My Baby This Week -- Your 7 month old, second week

You've always known that you and your baby are two separate creatures, but she hasn't. To her, the two of you are one - she has no identity of her own yet. When you put her in front of a mirror, she doesn't even realise that the baby she sees is herself. But this month she'll make a huge mental leap and finally understand that she's an individual, with her own body, thoughts, and feelings. This jump in understanding opens the door to her growing emotional and physical independence, which will take years to fully develop.

Find out more fascinating facts about your seven-month-old's development.

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Independent eating
As your baby gains coordination, you will find it easier to begin introducing finger foods for her to try - offer rusks, slices of banana, pieces of pear - anything that goes soft when chewed. And if she grabs the spoon at mealtimes, try giving her one of her own. There'll be a lot of mess but it will pay dividends in the future when she really can feed herself. Once a baby starts experimenting with feeding herself, a bib is essential.

• Other good ideas for finger foods.
• Check out our yummy treats for babies this age.
• Is it safe for babies to eat raisins?

My Baby This Week -- Your 7 month old, first week

Has your baby turned into a bouncing machine? This game is fun for him now if he can support his weight on his legs. What's more, he can probably sit unsupported, which will free his hands for exploring. At this age he'll also probably start reaching for things and scooping them up with one hand. You can encourage his independence and new skills by placing a toy just out of his reach. After a few tries, he'll be able to lean forward to grab it and then straighten himself again. You may notice him turn things round now, finding out what they look like upside down or sideways. And of course, he'll wonder what everything tastes like, too.

Find out more fascinating facts about your seven-month-old.

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The truth about teething
If your baby has started teething, you can expect his first teeth to appear about now. His lower front teeth will probably break through first. But a few babies start with their top teeth and others don't produce any teeth at all until their first birthday, so if yours is one of them, don't worry. In the meantime, though, don't forget that baby teeth need brushing as soon as they appear.

• Teething: everything you need to know.
• Could teething be the reason why your baby is waking at night?
• How to make your teething baby more comfortable.

My Baby This Week --Your 7 month old

At this age, a simple game of peek-a-boo can absolutely fascinate your baby. He's starting to understand object permanence (things don't go away forever when they leave his sight), and he loves games where people or things appear and disappear. In fact, one of the easiest ways to keep a seven-month-old occupied is by hiding an object under a blanket for him to discover. If you get tired of peek-a-boo, try other classic baby games such as pat-a-cake, rolling things backwards and forwards, or banging different things together to hear the sounds they make.

Find out more fascinating facts about your seven-month-old's development.

My Baby This Week -- Your 6 month old, first week

This month your baby's hand-eye coordination is becoming much surer and he may really learn to put his hands to good use. He'll become an expert in raking objects towards himself - and he'll work out how to move something from one hand to the other. And once he learns that he can hold something in each hand, he'll quickly realise how much fun it is to bang them together. He'll want to practise this new skill, so if you think you can stand the noise, set aside one kitchen cupboard and fill it with baby-safe pots and pans for him to play with.

• Find out more fascinating facts about your six-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 5 month old, fourth week

Many babies are happy and outgoing at this stage. If yours is, then this an ideal time to show her that other people can love her almost as much as you do. Try letting her spend some time getting accustomed to warm, trusted caregivers and babysitters. The experience will help her feel more secure a couple of months down the road, when separation anxiety makes its entrance and your little extrovert becomes more reluctant to leave your side.

• More fascinating facts about your five-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 5 month old, third week

Your baby's ability to interact with his surroundings, you and other people grows daily. For instance, he may start playing little games as he begins to understand cause and effect and the results of simple actions. He may drop objects just to watch you pick them up, or he may throw something to see where it lands. Take a deep breath - games like this will only amuse him more as time goes on. Don't tell him "no" - he doesn't understand the word, and he needs to experiment and explore. But do praise him when he does something a little less frustrating for you.

Find out more fascinating facts about your five-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 5 month old, second week

If she hasn't already, your baby will soon laugh at funny expressions and try to make you laugh, too. She's showing her emotional side in other areas, as well - a sharp contrast to when she was a newborn and didn't have all the physical and mental skills to let you know how she felt. At this age, she may demonstrate her strong attachment to you by raising her arms when she wants you to pick her up, crying when you leave the room, and giving you hugs and kisses. Although a true crawl before the age of six months is rare, many five-month-old babies spend time trying to get their chests and bottoms off the ground at the same time... with a wonderful see-saw effect!

More fascinating facts about your five-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 5 month old, first week

Many five-month-olds delight in adding new sounds to their repertoire and blowing a raspberry is a perennial favourite. In fact, he may love it so much that he'll do it over and over again. That's a normal pattern. Most babies like to practise one skill before they move on to the next.

Find out more fascinating facts about your five-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 4 month old, fourth week

Now's a good time to help your baby develop equal strength and flexibility on both sides of her body. How? It's easy: alternate which side you breastfeed or bottle-feed on, and place her head at one end of her cot one night and at the opposite end the next night. Both techniques will help her become comfortable turning her head in both directions. That full range of movement leads to greater muscle control, which she'll need to develop good eye-hand co-ordination sometime around her ninth month.

More fascinating facts about your four-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 4 month old, third week

Looking for a way to make your baby laugh? Try to mimic his facial expressions and sounds. Not only will he be tickled pink, but also he'll learn something about communication, as imitation and repetition are key ingredients in early brain development. If he hears you say the same words often enough, he may even begin to make some almost recognisable noises, including ones that sound suspiciously like "Ma-ma" and "Da-da". While some babies this age like to spend some time lying on their tummies, others grumble as soon as they're put into that position. If yours is like that, don't worry. It doesn't mean he'll be late crawling; it's just that he'd prefer not to try crawling until he's almost ready to succeed at it.

More fascinating facts about your four-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 4 month old, second week

Your baby knows she's the star of the show and like all great stars, she'll want your eyes on her at all times. She thrives on your attention. Don't be surprised if she deliberately tries to get it by dropping things, banging objects, or even crying out when you turn away. She's not being naughty, just discovering the principles of cause and effect -— when she calls, you jump!

More fascinating facts about your four-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 4 month old, first week

Your baby may amaze you (and himself!) around this age by rolling over from his back onto his front or vice versa. You can encourage this new ability by placing him on his back and wiggling a toy on the side he usually rolls to. Babies love praise, so congratulate him and smile when he manages to roll. When he's on his stomach, you may find that he sometimes rests from his "head-up" position by putting his head down and drawing his knees up under him so that his bottom goes up. He will practise getting both ends of his body up into the air so that he can eventually achieve the hands-and-knees position he'll need for crawling.

Find out more fascinating facts about your four-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 3 month old, fourth week

Try this with your three-month-old: put on your dancing shoes, hold your baby close and move to your favourite music! Support her head gently but firmly as you sway backwards, forwards and from side to side. Dance lets her experience smooth, fluid movements - something she's working on developing but hasn't yet managed. Plus, it's great exercise and a mood lifter for you.

You may also find that your baby now enjoys being gently pulled to a sitting position after she's been lying on her back. As the weeks go by, you may find that your baby "asks" to be pulled up so that every time you put your hands out to her, she grabs them. She can't sit up yet but she's thinking about it! A baby of this age changes so fast. Don't forget to keep your memories safe in a photograph album.

• Find out more fascinating facts about your three-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 3 month old, third week

You can't see it happening but the areas in your baby's brain that control hand-eye coordination, hearing, language, smell and the ability to recognise objects, are developing now. That's why your baby often turns towards you and starts gurgling when he hears your voice - he's making definite attempts at socialising. If you talk and read to him often, that's the best way to spark his communication skills, even if he can't understand what you're saying just yet.

Find out more fascinating facts about your three-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 3 month old, second week

Who's the cutest baby in the world? If you hold a mirror in front of your little one this week, you'll know she thinks she's number one by her big smile and happy gurgling. Most three month olds love to look at themselves - and their parents and brothers and sisters. Babies are drawn to faces more than any other image until around six months.

Find out more fascinating facts about your three-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 3 month old, first week

Your baby may be strong enough now to do a mini push-up when he's lying on his tummy. Over the next few weeks you will notice that as his muscles strengthen, he will be able to lift his head and shoulders clear of the floor and look around as he does so. You can encourage him by letting him spend short periods every day on his stomach on a play mat on the floor. Gradually he will learn to transfer his weight from his forearms to his hands to lift himself even higher. Remember though, this head-up position is tiring and he won't be able to hold it for long at first, no matter how much he wants to see what's going on around him.

Find out more fascinating facts about your three-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 2 month old, fourth week

Cooing is your baby's way of showing she's happy. This pre-speech exercise lets her play with sound just as she plays with her fingers and toes. You can show that you've heard her by cooing or talking in response; see if you can have an extended conversation. While you're at it, why not record her voice and preserve her first sounds for posterity? In a few years, both of you will love listening to that early baby talk.

Find out more fascinating facts about your two-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 2 month old, third week

Your baby is busy absorbing the sights and sounds around him. How? By looking, listening and touching. You can help keep those brain cells multiplying by letting your baby handle a wide variety of objects such as soft teddy bears, light rattles and rubber balls. Just make sure they're too big for him to put in his mouth and choke on. If your baby has a che che or abang or any older siblings or cousins in the same house, you'll need to take extra care that he or she isn't passing marbles, small bricks or buttons to your baby.

Find out more fascinating facts about your two-month-old's development

My Baby This Week -- Your 2 month old, third week

Your baby is busy absorbing the sights and sounds around him. How? By looking, listening and touching. You can help keep those brain cells multiplying by letting your baby handle a wide variety of objects such as soft teddy bears, light rattles and rubber balls. Just make sure they're too big for him to put in his mouth and choke on. If your baby has a che che or abang or any older siblings or cousins in the same house, you'll need to take extra care that he or she isn't passing marbles, small bricks or buttons to your baby.

Find out more fascinating facts about your two-month-old's development

2 month old, second week

Your baby is developing new skills every day and building on the ones she's got. By the end of the second month you may be able to tell from your baby's expression when she is excited, unhappy, pleased or surprised. When you talk to her, she may move her arms and legs and make little noises back at you. Your baby may hold objects for a few moments, but without looking to see what's in her hands, and she may swipe at things with her fists. Babies like batting practice - with a balloon or a ball of wool - but this game needs you to be watching her all the time to make sure she's safe.

Find out more fascinating facts about your two-month-old's development