Baby movement milestones can be both exciting and scary.
It was once safe to take a few steps away (while keeping eyes focused on her!) to leave my non-mobile daughter on top of elevated surfaces. Then, the milestones started:
Four months: Flipping from back to stomach (and she used to hate belly time!)
Five months: The last time we attempted to swaddle her (it was her nightly puzzle getting out of it anyway)
Six months: Rolling baby. Would roll onto back or stomach (depending on what she used to be on).
Seven months: Sitting up unassisted (without parents putting her in that position).
Seven and the half months: Crawling, not rolling, to get to new places
Eight months: Pulling into standing position, with assistance from couches, toys, chairs, dogs, parents...
Now, as she has just turned 11 months old this week, if we let go of her in a standing position, she can wobble a few steps forward on her own (usually to the beckoning other-parent). With pride and with persistence, she will be walking on her own, likely within the next month.
Help.
Baby boudaries: When she first started to crawl, we tried to trap her in certain areas of the house so that we wouldn't have to worry about her curiousity getting into dangerous areas. She didn't like this and would frequently fuss at the baby gates, chairs and whatever else was preventing her from more fun areas of the house. Any boundaries we try to create, she just finds ways around them. Or fusses.
Baby curiosity: Why is this world so fascinating when us adults are already bored with it? There are many toys on the floor for her to play with, but she is more interested in the pretty glass full of fizzy soda, or the remotes with the colorful buttons, or the newspaper that crinkles when you grab it. By standing/walking, all of this is in reach when it once wasn't.
Baby injuries: Bumps and scratches are more common than ever, as she forgets what is overheard when standing (like the top of the chair she's underneath) or how unstable and slippery the toys and books she's standing on top of are.
If baby wasn't trying to pull herself up with my hair, I might be pulling my hair out trying to keep her safe and happy.
Mobile baby advice
If you find your young one growing up and getting around on their own too fast too, here's a few things that we've done to deal with our daughter's little independence streak:
1- Know that everything on the floor and within reach belongs to baby (and her mouth). This includes dog toys, your empty food plate at the end of the end table and the curtain drawstings. If you don't want her touching or trying to chew on it, act quickly.
2- Diversion works well. If your baby is interested in your soda can or your iPad, turn her around and behold: A mirror! Her favorite book! Her bottle! It helps if the diversions are in different areas so that she can't suddenly remember what she was intent on getting just a moment ago.
3- Have fun with it. Since she cannot walk long distances on her own her, I will let her take one of my fingers and walk her around the house, while describing everything that she's walking past. It's bonding and walking time with mommy and she loves every moment.
--Althea Peterson
This week, my baby is eating: Little bits of fruit covered in graham cracker. Since tiny pieces of fruit by themselves can be too small and too slippery for tiny, unskilled hands to pick up, graham cracker adds texture to make it easier finger food.
Baby bit: It is obvious when she reaches a milestone of any sort, because she will repeat it just to show that she can do it. Flipping a switch on a toy? Flip, flip, flip. Making clicking noises with her tongue? Click, click, click. Walking on her own, even if she has to hold onto something to support herself? She regularly walks around the edges of rooms so that she can balance off the walls along the way.
Mommy moment: After a week of playing "single mommy" when daddy was out of town on business, old habits die hard. When I get home from work, with or without baby, I am not relaxing, but scrambling to get everything in place for her first night feeding (bottle around 6 p.m.), her bath (around 6:30), her second feeding (solids around 7) and to bed (hopefully no later than 8).
Related blog entry:
Dec. 3: Trying to child-proof: How safe is my home?
Althea Peterson is the proud mother of a 11-month old girl. Baby advice, baby questions or baby words of encouragement can be sent to althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com. Also, follow Althea and other parents on Twitter at twitter.com/twbecauseisaid. You can also follow Althea at twitter at twitter.com/a1a4ou.
