WHAT SHOULD SHE EAT?
Your baby is 40 weeks old, that is all of 10 months! As a proud mother, you must be happy to see her grow! You can start giving her lumpier foods to eat, like cooked pulao or baked potato with its skin removed. These are table foods, and they can now safely be introduced. Only, make sure that you feed him food pieces that are very small in size, they should not be bigger than a pea. Let your baby eat herself, give her a spoon with a big handle, if that’s what she wants. Even if she creates a mess with all her food, never mind it. It will take her some practice to master the art of eating, that too with a spoon!

WHAT WILL SHE DO AT THIS TIME?

Your baby will now be able to stand without support for quite some time, and will be cruising around the furniture with an air of confidence that will amaze you! She will even be able to squat down by herself, to pick up a toy or turn to either side to reach out for something. She can now take some steps if somebody holds her hands and directs her forward.
Her hand and object control is also developing gradually. You may see her pounding an object with one hand, while she is fingering a toy with her other.

Research shows that between the age of 10 and 11 years, babies begin to follow the gazes of their elders. So if for instance, you are looking out of a window as you hold your baby, and follow a bird flying, she will also follow the line of vision with you. She now begins to understand that if you are looking at something, it must be important enough!

Her steady stream of babbling words will now give way into what may sound like sentences, so if she puts up her arms and says “ Ouh, ouh” or something to that effect, you will know that she wants to be taken out.  Moreover, all those weeks of crawling, crouching, standing and sitting have only made her coordination skills stronger; she might even surprise you by beginning to walk!

WHAT YOU COULD HELP HER DO!

If your baby loves having a bath, you can help enhance the activity by adding some new activities to her bathing time. With a large plastic straw, you can blow bubbles in the tub, or you could pour water from a big colander onto the tub, while she splashes around. Teach her how to kick her legs in the water.

WHAT ABOUT HER SLEEP?

Although your baby is old enough to sleep through the night, she may still suffer from what is called separation anxiety, especially if her sleep habits have been changed recently. You will have to learn to be flexible and prepared to alter your routine as she grows. But make sure that whatever schedule that you make, once it is set, try to follow it to the ‘T’. Consistency in everything is the key!

WHAT SHE WILL WEIGH

As she enters her 40th week, she will be weighing anywhere above 9 kgs.