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My baby at 7-9 Months
"Baby Times" information for you!
Saint Elizabeth offers you our "Baby Times" information from local and area experts
on your 7-9-month-old baby! We have divided the information into useful "Time"
categories. We want you and your baby to lead long and healthy lives.
WHAT’S YOUR BABY EATING THESE DAYS?
With the introduction of solid foods, a whole new world awaits your baby! He/she is experiencing new tastes, textures and temperatures like never before. You are bound to experience and see many humorous reactions from your baby as you introduce various foods.
It’s important to follow the suggestions of your baby’s healthcare provider as to how to introduce food, to help protect against allergic reactions to foods. Some health care providers follow a specific pattern—starting with cereal and ending with meats and sweet fruits and deserts. Others may have more general guidelines.
Many suggest the following:
- Iron fortified rice cereal
- Oatmeal
- Vegetables (less sweet)
- Fruits
- Meats
- Table food with little/no salt/butter
- Mashed foods (potatoes)
- Small cubes of vegetables, meat, and cheese
Do not give your baby grapes, hot dogs, honey or egg whites until they are at least 1-year-old---he/she may choke or get ill.
Also, solid foods should not be mixed with formula and/or breast milk and given through a bottle feeder.
When feeding your baby solids, they may also be interested in where the spoon goes and what it does. Let your baby hold onto one spoon and experiment, while you feed them with another. When introducing solids, have fun, and take lots of pictures! (It also may help to keep a plastic tablecloth under the high chair during mealtime!)
TIME TO GROW
By 7- to 8-months of age, many babies become more mobile---scooting across the floor on their bottoms, or move forwards or backwards on their tummy, or pull themselves up and stand for short periods. By 9-months, they may even begin to take a few steps. Sometimes they will get into positions and not know how to get back! Whatever stage of mobility your baby is in, remember that this is the time of great variance in growth and development between babies. Not all babies grow and develop at the same rate.
Socially, most babies at this age love to interact with you, their parents! Babies recognize your voice and your name, and they prefer to spend time with you. Many babies will start to show signs of fear if they are left with a care provider they do not know as well. By 9-months of age, your baby may even seem rather “clingy” when sensing they are being left. Remember, they may get fussy because new experiences and/or people scare them. Remember, that just as they are fussy when you leave them, they will be very happy and show excitement when you return!
Many parents start to feel quite proud at this age, as often babies start to say two-syllable words such as ma-ma, da-da, and ba-ba. You can help them learn to speak by talking with your baby! Tell them about your day, use fluctuation in the pitch of your voice. Ask them questions and let them babble back. Name different objects as you perform daily tasks—I’m going to pour this milk in my glass, or I’m going to set the table with the dishes. They do recognize some words and will show excitement when they think you are going bye-bye or outside! If your baby starts to feel left out of the conversation, he/she may even shout at you to get your attention.
This is a very curious time for your baby---they want to explore and learn about their world. Let them experience the world through your eyes and knowledge. But, keep their world safe and fun. You’ll be surprised how much you will learn from your baby! The rewards of their giggles, smiles, laughs and excitement will be plenty!
TIME TO REFLECT
A PARENT’S THOUGHTS
Already I see myself in our baby--
in the mischievous grin on his face;
in the excitement in his eyes
and as he ventures off to find a new place.
Already I see myself in our baby—
in the soft sounds she makes with her voice,
and in the way she calls “ma-ma” and “da-da”
when she wants us to know she has a choice.
Already, our baby has grown
to more than twice his birth size.
And his mind has developed so fast—
already, he seems so wise.
Our baby is growing into a unique individual
with a personality and mind of her own.
I pray that I have the strength, courage, discipline and sense of humor,
so that she will feel loved in our home.
No job is more important,
no job provides fewer instructions for me,
than to parent my child and help him become
the person God wants him to be.
So I pray that God will help me
be a good parent for my baby.
Give me patience and help me appreciate life as we grow and learn together—my
baby and me.
MOMMY'S TIME
GAINING SOME INDEPENDENCE FROM YOUR BABY!
As a newborn, you may have found it difficult to leave your baby with anyone else. Now, as your baby is trying to establish his/her self as a unique person, and begin to experiment with a little independence, you might find this is a good time for you to start to gain some independence, as well!
Whether you work outside the home, or work at home, you are a working mother. It’s important that you stay healthy, take time for yourself, and keep relationships strong.
Emotional and physical health is critical—not only for you, but for your baby, as well. Remember, your infant cannot do well if mom is sick. Emotionally, make sure you feel you have support in your many roles. It’s important that you stay “in touch”—whether through communication or physically. Emotionally, women need to be touched 8 times-a-day. Research shows we need 10 hugs a day. So find a friend and give them a hug!
Take time for yourself. Plan at least one activity that you can do each week that is just for you---conversation with a friend, read a good book, shop, or working out.
Keep Relationships strong. Of utmost importance is keeping your relationship with your spouse strong. It has been said that children need at least 5 hugs-a-day to grow, and adults need at least 4 hugs-a-day to survive. Besides the physical benefits, back rubs, shoulder rubs, hand holding and massages are all ways to promote physical and emotional well being, demonstrate affection and encourage communication with your spouse.
The National Fatherhood Association offers the following description of who a Father is to their child.
F—Friend—be a friend to your children by spending time with them, talking, listening to their problems and ideas. Begin by talking to your kids when they are very young so that difficult subjects will be easier to handle as they get older.
A—Advisor—even after children are grown up and ready to leave home, they will still look to their fathers for wisdom and advice. Whether it’s continued schooling, a new job, or a wedding, fathers play an essential part in the lives of their children as they grow and build their own families
T—Teacher—children learn by example. Teach your children the difference between right and wrong, and you will see them make good choices. Involved fathers are everyday examples.
H—Helper—Make time for your children. Help them with little things, like learning to tie shoes, ride a bike and do homework. Show your children they are important to you every day.
E—Encourager—Children will reach their fullest potential with the unconditional love and encouragement of their family. Fathers can encourage their children with a hug, or just a smile.
R—Role model—fathers are role models to their kids. A girl who spends time with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect by boys and what to look for in a husband. Fathers teach sons what is important in life by demonstrating honesty, humility, and responsibility.
Even though some of these roles might seem “distant”, it’s never too early to spend time with your child, teach skills and values, speak kindly to your child, show love, and be a good role model to your child. Remember, they learn by watching you---and a picture is worth a thousand words!
The 6-9 month age can be fun and entertaining---for parents and baby! This is a time to enjoy stacking games, toys that make noises, or have different responses to baby’s actions, act like and make noises of different animals---this can be your favorite age! Not only is baby smiling and starting to laugh, but you will learn that you can create this response in your baby! You can become their favorite person. (As though you weren’t already!) Use the following tools for ideas to play with your baby.
PEEKABOO: Cover your face with a blanket or your hands, or hide behind something. Call out "Where's Mommy?" and then uncover your face and say "peekaboo!" Good for car trips too.
SO BIG: Ask your baby how big he is, then spread your arms (and his) wide and reciting, "So-o-o big!"
1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE: This is a great opportunity to begin counting with your child, with his fingers or while climbing stairs. "1, 2, buckle my shoe---3, 4, shut the door---5, 6, pick up sticks---7, 8, lay them straight---9, 10, start again."
FACE FUN: Babies love pointing to (and pulling on) your facial features. Turn this into a game by making funny noises for each feature; remember to repeat the feature's name each time ("This is Daddy's nose") to reinforce the labels and language.
Babies love Puppets ! Have a puppet "talk" to your baby, nibble her toes, and hand her things
BUBBLES: Keep bubbles in the car in a non-spill container, and blow bubbles for baby when someone else is doing the driving. This calms a baby right down, and big kids think it's fun, too.
READ A GOOD PICTURE BOOK: Even very young babies will respond to a good book. You don't have to read the entire story, but baby will enjoy hearing your voice as you point out objects in the pictures. Counting books, and pictures of human faces are great.
PLAY CLASSICAL MUSIC: Some people believe that classical music may help boost baby's intelligence. That remains to be seen, but babies and grownups can both enjoy a little Beethoven or Mozart now and then.
BABY MUSIC / MOTHER'S HEARTBEAT ON CD: Get some tunes just for babies such as Happy Baby Sounds to delight your baby. This one also includes sleep sounds for babies and mother's heartbeat.
THIS LITTLE PIGGY: As long as you're stuck in the car, you may as well get some good toe-time in with your baby. Just in case you don't remember this one: Start with the big toe and say "This little piggy went to market...(next toe) this little piggy stayed home... this little piggy had roast beef... and this little piggy had none... and THIS little piggy (pinky toe) cried wee-wee-wee all the way home (as your fingers run up baby's leg for a quick tickle).
WHERE IS YOUR NOSE? An older baby can practice learning all the parts of the body. Ask baby to show you where they are starting with his nose. Then help him find his head, mouth, cheek, ear, chin, hand, foot, tummy, shoulder, neck, teeth, etc.
Trivia Time—Diaper rash occurs more often after baby is 8 months old.
SING TO BABY
If possible, sit next to baby and make eye contact. Even if baby can't sing along, she will really enjoy your tunes, and nothing beats those old classics like Row your Boat, Rock A Bye Baby, or Itsy Bitsy Spider. Or if you want to start baby on some classic car songs a little early, be sure to check out www.momsminiwan.com/sing.html for some wonderful ideas of songs and other activities.
GETTING YOUR HOUSE READY FOR BABY!
One of the most important things you can do for your child, at this age, is to make your baby’s world a safer place. While you may have “baby-Proofed” before, it’s important to remember that you and your baby have now entered a whole new world—“MOBILITY”
In looking for dangers in your home, the best thing to do is to get on your baby’s level, crawling from room to room to look for dangerous items on the floor or within reach of your baby’s grasp. Also look for any object that your baby could use to climb upon.
- Make sure you have safety latches on cupboards and cabinet drawers.
- Keep all vitamins and medications up high, preferably locked away.
- Keep cleaning supplies in their original containers, stored away from food supplies. (Apple juice in a clear, plastic bottle looks very similar to cleaning solutions.) It is best to keep cleaning supplies locked away.
- When cooking, keep pot handles turned away from the edge of the stove.
- Make sure that cords from small electric appliances aren’t dangling down over
the counter.
A remove table cloths or runners that an infant could grab hold of to try to pull themselves up.
- Be sure that your baby’s crib meets all safety standards. (slats no further apart than 2 3/8 inches, no lead paint, no cut out parts, no low cradle gyms or mobiles, no corner posts and no plastic bags/sheets.)
- Be sure that Baby’s crib is positioned away from blind and drapery cords, windows, heating/cooling vents, and objects that they may grab for that fall into the crib (floor lamps, pictures on the wall).
- Make sure the changing table has a strap for securing baby.
a keep diaper hampers and trash cans away from baby, so that they do not try to play with the plastic bag or unsanitary items.
- Keep medicine in a locked cupboard
- Unplug and put away electrical appliances when not in use.
- The water temperature should not exceed 120 degrees. If your water is hotter, you need to turn down your hot water heater.
- Use a non-skid pad in the bathtub
- Be sure to put a lock on the toilet seat
- Keep trash cans away from baby.
- Keep sharp objects and small objects safely put away and out of reach. (scissors, razors, orthodontic bands, hair pins)
- Take the lid off of any toy box
- Keep extension cords out of sight
- Do not use floor lamps that can be pulled down by baby
- Use outlet covers that baby can not remove
- Check plants to make sure they are not poisonous. With an infant, it is probably best to put plants up, in a separate room, or let someone “plant sit for a couple years!”