1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months Birth 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months 10 Months 11 Months 12 Months 13 thru 18 Months 19 thru 24 Months

Baby Steps: Growth & Development

Your baby is now crawling, "cruising" by walking while holding onto the furniture, or some combination of both. He/she can pick things up between his/her thumb and finger and wave goodbye. He/she may be getting better at calling "mama" and "dada" by the right names, and usually responds to his/her own name. They understand "no" and use gestures to indicate what he/she wants. A few babies may already be drinking from cups, standing alone for a few seconds at a time and putting toys and other objects into containers.

As baby's self-esteem starts to develop, you'll notice him/her responding to positive recognition such as clapping. Along with it come his/her moods, which can be sad, happy or angry. He/she might also start showing signs of fear, such as being cautious of heights or having separation anxiety.7

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Doing Everything Right: Tips for new moms

  • At this age, your baby can probably pick up small items with his/her thumb and forefinger, also known as the "pincer" grasp. Most everything will go in his/her mouth first, so be sure there's nothing lying around he/she could choke on. When it comes to food, don't let him/her have anything that won't dissolve in water, like a peanut.
  • Even if it feels silly, respond to your baby's chatter with adult language as though you understand his/her every word. This will help him/her learn how to pronounce words correctly and develop good speech patterns.26
  • You may want to add safety gates and corner protectors to your shopping list, now that your baby is cruising, crawling and starting to walk. The gates will help keep her away from stairways and rooms with fireplaces or other hazards, and the corner protectors will soften the furniture's sharp edges.27
  • When you give your baby water, make it lukewarm, especially if he/she's used to breastfeeding or warmed-up formula.17

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7 “Month-by-Month Guide to Baby's Emotional Development” www.americanbaby.com

17 “Ready or Not: A Guide to Safe Development” www.babycenter.com

26 “Your 10-Month-Old's Development” www.babycenter.com

27 “Your 10-Month-Oldt” www.babycenter.com

The information on this Web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child's health.

Consult your physician or dental professional if using another fluoridated product.

Helpful Tips
for Parents

Ponder the Pacifier

Whether or not to use pacifiers is an age-old debate, but the American Academy of Pediatrics gives it the thumbs up through the first year of life. Sucking is comforting, familiar and calming to babies and a pacifier can be the ideal way to provide contentment between feedings.
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Drive Time

You’re always careful to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays with sunscreen, clothing and a hat when he’s outdoors. But did you know he also needs protection when he rides in the car for an extended period? The glass in car windows blocks some but not all ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn, so if possible, move his car seat out of direct sunlight and apply broad spectrum children’s sunscreen to his exposed skin.

Hand in Hand

Are you wondering whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed? Be patient; it may be months or years before you know for sure. Most babies start showing a preference for reaching for things with their right hands between six and nine months, but it’s not until they’re 18 months or older that they start using their preferred hand more consistently. By age three or four, their handedness should be fairly evident. If it’s not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Source: “How Handedness Develops in Infants,” by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P., www.drspock.com, June 10, 2001