the park or walk around your neighborhood. (Please practice proper social distancing.) Read books and point to the pictures. Sing songs.

Ensure that your home is babyproofed, that stairs are gated off, corners and outlets covered, and choking hazards removed so that you can let your little one safely explore your home. “Be careful of where you place your hot drinks, since babies can now hold onto cups and bottles, and are curious enough to reach for anything,” advised pediatrician Dr. Steph Lee. “If you haven’t already, now is the time to get a fence for that pool.”

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, snack, nap
• Afternoon: feed, play, feed, nap, play
• Evening: feed, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

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New foods are opening up to your baby with each passing week. Within reason, you can start thinking of your baby as eating what you eat (allergies and certain foods, like honey and nuts, notwithstanding), but in mashed or diluted form. It makes sense to expose your baby to lots of textures and flavors, and feed them whole, not processed, foods. Eat with your child — make them a version of what you’re eating, sit together at the table, and chat while you experience the joy of shared meals. Try not to show big praise or frustration with your baby over what they eat.

Instead of: “Oh wow, you really don’t like that food, do you?” (Insert yucky face.)

Try: “Oh, you don’t know that food yet, huh? It’s a different flavor.”

Board-certified infant feeding specialist Cynthia Epps shares some of the foods your baby could be eating in the next couple of months:

Protein

• Egg yolks (hard-boiled and cut, or scrambled)
• Beans — cooked, pureed or mashed
• Lean beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork and/or tofu — pureed

Veggies and fruits
Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, winter squash — steamed, pureed, and diluted with water.

Grains
Kasha, buckwheat, quinoa, corn meal, millet, flax, brown rice, farina and amaranth may be served individually, or as mixed whole-grain cereals; breads, toast, muffins, pasta (pureed or in small, soft, cooked pieces). Mixed whole-grain infant cereals, and/or white or brown rice infant cereals may be mixed with breast milk or formula to boost the iron absorption in each serving.

Any commercially prepared Stage 2 baby foods. (Read the labels to avoid dairy and sugar.)

Play: Toys, Games, and Activities

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We all know that talking to your baby is important — the number and sophistication of words little ones hear from us directly influences their verbal skills, social skills, and more. But here’s a tip that parents don’t hear as often: Listening to your baby is just as important. It’s tempting to jump in when your baby starts babbling and finish their “sentences,” but challenge yourself to truly listen. Yes, right now it’s mostly strings of repetitive syllables, but if your baby gets the feeling you’re paying attention to their unique contributions, they’ll be motivated to share more. Imagine how important that parenting skill will be as your baby grows.

Some other activities you can try:

• Make lots of loud and noisy sounds.
• Sensory bags and bins loaded with different textures, colors, and fun objects (avoid choking hazards and breakable items).
• Give your baby pots, pans, and wooden spoons, and let them have at it.
• Splash around in the bathtub, and provide cups and floating toys.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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Even the best sleepers will have an off day. You may have a carefully crafted sleep routine, but what happens when you travel, your baby gets sick, or they learn a new skill that they’re excited to practice at night? “Babies aren’t robots; they’re bound to naturally have nights when sleep is disrupted,” said The Happy Sleeper author Heather Turgeon. This is why in her work with parents, Turgeon encourages them not to think in terms of “sleep-training.”

“The best sleepers come from families who don’t think of good sleep as a one-time fix, but as an overall philosophy that lasts through the years,” she said. The habits you set up now, like an early bedtime, a good bedtime routine that ends with your baby falling asleep on their own, and a sleep-friendly bedroom, said Turgeon, will last through childhood and beyond.

A sample sleep schedule for an 8-month-old taking 3 naps:

• Wake: 6:00 a.m.
• Nap: 8:00 a.m.
• Nap: 12:30 p.m.
• Nap: 3:00 p.m.
• Bedtime: 7:30 p.m.

A sample sleep schedule for an 8-month-old taking 2 naps:

• Wake time: 6:30 a.m.
• Nap 1: 9:00 a.m.
• Nap 2: 2:00 p.m.
• Bedtime: 7 p.m.

Common 8-Month-Old Health Conditions

The AAP and the CDC recommend everyone 6 months or older (without medical contraindications) get the current age-appropriate influenza vaccine — especially since COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms and can help conserve potentially scarce medical resources. While the flu vaccine will not protect your baby from COVID-19, it can reduce their risk of getting sick from the flu, hospitalization, as well as possible death. Please consult your pediatrician to see whether your baby needs two doses of vaccine or only one dose.

Coming Soon: Your 9-Month-Old

Standing, cruising, and fine motor skills!

The post Your 8-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.

At nine months, you can already tell a lot about your baby’s temperament — shy, bold, cautious, talkative, and so on. Of course, their experience — how they’re nurtured, if they’re encouraged, made to feel safe, given lots of room to master new skills — has a lot to do with how their personality unfolds. But their general orientation to the world is probably pretty clear by now. That’s so neat, because as a parent you get to know this human being and help them grow into the unique little person they are.

Your 9-Month-Old’s Milestones

At nine months, your baby should start having joint attention — when you’re looking at something, chances are they’re interested in what you are paying attention to as well. Encourage this behavior by pointing and saying, “Oh, look at that!” This helps your child learn what is appropriate to be curious about and to explore their environment safely.

Your 9-month-old might be quite the mover now, knowing how to get into and out of a crawl position, and even return to a sitting position from here. Your baby may even pull to a standing position and cruise on the furniture! Their fine motor skills are improving, so your baby can pick up a small object and manipulate it. Plus, their babbling language is getting more complex — you could soon hear “mama” or “dada.”

Your little one will now have a good grasp on object permanence and can recognize familiar faces, objects, and sounds. They will look for toys they see you hide, they’ll love peekaboo, and will use their fingers to point at things. Your baby is very active — either crawling, scooting, or cruising, and maybe some very ambitious ones will have started to walk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some other 9-month-old milestones include:

• Understands the word “no.”
• Copies sounds and gestures of other people.
• May be wary of strangers and be clingy.
• Command of the pincer grasp and can pick up small objects between their thumb and index finger.
• Can get into a sitting position and sit without support.

Your 9-Month-Old’s Development

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for a 9-month-old is 18.1 pounds and 27.6 inches for girls and 19.6 pounds and 28.3 inches for boys. Your baby may gain about 0.75 to 1.25 pounds and grow another half inch longer in the next month. Don’t worry if your baby is on the smaller or larger size — humans come in a wide range of normal, and that definitely holds true for babies. The most important thing is that your baby is growing and developing.

Please check with your baby’s health-care professional if your 9-month-old shows signs of developmental delay at nine months such as:

• Doesn’t babble.
• Doesn’t play back and forth.
• Doesn’t recognize familiar people.
• Doesn’t switch objects from hand to hand.
• Doesn’t follow where you point.
• Doesn’t bear weight on their legs.
• Doesn’t sit up with assistance.
• Doesn’t respond to their name.

Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility’s safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A General Schedule for Your 9-Month-Old

Your 9-month-old is now awake for about 10 hours a day and more curious than ever! It can be overwhelming to entertain a baby all day, but hopefully, you’re getting the hang of things. Ultimately, as long as your baby is safe and cared for, you don’t have to do anything special.

Go online and search for fun activities you can do at home. See if there are local playgroups or Mommy and Me classes you can join online, or check out the neighborhood park and walk around your area. (Please wear a mask and practice proper social distancing.) Go to the local library and borrow a bunch of books to read together throughout the day. Sing songs together. You can even safely leave your baby on the floor for them to explore (make sure your home is properly baby-proofed), and let them entertain themselves!

Here is one suggested routine:

• Morning: feed, play, snack, nap
• Afternoon: feed, play, nap, feed, play
• Evening: feed, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
• Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep

Feeding and Eating Guidelines

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Babies and little kids are naturally cautious of new things, so try not to take your baby’s rumpled nose or the rejection of food as a sign of anything other than this simple fact. Parents are too quick to declare their baby doesn’t like a certain food, but with repetition this usually turns around. Don’t stop exposing your baby to squash, peas, or any other food because they don’t initially eat it. Wait a few days and try again — without a big emotional reaction one way or the other. If it still doesn’t work, shelve that food and try again in a few weeks. Acquiring food tastes is an evolution, and your job is to keep exposing your baby to a wide variety of flavors and textures. It’s their job to decide how much of it to partake of at any given feeding.

In month 8, we listed a host of foods your baby might be nibbling. Here are more to try:

• Plums
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Apricots
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Mango

Again, if you are exposing your child to new foods, remember to wait three to five days between introducing another new food so that you can easily identify any food allergies.

For bottle-fed babies, they should be eating about 24 to 32 ounces of formula or breastmilk every 24 hours (approximately 4 to 6 ounces each feeding, six times a day for formula, and 3 to 4 ounces of breastmilk, eight times a day). Breastfed babies are likely still feeding every three to four hours until they are satiated. If you’re worried about hydration, your 9-month-old should have four to five wet diapers a day.

Play: Toys, Games and Activities

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If your 9-month-old seems shy with new people or in groups, think of it as a good thing. It’s natural (and advantageous) to be cautious around new people, sudden sounds, or different stimuli in the environment. Seeing these responses in your baby means they have a healthy awareness of what they know and what’s unfamiliar. Respect their slow-to-warm process, and think of your job as simply being there to expand their comfort zone a bit at a time. That means if they’re uncomfortable at a playgroup or music class, sit on the ground yourself and let your baby sit in your lap for as long as they’d like. Help them find an interesting toy. You might notice your child will crawl away on their own once they’re comfortable.

Some fun activities you can try:

• Roll a ball to your baby, and encourage them to roll the ball back.
• Encourage your baby to clap and sing along to familiar nursery songs.
• Give your baby messy foods like Jell-O or flour, and let them have at it.
• Play tug-of-war with your baby to work on grip strength.

Sleep and Nap Guidelines

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Your baby is probably down to two naps a day, each about one to two hours, while they get between 10 to 12 hours of nightly sleep. Good sleep is an important part of overall health and development. When babies sleep, the information they learned in waking hours is processed, memories are strengthened, and emotions are balanced, says sleep book author and consultant Heather Turgeon. If your baby can’t self-soothe to sleep at bedtime, is waking many times a night, their sleep has regressed, or you’re still feeling as though the family is exhausted, it’s a good time to get a sleep consultation or find a sleep book whose methods sound right to you.

*A sample sleep schedule for a 9-month-old:

• Wake time: 6:30 a.m.
• Nap 1: 9:00 a.m.
• Nap 2: 2:00 p.m.
• Bedtime: 7:00 p.m.

Common 9-Month-Old Health Conditions

Since COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms and can help conserve potentially scarce medical resources, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend everyone 6 months or older (without medical contraindications) get the current age-appropriate influenza vaccine. While the flu vaccine will not protect your 9-month-old from COVID-19, it can reduce their risk of contracting the flu, hospitalization, or possible death. Please consult your child’s pediatrician to see whether your baby needs two doses of vaccine or only one dose.

When your baby is nine months, there is usually a 9-month-old checkup appointment with your child’s pediatrician. Depending on the dosing schedule and type of vaccination, they may receive the AAP– and CDC-recommended third doses of the following immunizations:

• Hepatitis B (HepB)
• Poliovirus (IPV)

Coming Soon: Your 10-Month-Old

Self-feeding, babbling, and lots of personality!

The post Your 9-Month-Old appeared first on Mom.com.