Your baby is becoming increasingly active. They want to discover new games and don’t want to do the same things. Spending quality time with your baby will be the biggest contribution to their development. You should never force them to do things. Development is a long process, and each baby will complete this process at different times.
Vaccines
This month, your baby will receive the meningococcal vaccine. It is a paid vaccine as it is not covered by government funding. It is administered by intramuscular injection in the leg.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcus is one of several germs that can cause meningitis. If it occurs, it can cause inflammation of the brain membrane, leading to sensory loss, mental retardation, and fatal consequences. It is a disease more commonly encountered in infants and young children. As it is more prevalent in some countries, adults traveling abroad may also be given the vaccine if deemed necessary. Vaccination is an important precaution because a person carrying the meningococcal germ can easily infect those around them. You can consult your doctor to decide about the vaccine and learn about the possible consequences of getting or not getting it.
Physical Development
Crawling babies can become more proficient in their crawling. They can carry a toy in one hand while crawling, follow what’s happening around them, and move back and forth. If you live in a house with stairs, you might want to get safety barriers due to the possibility of your baby trying to climb the stairs. They will now learn a few new movements on the path to walking. Babies who can pull themselves up to stand by holding onto furniture can start to move sideways while holding on. Learning to use their feet and knees is much harder than you might think, and babies put in a lot of effort for this. To help them walk, you can encourage them to take steps by holding their hands, and you can get walker toys. Babies who are not yet walking should not wear shoes in home-like environments. Learning to walk barefoot strengthens foot muscles, making it easier to walk and maintain balance. As their feet grow rapidly during this period, if the shoes become tight, your baby’s feet will be cramped and won’t be able to grow properly. Always make sure the shoes you put on are the exact right size. Don’t leave your baby alone during mealtimes and try to eat together. If they watch you, they will learn many things faster. The fact that your baby doesn’t have teeth yet doesn’t mean they can’t eat textured foods. Gums are as good at crushing as teeth. Try to create variety instead of constantly giving the same foods. Don’t insist on a food they don’t like. Offer that food again after some time. From this month on, you can feed your baby the home-cooked meals you eat, without adding salt and spices.
Cognitive Development
Emotional and Social Development
It’s very normal for some babies to enjoy spending time with everyone, while others are extremely attached to their mothers. This is more common in babies who spend more time with their mothers and whose mothers take care of all their needs. For babies who are afraid of strangers, everything will get better over time. When in a crowded environment, you can tell people who want to approach shy babies that the first move should come from your baby. In this case, the baby’s cautious approach will diminish more quickly. It’s important for them to come together with babies of their own age group and establish communication. In such environments, you can observe how different your baby’s attitude is and how they add new things to themselves.
Language Development
Even if your baby can’t understand all the words you say, they can make big inferences from your tone of voice. When talking, you should pay attention not only to your words but also to the tone of your voice. Although they may now perceive the command “no”, they may still not understand what they shouldn’t do. You’ll need to wait a while longer for this. Some babies may now start saying simple words like “mama, dada, grandpa”. When you ask for a toy they often use, they can bring it to you, and they can recognize and imitate the sounds of animals they like. They can point to things they can’t express in words with their finger.
→ You can also read our 10-Month-Old Baby Development article.
