Your baby by now has prepared the groundwork for speech. You will find her developing close bonds between you and her caregivers. You may find her growing afraid when among strangers. In this article, we shall take a look at what else you can expect from her at this stage.

6 Months Baby Development:

You will find your baby soon learn to adapt herself to a new environment. Go through the following to know your 6 month old baby development. Here are some significant developments you will notice in your angel.

1. Overall Development:

Your baby is now capable of holding her weight for some time. You still need to hold her hand while she is trying to lift herself up. You need to be by her side throughout the process of her learning to balance.

• By this time she may learn to sit on her own. However, don’t worry if she is yet to develop this skill.

• She is quickly learning the fact that she can control her hands. This shows development of her fine motor skills.

• The size of her head is however bigger than her body, but she will look more proportionate than before. Her head has flattened at the back by this age.

• You may find her teeth appearing at this age and you can notice changes in her gums.

• Make sure to keep changing her position while placing in her cot, so that she does not lie on her same position for long.

2. Behavioural Development:

Your baby is going through what is known as the “oral phase” right now. You will find her trying to speak too many things at a time.

• Moms, please don’t be fanatical about cleanliness at this time. However, make sure to maintain the basic standards of hygiene as babies develop the habit of putting everything in her mouth now.

• Reading to your baby is a good activity you can try. You will find her interested in pictures and bright colors.

• You will be amazed to see your baby laughing back when you laugh with her.

• When you play games with her, you will find her anticipating the next step. However, do not mind if you find her patience short while playing.

• If you find her breaking into cry, gazing away and appearing absent minded, it is time to stop.

3. Changes In Eating Habits:

Your baby’s appetite is growing and she may seem enthusiastic about the idea of trying different textures and tastes. This is an indication that she is ready for solids:

• Iron fortified rice cereals are a good option that you can introduce at this age. Since breast milk does not contain much iron, it is important to start with foods that are rich in iron.

• In case your baby does not appreciate taste of the rice cereal much, you can add boiled fruits in pureed forms. Apple or pear can be a good choice.

• Addition of fruits will also mean addition of Vitamin C that will actually help in iron absorption.

• However, continue feeding her milk, as it is still her primary source of food.

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4. Sleeping Patterns:

Your little one will still enjoy sleeping thrice a day. You can expect her to sleep for 10 hours at night. Again, there is nothing to worry if she doesn’t seem very keen on sleeping.

• You can use different techniques and strategies to lull her to sleep.

• Self soothing techniques are the best that will ensure she gets back to sleep even if awake at the middle of the night.

• Stay calm and so not stimulate her in any way. This will help her fall asleep better.

Health Of Your 6th Month Baby:

This is the time when she receives her third lot of vaccines. You may find her little unsettled and cranky after the vaccinations are over.

• Make sure to keep a track of her immunization chart, so that you do not miss out on any of them.

• Babies tend to develop cold at this age. Do not feel disappointed that she gets frequent cold despite your best efforts to protect her.

• There is no need to panic when your baby falls sick the first time. Make sure your baby is comfortable and get in touch with your doctor with concerns that are bothering you.

• Apart from this, you can also take her for a general check up for assessment of diarrhea, vomiting, rash, etc.

Nurturing Your Baby’s Skills:

There are many things you can do to help her during her growing up months. Take a look how:

• Your baby at this age will love animal voices and will begin to understand that different creatures make different sounds. You can show her pictures of animals and tell her about the different noises they make.

• You will find her waving her toys madly, without knowing how to use them. You need to assist her while playing and help her discover her different toys.

• To help her develop her eye-hand coordination, you can give her cups and blocks to stack. It will be a big challenge for her at this age.

• Give her different textures to touch. A velvety napkin or a wooden toy and a silky scarf will encourage her to touch them again and again.

When it comes to development, babies take their own sweet time. Do not pressurize your baby to develop a skill that she is yet not capable of. You can read more about milestone guides and talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your little one’s developments.

 

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

Your baby is now more than halfway to his first year. The 4th to the 7th month is a crucial period when several changes take place.

He is more independent than before and is developing his unique personality. You will find him crawling all around the house and learning to control his own environment.

Make sure to offer plenty of opportunities for him to get creative, mobile and curious in the safest possible ways.

7 Month Old Baby Development Milestones:

Wondering what to expect from him at this age and in the coming months? Here we shall help you get some ideas. However, these are just general guidelines and there are no such things as the “normal course of progress”. Do not worry if he is lagging behind a bit in few areas. Here we shall discuss the 7 month baby development milestones.

1. Teething:

This is the time when you can see tiny tooth buds coming out from his gums. With the teeth coming out you can see your baby developing the teething habit.

• Teething is his natural way of soothing his aching gums. 
• You must stay away from using topical pain relievers as these have potential side effects.
• Do not worry if he doesn’t start teething. Many babies do not start until they are a year old

2. Eating Habits:

Hopefully your baby has started taking solids in some form by this time. Milk alone fails to offer the necessary nutrients to your little one and he needs the solids for complete nourishment.

• You need to offer him solids in lump textures as the pureed offerings can be digested easily.

• Do not offer milk just before a meal as he won’t show much interest in solids later.

• The foods you offer must be fresh. Homemade foods are a much better option compared to the commercially available ones.

• Apart from the solids your baby still needs around 600 ml of milk every day. However you need to keep a note of the fact that too much of milk leads to obesity in babies, which is a growing concern these days.

• If you are breastfeeding him make sure to offer vitamin D supplements additionally.

3. Communication Skills:

Your 7 months old has started understanding the meaning of ‘language’.

• He can now respond when you say “no”. However, do not expect him to follow any commands at this age.  
• You can expect a head turn or some response when you call his name.
• He is now an expert when it comes to non-verbal communication.

• He shows different kinds of facial expressions at this age. You can expect big grins to frowns from him.

• He can now make sounds while laughing and babbling.

• As he has grown to a considerable extent, he has developed an idea about object permanence. Earlier he was not able to realize that objects remain around even if they are hidden. However now he knows they still exist.

• Your baby may start developing separation anxiety now. Upon being separated from you, he shall express himself by crying or clinging to you. He feels more comfortable among familiar faces and feels anxious among strangers.

• Do not worry as he is likely to outgrow this by 2 years. You can schedule departures when he has napped already or when in a good mood. Make sure to keep the good-byes short and do not feel guilty about it. He may cry for few minutes initially but will soon get used to it.

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Parenting Tips:

Here are some parenting tips that you can follow to aid his proper growth and development. Take a look:

• Now that he has started taking solids you can make him a part of the family during the meal times. Make him sit in a high chair and let him see you eating. He will grow an interest in food this way.

• Playtimes should be made a regular part of the day. Peek-a-boo and itsy bitsy spider are some exciting ways you can have fun with him.

• Baby proof your home even if he is not that mobile yet. Get prepared as he shall be able to move around very soon.

• Give him age-appropriate toys that need not be very expensive. He can spend some good times playing with them.

• You can help him develop his listening skills and boost up his memory with action rhymes. You can also spend some wonderful time together this way.

• You must not rush to make him do the activities that he is not yet capable of. After all, you will certainly not want to leave him feeling frustrated at the end of the day. Guide his hands in the right direction and position. Stand by his side and let him try on his own.

7 Months Old Baby Developmental Concerns:

Every baby develops in his own pace, making it difficult to say how and when he perfects a particular skill. Here is a list of developmental delays that you should be watchful of. In case you feel alarmed by his development course, you can always have a talk with your doctor. Take a look at some of the signs that you should consider seriously:

• Does not like to be cuddled
• Reaches out one hand
• Appears stiff and muscles appear tight
• Unable to hold his head or pull up to a sitting position
• Shows no affection for you
• Doesn’t like when people are around
• Does not respond to sounds around him
• Does not roll in any of the directions
• Seems to be crying inconsolably
• Does not like to smile spontaneously
• Does not seem interested in reaching out for objects near him
• Does not babble
• Does not show interest in hide and seek games
• Is not able to bear weight on legs
• Avoids eye contact or does not follow direction of the moving objects

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

At 8 months, your baby’s hallmarks are cruising and crawling and you can see your busy little one moving all around the house. She is now excited to explore all possible ways to get a better understanding of the world around her.

Now that she is trying to get into anything and everything, she will have plenty of falls and bumps as she continues to grow. Its time you child proof your home to ensure she is safe.

8 Month Old Baby Developmental Stages:

Now that your baby is 8 months old you can find her attain developmental milestones in different genres. Take a look at what you can expect 8 months baby development:

1. Development Of Motor Skills:

She has a lot more strength than before.

• She can now pull herself up in a standing position with the help of furniture.

• Your baby at this age is figuring out how she can match up her senses with her motor skills.

• She can now spot her favorite toy from a distance. She can crawl to it and pick it up.

• She can now pull herself up in a standing position with the help of furniture.

• Your baby at this age is figuring out how she can match up her senses with her motor skills.

• She can now spot her favorite toy from a distance. She can crawl to it and pick it up.

2. Sleep Patterns:

Your baby at this age sleeps for around 14 hours.

• She will prefer taking 2 naps a day, probably one in the afternoon and another one in the morning. Don’t expect the naps to be more than an hour long.

• Separation anxieties may get very acute at this age. Don’t worry as it is likely to get better once she is 2 years old. Leave the room even if she is crying, as the cries will generally last for few minutes. You must be consistent in your routine to help yourself and your baby adjust.

3. Eating Habits:

Even at this age you must offer around 24 ounces of breastmilk or formula solution to your baby.

• Try and incorporate varieties during the meal times and include options like breast milk, cereals, fruits, mashed meat and so on.

• With increase in intake of solids, reduce the intake of liquids.

• Sometimes babies seem to grow curious about table foods and refuse to accept bottle feeds. However, you must make an effort to offer her at least 20 ounces of formula or breast milk till she is ready for the cow milk.

• She has developed her chewing skills to a considerable extent and has developed interest in finger foods.
   
• Foods that you should avoid at this stage are raisins, grapes, popcorns, blueberries, raw carrots and hot dog. You must always be by her side during the meal times.

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4. Development of Communication Skills:

She has developed a lot more self-consciousness about herself and a better understanding of her environment.

• She will now participate in day-to-day routines.

• She can now slowly establish relation between cause and effect, such as if the napkin is dropped it falls.

• She is slowly getting aware of her likes and dislikes.

• She has started babbling at this age and says words like “dadda”, “maama”, “gagas” and so on.

• Your baby understands simple words like “water”, “milk” and “bye”.

Playtime With Your Little One:

Your 8 months old baby will demand more and more attention from you. Playing interactive games can be a great way to bond with her. This shall also help boost her developments.

• You can try simple songs, action rhymes or games like Pat-a-Cake, Round the Garden, Incy-Wincy Spider and Round.

• Playtimes can be wonderful learning adventures for your little one. It also strengthens the bond between the two of you.

Importance Of Baby Proofing Your Home:

Since your baby is a lot more mobile than before, you need to make sure your house is “baby proofed”.

• Once your baby has discovered the joy of moving you need to keep away all hazardous things to help her enjoy the freedom.

• Your baby now needs freedom and space to move around that is vital for her growth and development as well.

• Since it won’t be possible for you to monitor her every step, it is better to keep away electrical appliances, lamp shades and fragile items away from her reach.

It is worth making some basic adjustments for the sake of your 8 month old baby.

For Parents:

• Governing authorities have laid down guidelines that babies must get a general health review done before their first birthday.

• You must get in touch with your healthcare provider and request for a checkup.

• In case you have any concerns about developmental delays, you can also bring that up while meeting the doctor.

• When you are charting the developmental “progress” of your baby, you need to keep in mind that babies develop at a different pace. If your baby was born prematurely it will have an effect on her developments as well. You must always measure her progress against her adjusted age rather than the actual one.

• In case you find her very far behind the average, you can discuss it with your doctor. However, the good news is in most of the cases it does not signify any underlying problem, it is just that she is taking her own time.

Moms, it is normal to feel exhausted after the action packed day and sleepless nights. Do make sure to recharge your own batteries and take breaks in between. It is very important that you keep clearing your head for your own good as well as for your baby. After all you can only take care of her when you are in good shape yourself. Do not feel guilty to find some “me time” for yourself every day.

 

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

The ways your baby acts, speaks, plays and learns are vital clues for his developments. You may be surprised by how fast he picks up different skills almost every day.

Your baby’s infant development takes off as he gets all the more inquisitive and mobile. In this post we have discussed development milestones of a 9th month old baby, have a look.

9 Month Old Baby Development:

Understanding your 9 months baby developmental milestones will help you know what you can do to ensure his best possible growth.

1. Overall Development:

By this time your baby will learn to walk, crawl and creep and be able to move round the room.

• He may surprise you by standing up holding furniture.

• He will start responding to his name at this age.  

• Your baby has started understanding basic words like “bye-bye” and “no”.

• You may find him gabbling and saying words like “mamma” and “dada”.

• He can now sit comfortably.
   
• He may sleep all through the night except for waking up occasionally.
• You may find his one or two teeth coming up in the front.

• The most striking development that you can notice is his ability to poke with his fingers.

2. Feeding Habits:

At this age it is best to introduce soft table foods that your doctor has approved.

• You can add variety and texture in the diet to make mealtimes more interesting.

• Allow your baby to use his newly developed plucking skill while eating. He would love to explore the different options in his dish.

• Stay away from foods causing choking hazards such as candies, beans, corns, raisins, peanuts or raw fruits and vegetables.

• You must continue to bottle feed or breast feed him till he turns a year old.

3. Sleep Patterns:

It is better to allow your baby to self soothe himself as this helps him fall back asleep even if he wakes up in the middle of the night.

• Anxieties are common in 9 months old that often disturbs their sleep pattern. You may find him waking up crying in between the naps or at midnight for no apparent reason.

• In case your baby wakes up at night, check if he is thirsty or hungry. Do check his diapers and if necessary adjust the room temperature. If everything seems fine, rock him a bit and put him back to sleep. Do not stimulate your baby. This will help him fall asleep quickly.

• You must never put him to bed with a bottle.

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Safety Concerns:

Remember, even if you have taken all measures to childproof your home you must still remain vigilant over his activities.

• While you are travelling make sure to put him in a baby car seat.

• You must never leave him unattended in a pool or tub. It is always better to hold your baby while he is bathing.

• Baby walkers are not very advisable. The walkers in fact increase risk factors and are also said to delay the onset of his walking capability.

• Install and maintain carbon monoxide if you are using gas appliances.

• Once you have used the bathroom, remember to empty all buckets and tubs.

• If you have a swimming pool it should be fenced from all four sides.

• Do not smoke at home as it irritates the lungs of your little one.

• Avoid overexposure to sun especially from 10 am to 3 pm.

• Cleaning agents, medicines and other dangerous substances must be kept out of reach of your baby.

Being A Parent:

Your 9 month baby is no longer that sweet little chap who giggled while lying on his back in his crib. He is now exploring your house and you can find him almost everywhere.

• You must keep a constant chatter on with him. Talking while walking, playing, dressing, driving and doing anything will help develop his speech and communication ability.

• Look for age appropriate toys that will develop his different skills and also keep him engaged.

• Set limitations by saying “no”. You can also keep away objects from his sight. Spanking as a form of discipline should never be done. If situations are getting really tough you can move to another room and compose yourself. Remember, it is important to discipline him consistently. Keeping him in limits will keep him safe.

• Shoes are not very necessary at this stage. However, you can make him wear shoes to protect from cold and sharp objects.

• Separation anxieties are common at this age. It is important that you keep him with his grandparents or caregivers and leave home at times. Apart from the fact that your baby learns to stay without you, you get a breather too. However, make sure to come back after some time.

Infections and Illnesses:

Your 9 months old baby is more susceptible to infections than before.

• Chances of infections increase because of loss of maternal antibodies that your youngster received in pregnancy.

• Your 9 months old has now developed a habit of taking anything and everything in his mouth and that too has increased chances of infection.

Moms, do not feel discouraged if your little one develops cold and fever every now and then.

Regular Checkups:

You must take your baby for regular checkups to evaluate his growth and development patterns.

• Your doctor shall check the standard growth curves such as head size, height and weight. Since babies at this age grow in spurts, it is more important to check his growth over a period of time than over a period of month.

• Your baby in 9th month must be checked developmentally as well as physically.

• You must check with your doctor for the regular immunization schedules. Since new vaccines are being introduced, it is always better to get a clear idea about your baby’s vaccine schedule from him.

If you are worried about developmental delays, you can always consult your doctor. You as well as your baby shall benefit from his advice.

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

Now that your baby is close to a year, you may find her exhibiting different skills given a little chance. She is now in the mood to express her abilities and emotions.

At this age she will be trying to walk by holding on to furniture and vocalizing. You can always be by her side in helping her explore the world around. You will see your baby is a lot more outgoing and adventurous than before. Here we shall discuss the developmental milestones you can expect from your baby at this age.

10 Month Old Baby Development:

Ensuring a safe environment at home is vitally essential as your baby is growing. A safe environment will not restrict your 10 months old baby’s freedom in any way.

1. Physical Development:

She is now close to tripling her weight since birth. You need to remember that every baby follows her own growth pattern. There is nothing to worry if she is lagging behind a bit.

• Genetics play a major role in one’s growth and size. Also, you need to keep a watch over her eating pattern over the week. What she eats will also have a major influence on her growth patterns.

• While her growth may not always be reflected in her clothes, you can see how big she is getting by placing her in her crib, pram or her cot.

2. Development Of Motor Skills:

Your baby at 10 months age can crawl, pull herself up from a standing position and cruise around the room.

• You can now expect her to walk in a few months.

• Her coordination has improved to a large extent at this age. She can now pick up objects easily and keep them clasped in her hands.

• Make sure nothing too small in size is there within her reach. She might try to swallow it and increase risks like choking hazards.

• She is now capable of holding a toy in one hand and engage her other hand doing something else.

3. Communication Skills:

Your baby loves mimicking at this age. You will be amazed to see her copying almost everything you do. Don’t be surprised if you see her brushing her hair with your comb or talking on the phone like you.

• She will now closely listen to the words you speak and gauge your reactions in different situations. For instance if you are getting emotional watching a sad scene, you may find her face crumpling up too.

• Your baby can now follow simple instructions and step by step commands like “clap hands”, or “bye-bye”.

• She may also understand meaning of some of the words you speak. For instance you can name an object and you may find her pointing at it.

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4. Eating Habits:

While you may expand her palate adding a variety of vegetables and fruits, you may not find her very enthusiastic about it.

• She may have some of her teeth by this age, which will help her chew the thicker consistencies.

• Make sure the table foods you introduce are cut into small pieces that she can finger feed on her own.

• You can also offer her a spoon and let her help herself in the meal times. She will be messy the first few times but most importantly she will learn to eat.

• Make sure you are not offering foods that have choking hazards like raisins, nuts, grapes, popcorns and candies.

• Many parents prefer giving organic food over the traditional ones. Organic foods are said to contain lesser amounts of pesticides. However, the nutrient content in them are same as the traditional foods. What you choose to give is entirely dependent on you.

5. Sleep Pattern:

By this time she may enjoy just an hour of nap every day. However, there is no need to worry if she still enjoys more naps, as it is always good.

• In case you want her to skip a nap it is better to skip the one in the morning.

• It is good to have an after-lunch nap to prevent her getting cranky.

• If she feels sleepy she will make up by sleeping an extra hour or two at night.

About Her Health:

It will be very difficult for you to keep your 10 month old baby clean at this age:

• She will be keen on lying on the ground, in the park or in the playground.

• If you are planning to paint your home, make sure it is free from lead. You can avail of testing kits from hardware stores to take a look at the lead content. Babies are sensitive to such chemicals and may experience breathing troubles.

• Do take care of the cleaning agents in your home like fertilizers and pesticides and ensure the residues are not left behind.

Parenting Tips:

Here are some parenting tips that you can take a look at.

• If you feel your baby is not talking much, you can engage her in conversations. You can respond to her actions with words such as “really”, “wonderful”, “great”, “good”, and “interesting”. This will help her listen and keep learning.

• Music helps your baby learn so turn it on. It can be country, pop or the slow tunes. You will find her bouncing with the beats.

• Hide her toys and ask her to find them. This will help her develop an idea about object permanence. She will know this way that the object exists even if she can’t see.

• Your baby shall be making eye contact, babbling, and responding to different actions and words.

• If you feel she is not communicating well, you can bring it up with your doctor.

If you are not well or not healthy enough it won’t be possible for you to look after your little one. So make sure to get adequate rest to get back your energies. Take time to talk to your partner when you feel down or tired. You can also ask him to help you with some of the household chores.

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

At 11 months, your baby is at the crossroads of infantile development. He is on the verge of completing the landmark age of one year, but for now is still a baby that surprises you with new skills every day. He babbles more than before, stands on his feet independently, cruises around the house using support, eats messily with hands, and seems to have a personality of his own with a unique set of likes and dislikes. The age of 11 months can thus be quite interesting.

While you wait for that first birthday to arrive, you wonder if he has achieved all his developmental milestones for 11 months. Wonder what those milestones are? In this MomJunction post, we explain about the various developmental milestones your baby will reach at 11 months and how you can help him grow better.

An 11-Month-Old’s Development Chart

ACHIEVED DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES	EMERGING DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
Can stand without support, walks with support	Will start taking steps without support
Follows basic instructions	Can understand complex instructions and commands
Manipulates objects such as toys through nimble fingers	Will develop sharper finger control with wider range of motion
Addresses parents with correct noun	Will remember relations and address relatives with correct noun
Knows names of personal objects like toys	Can remember the names of other objects in the house
Repeats easy and small words	Will speak complex words after hearing them from parents
Eats more food items than before	Will develop a keen taste for solid food
Recollects familiar faces from a group of strangers	Will greet familiar faces with a smile
Displays frustration through basic babbling	Will get vocal about his frustration
Remembers the use of some objects	Will start learning the use of several more objects

An 11-Month-Old Baby’s Developmental Milestones

We have categorized the developmental milestones of an 11-month-old into three parameters:

1. Cognitive
2. Physical
3. Social and emotional

Cognitive Developmental Milestones

In this category, we cover the major milestones pertaining to the baby’s cognizance, rationality, and decision-making capabilities.

1. Recognizes people by their names: Tell the name of his sibling and your 11-year-old will point his tiny finger straight towards her. It is the same with household items that have simple names as well as toys that he plays regularly.

2. Explores new ways to play with toys: He now seems to have an advanced play with his toys. Babies at this age can fit an object into a tight-fitting space and then undo it. It is a key indicator of the fact that their brains are capable of calculating the shapes and sizes of objects and then manipulate them.
   Your baby will be better at stacking the blocks on top of each other and removing them one by one. Overall, this is an indicator of improved senses of the baby and his ability to coordinate.

3. Knows the use of certain objects: He now knows how to drink from a cup and if you have combed his hair several times he will pick up a comb and put straight to his head. An 11-month-old baby can do a basic correlation between objects and their respective purpose if he has repeatedly witnessed their usage.

4. Understands “no”: He is making a racket with his rattle. You sternly say “No”, and he promptly stops while looking at you. This works the other way around as well. For example, if he does not like what he is eating, he will turn his head from side to side and say a feeble “No!”. 11-month-olds understand the usage of ‘No’ and are aware that it stands for disapproval for a negative action. They will also leverage this word to show their discontent on a matter.

5. Obeys simple instructions: If he understands ‘no’, it means he is bound to comprehend some other instructions as well. For example, babies at 11 months, he can pick and hand over objects when asked to do so. He can also roll and pass the ball when asked. You may have to use some non-verbal cues such as placing your hand in front of him but he will get the point far quickly than ever before.

6. Will repeat simple sounds: Your baby will tend to repeat the words and even sounds that he hears you say. Do not expect him to repeat them perfectly. In fact, you may have to strain your ears to understand his words. But, the feat itself is an indicator that his vocal chords are more developed than before.

7. Experiments with speech and language: An 11-month-old will experiment with words beyond repetitions. This means he will make subtle sounds of basic vowel and consonant sounds that will sound like gibberish but actually are signs of speech and language development. He will babble some sentences that he may remember hearing you speak.

Physical Developmental Milestones

Here, we will see an 11-month-old’s milestones relating to his physical growth, muscular capabilities, and motor skills.

8. Changes positions to reach an object: If it takes him to bend forward to reach an object while seated, then he will do that exactly. The eleventh month old baby takes advantage of all that extra muscle he has in his body to grab objects beyond his reach.

9. Stands on his own: Your baby can stand without support. He will be wobbly in the beginning and try to hold on to something to balance, but in most cases, he will stand independently.

10. Walks with support and takes a few steps without support: Your baby will now try to experiment with his legs by taking his first steps using some support. This is referred to as cruising and be prepared for a lot of this. His leg muscles now have the strength to propel him forward. He can be quite an explorer, which brings us to the next developmental milestone.

11. Is capable of climbing stairs: No obstacle is too great for your cruising little one. You will notice his first attempts to climb over stairs and other obstacles. He will be clumsy though and will not climb over an array of stairs but will surely scramble over the first step. It is, for this reason, you must baby-proof your house to prevent any hazardous event.

12. Makes better use of his fingers: His fingers will develop a better grip than before and it is indicated by the fact that he can hold a spoon and feed himself. You will notice that he now uses his thumb a lot more than before to establish a grip on objects. An 11-month-old baby will also use his fingers and limbs to move objects around him to the desired place or position thanks to the improved fine motor skills. You will see the display of these skills in more practical ways like raising his arms while being dressed or undressed.

13. Has four teeth: By the age of 11 months, the baby’s gums usually sprout a pair of central incisors both on the lower jaw and the upper jaw. Your baby’s smile now looks adorable with two pearly white teeth sticking out from each jaw. Despite the presence of four incisors, your baby is far from chewing solid food since these teeth primarily help in biting than chewing.

14. Varied diet and better sleep: He may not have many teeth but he has surely developed a taste for food beyond breast milk. Your baby is no longer exclusively breastfed and now eats a variety of pureed and mashed solid foods in significantly larger quantities than he did before. Along with diet, the other thing that has shown improvement is sleep. Your little one now sleeps more predictably than before usually in large blocks during the night.

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Social And Emotional Developmental Milestones

Here are those milestones of his life that relate to his emotional temperament and ability to develop social bonds with people in his life.

15. Says ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ to the correct parent: Gone are the days when he would randomly call say “mama” or “dada”. An 11-month-old now knows who the mom is and who the dad, and addresses them with the respective word flawlessly. What can be more incredible is that he may call a parent selectively depending on the situation. For example, if he is hungry he may exclaim “mama!” and if he usually plays with father then will call “dada!” when having trouble with some toy.

16. Will look for familiar faces in a group of strangers: You are having a family get-together and there is a barrage of relatives visiting you. Expect your baby to spend more time with the ones he knows and remembers from his past. At this age, babies have a sharper memory than they had when they were younger. This is quite evident from the way he interacts with people around him. It is for this reason he may get excited on seeing a familiar face. This is him forging his first social bonds with other human beings in his life. On the flip side, he may seem nervous and uncomfortable when offered to be held by a stranger since he does not know and, therefore, does not trust that individual.

17. Displays frustration and becomes upset: Here come the tantrums! The 11-month-old babies display a wider range of emotions and do not hesitate to display their displeasure. For example, if it is time to sleep and you take away his toy to coax him to the bed, he may refuse to move and throw a tantrum. He will also display frustration when he is unable to achieve the desired outcome to an action like while playing with a toy.

18. Shows his first disobedience: You read that right. Babies at this age can understand instructions while at the same time they are inquisitive. When the two clash, his inquisitiveness wins and makes him ignore your instructions. For example, if he is trying to break apart a toy and you say “No!” he may pause for a moment, but then continue breaking the toy. He is more determined than ever before and now seems like a resilient little human!

It is an amusing experience to witness your little 11-month-old develop several life skills. As parents, you can take steps to support your baby in his endeavors.

7 Tips To Improve The Development Of Your 11-Month-Old

Help the baby grow by incorporating these tiny steps in your day-to-day routine with your baby.

1. Play fun games and activities: Playtime is the best time to sharpen his new-found skills. Play plenty of games and activities where he can use his fine motor skills and expend his energy in a more constructive manner. Taking him to a local park to play with other children and siblings is a nice way to keep the physical development right on track.

2. Encourage him to be independent: If he shows interest in eating with a spoon then let him do so. If he loves combing his hair then get a baby comb for him. Your baby can learn new actions and activities only when he is allowed to practice them regularly. Letting him be independent and nurturing the explorer within, is a way of ensuring his development.

3. Let him meet new people: Meeting and interacting with new people is a good way of making him more social and comfortable with new faces around. It is also a way of stimulating his memory since he is quite likely to remember people he meets.

4. Have meaningful conversations: It is time to cut down on baby talk and have some logical conversations with your little one. The 11-month-old understands instructions and can link words with actions. If you want your baby to improve his basic vocabulary, then speak sentences that are meaningful and are actual conversation points rather than rudimentary baby talk. How does this help? The next point elaborates.

5. Reinforce good behavior: Having a meaningful conversation can be the difference between good and not-so-good behavior of an 11-month old baby. Your little one is now developing a personality and the best way to infuse good traits is to reinforce good behavior. For example, if your baby tries to eat food off the floor, dissuade him by giving a stern vocal instruction like “No, don’t do that”. You may also put your hand ahead to say “Give it to me”. Your baby eventually learns that he is not allowed to eat food that fell on the floor. Even though he is far from understanding the real science behind it, your job is done since he is less likely to repeat it.

6. Read and narrate stories to him: In the past, you may have relied on picture books but now you can introduce him to simple story books with brightly illustrated images. Sit with him and read these books in a manner that you are narrating the story to him. He may not understand every word but when you point at a familiar image he may try to say its name. This activity will help improve his vocabulary and boost his ability to recall words.

7. Encourage independence: While it may seem too early, now is the time to encourage your 11-month old to be independent. This can be simply done by prompting him to do things that he would otherwise ask an adult to do for him. It need not be complicated but simple tasks such as putting his toys in a box or putting his shoes together. These simple activities can lay the foundation for more complex independent activities such as wearing clothes and tying shoelaces. Acquainting him to independence at this age is the best way of making him understand its importance later in life.

The milestones are not uniform for all the babies. Some meet them quite early while some may go slow. While you make an effort to support your baby, you need not have to put pressure on him to learn things. But if the milestones are delayed beyond a reasonable point, it might be a point to worry for you.

When To Be Concerned?

These red flags could be an outright indicator of some underlying problem.

1. Baby doesn’t crawl at all: By this age, babies will take their first tiny steps. If your baby can barely crawl, then it should surely be a matter of concern. A baby may not crawl due to a multitude of reasons ranging from underlying physical deformity to some neurological disorder. Book an appointment with a pediatrician to have your little one checked.

2. Cannot stand even when supported: When encouraged with support, a baby will prop himself up to stand on his own feet. Do it a few times and the next thing you know he is standing right next to you. But in case your baby is having trouble standing on his own even when supported then there could be some problem. Observe his legs to make a better inference; if the legs seem shaky and loose when he stands, then it means there is some issue. Visit a doctor immediately.

3. Does not utter even a single word: An 11-month-old does not have a flourishing vocabulary but words like ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ are the bare minimum he will speak – with his adorable variations. He will also babble some random words that he hears his parents speak. If a baby does not speak even a single word on, then that is a red flag. Babies with neurological disorders may not speak at the right age.

4. Does not respond to basic commands: Your 11-month-old baby now has a stronger grasp at instructional cognizance. This means he will decipher basic instructions and commands quite easily especially if said by a parent. If a baby seems unresponsive, blank or totally disoriented when dictated something, then that is a matter of concern.

5. Poor coordination of the senses: Call out to your baby from behind the curtain and he will immediately turn his head towards it. He will keep looking at the curtain since he realizes the source of the voice is behind it. This basic analysis requires a coordination of all the senses and thorough processing by the brain. If your baby shows a poor functioning of his senses then it could mean a problem.

Remember, babies have personalities and are unique. Your 11 month baby may not achieve the milestone today but may do so tomorrow or the day after. It is important to be patient and provide your baby all the resources to grow normally and become a healthy human being.

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

Now that she is a year old, you may be recollecting all the milestones and developments that she has achieved. It is indeed a moment of great joy and pride.

The biggest challenge for your 1 year old is to learn to walk. You will see her holding on to something she can to keep her balance, in case she has not yet mastered the art of walking. By now she will become increasingly mobile and has also developed a sense of control and power. At this age, she is enjoying her power of independence!

12 Months Old Baby Development:

Your 12 months old is smarter than before and exhibits plenty of developments. Take a look at the following to know your 12 months old baby developmental milestones:

1. Physical Milestones:

You can see a lot of physical milestones achieved in your 12 months baby development. Take a look at the list below:

• She can now sit upright without any support.
• She may take few steps without a support.
• She will walk holding on to things like the furniture.
• You will find her pushing up to stand.
• You may also find her crawling at times.

2. Language Milestones:

By this time, your 12 months old baby has developed her language skill to certain extent. Here is what you can expect:

• You may find her trying to imitate words.
• She may say “no” more frequently.
• You may find her saying words like “dada” and “mama”.
• She will now slowly respond to verbal requests.

3. Emotional and Social Developments:

You will find significant social and emotional developments in your 12 month old baby at this age. Take a look:

• She might get anxious looking at strangers.
• She may feel scared in some situations.
• She may cry when you leave.
• She may start feeding herself with her own hands.
• She may show specific responses for specific toys and people.

4. Cognitive Developments:

Here is a look at some of the cognitive milestones in your 12 months old:

• She will now explore objects by dropping, shaking, throwing and banging them.
• By this time she is aware of the right use of different objects. She may use a cup for drinking, dial a phone, brush her teeth, and so on.
• When you name a figure she may point at the image.
• She can now easily find a hidden object.

Be Careful:

Remember your baby is a separate individual and you should give her the space and time to develop in her own pace. It is not possible to say when your baby shall develop perfection in a skill.

The developmental milestones discussed above are only to offer you a general idea about the changes that you can expect in her. It is perfectly normal if the developmental course is moving slower or faster than you expect.

You can always speak to your doctor about the developmental delays you are concerned about. Here are some pointers you should be careful of:

• Your baby does not point to objects or pictures.
• Your baby does not use gestures like shaking head and waving.
• Your baby does not search for hidden objects.
• Your baby is not able to stand.
• Your baby cannot crawl.

Your doctor shall guide you as well as your baby so that you all can enjoy the growing up phase. Follow the guidelines set by your doctor. Prepare yourself for the growing needs and see your baby developing a personality of her own.

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Article written by Moumita Ghosh

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Image credit: ICanTeachMyChild

Your baby needs time on her tummy to develop strong neck muscles which is essential for baby’s physical milestones like sitting, crawling and walking. Which is why it is our duty as a parent to do all we can to encourage this early!

Sad to say, not all babies like tummy time. The minute you put them down on the mat, the screaming begins – we know what you mean! When this happens, it’s time to get creative with your methods.

Here are 4 tips for when your baby hates tummy time. Hope these suggestions will make the time much more enjoyable for baby (and you)!

1. Tummy-to-tummy time

Place a pillow underneath your neck and lay flat on your back. Put baby on top of your tummy, making sure you have both hands free to catch her in case she wobbles to either side. Talk to her, sing, make funny faces and noises.

2. Superman position on the knee

Sit on a chair and place baby over your lap. Be sure that her head is supported and not dangling over the edge of your knee. Slowly and gently rock your knees from side-to-side. Sing and talk to your baby while you’re at it!

3. Up-right hold

This one is a simple and common method of holding your baby that you might not even realise you’re training baby’s neck! Holding your baby up-right, overlooking your shoulder allows baby to practice holding her head up. Just be sure to have one hand supporting the back of her head.

4. Mirror mirror on the floor

A mirror is a wonderful tummy time tool. Place a baby-safe mirror 10cm in front of your baby and encourage her to hold her head up and look into the mirror. Once she catches a glimpse of her reflection, she’ll be distracted and might even break into a smile! 
 

 

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Image credit: Getty Images

While this serves as a general guideline for your baby’s speech development, each child is different and picks up at their own pace. So don’t worry too much if your baby isn’t meeting the guideline. Speak to them more to encourage them!

First 3 months

This is the time baby is building social interaction – which is the foundation of language development. By the end of 3 months, baby might:

• Make ‘cooing’ sounds
• Remain quiet or smile when you speak to her
• Respond to sounds and noises around her
• Eye gaze will follow a moving object

3 – 6 months

Baby will show an increase in babbling, she will start making some vowel sounds. By the end of 6 months, baby might:

• Make gurgling sounds when playing or when left alone
• Babble and make a variety of sounds
• Move her eyes in the direction of sounds
• Be aware that some toys make sounds when moved
• Pay attention to music

6 – 12 months

This is the time when baby will start picking up sounds and words at lightning speed. Baby will respond to different sounds you make and might even start trying to imitate them. That is why it’s important for you to talk to baby as much as possible!

You can also help to increase her vocab by reading books to them or narrate to baby about what you do daily. When out for a walk, simply point out the flowers or things you see.

By the end of 12 months, baby might:

• Try to imitate sounds
• Say a few singular words
• Understand simple instructions like ‘sit’, ‘come here’ or ‘lie down’
• Recognise words for common objects like ‘shoe’, ‘book’, ‘dog’
• Turn and look in the direction of sounds
• Wave hello and goodbye
• Shake her head

12 – 18 months

Between this period, baby should be able to respond to her own name and understand simple requests like ‘can you throw this away?’ or ‘can you put this on the table?’. By the end of 18 months, baby might:

• Recognise familiar people and objects
• Follow simple directions accompanied by gestures
• Say as many as 8 – 10 single words

18 – 24 months

Once baby hits 18 months, you will notice an explosion of her vocab. She should be saying about 50 words by the time she is 2 years old. During this period, she will start putting two words together and try to form sentences.

You can help her along by being descriptive. Instead of saying ‘where’s the ball?’ ask ‘where’s the big yellow ball?’

By the end of 24 months, baby might:

• Use simple phrases like ‘where is mummy?’, ‘more rice’
• Follow simple commands and understand simple questions
• Speak at least 50 words

When should you be concern?

During your regular milestone visits, the doctor or nurses will perform the usual developmental checks to see if baby is hitting the requirements. Speech delays occur for many reasons, including hearing loss and developmental disorders. Depending on the circumstances, your doctor might refer your child to specialists if needed.

In the meantime, continue talking to her about what you’re doing and where you’re going. Sing songs and read together. Teach her how to imitate actions such as clapping, listen to nursery songs with actions involved will help a lot too!

 

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