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When do babies start putting things in their mouth: Infant Milestones Chart Month by Month

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Why Your Baby Should Be Putting Toys in Their Mouth

It’s critical that babies go through months of exploring toys and teethers with their mouths. Learn why and how, how to help them if they’re not, and what the consequence could be if they don’t learn how. 

 

Is it weird that my baby won’t put toys in their mouth?

It’s a question I’ve been asked many times, and as odd it may seem to you, it doesn’t at all seem too odd to me.  And, if you’ve noticed, give yourself a pat on the back because a lot of parents miss it.

It’s actually REALLY important that babies put toys, their hands, and teethers into their mouth at any early age and continue to do so for months. It’s so important, that years later when I’m helping a picky eater, I always ask the question, “Did they put toys in their mouth as a baby?”  Because, if they didn’t, it indicates to me where at least some of the feeding troubles began! 

So, I’m glad you’re here because there’s a lot to learn about why babies should be putting toys in their mouth, why it’s so important, and how you can help them begin to do this beneficial development skill.  

 

Why It’s So Important for Babies and Toddlers to Put Toys in Their Mouth

More times than I can count, I sat across from a mom and dad that were worried and overwhelmed because their baby and toddler had not begun to eat real foods.  And, as I asked them about their child putting toys into their mouth, they would say, “No, they don’t do that, and we thought it was a good thing because we didn’t have to worry about them putting something unsafe into their mouth.”

Well, that’s true. 

It is utterly nerve racking making sure your baby isn’t eating lint, dog food, or the remote control.

Initially, it may seem like a gift, one less thing you have to worry about.  But, the truth is that babies mouth on those toys and random objects for a reason.  It’s like they have an internal drive to explore with their mouth. They were literally designed to! 

That motivation is important because it prepares babies, and then toddlers, for eating. When a baby is mouthing on their hands or a toy, they’re getting a ton of benefits like:

  • Experiencing different textures, which helps them accept a range of textures of food
  • Desensitizes the very sensitive gag reflex that babies are born with, which helps them move food around in their mouth better
  • Builds strength in their jaw, tongue, and cheeks (aka oral motor skills) as they give those muscles a work out, which is critical for eating 
  • Practice chewing, which is the first step to teaching them how to chew their foods 

You can see that babies mouthing on toys and teethers is crucial for learning to eat table foods. Without going through this stage, many babies refuse or gag and spit out table foods when they’re introduced.

 

What It Means If Your Baby Is NOT Putting Toys in Their Mouth

At this point, you’re probably freaking out if your baby isn’t putting toys in their mouth or never did, but hang on a second,  we’re going to get to some strategies to help your baby or toddler. 

First though, you’re probably wondering why your baby never showed that motivation many other babies do to explore their world with their mouth.  Well, there’s a few different reasons:

  • Sensory sensitivity – Which simply means that a child may not want to experience the way a toy feels in their mouth.  This has to do with the way their brain is perceiving sensations, and this is highly unique. The good news is that this can be worked through. And, when this is the culprit, your child will often push your hands away if you try to put anything in their mouth for them. Learn more about sensory sensitivity.

 

  • Difficulty bringing toys to their mouth – Some kids have some muscle or coordination weakness that make it physically hard for them to bring toys to their mouth.  In this case, you’ll usually see your child try a few times before giving up.

 

  • Difficulty chewing on toys – In the same way, some kids have muscle or coordination weakness in the muscles in their mouth. So, when they bring the toy to their mouth, it’s too exhausting to chew on it. You’ll often see babies that are not motivated to bring things to their mouth, if this is the cause.

 

  • Not interested – And for a variety of reasons, some babies seem to lack that natural interest in bringing toys to their mouth, and while there may not be any reason for that initially, with the lack of exposure, it can cause feeding issues in the near future.

Truly any baby can be faced with any of these challenges with no good explanation.   But, we do see kids that have been born prematurely or have developmental delays that have a high frequency of not mouthing on toys. 

 

How to Help Your Baby Learn to Explore With Their Mouth

Whether your baby is 6 months old or you have a toddler that is 18 months old, if they aren’t or didn’t mouth on toys, it’s extremely likely that they’re feeding skills are affected. So it’s important to show them how to start bringing items to their mouth, even if they’re a toddler, this is still appropriate as it will help them transition to table foods, since so many of these kiddos are stuck on milk or baby food.  

1. What I like to do first is simply start by interacting with your child and playing some “games” where you touch their cheeks, lips, or mouth. With a baby or toddler, this is pretty easy. They can be sitting on your lap or across from you on the floor. Think about singing a simple nursery rhyme or counting as you touch them briefly around their mouth.

I know it sounds a little strange, but if your child doesn’t bring anything to their mouth, they may be a little sensitive and this type of play helps get them ready to tolerate actual objects near their mouth.

I also like to give kisses and squish their cheeks often. And, I have to mention that if your child is eating baby food, to allow them to get messy as possible.  Read why letting babies and toddlers get messy is important. Then, when it’s time to clean them up, use a wet wash cloth to firmly wipe their cheeks off.

2. Get a variety of different types of teethers out and have them available. Sometimes when our child has refused them a few times, we simply don’t pull them back out again. Your baby might be interested now and pick one up on their own.

I also like to hand them a teether when they’re sitting in their high chair. They can’t go anywhere and may be more likely to at least bring it to their mouth!

3. It’s time to show them how to bring the teether to their mouth.  Make sure you have good eye contact and show them how you touch it to your lips. Hand them a teether and show them a few more times – will they imitate? 

Be patient with this because most babies and toddlers need to see something many times, so this could take a few days. Persistence is key here. Just keep trying over and over again! You may need to put this time on the schedule for 3 times a day for just a few minutes each time. As soon as they start to copy you, then move onto demonstrating how to put it in your mouth and bite on it!

4. If you’re child is still not mimicking what you’re doing in a few days, then you’ll want to take the teether to their mouth for them. See if they’ll hold it and let you guide their hand to their mouth. After the modeling that you’ve been doing and frequent touching of their face, your baby might be ready for this, but others may bat your hand away as soon as it gets close to their mouth, that’s okay.

It just may take some practice. So, again, you’ll want to continue 3-4 times a day of just trying to offer these teethers. And, I’d still continue to demonstrate for them as well.

It’s important to offer a couple of different types of teethers with different textures as your child may gravitate towards one. However, once they are bringing a teether to their mouth, you’ll want to encourage them to do the same with different ones and other toys so they’re getting a variety of textures and sensations in their mouth.  

This whole process can take a couple of weeks, and in some cases longer.  

 

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My Favorite Teething Toys to Ultimately Help Babies Eat

While there really isn’t a “wrong” teether to use, there are some that can be particularly helpful and that I like to use as a feeding therapist.  So if you’re looking to grab some new ones, these are my top picks:

  • Zoli bunny teether – I love this teether because it’s easy for babies to handle, to clean, and those two bunny ear heads can get far enough back on the gums so they can get some good chewing practice and make that gag reflex less sensitive.

 

  • Vibrating teething star – When your baby bites down, this teether vibrates! This is incredible sensory input for their mouth, plus it gives them a powerful cause and effect connection so they keep biting more. Some babies will be sensitive to vibration, at least at first.  

 

  • Cookie teether – This teether comes with a clip so you can hook it on to their shirt and have it handy to prompt them to give it a try. I also like the size of this cookie for fitting in your child’s mouth and the bumps on the outside of the cookie give great texture when it’s in the mouth!

 

Beyond Toys, Using Some Other Clever Tools…

Besides toys and teethers, there are some other objects that you can encourage your baby or toddler to put in their mouth, like their hands! This is how babies usually start to explore with their mouth around 3-4 months old.  

Their hands will be much less obtrusive because it’s part of them, they have full control.   So you can think about playing a game where you model tapping your lips, putting a finger in your mouth, and then all your fingers. You can make it quick so it’s fun, and if your baby likes baby food, just dip their finger in a little bit of baby food and help them get their finger to their mouth!

Perfect way to spend a few minutes while they’re in their highchair.

Another tool to use is a toothbrush, many parents don’t start brushing teeth until a year old or even older. That’s usually not an issue, but getting a toothbrush or a baby gum massager (the thing you slide over your finger) can also help them get used to having something foreign in their mouth!

 

Baby Struggling With Table Foods?

Now you know why your baby isn’t putting toys and teething toys into their mouth, this isn’t just a quirk! It’s a sign actually, to let you know they need some help with this stage.  

But, there’s a lot more you can do to help get them eating table foods. To help get you started, I’ve got a free Learn to Eat Table Foods printable pack for you.  All you need to do is click the link below and I’ll send it right over to your inbox. Easy peasy!

Click here for the free Learn to Eat Table Foods Printable

And, if you’ve got any questions about your babe, just ask them in the comments below! I love hearing from YOU:)

 

More on Babies/Toddlers and Table Foods

 

Pocketing Food Strategies and Causes in Kids

6 Tips to Get Babies and Toddlers to Stop Throwing Food!

5 Myths About Babies and Toddlers that Won’t Eat Table Foods

Transitioning Your Baby (or Toddler) to Table Foods

 


 

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 14 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children.  Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.

 

Why does my baby put everything in her mouth?

Early years play and child development expert

Until she is about seven months old, your baby can’t really use her hands and fingers to explore objects. She can grip objects with her hands, but she doesn’t have the ability to stroke, poke, or prod with her fingers yet. However, your baby can control her lips and tongue, so she mouths and gums objects as she pleases.

Your baby’s mouth has more nerve endings per square millimetre than any other part of her body. So if she really wants to find out what something feels like, she puts it in her mouth. If you don’t want something to go into your baby’s mouth, don’t leave it where she can get hold of it!

Young babies move their fists, and whatever they may be holding, to their mouth and start exploring from there. Be careful about which objects your baby has within reach and be sure that she can’t push something down her throat, or into her eye, accidentally.

Once your baby is mobile, you need to be careful about the toys she plays with, especially if she has older brothers or sisters. Toys for older children often contain small parts. If an object is small enough to fit into your baby’s mouth it could cause her to choke.

Your baby is likely to go on putting things in her mouth well into her second year. However, by nine months to 10 months she will start to use her hands more. By 12 months she will become increasingly interested in what her toys can do.

By the time she’s two years old, your child will use her fingers to explore most of the time. And by the age of three years, most children have stopped putting objects into their mouths.

You will also need to check that anything poisonous is kept well out of her reach, preferably in a locked cupboard. Keep all cleaning detergents in their original boxes, and make sure laundry detergent capsules are kept in a safe place. Your baby may confuse them with sweets or accidentally squirt the detergent into her eyes.

Check that the plants in your home and garden are safe too. Some plants have poisonous berries or leaves. If you have unsafe houseplants, get rid of them. Berries or old leaves could fall on the floor even if the plant is out of reach. If you have poisonous plants in the garden, fence them off or remove them.

There are some things you may wish made it to your baby’s mouth more easily, such as her food and drink!

Babies like to add to what they know about their food and drink by examining them with their hands. Your baby may like to pick up peas, let her fingers puddle in her juice, or enjoy the feeling of squishing pasta between her fingers. Mealtimes may be messy for some time!

Babies often mouth toys more when a new tooth is just breaking through the gum. This gnawing is also often accompanied by drooling, and your baby may be a bit out of sorts. Cutting a new tooth can be painful. Try giving your baby a teething ring that has been chilled in the fridge for some relief.

Watch our short video to learn the signs of teething to look out for.

Baby Puts Everything in Mouth – Causes, Risks, and Precautions to Take

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A baby will explore his/her environment and learn from it. As the baby’s immune system develops and adjusts during the first year, the young one will use all the senses – smell, touch, sight, taste and hearing. With those tiny hands, the baby will first grasp and then move the hand straight into the mouth. This process of exploration is called ‘mouthing’, which is perfectly normal in babies. Have you noticed your baby put things in his/her mouth, wondered why he/she does it, and whether it is safe? There’s no need to rack your brain over it because we have you covered. Read on to know why babies put things in their mouth and also know what you can do to keep your baby safe and healthy through this phase.

Video: Baby Puts Everything in His Mouth – Reasons & Precautions to Take

Why Do Babies Put Everything in Their Mouth?

In the first year, with your baby putting toys in the mouth, you are sure to be concerned and will try to prevent it. However, the mouthing process is perfectly normal and means that the baby is learning to explore, and therefore, this phase is also called the phase of oral exploration in a baby’s life. Using their mouths and hands, babies explore and learn about different shapes, textures, materials, odours, tastes, sounds, and so much more.

Babies can start putting things in their mouth around the time they turn 7 months old. Some babies start doing this a little earlier also. They usually start with putting their fists in the mouth, and sometimes, even their feet! It is fine until they cannot move much. But, when they do, they slowly start to grab objects around them and begin putting them into their mouth. The process of exploration moves into reaching, shoving, grabbing, swatting, patting, and so on.

This exercise that babies indulge in by themselves helps build or strengthen their oral muscles. It helps the baby to get his/her jaw, tongue and cheeks to move in a coordinated manner. Babies also learn to suck on the thumb, which is their way of communicating and responding to stimuli like hunger, boredom, and so on. Most mothers discourage this habit, and rightly so, as prolonged thumb sucking can have many negative effects.

Furthermore, babies learn what tastes good and what doesn’t, and have the most divine fun exploring even yucky things that mothers would never dream of putting in their baby’s mouth.

Baby Putting Things in Mouth – Possible Risks

When babies can crawl and walk, keeping them away from the things that they can put in their mouths can be quite a task. This phase of development in babies comes with some risks, which, if dealt with properly, can be avoided too. Here are some risks of letting the baby mouth anything he can get access to:

1. Babies Can Choke or Injure Themselves

The most dangerous thing that can happen is that the baby can choke and suffer pain and discomfort. A not-so-easy thing to do is to ensure that small objects cannot be accessed by those tiny hands. It is recommended that you get down on the floor at baby’s eye-level, and look around at what objects are lying around that your baby can reach out for, grab and put in his mouth. Rough-edged objects, toys that can be broken into pieces, glass objects, the pet’s food bowl, standing buckets of water, etc. will be explored by the baby too. Ensure you keep all these objects away from your baby as they can lead to scratches, bruises, and even fatal accidents.

2. Infections

Because mouthing cannot be prevented in babies, they even lick the floor or the objects lying on the floor. This makes them susceptible to contracting infections, and the best way to prevent that is to maintain hygiene and keep the house clutter-free. Ensure you clean the floors, toys, and all the surfaces your baby can touch. In case you have more than one baby in the house, ensure they don’t share toys, especially when one of them is sick. Clean and wash all toys, linen, and surfaces with a mild disinfectant.

When Do Babies Stop Putting Things in Their Mouth?

Starting as early as 7 to 12 months, babies start mouthing objects. Normally by the age of two years, they start using their fingers to explore things around them. And, by the age of three, most children would have stopped putting objects into their mouths. If your child is still putting everything into his/her mouth and sucking his thumb at the age of 4, you must check with the doctor to build in corrective practices.

Baby Putting Things in the Mouth – Precautions to Take

With your baby chewing on everything here are some precautions you could take for a safe parenting experience.

1. Clear Out Small Objects

Check, recheck and remove any mouth-sized objects from the baby’s reach. (Loose change, pet food, small toys, marbles and anything that can fit into baby’s mouth). You will also need to clear out chemicals, cosmetics, etc. that can be potentially dangerous.

2. Rely on Positive Reinforcement

Do not yell at your baby if he is about to put something unsafe into his/her mouth. Instead, replace it with something that is safe. Mouthing comes naturally to babies. As much as it is not a safe habit, it is still essential to them during their growth years. As parents, you can keep the surroundings clean and allow the baby access to only the things that are safe for him/her.

3. Practice ‘no’

This practice is recommended when dealing with older kids. Teach them what ‘no’ means so that they can stop mouthing things when they are asked to. Also, ensure your instructions are gentle, in a playful manner to avoid making the situation stressful.

4. Teethers

It is very likely that the baby puts things in his/her mouth while teething. To prevent this, you can get some teething rings and give them to the baby. You can also freeze them to give your little one relief from the teething pain.

5. Let Your Baby Play in Groups

Babies are never left alone in groups; they are always supervised. So, when your baby is in a group activity, he/she is bound to have fun touching faces, bumping noses, and giving kisses too. This doesn’t mean they won’t put anything in their mouth. They will, from blankets, clothes, and whatever catches their attention. But, it will be a safe environment because all the harmful things will be kept away.

The mouthing phase lasts a little while and can be made into a safe exploratory journey for both you and the baby. A little bit of dust and germs that cannot be prevented won’t make the baby sick. Enjoy this phase with a not very obsessive, germ-phobic attitude and all will be well.

Also Read:

Baby Putting Hands in Mouth
Gagging in Babies
Drooling in Babies

Why Do Babies Put Everything in Their Mouths?


At about 5-6 months of age, almost anything within reach makes a beeline straight to the mouth – keys, toys, their feet, etc. This oral exploration has several developmental benefits/reasons:


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•   It’s how babies first learn about the world around them. They’re utilizing all of their senses to experience new things, which includes the sense of taste.


•   It provides a “workout” for the oral motor musculature. Mouthing and eventually biting/chewing on things is how our tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw first learn to move and coordinate with each other. It’s also how the mouth muscles strengthen in preparation for eating food and making speech sounds when they’re older.


•   It gets the mouth used to experiencing different textures and sensations, which encourages the transition to solid foods later on. In fact, when children come to me with texture aversions / sensory issues in feeding therapy, one of the first things I’ll ask mom/dad is if the child went through a mouthing stage. If they didn’t, we likely need to work on
de-sensitizing.


•   It’s a way for babies to calm and self-soothe.



So not only is mouthing a completely normal stage of early childhood development, but it’s also one that should be encouraged. Be sure to give them a safe outlet to mouth/chew, such as a
Baby Grabber or Baby Guitar.


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I should also note that not all children go through a mouthing phase. And for many children that’s okay!  But, if the child has difficulties transitioning to puréed and then solid foods later on, you may want to consult with a feeding therapist to see if there are any oral sensitivities and/or oral motor delays.


If a baby does not actively seek out mouthing, try dipping their teethers into puréed foods to increase interest. You can also provide oral input in different ways, such as through gum massage, or stroking the lips, cheeks, and tongue with a
proMini and/or proPreefer (which you can also dip into purées, as shown below). This is something I especially recommend for babies who have Down syndrome.


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How long the mouthing/chewing stage lasts may vary for each child. Sometimes kids will keep putting things in their mouths until after they stop teething.  Or, sometimes it will stop and then start again once teething starts (input to the gums can be very soothing when new teeth are trying to erupt).  It really just depends on the child.  So follow their lead, give them a teether whenever necessary, and enjoy this special time because they always grow up too fast!


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All my best,


Debbie

Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP


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When Do Babies Stop Putting Everything In Their Mouths?

It could be a favorite stuffed animal, a teether, or even the dog’s toy (gross!)… but they all have a way of ending up in a baby’s mouth!

No matter how much you keep an eye on your baby, nor how much you clean, even a small piece of lint can be quickly grabbed by your curious baby. And then it’s in their mouth.

Mouthing is completely normal. Babies explore the world around them in many ways, and mouthing is just one way they receive information. However, normal or not, it leaves many parents exhausted and concerned.

How long must you watch for choking hazards?

Do you need to be worried about germs?

For any parent, especially a first-time parent, the mouthing stage can be exhausting.

The good news?

Research shows you needn’t worry too much about germs. In fact, newer research is showing that exposure to these everyday germs are an important part of developing a baby’s immune system.

As a fellow parent, while I’m glad germs are one less thing to worry about, I know this stage can still be incredibly stressful.

So, here are some common questions tired parents want to know about babies putting everything in their mouths.

Why Do Babies Always Put Things In Their Mouth?

Babies put objects in their mouths for a few reasons. The explanation we’ve heard for the longest time is it’s simply part of how they explore the world around them. Everything is new to a baby, and they use each of their senses to understand and figure things out.

When a baby mouths an object, they’re actually feeling different textures and shapes. Mouthing a fuzzy blanket with lint is not something they’re likely to continue to do. They learn the blanket feels wonderful on their skin, but not so much in their mouth!

Mouthing objects is also an important part of preparing for solid foods. While we shouldn’t allow babies to mouth small objects which can pose a choking hazard, large teethers, and infant-friendly toys are great to have on hand. With mouthing, they’re engaging muscles, sensations, and even their tongue.

Anecdotally, some people notice infants and toddlers who are allowed to mouth safe objects whenever they like may get through the mouthing stage faster than peers with restricted access. A developing brain and body continues to figure out something until it has less benefit.

Mouthing And The Immune System

As we’ve learned more about germs and microbes in recent decades, some research shows mouthing plays a vital role in developing the immune system. So even that old baby toy covered in dust bunnies under the sofa may play a vital role in exposure and building the immune system.

While we shouldn’t allow infants and toddlers to mouth any and everything with no regard for germs, we don’t need to be germaphobes either.

“As we live ‘cleaner’ lives and spend less time in contact with soil, we isolate ourselves from these bacteria, causing our immune systems to get antisocial. Ultimately, this can lead to inappropriate inflammation,” says Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein.

Dr. Shetreat-Klein is a physician and author of Healthy Food, Healthy Gut, Happy Child. You can read more about her in the article linked below:

To understand more, be sure to read Are Our Kids Too Clean? 6 Facts About Kids And Dirt.

How Do I Get My Baby To Stop Putting Things In Their Mouth?

The question many parents have is how to make this behavior stop. Keeping an eye on busy babies and toddlers can be quite draining. We certainly don’t want them to choke on anything. So how can we make it stop while allowing for the developmentally appropriate and beneficial mouthing stage?

In short, you can’t really make a baby stop. Some parents try to encourage using a pacifier, but then you need to weigh up the risks and benefits of frequent use as they get older.

Rather than asking how to stop babies from putting things in their mouth, we can ask how can we allow them to safely explore.

The following may help manage until you’re passed the mouthing stage:

  • Have infant and toddler age-appropriate and safe toys they can mouth
  • Provide teethers and items that are safe to chew and mouth
  • When they’re over six months of age and ready, allow them to try safe finger foods – read about Baby Led Weaning to learn more
  • Keep choking hazards, small objects, and potentially dangerous or toxic items out of baby’s reach. Be particularly careful with medications and cleaning products
  • Provide safe areas baby can explore with plenty of their safe toys they can mouth while exploring
  • Don’t stress about a little dust, dirt or a stale Cheerio baby may come into contact with. Things to worry about may include food which can spoil, animal waste, and anything with a likelihood of illness-causing bacteria
  • Allow them to explore safely outside. A taste of bitter grass or a bit of sand is often enough of a deterrent from frequent tastings. Use your language to reinforce what they express such as, “Yes, yucky! We eat food, not sand.” They won’t quite understand the message for a while, but it’s a great habit for you and an opportunity to help them explore and develop their language
  • If your child likes a pacifier, a teether, or a chew friendly object, keep it close by (perhaps with a clip) to use as a distraction and soother if they’re in a place where mouthing and exploring isn’t safe (e. g. store, doctor’s office, etc.)

So, how do you get your baby to stop? Help them explore safely and use your language. This stage, fortunately, doesn’t last forever.

Should I Allow Baby To Put Things In Their Mouth?

It’s easy to think of what we want baby to be doing at two, four, or nine years old, and putting random objects in their mouth all day isn’t one of those things. When we think that way, we have a tendency to worry about what they’re doing at just six or nine months.

When it comes to challenging stages, it’s important to remember that what your baby does today isn’t a preview into what they will do years from now. It’s not only okay, it’s helpful to allow your baby to explore with their mouth.

It seems silly and sometimes frustrating to us as parents. However, developmental specialists understand it’s a sign of some important learning skills.

When Do Babies Stop Putting Things In Their Mouth?

So, you understand why babies do this, but how long does it last? The short answer is it can vary, quite a bit, just like every other stage of development.

The long answer, most will stop putting things in their mouth by the age of three. It tends to be a lot of mouthing during infancy. Then a bit of mouthing in the early toddler years. Then as they near three, they tend to understand food is for mouths and other objects may pose a risk.

However, there are children who find comfort or stimulation from oral input. If your child is nearing three and they’re still mouthing a lot of objects, sometimes offering a safe item can help. Chew necklaces have become a popular option and can save the sleeves of shirts some kids tend to chew on.

Some never fully outgrow the desire for frequent oral input. They tend to grow up to be the teens who love to chew gum, mints, etc.

The only concern would be if your child is getting well beyond three or four and continuing to mouth or eat objects which aren’t food and pose a risk. It isn’t uncommon for some, even adults, to chew pen caps and such. However, if your child is for example chewing and swallowing erasers in second grade, you may want to reach out to their doctor to discuss PICA.

During infancy and toddlerhood, it’s simply par for the course watching your little one explore their world and build their immune system through mouthing.

As parents, we know how challenging this stage can be. If you have older children or pets in the home, it seems even more challenging to keep small items up and away. Know that it’s normal for your little one to explore, including with their mouth. Remember that we don’t need to and really shouldn’t give our children a sterile environment. Just do your best to keep hazards away while providing plenty of safe time and objects for them to explore, even with their mouth.

Reference: Infant mouthing behavior: the immunocalibration hypothesis: Request PDF. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2020.

Why Babies Need to Mouth and How We Can Encourage Them to Continue • Speechy Things

“Did your child mouth as an infant?”

I ask this question all the time to the parents of kiddos with severe speech delays, picky eating habits, and other oral motor deficits.
More often than not, the answer is “not very much” or a flat out “no.”

Sounds like a dream, right? A baby who isn’t liable to choke on any little piece of who-knows-what lying on the floor? Jackpot!?

Why Mouthing Is Important:

Mouthing helps babies explore their world from a sensory and oral motor standpoint. They are learning about textures, tastes, and temperatures that will provide them with a solid foundation to move on from purees to solid foods (get it?) and avoid a picky eating rut. Additionally, they will begin to move their tongue and jaw in new, fun, and interesting ways. These movements will later develop into a mature chewing pattern that will allow them to eat a healthy variety of solid foods and help them produce lovely consonant sounds. As if all that wasn’t enough reason to encourage mouthing… it also helps the baby’s gag reflex move from the front to the back of their mouths.

Mouthing starts with the rooting reflex. This reflex is innate from birth and allows an infant to turn and attempt to suckle anything  that touches its face. The rooting reflex begins to diminish around the age of 4 months. At this same time, babies begin to gain the ability to bring their hands to their mouth. This is the opening of our mouthing window.

While it may be extremely convenient to not fear for your child’s safety due to the little babe putting ev.ery.thing. in his or her mouth… it may bite you later.

So what can we do?

  1. Provide lots of safe toys to mouth and gnaw on. You may even go as far as modeling what to do with these objects. That’s correct, adult reading this. I want you to put baby toys in your mouth. Lick and chew and move them around. Let that baby watch what to do.
  2. Make it a game. Think “puppy dog” and be silly so baby laugh and think its a fun game. Maybe they’ll be more willing to join in.
  3. Add some flavor. Try dipping an easy-to-wash toy in a juice or favorite puree to increase interest for the child.
  4. Make it cold. Place a toy in the freezer and see if it makes it more enjoyable. Again, we’re thinking about increasing sensory information.
  5. Provide texture. (sensory sensory sensory) We want bumpy toys. Soft toys. Squishy toys. ALL the toys! Bonus points for the language opportunities here.
  6. When your baby explores (safe) objects with their mouth, give praise. Make it a pleasurable experience and they are more likely to repeat their actions.

Some great options for mouthing can be found at your local retailers:

The Boon PULP Silicone Teething Feeder allows you to place a variety of flavors for your baby to safely explore and enjoy. Perhaps a juicy piece of watermelon or a frozen peeled grape? Yum!

A cute teething necklace like this one by BEBE by Me is another great option – you can’t lose it!

This nuby Banana NanaNubs gum massager is another adorable way to get your baby mouthing and ready for tooth-brushing. Here is the texture we’re looking for!

Perhaps my favorite is a good ol’ fashioned hard munchable. The key here, and this is very important, is that this is something the baby CANNOT chew or break off yet. The purpose at this point is only for sensory and oral motor exploration. Celery sticks work great too!

A few things to remember…

We never want to force, but we do want to encourage. A cry or a cold shoulder today could be a timid attempt to mouth tomorrow. Keep exposing the child to mouthing and be patient. Keep an eye out for little signs that they are becoming interested and try again soon.

If you are a parent reading this, it is always a good idea to reach out to a local Speech Language Pathologist for any concerns you may have with your child’s speech, language, and/or feeding. For more information, you may be interested in these parent handouts for late talkers.

Of course, safety is always first.

Please be sure that an adult is always present and watching closely as these options are explored. Use good common sense, folks. But we DO need that baby to learn all the awesome things their little mouth can do when it gets movin’!

That’s all for now! If you’re looking for any speech therapy ideas, be sure to check out my VIP emails or follow on Instagram. I’d love to connect with you!

Happy Mouthing, Speechy Friends!

Please Note: As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn from qualifying purchases. I will only ever promote items that I believe in whole-heartedly.

Mouthing: Why does everything end up in my baby’s mouth?

Does your baby put everything (or almost everything) they can find in their mouth? And you can’t get them to stop? Well actually, you won’t be able to and you shouldn’t! Mouthing is an essential part of your little one’s development and exploration.

Why is mouthing so important?

Oral exploration helps a baby’s developmental stage. It allows them to discover the taste and texture of the different objects that surround them. So when your little one grasps an object and then brings it to their mouth, it means that they want to explore it further. “Is it soft or hard? Can I eat it? Does it make a sound?”.

Keep in mind that mouthing won’t be the only way your little will explore the world. In the first years of life, babies explore their surroundings through all their senses –by seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting–, and the more they can explore, the more they will learn.

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If your little one is around 3 and 7 months, then mouthing toys or other objects can also be a sign of teething. When this happens, you’ll notice your baby will start to drool a lot, might be a little irritable, and constantly putting things in their mouth. Biting and gum rubbing are your baby’s efforts to relieve pressure in their gums.

But what about germs?

Another interesting thing about mouthing is that when your little one brings things to their mouth, this can help their immune system. This doesn’t mean you should let your little one mouth everything they see because there are things that can harm them or make them ill; but you can stay calm if once in a while your little one sucks on a pacifier that fell to the ground. 

Keep in mind that kids get sick from viruses and bacteria, not dust. So make sure your little one is not sharing toys with babies that might be sick and can pass on germs. Washing their hands and toys frequently will also be key to prevent any illnesses.

But don’t stress too much about it. Parents simply can’t protect their children from everything –germs included– and, from what doctors are learning about the way babies develop their immune systems, you probably shouldn’t worry too much about most of the things that end up in your baby’s mouth (just the ones that can be unsafe or be a choking hazard).

90,000 Baby Safety – Basic Rules

Already at two months your baby can grab an object, and after some three months he will learn to reach for it and pull it towards him. Even such an elementary thing as a bottle from which you feed a baby can be fatal for him – he can choke if left alone with her. Be sure to make sure that there is nothing in the places that are accessible to your child that could harm his health.In this and other articles on the safety of your newborn miracle, I want to give the minimum number of very important rules that any parent should know and follow.

Changing table safety

If you dress / change your child on a table or a special changing table, do not lose sight of the baby for a second. You should not only see it, but also be able to reach it with your hand for a second, even if it is far from the edges.Even a newborn can roll over the edge and fall very quickly.

Baby cot safety

A crib, if you choose it responsibly, will become one of the safest places for your precious baby. There are a few basic rules that are extremely important to follow:

  1. The slats of the crib or the bars of its walls should be located at a distance not exceeding 6 – 7 cm from each other. This is the optimal distance that allows the baby to stick his arm or leg between them, without the risk of getting stuck, and not allowing him to stick his head between them;

  2. The best option is a cot, equipped with the ability to adjust the height of the mattress topper / bed.The uppermost position will allow you to lay the child down, make up his bed and play with him without bending too much. Keep track of the height of the sides, which should be at least 50 cm. At the moment when the child is already able to sit down and begins to do this, the bottom of the crib must be lowered to the next level. On the last level, the bed should be installed at the moment when the child can already stand on his own legs. This will protect your baby from the risk of falling out of the crib by hanging over its side;

  3. Try to buy a crib for a baby with a complete absence of ornate patterns, protruding parts and sharp corners.Any surface of the bed should have maximum polish, be smooth and not have any chips, roughness, cracks, etc.;

  4. The vast majority of baby beds are equipped with special mechanisms for opening and / or lowering one of the walls. If your chosen model has such a mechanism, then make sure that it works smoothly, does not create noise and is inaccessible to the child. The flap of the bed should be fixed with latches or something similar from different sides.In this case, the child simply does not have enough arm span to reach and press both locks at the same time. If the wall is fixed with rubber bands, then the baby runs the risk of falling out of the crib;

  5. Be sure to pay attention to the models that have special silicone pads on the sides of the crib. This feature will help a lot at a time when the baby’s first teeth begin to appear. This joyful event for parents is always, for all children, accompanied by an indefatigable desire to gnaw something, somewhere.Naturally, the bed will be the first in line, but the presence of special linings will protect against splinters, swallowing small pieces of wood, varnish and / or paint;

  6. Before buying a bed for a child, be sure to ask the seller for a certificate. The children’s bed must be covered with safe varnishes and paints;

  7. The bed must have a strong, sufficiently firm and tightly covered mattress. The use of a soft base is not permissible;

  8. Flammable materials should be completely absent from the child’s bedding, and the ties, if any, should be of a minimum length so as not to wrap around the baby’s neck;

  9. If your child has already learned to get up, then you cannot hang rattles across the crib;

  10. It is recommended to use a special sleeping bag for children instead of a blanket.If you cover your baby with a blanket, then make sure that his head remains open;

  11. During sleep, the child should always be under your supervision;

  12. Do not place the infant on feather beds or large down pillows. If a newborn is covered by something covering his mouth or nose, he may suffocate. It is also strongly discouraged to leave large soft toys in the baby’s crib.

Baby Safety – Harmful Substances

  1. Try to pay special attention to the paint that covers your baby’s toys and furniture that he uses.They must not contain lead, as evidenced by the certificates;

  2. There are different medicines in every home. They should be in a place inaccessible for your baby. Alcoholic drinks, any detergents and cleaning agents, pesticides, etc. should be kept in similar places.

Baby Safety – Toys

  1. Try to buy only those toys that can be washed / washed;

  2. They should be large, without sharp edges and edges.They should be missing parts that can be easily torn off. Always remember that everything that falls into your baby’s hands will certainly be sent to his mouth.

Baby Safety – Clothes

  1. Try to dress your baby in clothes, no lacing;

  2. Do not put any chains / strings on the baby, especially under a large amount of clothing. Under it you will not see whether it interferes with the baby or not;

  3. Use a clip to secure the nipple / pacifier;

Baby Safety – Dangerous Items

Frankly speaking, almost any object in the house can pose a threat to the health of a child.Do a little experiment – lower yourself on the floor of your house and crawl along it, raising your head and pretending that you are a baby. You will certainly see most of the dangers that will lie in wait for your little one on his exploratory path. These will include: various small things on the floor, furniture corners, wall roughness or lagging parts, hanging cords from lamps that can be pulled, etc. For more information, see the article Child Safety in the Home.

Baby Safety – Stroller

  1. Immediately check the availability of a certificate for a specific model of the stroller;

  2. The entire stroller must be as stable as possible.On a level surface, neither she nor her basket should be tilted. If you are considering a model – a transforming stroller, then make sure that there is protection against accidental closure;

  3. The inside of the stroller must be trimmed with natural fabrics. Parts must be easily removable for washing;

  4. The bottom of the stroller should be as rigid as possible;

  5. The higher the basket is, the better.It will protect your child from dust and splashes of dirt;

  6. The minimum height of the sides is at least 20 cm. For fidgets, the sides should be even higher;

  7. Do not put pillows and other unnecessary items in the stroller. Try to provide maximum freedom for the baby so that he can breathe easily and move if he wants;

  8. If your baby can already reach the garland, then it is better to remove it completely.Having sprung, when the child releases her, she can hit him hard;

  9. Use gauze to protect your baby from any insects. She will protect the child from insects while walking and sleeping;

  10. Try to buy a stroller with the ability to fix its hood in several positions. This will allow you to protect your baby from the sun, depending on the time of day and direction of movement, and from rain and wind, regardless of their direction.All actions with a hood should be silent so as not to frighten the baby while sleeping. The hood and apron of the stroller must be fastened in such a way as to leave sufficient space both for observing the child and for ventilating the air in the basket;

  11. Only a child should be in the basket. Any unnecessary things, even flowers, are strongly recommended to be removed from the basket.

  12. Pets should not get into the stroller even when there is no child in it;

  13. If the stroller remains in the entrance, then close it as tightly as possible.Otherwise, homeless animals will definitely settle in it;

  14. Of course, smoking next to the stroller and putting lighters / matches in it is prohibited;

  15. Never leave the stroller under windows and balconies of houses.

Baby Safety – Kangaroo Use

Toddler satchels, also called “Kangaroo”, are very popular among young parents. With them, the baby is always there, always in sight, and both hands are free.However, until the age of 6 months or until the child can sit on his own, it is strongly discouraged to sit him in the “kangaroo” and this is a literal prohibition of doctors! Until this time, the musculoskeletal system of your child has not yet matured and it is contraindicated for him to be in an upright position for a long time. Neither the spine itself nor the muscles holding it are yet ready to withstand the load, which will increase even more from vibration in time with walking. Subconsciously, the baby will look for a more comfortable position for himself.He will begin to bend in some way, and this will cause the twisted development of his spine.

A more justified alternative is a sling or kangaroo model to keep the baby in a horizontal position. But they are far from ideal. Carrying a child in such conditions deprives him of a solid support, forcing him to be constantly in tension. If you are using “slings” or their analogs, be sure to make stops and put the baby on your knees so that he can rest.

If your baby is already confidently sitting on his own, then feel free to buy a “kangaroo”. It is recommended to buy a model with a rigid back and wide, adjustable shoulder straps. This will allow not only dad to carry the baby, but also mom.

Baby Safety – Walkers and Jumpers

  1. Before buying jumpers and / or walkers, be sure to consult your doctor;

  2. You can put a baby in them only if he is already confidently sitting himself;

  3. In jumpers, the child must always be in shoes that rigidly fix his ankle joints;

  4. The height of the jumpers and walkers must be adjusted correctly – the child should stand on the floor with his whole foot, and his legs should be slightly bent at the knees and hip joints;

  5. The maximum time the baby is in the walker / jumpers – no more than 30 minutes twice a day;

  6. In these simulators, the baby should not only be away from dangerous places, especially stairs, but always under the supervision of adults;

  7. On a walker, the baby should not be able to reach dangerous objects and places;

  8. Place a soft rug under the jumpers;

  9. Never exceed the permissible load indicated in the passport for the simulators;

  10. Check the reliability and serviceability of all attachments of children’s exercise equipment before using them;

  11. If your baby is already walking well on his own, then it is recommended to completely exclude the use of a walker;

  12. If any signs of fatigue appear (reddening of the skin in places of contact with the simulator, lethargy, apathy, rapid breathing, etc.)discontinue use of the simulator immediately;

  13. Never put your child in exercise equipment immediately after eating.

Features to consider when purchasing jumpers / walkers

In stores you can find a huge selection of different models of baby walkers and jumpers. The choice should be made responsibly and take into account the main features.

Walker Features:

  1. The base of the walker should be wide.This ensures protection against overturning;

  2. Models with front bumper to protect against collisions are recommended;

  3. The rollator wheels must be able to rotate in all directions;

  4. The more castors, the more stable and maneuverable the entire simulator;

  5. The seat should be deep, immersing most of the child’s body.It should be washable, not too soft or too hard, and wide enough. The back must be firm. The more levels are provided, the safer and more comfortable position you can find for your baby.

Jumpers Features:

There are two types of bindings for jumpers: clamps and hooks. The first type of attachment is preferable. You can hang jumpers in almost any doorway. If the jumpers are spring-loaded, then an additional cable must be passed through the spring itself, acting as a safety cable.The seat of the exercise machine must be in the shape of a pair of panties, and the machine itself must have belts and a corset. Only in this case both the baby and his spine will be reliably fixed. It is good if the seat is equipped with additional axillary bolsters. Also, if possible, you should buy a model with an orthopedic back. The presence of bumpers will make the jumpers safer for the baby, protecting him from collisions with the wall and / or doorway.

Maternity hospital №9 :: Breastfeeding

Breast milk is ideal food for an infant, especially during the first months of life.Indeed, for 9 months, while the mother is carrying the child, he receives all the necessary substances from her body. Mother’s milk, containing nutrients and protective substances, vitamins and enzymes that are necessary for the proper growth and development of the baby, is easily digested and absorbed by his body. In addition, breast milk has a unique chemical composition that is closely related to the composition of the cells and tissues of the baby.

Establishing breastfeeding in the maternity hospital and at home

Currently, the method of early attachment of the baby to the mother’s breast is being practiced.Its essence is to attach it to the breast as quickly as possible, within the first 20-30 minutes after the birth of the baby. It happens like this: first, immediately after birth, the child is placed on the mother’s belly. This contact allows the baby to feel the mother’s warmth, the beating of her heart. He is then helped to find the breast and take the nipple. Even a few drops of colostrum will protect him from many troubles in the future. Do not interrupt the first feed until the baby has released itself. Never limit feeding time.The kid should suck as much as he wants.
Contraindications to the early attachment of the baby to the breast are:
• incompatibility between the child and the mother in terms of the Rh factor;
• depression of the central nervous system in a child;
• respiratory distress syndrome;
• severe hereditary diseases.
4-5 days after giving birth, the mother produces so-called pass-through milk. At the same time, its quantity is also increasing.
In the 2-3rd week after childbirth, mature milk is already produced, the composition of which may vary somewhat depending on the mother’s diet and regimen.
It is very important to properly latch the baby to the breast. First of all, mom and baby need to find a comfortable position to spend all their feeding time in a calm, relaxing environment.
The mother lies on her side, puts the baby in front of her on a flat pillow and, supporting the breast, feeds him. The baby, as a rule, opens his mouth himself and looks for the breast. If he has not done this, you need to touch the nipple to his upper lip – and he will immediately open his mouth. Make sure that the baby takes in his mouth not only the nipple, but also the entire areola (areola).The baby’s lower lip should be turned outward, the chin, cheeks and nose should be close to the chest. The baby sucks in the nipple and areola of the breast, and then, pressing on them with his tongue, squeezes out the milk and swallows.
Free feeding is currently recommended. A baby can breastfeed up to 10-12 times a day. As the baby grows up, he usually develops his own feeding regime – from 6 to 8 times a day. The child himself determines the length of stay at the breast. Some babies suckle actively, quickly suck out the necessary portion of milk and release the nipple themselves.But there are so-called “lazy suckers” who suck slowly and sluggishly, often fall asleep at the breast, but when they try to remove the nipple, they wake up and start sucking again. Such prolonged sucking can lead to damage to the skin of the breast and nipple, and the formation of cracks. Therefore, it is advisable that the duration of one feeding does not exceed 20-30 minutes, and in the first days of feeding – 5-7 minutes for one breast (when applying the baby alternately to one breast or to the other, the mother should gradually increase the feeding time).A healthy, breastfed newborn should not receive any nutritional supplements, including water, unless prescribed by a doctor. With a sufficient amount of milk from the mother, the baby’s need for fluid is fully satisfied. For good lactation, in addition to proper nutrition and adherence to the general regimen, the emotional factor is very important. If the mother feels nervous, constant anxiety, or is depressed, then lactation can quickly fade away. Adequate breast milk production depends largely on the mother’s attitude and belief in breastfeeding her baby.

Possible problems

Milk begins to be produced only 3-5 days after childbirth, and a baby 2-3 days old cannot suck out a lot from the mother’s breast. Therefore, in the first 2-3 days after the birth of the child, the mother is advised to limit the amount of fluid consumed to 800 ml per day – this will be an excellent prevention of milk stagnation. When thirsty, moms are advised to frequently rinse their mouths with cool water. Certain difficulties arise with the so-called “tight chest”, i.That is, when milk is produced in sufficient quantity, it is difficult to separate and it can be difficult for the baby to suck it in the right amount. To avoid such problems, the mother should express some milk immediately before feeding, do a light breast massage, then the breast becomes softer and “milk comes easier.” Duty guard midwives in the hospital will help mothers cope with these difficulties.

In some women, the nipple skin is tender and easily wounded. As already mentioned, with strong and prolonged sucking, cracks can appear on the nipples.They inflict severe pain on the mother during feeding and are the gateway to infection. To prevent the formation of cracks, and in case of their appearance – for early healing, after feeding, you need to lubricate the nipple with breast milk, which, when it dries, forms a protective film. You can lubricate the nipples with cream with lanolin, oils containing vitamin A, rosehip oil. Zelenka is currently rarely treated with nipples due to the fact that it dries the skin very much. You can put padded pads in your bra to collect any milk that flows out.In the case when the cracks are very painful, do not heal for a long time, you have to feed the baby through a special pad or even take a break in breastfeeding for 1-3 days. In this case, milk should be expressed by hand, not with a breast pump, as this can further worsen the condition of the cracks. It is better to spoon feed the baby during such a break.
Young mothers often suffer from lactostasis – milk stagnation. With lactostasis, it is necessary to apply the baby to the breast more often, as well as express milk. Mom should limit fluid intake.Before breastfeeding and pumping, you should do a light massage of the hardened areas of the breast, and between feedings, put a warming compress with vaseline oil.

How can I help myself and my baby at the beginning of feeding?

It is best to press on the chest to squeeze out some milk. It stimulates the baby’s appetite and also gives firmness to the nipple. As soon as the baby begins to suckle, move the breast back a little to release the baby’s nose. If sucking hurts you, do breathing exercises and try to relax.It will be easier if you cool the nipples with an ice cube before feeding.

Should you always give both breasts?

Yes. You need to start with the breast that the baby sucked at the end of the previous feed. When the baby has sucked the first breast, stroke him and tell him that now is the time to start on the second. Before doing this, be sure to let your child belch up the swallowed air. Lift him up so that his chest is touching your shoulder. Pat it lightly on the back and walk around holding it in your hands – this will facilitate the process.Repeat the procedure after second breastfeeding.

How long should the feeding last?

In the first 4-5 days – no more than five, maximum, seven minutes with one breast. The feeding time can then be extended to ten minutes. As a rule, the baby sucks half of the milk from one breast in the first two to three minutes, the remaining amount after five to seven minutes.

How often should you feed?

Depending on individual characteristics. A newborn may ask for food every two, three, and sometimes four hours.You should not feed more often than once every two hours, because every extra feeding can injure the nipples. The child, on the other hand, reacts to overeating with bloating. The kid does not yet know the difference between day and night. It may take up to three months for a baby to learn to go for at least six hours at night without feeding. But not all children are like that. Some people ask to eat every 4-5 hours; if a newborn’s blood sugar drops, the baby reacts by crying and needs to be fed right away.

What if there is not enough milk?

The best way to increase milk supply is to breastfeed the baby for a short time as often as possible.It is very important to drink more fluids – at least three liters a day. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (allowed by a nursing mom’s diet), as well as whole-grain cereals and baked goods, oatmeal, and yeast. If these measures do not immediately lead to the desired result, be patient, you should resort to bottle feeding only as a last resort!

Baby is 5 months old | Friso Russia

Baby 5 months: DEVELOPMENT

At this age, the most important thing is the development of the child’s activity.Take your baby to the playpen, where he can roll over and reach for toys on his own. Stimulate the baby to work more with muscles: to stretch out to reach an interesting object, to rise on your hands in order to better see what is happening in the room, and to roll over from one barrel to another. All exercises can be turned into a fun game. And don’t forget to involve older children in the games!

Developing movements

At 5 months, many children already know how to roll over from back to stomach on their own.But if your baby is still unable to do this, help him a little: put a bright toy on the side of the child so that he cannot reach it from a supine position. Then pull it by the handle towards the toy, slightly turn the leg and pelvis in the same direction and help it completely roll over onto its stomach. It is good if the older child shows by example how you can change the position of the body.

When the baby has mastered this skill, teach him to rise from a prone position and then transfer his body weight to one hand.To do this, interest him with an attractive object so that he lifts the body in his arms, and then put the toy in one hand. Fear not, your baby is already coordinating enough to maintain balance.

It is also important to create favorable conditions so that the baby gradually learns to crawl. Place a beautiful toy a few centimeters away from your child’s outstretched arm. Then, support the sole of his feet with your hand, encouraging him to push off and crawl to the desired object.For children, a clear example is very important, and here an older child can provide invaluable help: getting on all fours, he will show the baby in an accessible way how to crawl to any goal. When the baby copes with the task, be sure to praise him, and next time put the toy a few centimeters further.

Develop vision

At 5 months, almost all of the child’s actions take place under the control of vision. For example, a baby first looks for an object that he wants to reach, and then pulls his hand exactly in his direction.Developing visual control, teach your baby to estimate the distance “by eye”. To do this, lay objects a little closer and a little further from him, within and outside of his reach. In addition, let him examine small objects, since at this age the baby develops detailed vision. But it is better not to give him such toys in his hands, but to hang them from the crib, otherwise the baby can pull them into his mouth.

Developing hearing

The child already knows how to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar voices, reacts to his name, shows considerable animation at the sound of music.Now it’s time to turn his attention to the voices of animals. First, introduce him to the voices of a cat and a dog – most likely, he has already seen them more than once on the street or at a party. Take a toy dog, draw the baby’s attention to it and say clearly: “Av-av”. After a while, repeat this exercise with a toy cat. As your toddler gets older, introduce him to new sounds and animals. In order for him to learn to correlate image and sound, he will need multiple repetitions. It is better if the baby will often hear a certain set of words, but pronounced in different voices.To do this, take your eldest child as your assistants – so your classes will be even more interesting.

Developing speech

The kid pronounces his first syllables – a chain of randomly connected sounds. He remembers well the sounds he hears from you and others, and tries to reproduce them in his own way. Support your baby in this, talk to him more often, and soon his “babbling” vocabulary will be noticeably enriched.

Games and toys

Now for a child, communication with you is in the first place, so games with your participation become the most important and loved ones.For example, “There is a horned goat” or “Hide and Seek” – hide the toy behind a handkerchief, and then show it again, happily saying: “Ku-ku!”. At 5 months, you can already play with the child, showing him mini-performances: the doll can walk along the edge of the crib, greet the baby, tell him jokes or sing children’s songs, moving to the beat of the music. You can use several heroes at once, involving dad, grandmother or brother and sister in the game.

If earlier the toys were hung over the crib so that the baby would examine them and hit them with a pen, now they can be put directly on the mattress.The child will reach for them from different positions, feeling with pleasure, shaking and shifting from one hand to another. It is important that they are clean and free of small parts so that the baby can explore them safely.

Baby 5 months old: PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

Five months is the heyday of emotional communication between a child and adults. If you pay enough attention to the baby, then he is active, benevolent, cheerful and inquisitive. He spends most of his time observing others, discovering new facets of the adult world.Help the little one to feel loved and desired in this world. However, when communicating with your baby, do not forget to develop his independence. After all, he can already take and get a lot himself – you just have to push him to this a little.

Height and weight

At 5 months, the baby’s height is 65-68 cm, and the weight is 6800-7800g.

Motor reactions

At 5 months, the baby continues to practice the accuracy of hand movements and gripping objects of various shapes. So, he can reach the toy from any position: on his back, on his stomach, on one side and on the other.Seeing the object that interested him, he quite accurately pulls his hand in his direction and prepares his palm for the capture in advance. At the same time, the baby confidently takes both rather large and smaller toys, shakes them with interest, moves them back and forth and transfers them from one hand to another. And, of course, he always pulls them into his mouth – so make sure that all objects around the child are clean and safe.

The baby is also happy to learn new body positions. If you gently pull him by the handles and help him sit down, then he can spend a short time in this position.Remember that while he needs to be supported by the handles, he himself will be able to sit only after one or two months.

In addition, the baby learns the skills that prepare him for the ability to crawl. Turning over on his stomach, he rises on his palms and rearranges his hands for a few sentiments. Sometimes he even manages to pull up the body after his hands, but so far his movements are very uncertain. Be sure to praise your baby for every little achievement, or at least for an attempt to crawl – he needs your support now.

Visual reactions

The baby begins to develop detailed vision. Now he notices even very small details, up to crumbs on the table and stud earrings in his ears. True, the baby still cannot grab such objects, and he is limited to looking. For the development of vision, you can bring bright trinkets, consisting of many details to his bed. For example, a keychain with various pendant elements or curly beads. But be careful and careful so that small details do not end up in the baby’s mouth!

Auditory reactions

The child begins to “play” the musical instruments that he has only seen or heard before.For example, he happily strikes a tambourine or shakes a rattle, hums and cries out joyfully in time to the sounds he produces. Finding the sound source becomes a favorite game. For example, if you hide the bell under a handkerchief and shake it lightly, the baby will unmistakably stretch towards the ringing. But even a month ago, in the same situation, he would have simply looked around in bewilderment in search of a sounding object.

Speech reactions

The baby’s speech is actively developing – the initial humming is now replaced by a “flute” – a spontaneous chain of syllables and guttural sounds ([kx], [rx], [xy]).You can also distinguish between individual sounds pronounced by closed lips: ([b], [c], [m]). Sometimes the baby’s “flute” vaguely resembles simple words ([ma-a], [ba-a]), but this is not yet conscious speech, but initial babbling.

Emotions

The child begins to relate to the adults around him in a new way. Now he is no longer enough affectionate attention – he wants you to cooperate with him in his affairs, to encourage, praise and help. For example, when a kid reaches for a new toy, he will definitely look at you – have you noticed his achievement.And when he babbles in his childish language, he often pauses so you can answer him.

The baby is noticeably attached to his mother, is capricious when you are away for a long time, and rejoices when you appear. He may be wary of other adults at first, but seeing that you are calm and satisfied, he gradually “softens” and joins in the general conversation with movements and babbling.

The development of the child’s intelligence also takes place. He actively explores, examines and studies everything that he can reach and what is in his field of vision.At the same time, the baby correlates new impressions about the subject with the already existing ones. For example, he notices when you change your hairstyle or when new intonations appear in your voice.

How to teach a child that you cannot take other people’s things – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Having found a thing in your child’s toys that does not belong to him, do not rush to grab the belt.

As soon as she came from the street, Anya took a doll in a bright dress out of her jacket pocket, and, having entered into conversation with her, moved into the nursery.Neither the mother nor the father of this beauty bought her. “Whose doll is this?” – “My!” – not being distracted from the game, answered the daughter.

Why not?

Even the calmest parents are shocked when they suddenly discover that their baby has taken something without asking at a party or taken away from the kindergarten. This is immediately followed by scandal, tears, righteous anger, gloomy thoughts about the future of the child. There really is something to think about here, but without unnecessary tragedy.

I have already said that small children in play can exchange toys with each other as if they were shared toys and at the same time belong to each of them.After all, the child does not doubt that if a thing is in front of his eyes and can be reached, and even more so to play, then it is his. The idea of ​​what is “mine” and “someone else’s” appears in a little person, as a rule, after three years. Until then, child stealing is essentially not stealing at all.

Well, tell me, is the thief a four-year-old boy who, in a sincere friendly impulse, gave his friend the most beautiful disc from your, dad, audio collection? And the kid who calmly put a plastic soldier dropped by his neighbor in the sandbox into his pocket? He just wants to have what belongs to another and sincerely does not understand why this problem cannot be solved this way and why he is scolded for it.

The child is simply not yet familiar with the generally accepted rules and norms of behavior, the parents, unfortunately, have not yet found the time to tell him that taking the wrong thing means stealing, which is very bad. If you explain all this in time, for the very first time you noticed, then there is a high probability that from this time he will at least start asking if he can take the toy he likes. That way, you may be able to end the problem in the bud.

Attention at any cost

But it happens that a child (as a rule, it is already a child who has left infancy), putting someone else’s thing in his pocket without asking, realizes that he is doing something bad.The main thing that parents need to do is try to understand the reasons for what happened and act in accordance with what they understood. After all, the psychology of child “theft” is simple: in this way the child compensates for the lack of something. But what exactly, and parents have to find out.

The main incentive to take someone else’s is, of course, the strongest, invincible desire to have the thing you like, sometimes contrary to the voice of conscience. The child may understand that he is doing wrong, but the power of the temptation is great, and he cannot resist.He realizes that he is harming another, but he finds all sorts of excuses for his action – “Seryozha has so many things,” “they will buy me tomorrow, and I will return him,” “but they will not notice anything,” and so on.

You really, it happens, do not notice how coins of various denominations disappear from your wallet, individual books from the rack, and discs from the shelf. You have a lot of things to do, you bring home money, you do not care about trifles. Do you notice, in principle, how your child is growing, are you able to see for yourself that hands stick out almost to the elbows from the sweater bought last year? Do you notice how with an envious glance he sees off his peers with ice cream in his hands?

But as soon as you notice the loss, you turn into a merciless punishing sword.So this is what the child wanted! After all, he simply lacks you, your attention, your real participation in his life. Yes, working hard, you care about him too, but this is far from him, he does not see it. And the stronger your anger, the more often it will want at least such visible, your attention. The child is perhaps least interested in the property benefit of his action. And the money taken from you, the sweets bought for them, is just a symbol of substitution for parental love for him.

And more.If the child is not doing well at home, he will seek solace outside of him, among his peers. And in order to win their respect, he will be ready for many things, including taking money from you without asking in order to “bribe” peers who agree to communicate with him only if he has sweets or toys. Did you know that he is alone in the yard and at school, that he does not know how to communicate, does not know how to be friends? And who should have taught him this?

You are together!

And now you are beside yourself, you are in a panic – the child has taken someone else’s!

Before you start to understand, please remember that this is not a recidivist thief, but your son or daughter.So, you need to be extremely careful in words, whatever you suspect him of! Psychologists believe that parents should always proceed from the iron rule – never accuse a child of stealing, even if, besides him, there was no one else to “steal”. The exception, as psychologist Marina Kravtsova writes, is when you find him at the scene of a crime, but even in this case you need to choose expressions, because sometimes even one overly harsh conversation on this topic is enough to engender an inferiority complex in a child, which will poison his life.

But even in this case, you should not inflate what happened to the scale of a catastrophe, as well as pretend that nothing happened.

Yes, you are upset, angry, but still try to keep calm. Accusations, let alone assault, will never solve the problem (as well as the question: “Why did you do this?” After properly assessing what happened, talk to him calmly and confidentially.

A small person rarely thinks about the consequences of theft. Try to put him in the place of the victim, let him remember how upset he was when they took his things without asking. An older child can be asked: “Imagine you discovered that money was stolen from your wallet. What would you say to this person?” Talking about honesty with schoolchildren, I’m afraid, won’t be enough. Tell them about the consequences of their action, such as the loss of friends, a bad reputation, and possible future recruitment to the police.

With regard to the return of the “stolen”, some psychologists advise parents to insist that the child do it himself and openly: an apology, proceedings with the possible participation of the victim’s parents – all these unpleasant procedures will be remembered by him and will prevent the repetition of the incident. I am in favor of less shock therapy: it is worth trying to quietly (being in the same guests) put the thing in its place or go to return it with the child and help him with explanations: the parents of the “thief”, I believe, should share responsibility for what happened.The child will appreciate it, I assure you!

And generally less theory, less moralizing. An emergency has happened, sort it out, you are a parent and must be with your child together, both soul and thoughts! And not only in moments of catharsis, but constantly, warning catharsis. A child who does not receive the skill of trusting, loving communication in the family is unlikely to have a prosperous fate.

By the way

Love versus theft

The tendency to steal in children CANNOT BE Cured by punishment.It is true that society is taught to respect the law by resorting to harsh measures. But it is also true that none of them apply to a child of preschool age: according to the law, he is not yet able to take responsibility for his actions. And parents will do the right thing if they take the same position. And they will consider the manifestations of theft in a child an irresponsible act. Theft is “cured” not only by suggestion and assessment of the baby’s behavior. It is also important to conduct the conversation in such a way that he wants to understand you and agree with your opinion.

Only when the child feels that his parents love him and he truly loves them, only then he wants to be like them and imitate them. No calls for limiting desires affect him. This is why it is so important that he has a good opinion of his parents.

We will return to the owner what the child took away, we will try to find out what the child lacks at home, we will do our best to give him what he lacks. It is very important that a good relationship develops between parents and children.Then it will be possible to instill in the child the idea of ​​true decency and honesty.

E. Fromm, “Alphabet for Parents”

Three-month-old child: the period of adaptation and development develop a stable daily routine and routine. Yes, there are many unknowns, but now you have become more confident and are already looking forward to the start of each new day with your baby.And here we will tell you what awaits you at this stage and answer frequently asked questions. You know, even though you may not always get enough sleep, you are doing great!

Child development at 3 months

During this period, the child grows, begins to be aware of his body and be interested in the world around him. Let’s take a look at the development of a baby at 3 months.

Growth and physical development: Getting stronger every day

Bones and muscles become stronger, and now the baby can be stretched to its full length.The growth rate of a child is on average 2.5-4 centimeters per month, and the weight gain is 700-900 grams, although this is purely individual. At three months, the baby is getting better and better at controlling his body and controlling movements. Many of the baby’s movements are unconscious reflexes, but now the baby can deliberately and consciously turn the head, move the arms and legs. The neck muscles get stronger, and very soon the child will be able to independently hold the head and perceive people and objects in the field of vision. At the same time, vision improves: the baby begins to reach for nearby toys or things, follows moving objects with his gaze.

Sensations: Building a “communication house” brick by brick

There are so many interesting things in the world. At three months, the baby gradually begins to get to know all this. Vision is improved – now he sees better round objects, repetitive combinations, such as spirals and curls. And most of all he likes faces, especially his acquaintances and his mother’s.

With regard to hearing and speech, the baby already firmly connects the mother’s voice with care, affection and love. Now he is better at determining the tone of the voice, highlighting individual words and, perhaps, trying to imitate repetitive sounds.At three months, the child begins to realize that conversation is a two-way process, and other ideas about communication are assimilated. For example, he is pleased to see how his mother rejoices hearing his babble, and the baby himself rejoices when he hears his mother singing or reading to him.

Movement: Complete Exercise for the Whole Body

Around this stage, most babies become more aware of their movements and the development of motor skills can be seen with the naked eye. Stretching strengthens the muscles of the legs, and after that you can already roll over.But this will not come earlier than in a couple of months.

Have you already tried to take the baby under the arms and put it so that it touches the support with its legs? Then you saw how he tries to bend and straighten his legs himself – this is how the muscles prepare for the child to be able to stand on his own. Let him jump a little in this position – you will see how he will be delighted with his new skills.

For the development of the musculoskeletal system, put your baby on his tummy several times a day. While he is lying on his tummy, hold out toys to him or have him grab onto objects in the arena.It helps a 3-month-old baby improve motor skills, coordination, and other important skills.

In the third month of life, the baby trains not only the legs. Now he can clench and unclench his palms, grab various objects, such as toys or mom’s fingers. By this time, the child has better control over hand movements, reaches for various things, tries to touch objects that have attracted his attention. In addition, now he can get his fingers into his mouth, so be careful about what the baby can grab.

Mental development: The first “dialogue” with the baby

Few things delight parents as much as the first manifestations of the baby’s character. Have you noticed how your child begins to smile and react to it more often when you hear your voice? Great news! Most likely, the baby really likes to play with you and other close people, and now he can express this with facial expressions and the whole body. Some children are already beginning to imitate the movements and facial expressions of their mother. But if your baby is not doing anything like that yet, do not worry – he is only three months old, and all children develop in their own way and at their own pace.

At this stage, the baby may try to have a “conversation” with you. Now it is something like an exchange of sounds, gestures and smiles. This is not just a pleasant pastime for both of you, but also a way to build your child’s trust and self-esteem. If other children live with you, the baby at this stage begins to show a keen interest in them. At this age, babies often have their “favorites” and they are actively interested in other babies.

Children communicate their needs in different ways, and parents have to learn to read transparent (and less transparent and explicit) signals.How a child interacts with their parents is an important part of their personality and character. For example, a child may communicate about something very important by crying or movements, and parents over time begin to distinguish these sounds and movements from each other. Crying a toddler when he is hungry is different from crying when he is in pain. Also, by crying, parents can understand that the baby is simply naughty and needs to be distracted or given a favorite toy.

What to do for your child to develop correctly

Talk to your pediatrician for advice on developmental exercises and tricks for your child.Many of these exercises are aimed at developing the motor skills and skills necessary for turning, sitting and holding the head, as well as developing thinking and sensory organs. For a three month old baby, the following exercises are useful:

  • Strengthening the muscles of the back and neck. Place the baby on a tummy on a rug or blanket. Let him stretch a little under your supervision – this will help him better control the movements of the legs, arms and head.

  • Development of coordination. Give your child a small object or finger in the pen – let him grab it. This skill is needed in order to further learn how to bring pens to your mouth.

  • Improved vision. At this stage, distance vision, color recognition and tracking of moving objects are improved. To develop these skills, the nursery should have a lot of bright toys, books, rugs and other items of different colors, shapes, textures, and patterns.

Feeding a three month old baby

At three months old, a baby usually does not need to feed as often as a newborn.The baby now absorbs an average of 140-170 grams of milk per feeding (in the form of breast milk, formula for artificial feeding, or a combination of breast milk and formula), so he does not need as many feeds as during the previous two months (from six to eight feedings per day).

Counting wet and dirty diapers: You can tell if your baby is getting enough food and fluids by looking at the diapers. Now the baby’s stool is less frequent, and its consistency is denser.A newborn has stool almost after every feeding, and a three-month-old baby only has stool once a day or even once every two to three days. An average of six wet diapers a day is an indicator of adequate nutrition.

You have probably already noticed that a baby needs a lot of diapers and it is not worth saving on changing them, and promotions and discounts for young parents will help to save the price.

How much sleep does a three month old baby need?

At this stage, the sleep routine changes slightly.The baby grows and eats more during the day, so now he does not always need to be fed at night. During the day, the child is more active, so he wants to sleep more at night. Now, during the day, he can arrange for himself two or three “quiet hours” and sleeps longer at night. Some even sleep all night, but it is worth noting that this is not typical for all children, and “all night” is basically a period of five to six hours.

How to put your baby to bed

When putting your baby to bed, you need to follow certain rules to eliminate the risk of SIDS and give your baby a sound, full sleep:

  • You need to sleep only on your back.

  • It is not advisable to take the child to your bed for sleep.

  • Put your baby to sleep only on a special children’s mattress. There should be no crumpled linen, pillows, diapers.

  • The child should be dressed in comfortable pajamas to ensure a comfortable sleep temperature and range of motion.

  • Put your baby to bed with a pacifier in his mouth if he is very anxious.

Tips for Healthy Sleep

It is recommended that you develop a sleep schedule that suits both mom and baby.Here are some tips to improve your baby’s sleep:

  • Establish a special bedtime ritual. Give your baby a light massage, read a story, sing a lullaby – all this will help a three-month-old baby to relax after a busy day.

  • Do not restrict movement. The child needs time to calm down and take a comfortable position. Let him move a little, babble or even cry, and then fall asleep.

  • Do not wake up your child again. If you need to wake your baby up at night, for example for feeding, try not to create additional distractions. Do not turn on unnecessary lights and do not make noise. So the child will calm down and fall asleep again.

One day in the life of a baby

There are many surprises in life with a three month old baby. We have compiled this diagram for you to help you develop a more or less stable routine of feeding, bathing, sleeping and playing:

Baby health: Massage for children

Moms do everything to keep their precious baby happy and healthy.Massage is a great addition to the daily routine of children, and some of them really enjoy it. A properly performed massage brings mother and child closer and relieves stress. Sometimes babies cry even less after a massage.

We recommend that you first consult your pediatrician and massage specialist. Perhaps there are children’s massage courses near you, where you will be taught everything you need. Here’s how to start:

  • Relaxing environment. The baby can be laid on the back of the changing table or even on your bed.When starting the massage, do not take your eyes off the baby’s face.

  • Careful contact. Massage should be done with gentle gentle strokes, starting from the head, neck and shoulders, then moving on to the lower back, buttocks, legs and arms.

  • Talk to your baby or sing a song. Your baby will feel calmer during the massage if you talk to him quietly or sing his favorite song.

  • Watch the reaction. If the baby looks happy, go ahead. If he behaves restlessly, stop the massage, he probably does not like it.

Wait at least 45 minutes between feeding and massage. If your baby enjoys massage, chances are he will enjoy this activity at an older age.

Frequently asked questions

When will the fontanelle on the head grow?
By two or three months, the small fontanel should already overgrow, and the large one can overgrow in a period of 12 to 24 months.The baby’s head still looks disproportionately large compared to the body.

How does speech and hearing develop in a three month old baby?
If the baby smiles at the sound of his mother’s voice, tries to repeat the sounds after you, turns his head in the direction of voices or music, this means that his hearing and speech organs are developing normally.

Help from grandparents
If there are other children in the family, grandparents may pay more attention to them at this stage.You can ask them to go somewhere with older children, read or play with them, and even take them to visit, but do not allow older children to feel unnecessary to their parents. You can also ask them to help mom and dad with the baby.

Three month old baby is not gaining weight. What’s happening?
If your breastfed baby is not gaining weight, you may not have enough milk. This could be due to stress or fatigue. Talk to your pediatrician or breastfeeding specialist for advice on how to get more milk.In bottle-fed babies, slow weight gain may be associated with digestive problems or improper dosage of the formula. In this case, it is also recommended to contact a pediatrician or feeding specialist.

Which toys are suitable for a three month old baby?
For the development of the child’s vision, it is recommended to surround him with pictures or books with various patterns, textures and colors. Rattles, bright moving toys not only keep the baby busy, but also develop his coordination, grasping reflexes and vision.

What should you take with you when you leave home with a three-month-old baby?
Take with you a change of diapers, a spare set of clothes (for both of you). Most likely, the child will have to be fed while walking, even if you fed him right before going out. Dress your baby for the weather: in the cold season, put on an insulating layer, and in the summer do not forget to protect him from the sun.

Young parents: How to overcome lack of sleep

Do you miss the days when you did not have a child and you could sleep as long as you want? All young parents suffer from sleep deprivation.It is clear that you want to give your baby all your strength, but lack of sleep does not make it easier. Best to work in a team – join forces with a partner, grandparents, nanny. Make a list of tasks, determine which ones are really important and which ones can be postponed.

To avoid sleep deprivation, you can adjust to your baby’s sleep cycle. This means that the task of putting your baby to bed can be entrusted to someone else while you are enjoying a well-deserved rest. This is useful for the child himself – this way he will learn to fall asleep in different circumstances, and he will not need your presence to fall asleep.

The following tips will also help you get better sleep:

  • Ask your partner, grandmother, grandfather or nanny to sometimes feed your baby at night.

  • Eat well and drink plenty of water.

  • Go to bed when the baby is sleeping, and household chores will wait

  • Move – you can take a walk with the baby or go somewhere on your own.

This Month’s Checklist

  • Consult your pediatrician about the following vaccinations for your child.Check the vaccination schedule

  • Want to know what happens next? Here is an article on what happens to a 4 month old baby.

  • And to find out even more, subscribe to our newsletter:

Five-month-old baby: aspects of character, development, growth

Several months have passed unnoticed, the baby is growing by leaps and bounds, now it is almost two times more than immediately after birth. Not only the baby himself is growing, but also his whole world.He becomes interested in complex shapes and patterns and even babbles something, trying to start a conversation with you. Get ready this month to watch your baby grow and develop with joy, and now we’ll tell you what he’s learning over this time.

Stages of child development

Let’s see what discoveries (and sometimes difficulties) await you this month.

Growth and physical development of a child at 5 months: Twice as much

All babies are different, and they also develop in different ways, but in general, babies at 5 months weigh about twice as much as immediately after birth.On average, at this age, the growth rate is approximately 570 grams and 2 centimeters. The pediatrician will monitor the physical development of the baby using baby growth charts.

Sensations: The child likes red and blue colors

The baby’s eyesight improves, now he sees much farther than before. You can see that he likes red and blue – he prefers to look at objects of these colors. Now the baby looks at more complex combinations and shapes for a long time. As his vision develops, they begin to interest him.Now you can show him picture books and posters with bright colors and intricate patterns.

Movement: Strengthening the core muscles

The child is getting stronger, now he is working on very important muscles – the core muscles. By this age, he can lift and hold his head and chest while lying on his stomach. These muscles strengthen as the baby lifts the head and chest further and further from the floor. Perhaps your baby is actively moving his legs and swaying back and forth on his tummy.He doesn’t just play – he trains the muscles that will help him subsequently roll over and start crawling.

Mental development: The child is experimenting

Children learn quickly, and each experience is incredibly valuable to them. By the age of 5 months, the child begins to understand that there is a reaction to every action. For example, hitting a mattress with a leg, he will notice that the crib is swinging. Or he will drop something and notice that you will immediately pick up the fallen object. This awakens in him curiosity and a desire to find out how his actions affect the world around him.For parents, this is not the most pleasant time – who will enjoy picking up an abandoned rattle for the hundredth time, but if the baby’s actions do not pose a danger to him, give him such pleasure. Make sure your child does not play with anything that can choke or choke, that can be smashed, cut or poisoned. Experiments develop the brain, physical activity and help the baby understand how he can change the environment around him.

A child’s cognitive abilities develop and he absorbs information like a sponge.Encourage his thirst for knowledge – walk with him around the house (most likely a cradle stroller will not work for you anymore), talk to him, show new objects. He will be delighted with books with large bright pictures. Develop your child’s language skills: say the name of each new object that he sees. And he can even babble something to you, as if he understands what you said. When talking with your baby, pause to let him “answer”. Appreciate these first conversations – although at 5 months he is unlikely to tell you something meaningful, any mother is very pleased to communicate with her child.The more often you do this, the wider the child’s social circle, the better he will be at it, and in a few months you will hear the first words from him.

What to do so that the child develops correctly

The kid did not train in vain – now he has strong shoulders and neck. Then he will need these muscles in order to sit, roll over, crawl, and then walk. Help him, put him on his tummy every day so that these muscles continue to strengthen. Try to do this two to three times a day.Then this can be done more often, so that the baby becomes stronger and more confident in himself. When you put your baby on his tummy, make sure he is awake and do not leave him unattended.

Feeding a five-month-old baby

At the age of 5 months, the baby eats 120-180 milliliters of milk or formula for one feeding, or even more (but not more than 200 ml). At any moment, a growth spurt may begin, and at this time he will need to eat more. Often the first growth spurt occurs by 6 months.Watch for signs your baby gives you and feed him immediately when he makes it clear that he is hungry.

What else can you imagine feeding without? That’s right, diaper change! While this is not the most enjoyable activity, you can benefit from it. Promotions and discounts for young parents will help to save money.

How much sleep does a five month old baby need?

At this stage, the child sleeps 12-16 hours a day. Now he sleeps the longest at night and only wakes up for a short time.Of course, all children are different, but let’s hope that you are lucky, by this age you no longer need to feed him in the middle of the night. Five-month-old babies still require naps, and they sleep 3-4 hours in divided doses during the day.

One day in the life of a baby

At this point, you most likely have developed a clear daily routine. This diagram shows the approximate daily routine of a child at this age:

Child’s health: Gums hurt

Parents cannot but be upset when a child is sick or cries from pain and other unpleasant sensations.Of course, you do everything you can to keep your baby happy and healthy, but sometimes he gets sick anyway. A child at 5 months is prone to some troubles, for example:

  • Teething. At this stage, children may have increased salivation, they are often naughty or cry in pain. In the period from 4 to 7 months, many begin to cut their teeth. If your little one is lucky, it won’t hurt when the teeth start to cut, but the gums can still swell.Give your child a teething ring made of heavy rubber or rub his gums with a clean finger. If your toddler is drooling, wipe his mouth with a clean tissue to prevent a rash from developing. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve teething discomfort. If you think your child is in pain or irritated, take it to the pediatrician. But always remember that teething is the norm, as is the potential for discomfort.

  • Conjunctivitis. In this condition, the whites of the eye and the inner surface of the lower eyelid become red and inflamed, and there is soreness and itching.Most often, it lasts about 1 to 2 weeks. Conjunctivitis is usually due to infection, but it can also be caused by allergies or irritation from external factors such as smoke. If you think your baby has an infection, see your pediatrician. Most likely, he will need treatment. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so wash your hands thoroughly before placing drops in your baby’s eyes and afterwards. If you are taking your child to a nursery, it is best to sit with him at home for a while until he recovers.

Frequently asked questions

How can I help my child to start sitting on his own?

Many babies start sitting around 6 months or more. Your baby needs strong muscles to support him, so the best help from you is to put him on his tummy. Then try picking it up and planting it. Gradually, he will begin to lean on the handles, and then he will sit without support.

At what age do children roll over?

Toddlers develop individually, but many babies are already able to roll over by 5 months or a little later.Do not leave your baby unattended on surfaces located high off the floor, such as on a bed or on a changing table, as he may turn over at the most inopportune moment.

Why does a child wake up at night?

Sometimes babies wake up at night because they are hungry or need to change their diapers. If the baby is not hungry and does not need to change the diaper, just wait until he falls asleep again.

Should my child be vaccinated?

Vaccination is one of the safest and most preferred ways to protect your baby from dangerous infectious diseases.By doing this, you will also protect other children and your family members. If you have any concerns about vaccinations, discuss them with your doctor.

Young Parents: Body Perception and Self-Care

Now that several months have passed since the birth of your baby, your life is more or less settled and you can start thinking about yourself again. And rightly so! Taking care of yourself is very important, and young mothers often do not pay attention to their needs. Start with a healthier diet and light exercise.Many mothers strive to regain their former figure, but it takes time for the weight to go away without loss to the body. The important thing here is to be consistent and take your time. Remember that even if your body is not exactly what it once was, it accomplished a real feat – it gave the world a new life. Look at yourself – you are so strong! And to feel even better, try:

  • Eat healthy. Include fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains, sources of protein (chicken, eggs, fish) in the diet.Limit sweets and unhealthy treats like chocolates, chips, ice cream, candy, and cookies. Watch your portion sizes.

  • Go in for sports. When your doctor tells you, start doing some light, gentle exercise every day. Do not forget that you need to return to the form that you had before pregnancy gradually. It takes time to restore strength and endurance.

  • Take time for yourself. It can be difficult for mothers to find time for themselves, but maintaining this balance is very important.Agree to go to the movies with your friends, go on a date or get yourself a spa therapy session, you deserve it! Feel free to ask for help: delegate childcare responsibilities to a partner, family member, or nanny if you are struggling or just want to rest.

This month’s checklist

  • Now that the child is moving a lot more, seriously think about making the house safe for him. For example, you can remove or hide wires and cables in which the baby can get entangled, secure heavy objects so that they do not fall if the child suddenly hangs on them, stick soft pads on the corners of furniture (bookshelves and coffee tables).You can even get on all fours and crawl around the house to see the environment from the level of the child’s eyes, so you can better assess what hazards need to be removed. If you have ladders, you can already install a child barrier.

  • Read the article on what will happen in your baby’s life when he is 6 months old.

  • And to find out more, subscribe to our newsletter:

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