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

You're now hearing your baby say those magic words, "mama" and "dada," although he/she might not yet be able to tell which one goes with who. He/she's beginning to crawl more and can pass toys and other objects from one hand to the other. About half of babies this age can stand while holding onto something, and many do a lot of pointing. A few can pull themselves up to standing, pick up things between the thumb and finger, and use gestures to indicate what they want.19

Some babies at this stage become shy or anxious with strangers, and cry out of frustration when they can't do something they want to do.7

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Doing Everything Right: Tips for new moms

  • Your baby may be showing signs of separation anxiety by getting upset when you're out of sight. When you leave him/her, give them a hug and a kiss and tell them you'll be back. Try to not get upset if he/she cries; just stay calm and reassuring.
  • As baby starts crawling and pulling themself up, resist the urge to put him/her in a walker. A walker can be unsafe if he/she stands on it to get to something out of reach, and it can discourage the floor play he/she needs.22
  • Now that your baby is more mobile, you must put things that could be poisonous out of their reach. A tube of bright lipstick or a bottle of coated pills might look like candy to him/her, so stash your purse in the closet and lock up medications.23
  • You need all the energy you can get right now, so be careful not to get dehydrated, which can make you feel tired. Try to drink an eight-ounce glass of water with each meal and between meals, drink water instead of coffee or tea, and replace alcoholic drinks with sparkling water.15

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

15 “Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?” www.cnn.com

19 “Milestone Charts: What to Expect from Your 7-to-12-Month-Old” www.babycenter.com

22 “Your 8-Month-Old's Development” www.babycenter.com

23 “Poison-Proofing Your Home” 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