Your Baby and You: Week Twenty Eight
YOUR BABY
Physical Development: Taking more weight on legs
By 7 months of age, many babies can bear their own weight while they are supported under their arms. You may find your baby starts bouncing up and down by pushing his feet against the floor too.
Behavioural Development: Still not sleeping through?
By now, it is reasonable to hope for your baby to be sleeping through most nights. However, up to half of all children under the age of 5 years go through periods of night waking. Some will just go back to sleep on their own, others will cry or want company. If this happens to you, try to work out why your child is waking up and then decide what is best to do about it. For instance is she hungry, is she too hot or cold, or has she slept too much in the day? Separation Anxiety can also develop around now too. Take a look at our Waking at Night article to find out the reasons your baby might be waking up, along with possible ways to help and cope.
Feeding: Drinking water
Now that your baby is over 6 months of age, when you offer a drink of water there is no longer any need to boil it first - you can give it straight from the tap. However, you should always boil the water you use to make up formula milk, whatever the age of your baby.
Common or Serious Ailments: Fever
Fever is when a body's temperature rises above its normal level. Fevers often happen in response to viral and bacterial infections: it is the body's way of fighting off the illness by making it too hot for the virus or bacteria to thrive.
A normal average child's temperature is 37° C (98.6° F) when taken using a thermometer in the child's mouth (or as much as one degree lower if measured in the child's armpit).
If your baby's temperature rises above 39° C then contact your doctor immediately. If your baby feels hot but their temperature is below 39° C, this is called a "low grade fever" and is unlikely to be caused by a serious illness. However, you know your baby best, so if your baby is showing any other symptoms that are making you worried or your gut instinct tells you that something is wrong, then you should still contact your GP.
Don't Forget: Baby walkers
As your baby starts to find his feet, you may choose to give him a baby walker. Baby walkers are great fun for your little one, who will find he can suddenly move around on his own at quite a speed. Because of this newfound freedom always use baby walkers with caution: they can be the cause of accidents. Make sure your baby is never in his walker near to stairs or open fires and make sure there are no hazards (such as hot drinks or sharp objects) within his reach. Researchers have found that baby walkers can actually lengthen the time it takes a baby to learn to walk independently if they are overused. So it is recommended not to leave your baby in his walker for long periods of time (no more than 20 to 30 minutes).
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Ways to Entertain Baby: Baby classes
Depending on where you live, you may find there is a range of baby classes available to you. There are all sorts to choose from, for example musical and sensory classes, baby massage and yoga, baby signing, swimming lessons and arts and crafts classes. Baby classes can be a great way of trying something new with your baby and strengthening the bond between you. They are also an opportunity for you and your baby to make new friends. Before you jump into doing lots of different classes think about the stage of development your baby is at and the type of class that will be most beneficial. You may find our When Will My Baby ? section helpful here. Be realistic about what classes can 'do' for your baby's development, and consider that what might be the perfect class for your baby now may change in a few months time. Many classes offer free trial lessons so that you and your baby can find out what the class is like, and decide whether you'd like to join, before you've made any financial commitments.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Emotions: High need baby
There is no denying that some babies are more 'needy' or 'demanding' than others. High need babies often cry a lot and have trouble self-soothing. This is normally nothing to do with your parenting skills; it is often down to your baby's personality. It can be particularly draining coping with a demanding baby who no matter what you try still seems to need something. It is natural for you to feel frustrated and at breaking point. If it is getting too much, put your baby somewhere safe and leave the room. Count slowly to ten and take some deep breaths to regain your composure. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Can your family and friends come and lend you a pair of hands so that you can take a break? If you are struggling to cope make sure you speak to someone about it. Take a look at Coping With A Crying Baby In Public for tips on surviving your outings.
Time for self: Massage
You've been a Mummy for 7 months now. It is a hard job, both emotionally and physically, and it is 24-7. You need some chill out time! Have you considered going for a massage or another relaxing treatment? Just remember to tell the masseur or therapist if you are breastfeeding to make sure that essential oils are not used.
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
Childcare: Babysitters
A reliable babysitter is a very valuable asset for any hardworking, busy family. It gives you the chance to escape, to have some down time, knowing that the kids are safe and in good hands. But finding someone trustworthy might seem a daunting task. See our Babysitters article to find out how to go about finding a good babysitter.
