Everything you need to know about your seven-month-old!

At this stage your baby is a whirlwind of exploration, rapidly evolving in both size and skill each day. According to WHO growth charts, you'll find your baby girl weighing around 13 to 23 pounds, while your little boy might be around 14 to 25 pounds. The difference between the two has narrowed over the months and there isn’t much in it anymore. Length-wise, they’ll measure between 25 and 30 inches.

Around this time you might also notice their facial features changing. The newborn look is long gone and your little one will be looking more like a little toddler each day. A lot of this is down to their growing hair and their eyes now carry a cheeky curiosity that lights up the room.

If teeth have already appeared, your baby might proudly show off their toothy grin. But fret not if the tooth fairy has yet to visit. Every baby follows their unique timeline.         

Curiosity Overload

When they do get their hands on something, your baby doesn't just want to look at it. Prepare for lots of shaking, banging, and even throwing of objects when they get a hold of them!

Still, while it might seem like anything and everything is catching the attention of your little one you might also find their once-loved toys aren’t holding their attention for as long as they used to. You might notice them casting a quick glance away from a toy that doesn't quite match these growing cognitive abilities, and sensory toys are great to better capture their attention. 

On the Road to Talking

Prepare for some heart-melting moments this month, as your little one will soon be beginning to utter their first recognisable words, stringing together different noises they’ve been making over the last few weeks. The first chorus of "Mama" and "Dada" is about to grace your ears, and it’s amazing to hear! 

While your little one might be on the way to their first words this month, don’t feel disheartened if they aren’t quite there yet or they’re still happy enough babbling away. Keep talking to them throughout the day and they’ll soon be calling after you.

Understanding the Word “No”

By now, you've likely noticed that your little one is not just a casual observer of their surroundings. They've become quite persistent in their quest to explore anything and everything, including the off-limits items. In fact, who are we kidding? Especially the off-limit items! Those innocent-looking household objects? Nothing has looked more exciting to your little one. And the more they're told "no," the more intriguing the challenge becomes. 

Your little one is starting to understand the weight of this word and what comes with it. While they might not fully grasp the concept of rules, they're beginning to comprehend the tone behind the all-too-familiar command and learn that when they hear it, their fun ends.

Eagle-Eyed Baby

Remember when your baby's eyesight was still developing, making it difficult for them to keep their eyes on you? Well, not anymore! Their vision is not far off that of an adult’s. Those beautiful eyes can now focus on distant objects and track movements with impressive accuracy. Get ready for even more adorable eye contact and gazes across the room or when they spot you walking towards them.   

Around this time, your baby’s personality is really beginning to unfold, revealing a world of social and emotional development in their little mind. 

Shyness and Clinginess

Your baby might be becoming a little more hesitant around new faces. This newfound shyness and clinginess towards you is completely natural. Your baby is beginning to understand that they are a separate individual from you that they don’t know as well and this awareness can sometimes trigger a need for comfort and reassurance. 

Gently reassure them, offering a soothing voice and a loving touch while also allowing them the space they need to observe and gradually warm up to new people.

Attachment to Comfort Objects

As well as becoming clingy towards you, you might have noticed that your baby is growing fond of a particular blanket or teddy bear. This attachment is an exciting sign of emotional development. 

These comfort objects provide your baby with a sense of security and familiarity. It’s completely normal for your little one to form an attachment to these beloved companions and nothing to worry about. These comfort items serve as a bridge between the comfort of home and the outside world.

While it’s normal for some children to develop comfort attachments in this way, others simply never do. This isn’t an indication of your child’s emotional development and you shouldn’t force or encourage your little one to rely on something to be comforted. While it's cute, it can become difficult if one day it gets lost or misplaced, and your little one won’t settle without it! 

Top tip: If you notice your little one showing an attachment to a particular toy or blanket, head straight down to the shop and stock up! This way, if the first one gets misplaced or is being washed, you’ll still have one to comfort your baby.

Reflexive Crying

As you support your little one's social and emotional growth, you might witness a new and remarkable display of empathy this month, known as reflexive crying. This occurs when your baby cries or becomes distressed upon seeing another baby cry. 

It's a heartwarming example of your little one's growing capacity to connect with the emotions of those around them. This empathetic response is a glimpse into their social awareness, highlighting their ability to sense and mirror the emotions of others.

Supporting Your Baby's Emotional Journey

• Encourage Exploration: While respecting their need for comfort, gently introduce new experiences and people to your baby's world. Gradually exposing them to different environments can help them build confidence and ease their shyness over time.
• Embrace Comfort Objects: Support your baby's attachment to their chosen comfort object. These companions offer a sense of consistency and stability, soothing them when faced with unfamiliar situations.
• Model Empathy: Your baby is learning from your actions. Display empathy and compassion in your interactions with others, and your baby will pick up on these cues.         

Those chubby little fingers are becoming more nimble, allowing your tiny one to interact with objects much more easily. This month, your little one might be well on their way to developing a pincer grasp, where they use their thumb and forefinger to pick up small items. With this newfound coordination, they can now hold toys, food, and, let's be honest, anything within their reach.

As your little one discovers the joys of grasping onto items in a new way, you might find yourself repeatedly retrieving that sippy cup or teething toy from the floor. While it might seem like an entertaining game and you might want to take the object away from them, it’s also a vital part of their cognitive growth. 

Babies learn about gravity, cause and effects, and the concept of object permanence through this game. This lets them know that just because they can't see something doesn't mean it's vanished forever. So, the next time your little one gazes at you with delight as they let go of their favourite toy, know that they're not trying to annoy you, just learning more about the world.

Engage in interactive play that challenges their fine motor abilities, such as providing a variety of textures and shapes for them to explore. Offer toys that encourage grasping, squeezing, and pressing buttons that will keep them engaged.         

Your little explorer is making leaps (literally!) in their gross motor skills at the minute. Babies tend to begin crawling between seven and ten months old, so this month could be when they master it. Crawling is like your little one’s first taste of true mobility, allowing them to venture towards enticing toys or chase after their furry friends. 

They’ll be on the move and much quicker than they have been so far. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to baby-proof your home and keep any hazards tucked away. They’re much faster than they look once they master crawling and you don’t want to constantly chase after them, worried about what they might pick up.

Encouraging Gross Motor Development

Here are some top tips for encouraging these developments:

• Safe Spaces: Create a safe and supportive environment where your little one can freely explore. Soft play mats, cushions, and secure furniture can all provide the stability they need as they learn to move in new ways.
• Interactive Play: Engage your baby in interactive play sessions. Encourage them to reach for toys, play peekaboo, or roll a ball back and forth. These activities stimulate their senses and social skills and encourage the development of fine and gross motor skills.
• Be Their Cheerleader: Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Your encouragement and applause will motivate your baby to keep exploring and developing their skills!

By now you've probably noticed that your little one's sleep patterns have evolved quite a bit since those newborn days. At this stage most babies typically sleep for about 11 hours during the night, with many more of them blissfully sleeping straight through than in previous months. But every baby is different and it’s very normal for little ones to struggle to sleep until after their first birthday. As well as their nighttime sleep, they'll also likely still need around three to four hours of daytime naps, split into two separate naps.

While the risk of SIDS decreases as your baby gets older, it's crucial to maintain safe sleep practices. Always lay your little one down on their back for sleep, even if they can sleep in any position nowadays. This should be done at least until your little one turns one. 

While this is still important, you can breathe a small sigh of relief in terms of adjusting them as often. If your little adventurer rolls over during the night, you needn't fret as much once they’ve fully mastered rolling on their own, which most have by this stage. Now you know that they can safely roll themselves back over and won’t get stuck, it’s generally okay to leave them if they roll themselves over but perfectly fine to keep checking in.

The Eight-Month Sleep Regression 

In the next few weeks, many babies revert back to their night owl tendencies, which may cause you to wonder where their once predictable sleep patterns have gone. This phenomenon, known as the eight-month sleep regression, indicates your little one's development as they explore the world around them.

Babies commonly drop their third nap of the day around six or seven months. This comes at a time that also sees them making huge jumps in their development with rolling, crawling, and essentially spending a lot more of their time on the move. 

With so much energy being used and getting used to longer wake periods, it’s common for babies to become overtired. This can lead to difficulties during bedtime and have a knock-on effect of disrupted sleep.

When to Seek Help

While sleep regressions are a natural phase, it's essential to trust your instincts. If you notice significant changes in your baby's behaviour, or if their sleep disturbances persist for an extended period, it might be a good idea to speak to your GP for more advice.         

While your little one’s weaning journey is well underway, they’ll likely still be having three milk feeds a day. For most, these will be first thing in the morning, after lunch, and at bedtime. These feeds will be on top of their solid foods, which should be moving towards three meals of solid food a day.

By now, your little one will have had plenty of practice learning how to eat! Don’t forget iron-rich foods such as green vegetables and red meat. Fruits are one of the best ways to introduce exciting flavours to your little one and you can expect some funny faces as they taste the sweet juices for the first time! Squished blueberries and soft fruits like bananas cut into small pieces are great choices.

Your baby should now be feeling more comfortable with new textures. It’s a great time to introduce new finger foods and try leaving any mashed foods to be a little bit lumpier and get them used to this texture. 

Remember that it can take up to ten times for your little one to try a food before they get used to the texture and the flavour, so don’t give up on foods if they don’t eat it the first time. You should never force your baby to eat anything they don’t want and it’s a great idea to encourage self-feeding at this stage to help your little one’s hand-to-mouth coordination.         

Once your little one starts crawling, moving around, and pulling themselves up on furniture, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your home is a safe environment for them to explore. Ensure all toxic products are locked away now that they could pull themselves up on low cupboards and tables.

These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Medicines
• Deodorants
• Nail polish remover
• Furniture polish
• Cleaning sprays and bleach
• Antifreeze fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid 
• Air fresheners
• Potpourri
• Laundry detergents 

Preparing Your Home for Crawling

Before your baby starts properly crawling at speed, it's essential to baby-proof your home. This involves getting down to your baby's eye level and identifying potential hazards. Secure heavy furniture to the wall, cover sharp corners and use safety gates to block stairs and rooms that are not baby-friendly. Remove small objects that can be choking hazards, as well as toxins, as 

mentioned above. 

Supervise Your Crawling Baby

While creating a safe environment is crucial, supervision is equally important. Babies can move quickly and unexpectedly, so keep a watchful eye on them at all times. Avoid distractions and stay within arm's reach to prevent accidents. Crawling should always take place in a controlled and secure environment.