7 months to 1 year
Your Child's Development
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Your baby sits on his own for longer periods and is crawling or trying to stand up.
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He can now lift up your shirt or extend his hands to you when he is hungry.
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He now needs more iron for his growth and starts eating solids; iron rich foods. (see Nutrition below)
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He can grasp an object he wants.
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Your baby can pass that object from one hand to the other.
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He will follow with his eyes, objects that are falling.
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He might start showing some fear at strangers.
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He will start babbling (baba, dada, etc.).
Health Care
For his first year of life, your baby's basic need is met with breastmilk, sleep, care and interactions with his family. As he will be more active, you need to be careful of his environment.
Carrying your baby
It is always better to carry your baby in a baby wrap or in your arms. Avoid leaving him for long periods in a car seat or on any type of surface to avoid the back or sides of his head being flat. Most babies kept in their family's arms have a lovely rounded head. Remember that interaction with your baby: touching him, caressing him, talking to him, holding him will help him to develop his brain well and emotional health.
From 7 months on, with a body T at 38,5 C, you can wait 24 h before consulting the clinic if his general state is good. Make sure your baby stays hydrated by checking his wet diapers and his general well-being. Fever is best measured with a rectal thermometer. You need to consult immediately if your baby:
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is vomiting a lot;
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is not reacting or is constantly irritable;
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has a strange pale color to his skin;
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seems dehydrated;
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has a weird rash;
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has a stiff neck;
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has a bluish rash all over his body;
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is convulsing;
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has difficulty breathing;
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had a fever for more than 3 days at any age, and;
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if you are very worried;
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For regular check-ups, have your child seen at the Well-Baby Clinic. It is important to follow the specific recommended time period of injections for vaccines to be efficient.
Sleep
Babies still need to sleep but not as much as in the first months. They now start to recognize night from day. You can help by keeping him around the family and routine noises during the day and, in a quiet darker environment at night. Your child still has sleep cycles and they will remain present all his life. Deep sleep lasts longer so he will not awaken easily during that time. His light sleep (REM) still is a large part of sleep and very important to his development.
Many children that age need 2 naps a day, 1 in am, 1 in pm. They fall asleep for the night and wake up with the sun's first rays. Sleeping near your child can help him to fall asleep and to sleep better through the night.
Safe Sleep is important:
- Falling asleep with your baby on a couch or makeshift bed is dangerous, your baby can roll down and be stuck between the couch and your body;
-Keep your baby near you and avoid having him sleep with other adults and other children;
-It is dangerous to sleep on the same bed as your baby if you are extremely tired, have been consumming sleeping or pain pills, alcohol or drugs;
-A baby should be away from houses with parties, make sure your leave your baby with someone you trust.
Nutrition - MEECHUM - Syllabics
At six months and more
Your baby will start to be interested in other foods than milk and will be able to sit up holding his head straight. He will also be able to pick up food and bring it to his mouth. If your baby breastfeeds more often before his 6th month of life, it does not mean he is ready for solids. Babies have many growth spurts.
Some people believe babies need to be fed pureed and baby cereal first. A new trend in child feeding is the DME or autonomous feeding, where your child learns to eat soft foods by picking it up himself as soon as he can. Food has to be prepared in a way as the baby cannot choke. Cooked thoroughly and cut in small pieces. Consult your CNC Nutritionist if you want more information.
Traditional Foods
Elders and Gookums give specific bones they know to be safe to the baby to chew on. Never leave your baby's side while he is eating. He can suck the broth and juices and he obtains some small pieces of meat as well. Broth can also be given as well as poligee (cooked oatmeal) with squished blueberries, rice a boo, meat and dumplings and any more dish made with game meat and their broth. Many traditional foods are perfect to provide the much needed iron your baby needs. Nismshe (fish) with squished blueberries is also a good traditional recipe. Never forget to ask Gookum what she used to cook. Naturally, you are looking for the pure ingredients. You do not want your baby to eat a lot of empty carbs. Breastmilk (always 1st) and meat should be a big part of his diet.
Food Allergy
Many nutritionists recommend introducing one new food at a time to see how your baby reacts. Wait 2 to 3 days before introducing a new food. Also, they now recommend introducing foods that are often the cause of allergies earlier than before. Consult your CMC Nutritionist or read the appropriate section of the Tiny Tots to Toddlers if there is a family history of food allergies in your family or in your partners or if you have any questions about nutrition.
A toddler is quite different than a baby. A toddler will be everywhere and will touch everything. As taste is a way for them to learn about objects, they will put everything in their mouth. It is essential to baby proof your house as soon as your child starts to crawl and move about.
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Electrical Outlets: Fingers seem to be inserted in any holes they can find, an electrical outlet is a favorite finger entry for your child. As the hand is also usually wet, it is very dangerous as your child could be the victim of an electrical chock. A Safety kit can be given to you at the Prenatal Gathering or at the Nurturing Program. Please use the security plugs to block all accessible electrical outlets.
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Choking: Food as well as small objects your child will find, will always go to his mouth. For foods, always make sure to cut them into piece that are smaller than the circumference of his throat: Grapes in 4, hot-dogs in 2, carrots are better given well cooked and cut the circles in 2, soften dry bread with milk or broth, cut up well cooked boiled patatoes with broth, cook all other vegetables and make sure they don't break into pieces that can stay stuck in you child'd throat.
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Small objects/toys: Every thing will always be tasted or muched on. Make sure button batteries are alway put away safely as well as any other type of batteries, glass objects, screws, nails, pellets, small magnets, small bones. Be careful of older children's toys or soft plastic bags. Obviously, lock away guns ans amunitions.
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Cupboards: Many parents lock all cupboards except for one where they leave hard plactic containers and theirs covers. Toddlers play with hours with those. There are also locks for the cupboards in the Safety kit you will receive from the Prenatal Gathering or the Nurturing Program.
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Cigarettes and marijuana: Children often get their hands on ashtrays, cigarettes and more, left on coffee or side tables. A small quantity can be poisoin to a child. Call the Poison Center of your children ate or drank hazardous products (Poison Control Center 1 800 463-5060).
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Stairs: Many injuries occur around stairs. Toddlers can get around quite fast by simply crawling and, even only a few steps can be dangerous to toddlers, Always make sure to put a gate to stop your young children from accessing the stairs. As soon as you can, work with your crawling and walking toddler on how to descend stairs in a safe way by showing them to turn around and go down one step at a time on their belly, feet first. This will not stop them from taking a fall, but it might give you time to go to them or avoid they go down head first. An important note regarding baby walkers, the walkers on wheels are not legal anymore, too many serious injuries have occured, wether by falling down stairs or, by a speeding walking hitting a bump and toppling over. Only use the upright play stations; the ones without wheels and only use them for short periods of time (10 minutes maximum) when you baby can sit upright.
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Medications and house cleaning products: Always keep your house cleaning products and medication out of the reach of babies, toddlers and children. Ideally, all these dangerous products should be stored in a high place. Children are quite creative and smart. They will find ways to reach the products if they are not stored in a secured and high place. Call the Poison Center of your children ate or drunk hazardous products (Poison Control Center 1 800 463-5060).
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Bath time: You can now find very sophisticated baby bath that keeps the baby upright but, never ever leave a baby on a high surface or, in water without constant supervision, even for a second. Also, water temperatures can be quite tricky when preparing a bath for a baby or young child. There are water thermometers available to make sure the water is just at the right temperature for your child.
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Doors: Some toddlers are tall enough to open doors. If your door has a push down kind of handle, all toddlers can easily get out of the house or open a entry door to a basement staircase. There is also on the market, some light hardware you can screen in to your door and wall so the door cannot be opened. You can also make sure the door to outside is kept locked at all times.
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Pets: Babies and toddlers are completely defenless in front of a pet and pets are imprevisible in their actions. Never leave your chil unattended with a dog, cat or any other animal. Young children's faces on usually at the exact height of a dogs mouth and a bite can occurs quickly without any warning. Cats are just as dangerous as they are very agile and will grab a child's boday with his four paws and claws and bite the child to the face. Wild animals can carry Rabies and wild birds can carry Avian flu.
