WHAT SHOULD SHE EAT?

Your baby is 41 weeks old, a little over 10 months! As a proud but slightly harried mother, you must be happy to see her grow! Why don’t you try giving her some yoghurt this week on? Yoghurt contains what is called ‘good’ bacteria, that stays on in the intestinal tract and helps to fight the ‘bad’ bacteria. Research has shown that if yoghurt, or curd, as it is called here in India, is given in small doses to babies, harmful bacteria can be kept from growing, making it a healthy food for babies. Curd also contains calcium, along with other nutrients like riboflavin, potassium and magnesium. Babies need all these minerals in their diet, so curd or yoghurt can prove to be a good transitional food for your baby.

Also, until she is around 5 years or so, do not give her fruits with seeds in them. These could get into the airways of your baby, and could cause choking and, therefore, great harm. Always remove the seeds from fruits like water melon, apples and grapes. An inhaled seed from any of these fruits can be very dangerous. If she has by mistake, inhaled a seed, take her to the doctor immediately.
 
WHAT WILL SHE DO AT THIS TIME?

Your baby might start talking real words in this time! Not very much, but she will be talking words like ‘mama’, ‘dada’, ‘baba’- giving you and your family members a real thrill. In fact, you may hear her say the names of other family members too, like her grandparents!

Some infants at this time choose to throw tantrums or get into fits to display their rage. These are just some ways to catch your attention. If you are out, she could be strapped down in her car seat or stroller till she decides to calm down. Your baby is now capable of expressing many emotions, like sadness, anger, happiness and simple enjoyment. A tantrum is just an outlet for some frustrated moments. Be careful that she goes through the tantrum before you pick her up or soothe her, or else she could associate an outburst or a fit with getting what she wants.

WHAT YOU COULD HELP HER DO!

A baby as young as at 10 weeks could have her favorite stories! She might want to keep hearing them again and again. Though it is sure to tire you out, this is just a form of security that she is holding on to, she feels safe when she is listening to something that she is familiar with. This is because she knows what is going to follow, so she is left with a sense of control. There is no need to fight it, keep reading the same stories to her , if that is what your pet wants!
Even watching the same videos will give her a sense of security. She might want to keep watching the same video, till it wears her out. Safety and security are something your little one will cling on to, at this stage!

WHAT ABOUT HER SLEEP?

If both of you are working parents, then it is probable that both of you must be postponing your baby’s sleeping time way into the night, so that you could spend more time with her. And although she may appear lively and ready for play, it simply means that she is past her bedtime. Try to reschedule your working life so that all of you get to spend more time with your baby, and she gets to sleep early!

WHAT SHE WILL WEIGH

As she enters her 41st week, she would have started eating a wide variety of foods, and along with all that activity, will help her to gain a lot of weight.  She should be ranging on the 9kg and above chart by now. Get your doctor to check her out if you feel she is not gaining enough, although she is eating well.