Your Baby and You: Week Thirty One
YOUR BABY
Physical Development: No teeth yet?
If by this age your baby's first tooth still hasn't broken, don't worry. Most children have all 20 teeth by the time they reach 2 and half years of age. If your baby hasn't cut any teeth yet this doesn't mean that he won't manage to chew: babies' gums are very efficient at grinding up their food before swallowing.
Behavioural Development: Give it back!
Your baby is likely to start objecting if a toy they are playing with is taken away, either by you or especially by any older siblings they have. Expect a lot of protests; by 8 months your baby knows what she wants.
Feeding: Cups
Offer your baby a lidless cup regularly at mealtimes. You can hold the open cup for him at first but try to allow your baby to take control of it little by little. It is a good idea to put only a small amount of water or milk in the cup to begin with, so that when the inevitable spillage happens, there is less mess for you to mop up from the highchair and floor. It is great if you can get your baby used to the idea of drinking from a cup early: current advice is to aim to give your baby all his drinks from a cup by the age of one and so to have weaned him off a bottle by then. For now though, don't consider a cup as a replacement for breast or bottle feeding, it is really a fun addition at mealtimes to get your little one used to the idea of drinking from a cup.
Care Advice: Which cup is the right cup?
The range of different cups available can seem a little mind-boggling. Standard cups are of the lidless beaker variety. There are cups that are lidless, with handles for your baby to hold and with a clever slanted, completely open design: the advantage of this is that your child can see the liquid they are drinking more easily and learn how to control the speed that the liquid hits their lips when they tilt their cup to drink. An alternative option is to try a cup with a lid. Some sippy cups have valves that prevent the cup from spilling no matter which way up it is held and are a cleaner option than lidless cups. Some cups also come with spouts or straws integrated into their lids (always check they are appropriate for your baby's age) and these can either be designed not to leak or liquid may be able to spill out of them if held upside down. The downsides to non-spill cups with valves is that they can mean your baby does not learn how to avoid spills, they also have to use a sucking action to drink from the cup which slows their development in learning to 'sip'. Learning to sip properly is important for healthy tooth development and also for speech.
You could use non-spill cups for car journeys and beside the bed for instance, but at meal times use a cup without a lid or valve that allows the drink to be spilled. As always, be led by your baby: see which type of cup she prefers or finds easiest to use and remember this may change as her motor skills develop.
Common or Serious Ailments: Allergies to pets, pollen and dust
Babies can be prone to developing allergies to common irritants, such as pets' hair, grasses and pollen (hayfever) and dust (dust mites) and unfortunately it seems that the incidence of allergies in babies and infants is on the rise. There can be a huge variation in the way children react when they develop an allergy to something. Sometimes a baby may develop a rash or start itching their skin. Sometimes a baby can become short of breath, or develops more serious breathing difficulties. Always contact your doctor if you suspect your child has shown signs of an allergic reaction. Luckily most allergic reactions can be controlled well by using medicines and by avoiding the cause of the allergy whenever you can.
Don't forget: Avoid making comparisons
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Mums love to compare each other's babies. It is natural to check how your baby is doing when surrounded by his peers - is he sitting unaided, crawling, trying to walk or talk? However while some Mums do this quietly, others may be less discreet in celebrating their baby's achievements. However proud you are with the skills your baby is displaying, avoid comparing your baby's ability to others. The rates that babies develop vary hugely and it is not often a good indicator for how your baby will develop over the long-term. Most importantly, pointing out your baby's superior talents could be worrying or even hurtful to other parents.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Pelvic floor exercises
During pregnancy and giving birth, your pelvic muscles (that support your uterus, bladder and bowel) were put under a lot of pressure - stretching thanks to hormonal changes and they also had to support, and then push out, a baby. The stress that these muscles go through during delivery can cause an extremely common condition called Post-birth Incontinence, which affects up to 70% of women who have had a baby.
Emotions: It's not a competition, is it?
Other parents may not be able to help themselves boasting about their baby's achievements or may even make comments about what your baby isn't doing. Remember that every single baby is an individual and so will develop at his or her own pace. After all, wouldn't life be boring if we were all the same? Be proud of your baby's milestones as and when he reaches each one; all that really matters is that your baby is happy and healthy. If your baby is reaching several milestones noticeably later than other babies and you are concerned about his development then it is advisable for you to visit your GP for advice and reassurance.
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
Childcare: A job for the boys?
Don't rule men out as a childcare option. It can be natural to feel a little less relaxed about men working in early years childcare because it is not a traditional career choice for many. However, if men as well as women care for your child this can be of real benefit. Having a balance of men and women caring for children can provide different styles of care, approaches and outlooks. Take a look at our Childcare section for information on finding the right childcare option for you and your baby.
