Baby This Week: 50 Weeks

Babies typically start walking sometime between 9 and 18 months. You may be surprised at the reactions this milestone causes in you. For example, don't take it too hard if your baby refuses when you offer to hold or carry her. She's not rejecting you. Odds are, she's simply excited about practicing walking. To prevent any injuries, keep a close eye on her when she takes off, and make sure to install safety gates to block off stairs and unsafe rooms if you haven't done this yet.

If your baby isn't walking already, she's likely to take her first independent steps soon. (If not, don't worry. Some perfectly normal babies are 17 or 18 months old before they start walking.)

As always, make sure your baby has a safe environment in which to practice her new skills. Follow standard childproofing guidelines and never leave your baby unattended. And keep the camera ready!

Around now your baby's play will probably start shifting from mastering her fine motor skills (she's got that thumb-and-forefinger grasp down pat) to exercising larger muscles. Some children this age have an attention span of two to five minutes for quiet activities — though your baby's favorite games may not be all that quiet.

Your baby probably thinks it's fun to push, throw, and knock everything down. She'll give you a toy as well as take one, and she likes games where she can put things in containers and dump them out again. This works well with blocks in buckets or boxes and with pots and pans, which she can nest inside one another. She'll thrill to the loud sounds of those pots and pans banging together, too.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 49 Weeks

Your baby understands more than she says, and she's aware that everything around her has a name. Help satisfy this curiosity by pointing at familiar objects and naming them: "Ball." "Truck." "Airplane." Few 11-month-olds are ready to say these words, but they file them away for future use. Soon you'll be able to say, "Where's the ball?" and she'll show you. If her first words sound strange, she may be repeating them the way they sound to his ears: "da-ee" for "doggie," for example.

It's a good time to introduce your baby to the concept of helping out. Though she won't be able to get it just yet, by the time she's a toddler she'll be excited to assist in putting toys away and picking up spilled snacks. Emphasize "please" and "thank you" and you'll set the stage for her to repeat these words back to you someday!

Though at this point his vocabulary likely consists of only a couple of words besides "mama" and "dada," your baby can probably babble short, fully inflected sentences that sound like she's speaking a foreign language. Act as though you understand.

Your baby may be able to respond to simple questions and commands, especially if you give her some clues with hand gestures. For example, ask "Where's your mouth?" and point to it. Or try "Hand me the cup" and point to the object. She may even answer you in her own way, using her own gestures, such as shaking her head for "no."

Because she's receptive now, it's a good time to begin to teach your baby how to help out. Emphasize "please" and "thank you," and make toy cleanup time fun by turning it into a game. Though she probably won't get the idea just yet, it's not too early to start. Break the task into very small parts. At this age, he'll need you to work with her by her side.

It's up to you to help your baby make connections between objects and their names — the more you do, the faster your child's vocabulary will grow. 

Keep talking to your baby and labeling things. Count stair steps as you climb them, and point out the names and colors of the fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Read your baby a picture book and ask her to point to or name familiar objects.

 Solicit her opinion once in a while: Ask her if she'd like to wear the red or the blue socks, or if she'd like to play with her blocks or his stacking rings. Give her only two choices — both of which are right in front of her. She may not answer, but then again, she may surprise you.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 48 Weeks

Chances are good that your baby's grown attached to a certain blanket or toy. Transitional objects may help your baby weather potentially stressful experiences -- such as a doctor's visit or an overnight trip -- more easily. You may want to buy a duplicate of that "lovey" (or cut the original in half, if it's something like a blanket), in case you need to replace a lost one or take it away to clean it.

Your baby probably enjoys looking at books and leafing through the pages, though she won't always turn them one by one. Indulge in great picture books, like Anno's Journey, by the great Japanese artist Mitsumasa Anno, Tamara Hoban's Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue?, which introduces primary colors through photos of everyday objects, and The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs, a full-color cartoon book about a snowman who comes to life. Or stick with sturdy and inexpensive board books that can stand up to small fingers.

 To add variety to your baby's reading time and to find out what appeals to her the most, try your local library or the kids' section at a family-friendly bookstore.

Your baby has probably been wrestling with bouts of separation anxiety during the last several months. This is natural: She loves and depends on you, so she's distressed when you leave. 

To ease departures, make them short and sweet. Be matter-of-fact when you leave your child at daycare or with a babysitter at home, and don't prolong the agony with extended goodbyes. Your baby's tears will subside soon after you're out of sight.

You can help your baby feel more independent by not hovering over her all the time. Of course, she still needs to know that you're around and dependable. So if she toddles to another room, wait a couple of minutes before following. If you go to another area of the house, call to her when you're in the next room — but don't come running every time she squawks.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 47 Weeks

Your baby may now be able to bend over to pick up objects or play with toys. Now that's balance! For you, it's also a babyproofing wake-up call. Keep hazardous items in locked cabinets or move them to higher ground. Consider keeping one or two low cabinets full of baby-safe objects such as toys, board books, and stacking plastic storage containers. They'll help quench your little one's curiosity while offering practice in taking objects out and putting them back in.

Words and wordlike sounds are now spilling out of your baby, and she's able to use them meaningfully. As her brain continues to develop, so does her ability to reason and speak. 

Encourage her interest in language and her understanding of two-way communication by being an avid listener and responding to her sounds. To polish her memory skills, play games like patty-cake and peek-a-boo.

At this age, your baby can probably imitate word sounds and inflections. She may be able to follow simple one-step directions, such as "Please bring me the ball" or "Pick up the spoon." Help her learn by separating multistep commands into easy-to-follow single steps, reinforcing them with gestures.

 Remember to cherish this brief but remarkable period when your baby's communication skills are emerging: They're perhaps his most important skill!

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 45 Weeks

You may see your baby start to take more of an interest in other babies. For the most part, babies this age parallel play, staying happily engrossed in their own activities alongside one another, but without really interacting. This is normal -- focusing on their own abilities and needs is how babies develop. Over time, though, you'll notice your baby stealing glances at fellow babies and perhaps crawling over to try to use the same toy.

Your baby now understands simple instructions, although you may still be ignored when you say "no." (To help the word carry a little more weight, use it sparingly, for setting important limits.)

Even though your baby may not always remember tomorrow what you've said today, it's not too soon to set certain boundaries and start teaching some important distinctions, like right from wrong and safe from unsafe.

Your baby may now assert herself among her siblings and begin to engage in parallel play — contentedly playing alongside (but not with) another baby. Informal baby playdates can be a great way to encourage your little one to develop social skills. Just remember that babies this age are still too young to understand the idea of making friends.

Think of these playdates as helping your baby build a foundation for learning how to interact with others. And she may get new play ideas from these first buddies. A bonus: You'll have some help and support from the other babies' parents.

Your baby now understands simple instructions, though she may purposely choose to ignore you when you say "no." (To help the word carry a little more weight, use it sparingly, for setting important limits.)

Even though your baby may not always remember tomorrow what you've said today, it's not too soon to set certain boundaries and start teaching her some important distinctions, like right from wrong and safe from unsafe.

Use your best judgment as a guideline. You're not being mean if you don't let her devour a second cupcake, for example — you're setting a healthy limit. If she pulls the cat's tail, move her hand, look her in the eye, and say, "No, that hurts the cat." Then guide your baby's hand to pet the animal gently.

Her desire to explore is stronger than her desire to listen to your warnings, so it's up to you to protect and teach her. What seems to be defiance is just her natural curiosity to see how the world works.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 44 Weeks

Your baby's ability to vocalize is improving, and he may say his first word any time now. When he does, repeat it softly and clearly so she can learn the correct pronunciation. (Bear in mind that many babies won't utter an intelligible peep for several more months, and that's normal, too.) First words don't always have precise definitions, by the way. "Dog" may mean anything with four legs, and "ba-ba" could signify bottle, teddy bear, bye-bye — or all three.

Only a few weeks shy of his first birthday, your baby's no longer a helpless infant who can't do anything without you. He still needs plenty of care and support, but his growing independence — evident in his solo standing, stooping, and squatting — is becoming apparent.

Your baby may walk while gripping your hand, and he'll hold out his arm or leg to help you dress him. At mealtimes, he may be able to grip a cup and drink from it independently (though some children may not do this for a few more months) and hand-feed himself an entire meal.

Once your baby's able to drink from a cup by himself, you may need to start ducking, because he's just as likely to toss it when he's finished as to put it down gently.

Your baby will also purposely drop objects for someone, probably you, to pick up. If you get tired of this dropping game, take away the object for a few minutes and try to distract your baby with something just as enticing, such as a fun game of peek-a-boo.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 42 Weeks

Your baby may still only babble, but don't underestimate how much he understands. Babies pick up on the meaning of words — and your tone of voice — before they learn to speak. Your baby may even respond to simple requests or words of discipline such as a warning "No!" Talk to him often about what you're doing, where you're going, and the names of the foods he eats, and say his name. Try to taper off the baby talk so he hears plenty of real words during the day.

Your baby is just beginning to understand many simple words and phrases, so it's more important than ever to keep talking to him. Give your chatterbox a head start on good speech patterns by repeating his words back to him using adult language. If he asks for a "bah-bah," for example, gently reinforce the correct pronunciation by asking, "Do you want a bottle?" At this stage of the game, it's best to try to avoid the tendency to use baby talk — it can be fun, but hearing the right words is better for your baby's development.

Though it may sometimes feel silly, having a conversation with your baby is a great way to encourage his language skills. When he rattles off a sentence of gibberish, respond with, "Oh, really? How interesting." He'll probably smile and keep chattering away.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 41 Weeks

Your baby is probably beginning to cover more territory, whether by scooting and crawling or by cruising upright, or maybe even by trying a few tentative first steps. (LOL! Mila is sooooo far past this! She's practically running!) When you're indoors, you may want to let your baby go without shoes, booties, or socks -- experts believe going barefoot helps a baby's foot develop properly and promotes better balance and coordination.

Your baby's personality is really emerging now. She may be very social, granting broad smiles to everyone she meets, or a little more shy, hiding her face when well-meaning strangers try to engage her. Your baby may charge ahead boldly or assess the situation carefully before going further. She might be even tempered or switch her moods quite dramatically.
She'll gesture for your attention and may wave goodbye when she sees you head for the door. She's also developing a mind of her own, which you may run up against when you try to put her in her car seat or stroller.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 40 Weeks

You're probably noticing that your blossoming baby is learning different ways to express herself emotionally. She's also becoming more social day by day. A few of her favorite new tricks may be clapping, especially when pleased; waving bye-bye; pointing to indicate what she wants or when she sees something new and interesting; shrieking loudly to attract your attention; laughing at silly sounds and expressions; and crying in a specific tone to convey a particular "request."

The torrent of words your baby has been hearing since birth is beginning to work its magic, although her understanding of words far outpaces her ability to use them. Her babbling has turned to jabber and is probably starting to sound more like real words, phrases, and sentences. Your baby thinks she's saying something, so respond as if she really is!

Your baby still comprehends more from your tone than from your actual words, though. She can understand when she's pleased you, so offer specific praise, such as "You did a great job picking up the rattle." The more you talk to your baby — while preparing dinner, driving, or getting dressed — the more she learns about communication.

Your baby's starting to understand the word "no," though she may not obey it just yet. For example, you can expect her to try to touch something even after you've said not to. It's best to use the word "no" sparingly, and when you do use it, follow it by removing her from the scene of the crime and introducing her to a new activity.

-BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 39 Weeks Old

A baby who has discovered cruising will "walk" around a room while supporting herself with furniture and other surfaces. To encourage walking, hold your baby's hands when she's standing facing you and see whether she can step toward you. Some 9-month-olds are ready to practice walking with a stable push toy. One prop not to use is a walker, as they are associated with serious injuries and can impede normal development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

By this week, your baby will start to remember more specific information, such as where her toys are in your house. She'll also be able to imitate actions she's seen as long as a week before.

These skills indicate that she has recall memory — the ability to remember some details of a specific experience for a short time — though she still doesn't remember most of her experiences. Long-lasting conscious memory of specific events won't develop until your baby's second or third year, when real language emerges.

Your baby can now put objects in a container and remove them. Give her a plastic bucket and some colorful blocks so she can practice this new skill. (Make sure they're not so small that she can swallow them.) She also likes toys with moving parts, such as knobs, levers, or doors that open and close. Big plastic cars that your baby can wheel around on the floor are fun playthings, too.

If you take a toy away from her, your increasingly assertive baby is likely to object. She's really starting to be able to make her needs and wants known. Some sound advice: Give her something new before you take the other object away.

About half of babies this age will initiate passing games — giving away objects and then taking them back. Be her playmate. Try rolling a ball to your baby and see whether she rolls it back to you. Give her a sorting toy or stacking rings and see if she sorts or stacks or hands the pieces to you. She'll also like to share her food, so accept these "gifts" graciously.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 38 Weeks Old

Your baby may be the most sociable young creature around — until somebody unfamiliar comes near. Many babies this age have begun to show signs of fear or shyness around strangers. Some even start withdrawing from familiar relatives and friends, and want to be close to no one but you. This phase can be so brief you barely notice it, or it may last for months, depending on your child's temperament.

Now, and for the next few months, separation anxiety is at its peak. Although it's normal now for a baby to show an extreme attachment to you and fear of everyone else, it can be difficult for doting grandparents and caregivers. You can help ease transitions for your baby by warning people to approach slowly and let your baby make the first move.

If your baby uses a thumb or pacifier to soothe himself as she tries to cope with his anxiety, that's okay. Sucking is one of your baby's only methods of calming herself.

Because of separation anxiety, this can be a tough time to be away from your baby for any length of time. But it may also be hard to travel with your baby right now. She's become used to her surroundings and familiar faces, and she likes predictability. So being on the road can disrupt her sense of security and routine, especially when visiting an unfamiliar place or meeting lots of strangers.

At this age, she doesn't grasp the concept of travel but she'll realize she's in a new, strange place. Be ready for some cranky, clingy behavior and prepare plenty of distractions — picture books, noise-making toys, nesting blocks, hand puppets, and definitely her security object, if she has one. Schedule plenty of downtime away from all the strangers to let her decompress.

- BabyCenter.com

Daddy and Mila watching the San Francisco Giants win the 

National League West Championship Game! Woo-hoo! Go Giants!!!

Baby This Week: 38 Weeks Old

A baby who can stand with the support of a chair or by holding on to your fingers is not far from being able to stand alone . Most babies take their first independent steps around their first birthday, but this is one milestone with a huge range. Some babies walk as early as 7 or 8 months, while others, who are also perfectly normal, don't start strutting their stuff until 18 months.

Your baby's getting closer and closer to full-fledged walking. She can probably crawl up stairs and cruise, moving around upright while holding onto furniture. A baby this age may even take a couple of steps. (A few actually do walk now — and some don't walk until well into their second year. There's a wide range of ages at which children meet this milestone.)

Your baby's also learning how to bend her knees and how to sit after standing, which is harder to master than you might think! She might get "stuck" standing up in her crib. If this happens, gently show her how she can get back down.

There are ways to help your baby with her walking efforts. Stand or kneel in front of her, and help her walk toward you by holding both of her hands. Eventually just hold your hands out to her in encouragement. Some babies enjoy pushing a toddle truck, which provides both support and mobility. Look for one with a wide, stable base.

Babyproofing your home is a necessity now. One good place to start is to put latches on the doors of off-limits cabinets — babies inevitably make a beeline for such things. (You could also move all cleaning supplies or potential poison hazards to higher cabinets.) Also, your baby's crib mattress should be at the lowest mattress setting.

Once your baby starts standing and cruising, you may wonder if shoes are necessary. Until your baby is walking around outdoors regularly, most pediatricians and developmental experts don't think so. It's normal for your baby to walk a little bowlegged or with her feet turned out, and her feet may look flat. Going barefoot can help strengthen your baby's arches and leg muscles, and feeling the textures of what she's walking on can help her balance.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 37 Weeks Old

One day you'll walk into your baby's room and find that little person standing up, grinning at you. Many 8-month-olds are strong enough to pull themselves onto their feet and stay there by holding on to you or a piece of furniture. A somewhat comical aspect of this wonderful development is that some babies know how to get up -- but not back down again. They will stand and stand as long as they can hold on, and finally either tumble down or cry to be "rescued."

Your baby's vision — previously about 20/40 at best — is now almost adult-like in its clarity and depth perception. Though your baby's short-range sight is still best, his long-range vision is good enough to recognize people and objects across a room. He may see a toy on the other side of the room and try to crawl toward it. His eyes are also probably close to their final color, although you may see subtle changes later.

The time-out is a time-honored discipline technique that parents of older children sometimes use to correct behavior by withholding positive attention. A mommy or daddy time-out is a way for you to change your own behavior — by decompressing.

Once your baby is mobile, keeping up can be an exhausting proposition. A self-enforced breather when you're feeling frustrated can help you stay on an even keel.

Put your baby in a play yard for short periods of time when you're feeling overwhelmed. This is also a good idea if persistent, unexplained crying in a healthy baby is getting to you — your baby will be safe while you collect yourself. If he's crying at night, compose yourself for a few minutes before going in to see what's the matter. Taking a few deep breaths or counting to ten before responding to a mishap are other ways you can maintain equilibrium on bad days. Also borrow a page from the newborn days: Once in a while, sleep when your baby sleeps. And of course, call on your partner to take over if you can — not just when the going gets tough, but at regular intervals.

- BabyCenter.com

Top teeth growing in fast!!

Baby This Week: 36 Weeks Old

... And they're off! The stages of crawling usually go something like this: from a sitting position to all fours, to rocking back and forth, to finally pushing off with the knees -- and then starting to move forward (or back). But there are plenty of variations on this progression. Many babies never crawl. Others develop a crawling style that looks more like soldiers bellying through the underbrush or monkeys poised on fingertips and tiptoes.

Your baby's now exploring objects by shaking them, banging them, dropping them, and throwing them before falling back on the tried-and-true method of gumming them. The idea that you do something to an object is beginning to emerge (using a comb to tidy her hair), so an activity center with lots of things your baby can bang, poke, twist, squeeze, shake, drop, and open will fascinate her.

Your baby will also be fascinated with toys that have specific functions, such as phones. If she can't hold it up to her ear herself, do it for her and pretend to have a conversation. Over the next few months, she'll start to use objects for their intended purposes — brushing her hair, drinking from a cup, and babbling on her play phone.

Watch for her to start pointing or looking at the correct picture when you name an object — especially if it's something familiar (such as eyes, nose, or mouth) or beloved (like a dog or a rubber ducky).

Also, at this stage, your baby likes to see things fall down, get picked up (by you, of course), and then get thrown down again. She's not trying to drive you mad. She just finds the spectacle interesting and naturally wants to see it again and again.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 34 Weeks Old

As your baby's muscles are becoming stronger, she's apt to lunge forward onto all fours from a sitting position. She may go into a "precrawl" exercise, rocking back and forth on hands and knees with her trunk parallel to the floor. Most babies begin to crawl between 7 and 10 months. A few never crawl at all and bide their time until they're ready to walk!

Your baby's emotions are becoming more obvious. Over the next few months, she may learn to assess and imitate moods and might show the first stirrings of empathy. For instance, if she hears someone crying, she may start crying too. And even though your baby's just beginning to learn about her emotions, she's picking things up from you. Over the many months (and years) to come, your child will likely copy the way she sees you treat people.

By now your baby's emotions are becoming more obvious. She may throw a kiss to familiar people, and even repeat it if you clap in appreciation.

If your baby sleeps in a separate room and gets anxious about nighttime separations, spend some extra cuddle time reading, snuggling, and playing mellow music with her before you put her to bed. Having a regular bedtime routine she can count on will give her the security she needs to make falling asleep easier.

Your baby will appreciate the consistency and predictability of a set pattern every night, and even better, she'll be more relaxed and more likely to go to bed easily. Just make sure you choose something that helps calm your baby instead of riling her up.

While you can certainly start your ritual in the bathroom or the living room, it should end in your baby's bedroom or wherever she sleeps. It's important to teach your baby that her sleeping area is a nice place to be, not just where she's "banished" at bedtime.

Even when you're away from home, stick to your routine as much as possible. It can make it easier for your baby to settle down in an unfamiliar environment.

-BabyCenter.com

This child is going to be running before you know it! ACK!

Baby This Week: 33 Weeks Old

Your baby is beginning to understand a lot about how things in his world work. One example is "object permanence" — understanding that an object continues to exist even after it disappears from sight. That's why peekaboo is a favorite game. Similarly, if your baby drops a toy out of her crib or highchair, she may look for it, whereas in the past she cried for the object because it had gone missing.

If your baby is like most at this age, she's showing signs of separation anxiety. Far from being a cause for concern, stranger anxiety is a sign of your baby's growing understanding of the world around her.

Earlier, when you left the room, your baby was hardly phased. Now she knows that you're gone — and she's able to picture you and miss you — and may begin to cry as soon as you're out of her sight.

Your baby's reluctance to be separated from you may delight you or just plain frustrate you at times. If you head out to do an errand and your baby's staying home, shower her with loads of hugs and kisses before you head out the door and tell her you'll be back shortly. She won't understand that you'll be returning in an hour, but the love and affection might comfort her and tide her over until she sees you again.

Also, try to have a ritual of leaving that she can rely on each time you go and leave her with someone she's familiar with. That way, if she can't have Mom or Dad, at least she'll feel happy with her temporary caretaker.

Note: Even if your baby has been sleeping soundly through the night, she may now wake up periodically if she's experiencing separation anxiety — the two seem to be connected.

Teething can start as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months, but most babies sprout their first white caps (typically the two middle teeth on the bottom) between 4 and 7 months of age. Don't be alarmed if your baby has gaps between her pearly whites. Teeth often come up through the gums at odd angles, and spaces commonly disappear by age 3, after all 20 baby teeth have broken through.

Once your baby starts teething, you can expect more drooling and experimenting with sounds as she adjusts to having these strange new things in his mouth.

To ease your baby's discomfort, give her something to chew on, such as a firm rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth. She may also get some relief from eating cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt (if she's eating solids) as the cold may temporarily numb the pain. Giving a baby a hard, unsweetened teething cracker to gnaw on is another time-honored trick. You can also try rubbing your finger over his sore gums or applying an oral pain relief gel.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 32 Weeks Old

Your baby is learning to recognize emotions and moods, and finding new ways to demonstrate those feelings. One wonderful example: You might start getting kisses. They may be drooly and gummy at first, but they'll be just as sweet! When your baby's bored, you may hear a fretful squawk or an attention-getting squeal.

By now, you may have already told your baby that the telephone isn't a toy, or that rattles aren't for throwing, or that her sister's hair isn't for pulling. At this age, your baby may begin testing your authority by refusing to follow your simple directions. She's not really being disobedient or willful — just curious.

Keep in mind that she simply can't remember things you tell her for more than a couple of seconds at a time. The best tactic is to use a simple "no" and then distract her.

Your baby's beginning to understand how objects relate to one another in three-dimensional space. She may be able to sort toys, grouping smaller items by size. Babies instinctively combine objects by stacking them and, as they get older, trying to fit them inside one another.

If your baby admires her reflection in a mirror and you suddenly appear behind her image, she's likely to turn and look for you instead of believing that you're in the mirror itself.

A simple game of peek-a-boo might be absolutely fascinating to your baby. That's because she's starting to understand object permanence (that an object she can't see can still exist) and loves games in which people or things appear and disappear.

Your baby can now straighten her back and twist her trunk as she sits. This ability enables her to sit for longer periods of play.

- BabyCenter.com

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

Baby This Week: 29 Weeks Old

Your baby can now support some of her weight on her legs, and she loves to bounce — something that can strengthen her muscles for walking later on. Hold her under her arms and help her stand up on the floor or on your lap.

You may need to help her start moving by lifting her off the ground (or your lap) but once she starts, just watch her go! Be ready for lots of giggles.

Your baby's fine motor skills are coming along. By now she can probably scoop things up with one hand and transfer an object from one hand to the other fairly easily. Fine motor skills involve small, precise thumb, finger, hand, and wrist movements and are used for actions like picking up things between the thumb and finger.

Gross motor skills are required for activities like crawling, which use large muscles such as those in the arm, leg, or feet or the entire body. To encourage your baby's development of these skills, place a toy just out of your baby's reach and watch her try to get it. If she cries because she can't quite reach it, give her encouragement — but not the toy. She's just venting frustration and will become more physically confident more quickly if you don't make everything easy for her.

After a few tries, she'll be able to lean forward to grab the toy and then straighten herself again. Before long, she'll be rocking back and forth on her hands and knees or maybe creeping (pushing herself around on her belly) or even repeatedly rolling over to move about the room. Help her move around easily by dressing her in loose, comfortable clothes.

Your baby's also showing an interest in small parts and the details of the objects around her. Her ways of exploring are growing beyond banging and gumming, although those are still part of every toy interaction. As she explores, be sure to keep buttons, coins, safety pins, balloons, rocks, and other choking hazards out of reach.

At this age, babies tend to gravitate toward stuffed animals, big and small. One might even become your baby's favorite security object. If so, it'll soon be covered in drool and accompanying you everywhere. Don't worry: A "transitional object" like this can be a sign of emerging independence as your little one learns to separate herself from you and depend on herself — slowly but surely.

When adding new members to your plush family, look for soft, well-stitched toys. Other good playthings include balls, nesting cylinders, pop-up toys, and large dolls.

One way to tell if your baby has a favorite plaything or two is by trying to remove it from her. You may now find her protesting loudly when you take something away.

If your baby insists on sleeping with a favorite friend, make sure it's small — your baby could use a larger one as a stepping stool to climb out of her crib or it could impair her breathing if it's too close to her face.

- BabyCenter.com

Baby This Week: 28 Weeks Old

Your baby can now roll over from her tummy to her back and vice versa. This may even occur when she's sleeping. Although back sleeping is still the optimal position, and the one you should start her out in when you lay her down, don't worry too much if she flips over -- there's no need to reposition her as she sleeps. Your baby's risk of SIDS is decreasing at this age.

Your baby uses all of her senses to explore and learn about her world. Make sure she has lots of safe things around to touch, mouth, and manipulate. She'll love squishing a soft rubber ball, patting a piece of fake fur, gnawing a chilled teething ring, and hearing a bell jingle inside a stuffed animal.

An interesting thing to do: Gather different fabrics and place them next to each other on the floor. Watch your baby's expression as he moves over the varying textures.

Looking at books together will improve your baby's language skills and prime her for a lifelong love of reading. It doesn't matter what type of book you choose. Board books are colorful and sturdy, and books that have pop-up pictures or textured illustrations are also very popular.

Your baby won't have the dexterity to open a book or even flip pages until she's between about 9 and 12 months, and she might not yet have the patience to sit still while you read her a story, but don't give up. No matter what your child's age, reading provides a great opportunity for cuddling and socializing.

- BabyCenter.com