Your Baby's Development Week by Week

Your Baby and You: Week Thirty Nine

YOUR BABY

Physical Development: Pulling to standing

As with all developmental milestones, there is an average age at which babies reach them, but a wide variation either side. So for you, pulling to standing may be yesterday's news, or it may seem like an alien concept if your baby has only recently learned to sit unsupported. Most babies learn to pull to standing before 12 months, but some can be later. There is no need to rush your baby, but make sure that their environment encourages them to take these steps when they are ready:

  • Keep them bare footed at home to minimise the risk of slipping in socks
  • Make sure that all furniture (or any other items that they may try to pull on) is well secured so that it cannot topple over. This includes making sure that drawers that they can pull on are locked shut or kept inaccessible from them.
  • Make sure that they have opportunities to pull themselves up, babies kept in car seats or mesh sided cots and enclosures a lot have fewer chances to actually give it a go

If you notice your baby is getting upset after standing for a period of time it is most likely that this is because they don't know how to sit back down! Help them to sit back on the floor and do so in a slow manner that helps them to learn how to do it themselves. Within a short period of time they will soon learn to get back down on their own.

Behavioural Development: Dropping food from the highchair

This can become extremely frustrating for parents when they are watching their baby deliberately letting food, cups and even plates fall to the floor. But at this age, it doesn't equate to 'naughtiness'. Babies love to experiment, and it is interesting watching things fall and hearing the noise they make when they land! Here are 2 top tips for dealing with this behaviour:

  1. Give them the opportunity to experiment with gravity outside of mealtimes - the bath is a great place to drop toys and to pour water
  2. Be mindful of your reactions. Your baby loves a reaction from you; it doesn't necessarily matter if it is a negative one! By ignoring your baby when they drop food you will have more success than by repeating 'No' all the time. Remember to praise them heartily too, when their highchair behaviour is good!

Feeding: Hungrier baby? Does he need snacks?

It is common for a baby to have another growth spurt around the age of 9 months, and this may be reflected not only in the outgrown baby grows but also in the amount of food they eat and the amount of sleep they need.

You can offer your baby healthy snacks between meals, if you feel that he is hungry. Pieces of fruit, rice cakes and bread sticks are good options - but make sure that snacks don't fill your baby up so much that he goes off his main meals. Remember that breast milk or formula should still make up a good part of your baby's nutrition and snacks should not replace this.

Safety Advice

 

Safety Tip

Reassess your home for danger in light of having - or soon having - a baby who can pull themselves up to standing. Check all cupboard doors and consider carefully what will be in their reach ones they are upright. Remove cot bumpers as they can help standing babies to climb their way out of the cot.

Common illnesses and ailments: Rashes

The first fear that comes to many parents' minds when they see a rash on their child is meningitis. But remember that rashes can be a symptom of any number of conditions, many of which are much less serious. To rule out meningitis you can do the glass test - press a glass against the rash and if the rash does not fade under pressure it could mean that your baby has meningitis, a condition which requires urgent medical attention. There are other symptoms that occur with meningitis such as a fever with cold hands and feet, vomiting, drowsiness or irritability - read more here.

Common causes of skin rashes in babies include eczema, nappy rash, ringworm, prickly heat, slapped cheek syndrome and hand foot & mouth disease. Read more here about these different rashes and what action you need to take if you think your child has one.

THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK

Teaching good behaviour

Babies and children learn best through play. But even during play you will find your baby sometimes finds amusement or entertainment in activities that are undesirable to you. This might be involve biting or throwing things, or treating a family pet with a heavy hand. Show your baby the alternative way of doing things - in the case of pets, for example, take their hand and gently stroke the pet in the proper way but whilst you are doing this repeatedly tell your baby 'well done'. The positive association with correct, or good behaviour is far more effective in teaching babies than admonishing them for doing something the wrong way. Obviously at this age you can't expect overnight results, but starting with this approach now will stand you in good stead for the long run.

ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK

Your Relationships: Your partner and your baby

Maintaining a strong relationship with your partner is important, but it will be greatly helped if they also have a strong relationship with their baby. Encourage your partner to spend some quality time with them - and without you. Get your other half to take your baby to a baby group - there are some that run on weekends - or out swimming. Or encourage them to spend more time playing with your little one during the day so that they can see for themselves how your baby is developing and changing all the time.


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This internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult a doctor or other healthcare professional.