Baby This Week: 31 Weeks Old

Your baby now actively engages in hiding games. Place one of her favorite toys on the floor and cover it with a napkin. Pull the napkin off and say, "There it is!" Cover it again and repeat.

For more fun, hide an object under something and wait for her to discover it. It's one of the easiest ways to keep your baby occupied!

Your baby can remember that the jack-in-the-box pops up at the end of the song — yet she'll still laugh every time. She's also able to recognize different tones and inflections and may burst into tears if you speak harshly.

Because she likes predictability, your baby enjoys playing the same game or reading the same book over and over. In addition to patty-cake, try adding classics such as "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "This Little Piggy" to your repertoire.

Your baby may have already started feeding herself finger foods, although this can begin as late as 10 months. Once she reaches this stage, you can introduce a sippy cup.

Try giving her a cup with a spout and two handles. If your baby's getting frustrated that she can't get more liquid out of the sippy cup, remove the valve in the top of the cup. If your baby's having trouble figuring out how to suck through the spout, take the lid off the sippy cup and let her first drink straight from the cup (show her how to tip it back so the drink flows into her mouth).

Switching your baby to a cup sooner rather than later might make it easier for her to give up the bottle. If you're breastfeeding, you can even bypass the bottle altogether and go straight to a cup.

-BabyCenter.com