Your Baby and You: Week Twenty Four
YOUR BABY
Physical Development: Fine Motor Skills
Last week we discovered how gross motor skills enable your baby to move the whole of her body, her arms and legs. This week we take a look at fine motor skills.
Fine motor skills allow your child to make small movements in her hands, wrists, fingers, toes, lips and tongue. For instance small actions like holding and using a crayon, wriggling her toes, or picking an object up between her index finger and thumb (you may hear this referred to as a pincer movement), and using a fork to eat.
By the age of 6 months, many babies have developed their fine motor skills so that they can pass an object from one hand to another. Your baby may grab for a spoon when you are feeding her and start to feed herself. Take a look at When Will My Baby ? for the different things babies learn over time.
Behavioural Development: Call my name
At around 6 months of age, your baby will start to recognise simple words and names. You may see him turn around in the direction of your voice when you say his name.
Speech and Communication: Raspberries
Your baby may learn the new so-called skill of blowing raspberries anytime now. She will likely be very pleased with herself, and do it a lot for you!
Feeding: Foods to avoid
At around 6 months of age it is likely your baby will be Weaning to Solids. It is important to know what foods should be avoided in the beginning, as not every food will be suitable for your baby straightaway. Avoid giving your baby foods that are high in salt and sugar. Watch out for any foods that could pose a choking hazard, such as whole nuts, grapes and olives. It is important to know that honey should not be given to a child under 1 year old. See our Foods to Avoid article for more information.
Care Advice: Sleep
By the age of 6 months, your baby will start to need less sleep - dropping to about 14 hours in total. This is often made up of 2 daytime naps, totaling 3 hours, and night-time sleep of 11 hours. Some lucky parents may find that their baby starts to sleep through the night around now or is only waking up once. Your baby's move onto solid foods often helps with their sleep too. See How Much Sleep Does a Baby Need?
Now that your baby is in his cot, you may like to take a look at our Sleeping Environment section because there are a number of things to consider when making your baby's sleeping environment safe and comfortable. For example, one way to avoid having layers of bedding is to use a baby sleeping bag. Sleeping bags zip or clip securely onto your baby, so he can't wriggle down into them in the way he might with sheets and blankets. Make sure you get the right size for the weight of your infant so it fits properly. It is also important to use the correct tog according to how warm your baby's room temperature is.
Common or Serious Ailments: Mumps
Over the past two weeks we have learned about German measles (rubella) and measles. These conditions are now rare in the UK thanks to the childhood MMR (measles, mumps & rubella) immunisation. This week we will look at the third illness covered by the MMR immunisation: mumps.
Like German measles and measles, mumps is a very contagious illness that is caused by a virus (called paramyxovirus): it is passed from person to person through touch, sneezing and coughing. Mumps most commonly happens in children, but it can affect anyone. Mumps is usually a mild illness and most children make a full recovery, but sometimes it can be more serious, which is why the MMR immunisation is important.
The most common symptom of mumps is swollen and painful salivary glands (found just under the ears - you cannot normally see them). This results in a "hamster face" appearance and usually lasts for around 4 to 8 days. People with mumps can also suffer symptoms including dry mouth, soreness during chewing and swallowing, headache, high temperature, painful joints, tiredness and mild tummy pain.
Children infected with mumps should not go to nursery or school and should avoid public places until they are feeling better and until they are no longer infectious: usually about 5 days after the swelling of their salivary glands first began.
Don't Forget: Plastic bag safety
Always be wary of plastic bags and packaging as they pose a potential suffocation risk should your baby manage to get one over their head. Remember your baby is inquisitive, this could only take a second and have disastrous consequences. Never leave plastic bags, packaging or wrappers within your baby's reach, especially near their cot. If you do keep spare plastic bags, always tie a knot in them and store them safely away from your baby.
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Ways to Entertain Baby: Give me space
It is really easy to feel that you need to be constantly chattering to, stimulating, and amusing your baby for them to be enjoying themselves. However, try to remember to give your baby periods of calm and space for them to play on their own. This is a really valuable life skill for your baby to learn. They don't need you hovering over them all the time and they often really enjoy their own company. Of course, always make sure your baby is in a safe area to play, and keep a watchful eye from afar.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Breast changes post-breastfeeding
If you have given up breastfeeding now, you may be wondering how their appearance might change: will they become more droopy, smaller or larger than your pre-pregnancy breasts? Pregnancy and breastfeeding affects every woman differently and the eventual appearance of your breasts is likely to be a little different in one way or another. It is pregnancy, rather than breastfeeding, that is the cause of changes in the size and shape of your breasts: it is a myth that if you breastfeed you will end up with more saggy boobs! During pregnancy, your breasts became larger and the areola (the skin around your nipples) would have become darker in preparation for breastfeeding. After you stop breastfeeding and lose your pregnancy weight, you will usually find that your breasts go back to their pre-pregnancy size but often your areola remains darker in colour. The best thing you can do to try and keep your breasts looking perky and in tiptop condition is to buy a supportive, well-fitting bra. A professional bra-fitting will make sure that you are wearing the correct size. It is inevitable that age will have some effect on your breasts over time, but remember this would have happened whether you had breastfed or not.
Relationship: Daddy/baby bonding
Encourage your partner to have some one-on-one time with your baby to strengthen the bond between them. Either go out and leave them to it at home, or Daddy and baby could go out for a walk, to the park or meet up with a friend, to give you some time to yourself. Your partner might like to have a read of our Taking Your Baby Out section to make sure he feels fully prepared for their adventure.
Time for yourself: Time out
When your partner takes your baby out, make sure you take some time out too. Forget the housework or gardening chores, it is important for you to recharge your batteries. When was the last time you had a bath, read a book or magazine, or watched a film totally undisturbed? Never underestimate the effects of sleep deprivation on your mind and body, so don't feel guilty for simply going to bed for a nap while you have some peace and quiet.
