Congratulation! Your baby is 7 Month old!

Most babies are able to sit unaided at seven months old and can use their hands to reach, grasp, bang, shake and poke. Your baby at this stage is busy practicing his ability to handle objects; even if one hand is used more over the other, it doesn't mean that he is right handed or left handed. This will only be determined at a later age when the preference is more clear. Now at seven months he has developed another insight into the nature of objects. When he drops a toy from his high chair, he looks down to see where it is. Another sign of increased understanding is your baby's ability to go back to an activity after being briefly interrupted. Peek-a-boo is a top favorite at this age; another indication that your baby is learning that objects which disappear from sight are not necessarily gone forever.

Doing predictable things helps to ease separation anxiety and can make parting easier on both of you.

• Give baby time to check out anyone new such as the baby sitter. Advise the new person to approach quietly and to wait a bit before interacting with her.

• Consider providing a special toy or object for baby to cuddle and hold when you leave. It can comfort her when you are not around.

• Develop a parting ritual; routines and rituals give baby a sense of security. She may not be happy when you leave but knowing what is happening is helpful to her.

• When it is time to leave, leave quickly. A quick hug and a kiss, some soothing words and then depart. Waiting for baby to calm down can take forever. She can be distracted from crying when you are not there.

You may have noticed a change in your baby's reaction to strangers; baby shows fear of strangers and is afraid to be away from you. Be alert to situations that intensify his fears.

• Baby may respond differently to others when she is tired or hungry. When you have to leave her try doing it after she has been fed and is rested.

• Illness adds stress to your baby. Your baby may not want to be away from you when she is sick - if possible stay home when she is unwell.

• A change in routine can be upsetting, such as a trip. Stick to schedule wherever possible; put baby down to nap and feed baby as you would at home to help baby feel secure.

• If you have been away from your child; try making up to her by spending alone time together. You can expect her to cling more or ignore you. Extra time helps to ease her fear of separation.

• Leaving baby with a new sitter or a day care center can be unsettling for baby. Be patient as baby needs time to adjust to the newness.

When baby wants only Mom (or Dad)
Stranger anxiety is natural and you can expect such reactions from your baby. However it can be unsettling if your baby prefers one parent over the other. For instance your baby wants only mom and rejects dad or the other way round. Preferring one parent over the other is normal. A baby may turn to one parent for comfort and turn to the other for play and interaction. If baby rejects you, it is best to back off. Determine what your baby needs right now and act accordingly. Cuddle him if he wants it. If he still wants the other parent only then don't take it personally. Your baby isn't rejecting you; he is showing he gets something different from his other parent. Allow him the freedom to express his preferences. This phase passes soon.

About Iron

Around this time baby needs a more balanced diet. She has nearly depleted the iron supplies she received from her mother before birth; now she must get the mineral from other sources. If your baby is on iron fortified formula milk then she is getting the iron she needs. If she is on breast milk she may need extra iron. Check with your pediatrician before making any changes such as introducing vitamins with iron in her schedule.

BABY concerns

First aid kit for baby's cold

These products may help your baby feel more comfortable when she has a cold.
Petroleum jelly or lip cream
1. Saline nose drops
2. Nasal bulb syringe for infants
3. Tissues preferably with aloe
4. Humidifier especially the cool mist version
In addition these tips may improve baby's mood when she is fussy when down with a cold:
1. Use a humidifier at night
2. Rub a little mentholated jelly under baby's nose (baby Vicks)
3. Elevate the head of baby's bed slightly
4. Keep bottle in a more upright position when feeding baby
5. Don't overdress baby
6. A bath before bed time may help unclog nasal passages

Bruises and contusions

Bruises result from injury to tissue but skin is not broken. Now that your baby is more active, you may notice he bruises more. Symptoms include
1. Discoloration of skin - reddish, bluish or purplish or any shade in between
2. Pain at times
3. Tenderness
4. Swelling
When baby gets a bruise, apply ice, apply a cold cloth or an ice pack in the first 24 hours (wrap ice or ice pack in towel; never lay it directly on skin). After 24 hours, apply heat such as warm damp towel. This may help with the discomfort if the bruise is painful. Keep an eye on bruises; note any changes in size and color. Find out the cause if possible to prevent it from happening again.

Tapeworm

Tapeworm is a parasite that can live in a person's intestines; a person can get this by eating raw or undercooked meat that contains the tapeworm larvae. This condition is not contagious. To avoid the problem be especially careful and serve raw or undercooked meat to your child. Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Tenderness of the upper abdomen
• Failure to thrive
• Weight loss
• Listlessness
• Poor feeding
• Irritability
• Worms or eggs in the stool
Call the doctor if you notice diarrhea or blood in the stools. Antiparasitic medication may be prescribed.

Sense of permanence:

Baby's sense of object permanence is increasing; for example when she drops something, she will search the floor for it. If you hide something under his blanket, she is beginning to understand it is still there even if she cannot see it.

Time for a highchair:

By this time she can sit unsupported, freeing her hands for other activities. Now that she is able to sit up so well, it is time to introduce her to a highchair if you haven't already. Use one that is designed for infants and seat her in one during mealtimes; she will enjoy being part of the family and interacting at the table.

Mastering his environment:

Your baby is beginning to understand that to some extent she can affect her environment. For example she may use her blanket to get the toy she can't reach. She experiments by deliberately dropping objects. The objects may be toys food or anything she can get hold of. She may drop things in rapid succession and then focuses on what happens when she drops them. Dumping toys or items out of a box or pan is also great fun. Filling and emptying a container helps your baby learn the concepts full and empty. Although simple, these activities represent big achievements for baby.

Baby uses hands more:

With her hands free, baby is able to use her hands more to play with toys. She may reach for an object, grab it, examine it, put it in her mouth and then drop it to move on to the next exciting item. Her movements are more vigorous now; she shakes her rattles and listens to the sounds produced. She enjoys splashing with her toys in the tub during bath-times.

Toys and Play

Clap, Clap, Clap :

Baby learns by imitation; this game teaches him to imitate gestures. As you sing a song, clap his hands together lightly. After a few times clap your hands or put his hands on yours as you clap. Next ask him to clap as you sing. Learning to clap on his own can take time, so be patient.

Kitchen exploration :

Your kitchen may be one of your baby's favorite haunts with fascinating drawers and cupboards to explore. He may want to empty them; babyproofing your home is a very important, including the kitchen area. Lock some the medicine drawer, sharp utensils and other hazardous items away. If your kitchen is big enough, you might want to leave one lower cabinet unlocked and put unbreakable, safe kitchen items such as measuring spoons, Tupperware, cups, wooden spoons an old pan or pot for baby to play with when both of you are in the kitchen.

Keep the music playing :

Baby loves music. Record and play different kinds of music for her. Let her listen to various kinds of music like rock and roll, lullabies, children's songs, symphonies, and anything else might enjoy. Play soft tunes before bedtime, children songs while she is playing. Expose her to many types of music.