First steps and first words
Your baby will soon say their first real words and take their first unsteady steps - with a little support from you! The transformation from crawling baby to walking, talking baby is amazing to watch and hear! Our advice is always to have a camera nearby – first steps can happen when you least expect them.
Feeding your baby
Now your baby is becoming even more mobile and curious, their nutritional needs are changing as they need the extra goodness to keep them going throughout the day. However, as they have a smaller tummy than you, they need to eat little meals that are full of energy and nutrients more often.
Getting ready for grown up foods is not about what your baby eats but also about how they eat it. So, although it can be quite messy, continue to encourage your baby to get stuck in during mealtimes! Drinking from a sipper cup, getting to grips with finger food, or having a go at spoon- feeding are all great ways of developing your baby's independent streak. As your baby starts to take pride in what they do, encouraging their efforts during feeding will help build self-confidence.
From now on, your baby starts to take pride in what they do. Encouraging your baby during feeding and playtime will help develop self confidence which will set them on the right path!
Standing on their own two feet!
All your baby's crawling efforts over the past few months have strengthened their leg muscles considerably. Now they may be starting to pull themselves up to a standing position with a little support.
They may even take their first steps while holding onto your hand, furniture or walls. But don't worry if walking comes later – every baby develops in their own way. Although you can expect quite a few wobbles, it won't stop your little explorer from 'cruising' - tottering around the house, while getting support from whatever or whoever happens to be around.
Greater control and co-ordination
Your baby now has much more control over their hands and fingers. It is amazing how they can entertain themselves for ages simply by putting objects into containers and then dumping them out again… and again… and again!
Your baby is becoming more fascinated by 'cause-and-effect' actions too, like the turning of wheels that make toys move. Their hand-eye co-ordination is also continuing to improve.
They may be holding a spoon fairly well and enjoying being able to feed themselves, although this will probably be quite messy for some months to come. So keep the wipes handy!
Their first words!
One of the most exciting things you will experience around this time is the sound of your baby’s first “real” words! They may not always be what you expect, nor what you have ‘trained’ them to deliver…
You’ll probably have heard these words already. Now your baby starts to make the connection between the word and the object or person and says them with real meaning. Words you can expect to hear are names like ‘mama’ and ‘dada’, ‘ju-ju’ for juice and ‘wu-wu’ for dog!
Learning
Your baby just loves the freedom of being able to get around on two feet. They still rely on furniture and other objects for support and can often lack the confidence to take a big step into wide-open spaces.
Once your baby is stable on both feet, encourage them to take small steps by standing a little distance away and holding out your arms so they'll walk towards you. Make sure you praise every effort - especially if they make it into your arms without falling!