WHAT SHOULD SHE EAT?

Are you still offering your baby mashed or pureed food to your baby? While it is important that she continues to eat such food, it is also important that you give her food with coarser or rougher textures. Are you afraid that she might choke on such foods? Some parents are afraid to give their babies such foods, but not giving her lumpier foods now can interfere with her eating skills later.

One of the important learning areas in your baby’s first year is to learn tongue control, and how to push the food forward and backwards in her mouth with her tongue. She has to learn to progress through the different textures of food- from strained to pureed to coarser to lumpy. Even the size of the ‘bits of food’ that she is eating will have to be increased as she grows.

WHAT WILL SHE DO AT THIS TIME?

If you have a pet at home, make sure to keep an eye on the way your baby deals with it. Though babies love animals, it is not always the other way round. Animals don’t always reciprocate gently with babies, for most babies can pull on their tails or chase them around constantly. Even if you know your family pet to be the most loving and docile of pets, keep an eye on the interaction between your baby and it. Your baby might not just understand as of now how to be gentle, and therefore, your pet might react in unexpected ways. So keep a close watch when both baby and pet are around.

Some babies start developing a fear of water by now. Some do not like the touch of grass. A friend’s 10 month old hated the touch of her stuffed toys! So when such characteristics develop, do not worry, your baby is not the only one in the world who fears water, or grass or toys! Just respect her wishes as of now, and simply act as if nothing has happened. If she fears grass, there is no need to insist on placing her in the middle of the garden just so that she gets accustomed to it. There is no need to keep her strictly in the house either. Keep talking normally to her and she will soon outgrow her  fears.

WHAT YOU COULD HELP HER DO!

Whatever you may do, please do not let the stress show! Babies absorb feelings and your vibes exceedingly well, and your baby will immediately pick up the stress from you and demonstrate even higher levels of insecurities! If you stay calm, so will your baby continue to stay the same. If she happens to fall down and gets hurt, keep your cool. Immediately comfort your baby, check her injuries – if she is bleeding, press the wound with     a clean cloth, this will help to apply pressure, and the bleeding should stop in a few minutes. Then the wound should be cleaned with warm water, apply an antiseptic ointment and a bandage. Even after all this, if the bleeding has not stopped, take her immediately to your doctor. Maybe she will need some stitches.

WHAT ABOUT HER SLEEP?

Sadly, most parents get into a routine of cuddling, holding, rocking or singing their baby to sleep. What begins as a harmless intention to put your baby to sleep ends up as a bad habit. Your baby will get used to this pattern, and not fall asleep unless you do any of these things mentioned. Instead, it is important that she be put into her crib or bed while she is still awake. Most babies soothe themselves to sleep. If your baby cries, resist the urge to go pick her up immediately. She will soon realize that you are around, and will be forced to try to go to sleep herself.

WHAT SHE WILL WEIGH

She should be steadily increasing her weight, adding some grams every week. Babies grow in spurts, so if she does not gain weight for some time, it is alright. Only if she is looking out of sorts or listless, or keeps crying for no reason, should you really worry. Ask your doctor if you feel something is wrong.

Her weight should be touching the 10 to 11 kg mark by now.