The 7 month old baby
A 7-month-old baby is becoming more and more independent and is starting to show his or her personality. You’ll see him favor a particular toy, crawl to reach it… he’s learning to control his environment and he’s having a blast doing it!
Ready to accompany him in what will be hectic months? It will be your daily gym!
What can he do
At this age the child wants to explore the world around him and finally has the means to do so. He crawls, rolls, sometimes manages to crawl and combines all these possible movements to reach the goal. You can encourage movement by placing toys just out of his reach to encourage him to reach for them.
However, make sure that all this happens safely by removing small objects that can suffocate him or sharp objects from his reach.
The child now knows how to sit up without help, can hold a cup or a bottle in his hand , eat from a spoon during meals: these are all achievements that make him proud .
A 7-month-old should have sufficient leg strength to be able to stand when supported.
Teething
Between the fifth and seventh month you should see the first teeth appearing. You will notice that your child is teething because he will start drooling big time and will probably be much more annoyed than usual.
There are various ways to soothe this annoyance , from natural preparations to games made specifically to be bitten. Do not use medicines without consulting your pediatrician.
You can also read the whole teething pattern milk teeth .
Once the teeth have erupted, they must be cleaned daily with a soft toothbrush with water and a pinch of toothpaste suitable for children of this age.
The two central incisors will probably come out first, first the lower ones and then the upper ones. For the lateral incisors you will have to wait another 3-4 months. Don’t worry if he still doesn’t have a tooth at 7 months old . Teething varies from baby to baby. There are those who see the first tooth at one year or so.
What does it eat
At this age you will most likely have started weaning.
Our nutritionist friends at Madegus , experts in infant nutrition , have written these guides for us:
Whenever you introduce a new food, wait a couple of days before trying anything new to see if there are signs of an allergy such as diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash.
How it communicates
At seven months a baby is beginning to understand the meaning of language. The child should understand when you say “no” even if he does not always obey. They should also turn away when you say his name.
At 7 months a child is an expert in non-verbal communication . They are great at making a variety of comedic expressions with their face: they win you over with big smiles, frowns, pouts…
Children can understand our mood by interpreting our expressions. So pay attention to when you are sad or angry, they notice it immediately!
As far as verbal communication is concerned, children continue to learn different sounds by combining vowels and consonants.
The memory
At 7 months, memory has developed significantly and the infant acquires the concept of object permanence.
Up until a few months ago, when an object was hidden or cucusettete was played , the child thought that the thing, or the person, was gone forever. But now he realizes that people and objects still exist, even when they are hidden.
This means that if the mother is away for work or to run some errands, she is always present in the baby’s thoughts.
This is why at 7 months the little one can manifest separation anxiety , crying and clinging to you every time you try to leave him with his grandparents, a babysitter or daycare.
This anxiety can last until the child is about 2 years old .
To manage this problem try to plan your departures when the baby has just slept or eaten and that is when he is less irritable.
Greet him gently but quickly and ask whoever you leave him to distract the child with a game or a book until you’re gone.
Don’t feel guilty ! All of us moms have cried seeing our baby crying when we leave him at kindergarten. The little one will probably stop crying a few minutes after you leave even if you will be left with the image of your desperate little one…
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.