WHAT SHOULD SHE EAT?

Now that your baby’s iron stocks have run out (she was born with iron reserves to last her around 6 months) and her taste buds and jaw have developed suitably to tackle solid foods and swallowing them, she can now be exposed more and more to the joys of eating nutritive, solid foods like toasts, biscuits and rusks apart from other food groups like rice, wheat and cereal. She will now be making a beeline for whatever is there within her reach and putting it into her mouth, a good sign that she is now ready to explore newer tastes! Although she has been mostly used to having milk all this time along, she will now have to also start solids to get more nutrition.
 
WHAT WILL SHE DO AT THIS TIME?

At this stage, not being very mobile can be highly frustrating for your little one! It has been found that babies have begun to crawl and creep much later nowadays than in the time when we ourselves were tiny kids. Why is this so? This is more so because babies nowadays spend more time on their backs. This is alright when she is sleeping, but during the time she is awake, try placing her on her tummy, so that she will strengthen her core muscles that will lead her to crawl forward and generally make good progress with her limbs. Your baby will also try on her own to sit by herself. Give her plenty of space and plenty of toys so that she can explore her surroundings. She will love objects but will mostly get thoroughly confused as to what to do with so many of them! She will love playing with toys that make noise, rattles and singing toys and clowns that walk backwards and forth! A friend’s little toddler would only go to sleep watching his pet toy dog bark sweet goodnights to him!

HOW MUCH WILL SHE SLEEP?

You could never have imagined how aware your baby is! When you give her a warm bath in the evening, feed her the last meal of the day, get her zipped into her nightdress, and lower the lights, she will know that it is time for bed! Babies get so acutely adapted to routine that within no time, and usually by the time of 6 months she will slip into a well-established pattern of sleep. It is most important to set a routine for her- and stick to this habit on a daily, regular basis. At 27 weeks, she should well be on her way to sleeping right through the night, waking up only occasionally or sometimes, for a feed or too.

WHAT YOU COULD HELP HER DO!

As a parent your protective instincts rush to the fore when your baby starts crying. But before you gather her up into your arms at the slightest cry or moan, try and figure out the reason for her tears. She could have a wet nappy, or it could just be a toy that she could not get within reach. Many mothers make the mistake of picking up their baby at the smallest sound of a wail. Let her cry for some time, before you actually find out what is bothering her. It is not always that babies want to be picked up and held close or find comfort in your arms.

HOW MUCH SHOULD SHE WEIGH?

Your baby’s weight will be anywhere between 5 and 7 kg, depending upon her weight at the time of birth. Check with your doctor whether she is growing at the right pace.