Babies at this age will need your undivided attention on demand. It could be for soothing or feeding time.

There was a time when people thought a baby at this age needs to start on a schedule and stick to it. They would let a baby cry to get the baby to sleep through the night. This only makes the baby feel like he/she has been abandoned. Babies need lots of security at this age.

Here are some suggestions as to putting a baby on a all nighter:

• Do not change a baby's diaper unless there has been a bowel movement. Keep the lights low and refrain from playing with the baby. If it is winter and the room is cool; keep baby wrapped in a blanket.
• Feed your baby more frequently during the day. If she/he doesn't get enough food during the day, baby may wake up for more food to fill her/him up.
• Maybe wake the baby up for one last feeding before you go to sleep yourself.

How far can a baby see? By the end of the second month, baby should be able to focus on your face. Hold your finger 8 to 10 inches from baby's face, move 12 inches to the right then 12 inches to the left. Baby should be able to track your finger about 180 degrees.

ACTIVITY GYMS: At 8 weeks of age, babies are usually interested in their hands and want to use them. An activity gym (a toy that has objects suspended, such as plastic rings, ball w/ rattle, mirror, and animal characters) provide hours of entertainment for a baby. A good baby gym should have objects 8 to 10 inches from their face. Sturdy straps should be holding the objects.

VACCINES NEEDED AT THIS AGE: DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine; it provides 95% protection against the above diseases. Could have MINOR reactions to the pertussis which include fever, fussiness, and pain and swelling at the injections site. POLIO vaccine, provides 90% protection against the disease and the HIB (Haemophilus influenza) vaccine.

Your baby maybe spending more waking hours now (about half the day). Here are some guidelines to making playtime with your baby fun and enriching.

• BE NATURAL: Do not try and teach baby anything specific. Have fun and be spontaneous. Talk baby talk, exaggerating your facial gestures, and playing physical games. Baby needs to learn human behavior and this is the way to do it.
• HELP BABY LEARN: Head control is becoming stronger, so prop baby up with some pillows for support and he/she can better observe the world around. Watch for indications that your child is ready to move on. Do not force baby to progress, let baby be the first to show he/she is interested in going further. When baby gets frustrated stop and go on.
• REWARD YOUR BABY'S EFFORTS: If baby accomplishes anything as in bats at a toy, let baby know she/he did something wonderful, by cheering, clapping or hugging.
• KEY IN TO BABY'S CUES: When a baby is staring or ignoring a toy in front of him/her do not force the issue. Move onto another toy or game. This allows the baby to build his/her self-esteem by letting him knkow that you respect his opinion. Baby is liable to learn faster if he/she is interested in the toy or activity.
• GIVE YOUR BABY SPACE: Let baby learn to play by themselves. Do not give a toy to baby everytime the sigh. Eventually baby will learn that playing by themselves is alot of fun.
• CHANGE THE SCENE: Take baby to the entertainment and not bring it to him/her. When cooking dinner or cleaning the house, put baby in an infant seat and let baby watch you.
• TALK TO YOUR BABY: Chat with your baby no matter what the conversation! Point out interesting things and label them. This speeds language development and demonstrates that you are interested and involved.
• READ BOOKS: Start at 3 months with picture books. When baby is able to let them turn the pages for you. Repetition and enjoyment are the keys now. As your baby grows change the books to one single animal or another baby to introduce the idea of a story line. Eventually you will be able to ask questions about the book.

You do not need to use soap and rub baby gently with fingertips. When using soap buy a moisturizing and mild soap, but do not use it on a baby girl's genital area. Remove any breast milk or formula from baby's face to prevent a rash from developing. A warm moistened cotton ball can be used around the eyes and around the outer ear crevices. Do not clean baby's ear canals, because wax can be pushed deeper into the ear causing a blockage. There is not a need to add baby lotion, oil, and powder to a baby's skin. It will block sweat glands preventing baby from sweating. It will not be necessary to use powder after diapering your baby until she/he starts solid foods and stools becoming irritating. Changing your baby frequently is much more effective way to prevent diaper rash. Clipping baby's nails!! Best time is after a bath when they are soft. Try to clip them when baby is sleeping. Use a nail clipper specially made for a baby and has a blunt end. Fingernails should be clipped rounded to prevent scratches, but toenails straight to prevent ingrown toenails.
FETCHING SMILES!! By now you have probably experience a heart-stopping smile! This event is a signal of her growing sociability. It is also a intellectual milestone showing she is familiar with her surroundings. To get a smile, look into babies eyes and she may examine you and smile.

WHEN TO START SOLIDS: This is a decision based upon the baby, doctor and you. People will brag that you started eating at an early age and they used it to help a baby sleep thru the night. Just remember it is really up to your baby. If and when he/she is ready there will be some signs. Sitting up, drooling, and opening his/her mouth when food approaches. Losing the "tongue-thrust" reflex - causing them the push food out - and starting to reach for food. Typically these signs do not appear till after four mouths, but the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that solid introduction be delayed at least that long and even possibly wait till 6 months of age. Starting early is pointless since breast milk or formula meets all your infants nutritional requirements. There is no evidence that solids help an infant sleep thru the night. Actually, introduction of solids could cause problems for immature digestive systems, resulting in keeping the baby awake into the night.

Introducing solids after 6 months of age can also cause difficulties. Older babies could become too accustom to sucking and may not take easily to the new tricks of chewing and swallowing foods. Once again, talk to your doctor to see when it is time to start solids.
WHAT BABIES EAT: Babies may start eating solids later, but the first foods have yet to change. It is still recommended to introduce iron-fortified rice cereal. Rice is recommended because it is the grain less likely to cause allergic reactions. Additional iron is also important now because your baby will have developed his stores of this nutrient - which is vital for growth -.

Most pediatricians recommend to start with a teaspoon or two of rice cereal mixed thin with formula or breast milk. If your baby takes the rice cereal with no allergic reactions within a week add a second daily feeding. Then increase the amount of serving (gradually) until your baby is eating about one-half cup daily, and less liquid so it becomes thicker. If you like and the baby took extremely well to rice cereal, you may introduce iron-fortified barley or oatmeal baby cereal. Add on cereal at a time and introduce a new cereal every week making sure your baby is not allergic to that cereal.

Once your baby is established on cereal, you may start to introduce fruits and vegetables slowly. Remember adding only one new food at a time and waiting a week for food reactions.
SIGNS OF ALLERGIES: Gas, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, a rash around the baby's mouth, a runny nose, watery eyes, or wheezing. Basically what a baby allergy is is a food sensitivity saying her immature intestines can not tolerate that particular food item just yet. Once she/he is older they may be able to handle the food at that time. When a symptom comes up; discontinue the food and consult your pediatrician for suggestions.
KEEP IT SIMPLE: Baby's sweet buds are the most developed now and introducing fruits can be simple. But some experts recommend taking the opposite tack: Offer the less tasty vegetables first so your child will not become so enamored of sweets that he does not want to bother with anything else. Choose the route you would like to take since there isn't any scientifical proof of the above situation. What does matter is that you offer simple, single-ingredient items.

Mashing or pureeing cooked fruits and vegetables yourself or use commerical baby foods if that is more convenient. You can also introduce baby juice, just do not make the mistake in overdoing it. Juice is high in calories, and routinely giving bottles filled with it can lead to an overweight baby. A good way to avoid this is mixing baby juice with water. Limit your total baby's juice intake to 3 ounces a day.
EXPRESSING LOVE: Your baby now loves to be around people - especially you! This becomes obvious when she/he starts to fuss when left alone, but when you come back stops crying and begins to wiggle his/her little body for your attention. Your baby has become to realize that you will come back and involves a wonderful reunion!
DIAPER RASH: Diaper rash doesn't become a problem until your baby is on solids. Solids allow the stools to change and become irritating to a baby's sensitive bottom. The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep the diaper area clean and dry.

• Check your baby's diaper every hour, changing it immediately if it's soiled or wet. If your baby is sleeping thru the night, give up once and change your baby's diaper. To hasten the healing of a diaper rash, increase exposure to the air. It is safest to do this after a bowel movement and during naps. Line the crib with a towel and cloth diaper for protection. At other times take a disposable diaper and puncture holes in to help circulate the air.
• When cleaning the affecter area, do not use prepackaged wipes. Instead use warm tap water and a clean washcloth, and pat the rash dry with a towel. Use mild soap only after a bowel movement.
• Before putting a new diaper on, apply a barrier cream with zinc oxide to prevent further irritation. A dusting of talc-free baby powder can help absorb moisture.

If the problem persists and last for upto or over three days to a week, if may be a yeast infection. This condition is characterized by beefy red or pustules, which are small white pimples or blisters near infected area. Consult your pediatrician for medications.

SITTING PRETTY: Sitting is a gradual process. It starts when baby has the ability to hold his/her head steady and continues as that muscle control works its way down her/his back. Baby needs to get control over her/his neck, shoulders, lower back and legs in order to sit up and play. You should prop your baby in a sitting position often so that she/he can practice this new skill.

Soon baby will be able to manuever herself/hisself into a sitting position, when this happens be extra precautious. Use straps when transporting and keep the crib rail up. Of course never leave her/him unattended!
TEETHING: Baby's first tooth will possibly appear by the seventh month, but on occasion can be as early as 3 months or as late as a year. The first two teeth are the bottom ones followed by the top two. Once a tooth has appeared the next teeth will show in another 6 weeks. By the age of 2 baby will have cut all 20 of the teeth.

Even if a tooth has not appeared your baby could be experiencing the pain of teething. This begins about 2 to 3 months before a tooth will appear. Baby may chew on toys or her/his fingers, act irritable and develop redness and puffiness where a tooth will appear. This act of putting this in her/his mouth is an act of mobility. This means keep potential hazardous items away from baby.

There could be a gradual rise in body temperature(from 98.6 ro 99.7) which occurs three days before a new tooth erupts. If the temperature is highter than 101F may indicate an infection and must see the pediatrican.

A teething baby may feel pain off and on for several weeks before the tooth acutally makes its appearance. To relieve the pain of teething, give your baby something cold and firm to chew on. Try offering a water-filled teether or a wet washcloth. Consult your doctor before giving any over the counter medications to relieve the pain of teething.
TAKING CARE OF BABY TEETH: All babies will eventually loose the baby teeth, but we still need to take care of them. Decaying teeth can deform the mouth causing problems when the permanent teeth take their place. Baby teeth will stay around helping baby in the chewing process, talking etc. Start regular brushing will help your child develop good brushing habits. For infant teeth use a soft-bristled toothbrush or wipe them with a guaze pad after meals and before bed. Use only water, moving down on top of bottom teeth and up on bottom teeth. For the gums use a gauze pad wrapped around your finger, massaging the gums preventing plaque buildup.

Here is another important factor in good dental hygiene is preventing a disease commonly called baby-bottle mouth. This can lead to the loss of primary teeth. This develops when giving a baby bottle of juice or milk at bedtime. The sugar in these drinks combines with bacteria in the mouth decaying the teeth. Once baby teeth come in never put the baby down with a bottle, if you have to fill bottle with plain water.

At this stage all babies are half way thru their first year of life. CONGRATULATIONS!! Do not be startled when you leave your baby in one position and come back and find him or her somewhere else. This will be thrilling to your baby, but will put demands on you to babyproof the house.

BABYPROOFING BASICS: We shouldn't wait till the baby is crawling before proofing the house. Always start early by thinking how a baby may think and at his/her eye level! Crawl yourself, go where baby may see something of interest and decide if it needs to be proofed. Here are some common household hazards:

• BATHTUB: Never leave your baby unattended in the tub! A baby can drown in as much as an inch of water. Set water heater to 120 degrees F or lower. Keep baby away from the faucet and cover the faucet head with a soft cover. Lay down nonskid strips on the bottom of the tub.
• CABINETS: Purchase childproof safety latches for all the cabinets in your home - no matter what they contain.
• CRIBS: Once your baby starts to pull himself/herself into a sitting position lower the mattress and remove all objects that baby could climb up on to get out of the crib.
• DRAPERY and BLIND CORDS: These pose a strangulation hazard, since babies can become entangled in them. Tie them up and out of baby's reach.
• ELECTRICAL CORDS and ELECTRICAL OUTLETS: With babies wanting to put things into their mouths to help ease the teething process, they will reach for any type of cord and start to chew away. Make sure all electrical cords are tied and up out of reach. Cover all electrical outlets with covers to prevent babies from sticking their fingers in the outlets.
• HOUSEPLANTS: Check to see if any of the plants you have in the house are poisonous. If you do have poisonous plants, move them to a higher place.

FROM CREEPING TO CRAWLING: Once your baby is sitting up on her/his own, he will start moving about. It starts out "creeping" (pushing around on their stomach), "scooting" (crawling on one leg and dragging the other), or a combination of rolling, rocking, and squirming on their stomach, bottom or back. If your baby doesn't crawl or is "late" do not be concerned.
Also if your baby moves backward - do not be alarmed - baby's upper body is more developed than that of her/his lower body.
To encourage your baby to crawl, give him/her space and let them loose to explore. A baby doesn't need to be put into a crawling position, they will get there themselves. The motivation for crawling is based on babys desire to reach for things she/he wants. So to tempt baby to crawl put things out of her/his reach with a favorite toy.

SOCIAL SKILLS: By 6months of age your baby's social skills have blossomed. Check these out to compare baby.

• Baby prefers intercting with people to playing with an object.
• He/she responds when talked to by smiling, laughing, even babbling.
• Baby expresses dissatisfaction when you leave his sight.
• He/she anticipates regular occurrences, getting excited, for instance, when he/she sees you come into the room.

Your 7 Month Old
This is the month, your baby will be refining some important skills, including her/his mobility. Keep an eye on her/his ability to manipulate objects. Fine motor skills, the way in which an infant can use his/her hands, including reaching for toys, picking them up, moving them from one hand to the other, and fingering them. These skills are of prime importance right now. Development of fine motor movement is more significant predictor of intelligence than acquiring the more obvious gross motor skills, such as sitting up, crawling, and walking. HANDS ON SUCCESS: by the end of the seventh month he/she should have had enough practice manipulating objects that he's able to tell the difference between something he/she grasp with their hands and something he/she can not. He/she will touch objects before reaching for everything he/she sees. He/she will start to hold things with their fingers which when they are younger they use their palms.
Once your baby has discovered he/she can get objects by feeling them, they are ready to stroke and pat things. They will stroke and pat every object they come in contact with.
Keep a baby interested in things by giving them interesting objects. Activity boards, balls, and blocks of different sizes are wonderful toys for them to handle. Any safe household objects are wonderful to play with also. Give her/him a spoon to play with while eating, a washcloth at bathtime, measuring cups are great toys too.
Next hing you know she/he will be imitating things that you are doing. So show her/him how to play with her toys. Play finger games as in "this little piggy", "the itsy-bitsy spider", and "pat-a-cake".

EATING LIKE A GROWNUP: Along with the above mentioned the ability of self-feed will come into action. He/she will grab at his or your silverware, even though it will be awhile before the mobility of baby to hold silverware, but it shows interest in trying for him/her self. Encourage this new interest.
If you have been feeding baby strained foods and thinned cereal, it is time to start the chunkier foods and thicker cereals. Let baby pick up the thicker foods on his/her own to show the independence of feeding.

chunkier foods will teach chewing skills. Even though she/he doesn't have teeth these items will show her the up and down movement of grinding food. Here are some good nibble foods: Very ripe fruits and soft-cooked vegetables mashed with a fork or cut into small chunks. Pieces of soft-cooked pasta. Whole-grain dry cereals, crackers, and pieces of whole-sheat bread. Wheat is one of the most common allergens, however, so if you or your husband are sensitive to wheat, you should limit your baby to rice.

Some foods can not be mashed with baby's gums like raisins, grapes, popcorn, chips, meats, and apples.

Another concern is that babies aren't getting enough nourishment since at this age the growth spurts slow down. The average 7-month old needs between 750 to 1,000 calories a day. Four bottles of milk, two 4- 6-ounce jars of food and few finger foods should provide the right nourishment.

ANXIOUS TIMES: At this age your baby is used to you and knowing you are there for him/her adn realizes when you aren't there and missess you. Baby is also wondering what will happen when you aren't in the room. This develops two perfectly normal fears: fear of strangers and fear of being seperated from you.
The first sign of major cognitive milestone will be an anxious reaction to unfamiliar people. Some babies will skip this phase, some will continue to have this till age 2. Do not be concerned aobut stranger anxiety.
To console your baby of these fears and minimize bad reactions, gently introduce her/him to new situations and people while also reassuring her/him that everything is okay. If baby shows fear of that person, explain to that person of baby's fears and give her time to get used to that person. Let person speak to baby and while she is in your lap or arms. Do not force a baby to get used to any one, let her/him let you know when it is okay to be held or whatever by that person.

PLAYPENS, PLAY YARDS, and WALKERS: There may be times when you need to leave baby for a moment and with her/him crawling do not want him/her to get into things. This would be the time to introduce Playpens etc. to her/him. Do not keep baby in the pen too long, still need to let him/her have her freedom to explore. Leave baby in the pen/walker for no more than 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

Your 8 Month Old
Your 8 Month Old This month your baby will show progress toward achieving two major developmental milestones: talking and walking. These skills evolve gradually. The walking may not happen at this age, but it will come.

BABY'S FIRST WORDS: At 8 months, your baby is on the brink of some important language discoveries. She/he is beginnning to understand that certain objects are associated with certain words and that words and gestures can get her/him what he/she wants. Receptive Language is what this is called. In fact, this process begins at birth, but it takes some time before baby starts to pick up on individual words. Recognition usually begins with her/his name and then "mommy" and "daddy" maybe added to that vocabulary. By 13 months that vocabulary could be 15 to 100 words.

Even though you may point at the cat and say "kitty" doesn't mean that he/she is going to say the exact. They usually wait till they are around 10-14 months old before doing so.

By the end of 8 months, your baby's speech will have probably become increasingly elaborate. Words will contain several syllables such as "la-la-la" and added emphasis to his/her voice. Soon after, your baby will combine different syllable sounds into more complicated "sentences". Once you baby starts talking this way or "jargoning" as its called, the patterns of his/her chattering will be so realiztic that he'll sound like he/she is really speaking.

Most parents are so eager to hear the first official word that they're likely to find them among the same souns that the baby has been making for months. But a sound it's a true first word until it is used consistently and exclusively to refer to one particular object. A week or two before they utter their true first words, most babies will spend a confused couple of weeks assigning and old sound to an object. Eventually, they'll start using the same sound. It doesn't have to be the correct sound, however, to count as the first word.

What is your baby's first word likely to be? Your guess is as good as anyone's and maybe better. That's because the sounds that occur in a baby's first words are usually those he/she has heard most frequently. Here is something to consider: Just because your baby says the same word you do doesn't mean it has the same meaning. For Example "dada" can refer to any many, not just his/her father. and "mama" might mean "hold me".

PRECURSORS TO WALKING: At about 8 months, babies begin to get the idea of using their feet to go forward. Until now your baby probably liked to stand and dance on your lap with your support, but now he/she will place on foot in front of the other with some added support. Most babies will not be able to suport their entire weight, standing on flat feet until 10 or 11 months.

You really do not need to encourage your baby to walk, she/he will do that gradually by putting pressure on anything that is stationary. Make sure anything that is lightweight is bolted down, because your baby will trying anything to pull up.

Watch your little one closely because if he/she falls they will be too busy holding on that he/she will not use their hand to break their fall. Then too many falls will possibly discourgage your little one from trying.

THE BEST SHOES NOW: The trend now a days is to put less restrictive footwear on your baby's feet. Years ago people would purchase hard oxford shoes once they could stand. Wearing shoes in the house is not necessary, shoes may hinder efforts to master the art to balance. For ideal standing conditions, let your baby practice in bare feet on wood florrs; he/she can then use the sensation in the soles of his/her feet to guide him/her. Concerned about cold feet then put slipper socks with the non-skid soles.

Going outside with baby? Then take a look at the following guidelines:

• Whether the shoes are high-top or low-cut, they need to remain snug on your baby's feet.
• Shoes should be made of breathable materials such as cnavas, leather, or suede.
• the right fit is critical: Shoes that are too short could pinch your child's feet and even cause deformity; if they are too long, she/he will be more likely to fall.

Your 9 Month Old
Have you noticed baby pulling up yet? Is she/he cruising, stepping sideways around furniture? If so that independence will be here before you are ready. Next thing you know he/she will be taking their first SOLO steps. At this time you should introduce the concepts of limits. Saying NO will teach baby her boundaries of her environment. Of course it will protect against dangerous situations and save your sanity. When the time comes and baby is trying to walk, be careful, baby's legs and feet are still disproportionately small compared to her trunk and head. Then comes the task of learning to carry all of that weight without collapsing from all of that weight.

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SAYING NO: The 9-month is a great time to introduce "NO". With them crawling and soon walking they can get themselves into situations that they can't solve. Plus her/his memory should be long enough now that they will remember things better.
Saying No to your baby is not necessarily a negative thing, in fact, it is an important tool for teaching him/her about the world. Here are some ways to convey your message of NO effectively:

• Be Prompt The ore quickly you respond to your baby's misbehavior, the more likely your disapproval will sink in. If you wait even a minute, her focus is likely to shift and she will not understand what she is being scolded for.
• Criticize the action, not the childInstead of telling your child she is bad for pulling your hair, tell him/her that pulling hair is a bad thing to do.
• Distract your babyAfter reprimanded her for something, remove her from the situation and offer a toy or another object for her to examine.
• Be consistent with your limits Do not say no one day then chuckle the next day, that only leads to misunderstandings and confusion, preventing baby from learning.
• Don't overdo it If baby is consitently hearing NO then she/he is likely to feel inhibited and get the message that the world is a frightening place.
• Offer your baby alternatives Along with each no you give your child should come a YES. Baby's feelings will be less hurt and you will have succeeded in divertin her attention.

Your 10 Month Old
WHEN TO WEAN: There is NO right time to quit breastfeeding your baby. Some mothers stop in the first couple of months after birth, especially if they plan to go back to work. Others breastfeed supllementaly for two years or more. In fact, becasue of the significant health benefits for both baby and mother, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that women nurse their children for aminimum of one year, and preferably well into the second year of life.

However, the timing of weaning is a personal decision based on a variety of factors unique to each family. And many nursing mothers do begin to think about weaning their child as he/she nears his/her first birthday.

Whenever you decide to wean the same basic principles apply. To be easiest on you and your baby, weaning should take place gradually over a period of at least several weeks. Pick a time of relative tranquility for your little one--if you're starting a new babysitter or moving, your baby will rely on nursing for comfort. Make sure to spend extra time together to make up for the nuturing lost at the breast. Another one-on-one activity in which the baby sits cuddled on your lap, such as reading, is a good substitute for the intimacy of nursing.

Weaning will probably pack an emotional punch for you as well -- after all, it is a tangible sign that your baby is moving from helplessness to independence. Hormonal shifts that are triggered by weaning can also result in a case of the blues. If you experience some feelings of sadness, try discussing them with your husband or with other mothers who have breastfed.

DRINKING LIKE A BIG KID: The first step in weaning your baby is getting him used to a cup. If you haven't introduced one yet, now may be the time. Start by giving him a sippy cup with a spout-he/she is less likely to spill, and he/she'll still get to enjoy the comforting sucking action. The cup shoud be made of plastic, so it's less likely to break, and one that's weighted is less likely to tip. Some babies prefer cups with handles--especially those who like to hold their own bottle--but others do not, so be prepared to experiment.

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