Baby Milestones 7th, 8th and 9th Months

Six months into your parenthood and your baby slowly and steadily grows from an infant to a toddler. He/she keeps getting more mobile, inquisitive and sprightly whereas you keep getting more and more awestruck with your baby’s development pace, don’t you?

This is the time when your little one is fully engaged with the world, thereby learning something new every day and surprising you every now and then. With the tiny steps of growth they undertake in each passing minute, you know there are precious moments you’ve spent with the apple of your eye, you’ll never get back again.

The following three months will see the coming of more firsts starting from advancing motor skills to uncanny attachments with funny soft toys.

Look out for these milestones your baby will be achieving on his 7th, 8th and 9th months of

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7th Month:

After weeks of rolling sideways and flipping into their tummies, the tiny tot finally starts sitting without support and balancing his/her weight with those tiny legs well enough to bounce when you hold him/her, in the seventh month.

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Your junior is now more sensitive to the tone of your voice thereby actually responding when you call his/her name and sensing your warning when you say “no”. It is also quite important to know that your baby thrives on the interactions he/she has with you at this stage, so shower them with instant games, cuddles and replies to encourage their communication skills. It’s a critical time for their language development.

Do childproof your home and keep the space safe for him/her to explore.

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8th Month:

By the time your bundle of joy is 8 months old, he/she is not only an eager explorer but also more cautious and curious about things around them. He/she would amuse himself/herself by putting things in containers and taking them out again. By trying to comb his own hair, drinking from a cup and even pretending to talk on the phone for that matter.

Watch out for these!

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You might notice your little baby crying on seeing other babies cry, which is nothing but ‘reflexive crying’. This is him/her developing the feelings of empathy, pity and compassion.

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Your 8-month-old baby’s mealtime should now start including baby cereal, fruits and vegetables as well as mashed and pureed meat. His/her diet should slowly start switching to solids from liquids at this stage even though he/she might still require 16-20 ounces of breast milk till his first birthday.

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9th Month:

Three-quarters of the way through your munchkin’s first year and your baby has come a long way from the time you first brought him/her home from the hospital. This is the time when your cute little baby will babble on to glory. Little do we know that this is when they’re actually trying to talk to us- we just fail to understand them yet. Your little one also develops social skills and will turn into quite a social animal, responding to gestures like blowing kisses or waving.

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He/she will also become quite the mimic, mimicking away your expressions and actions. Separation anxiety will also be at its peak at this time and you can help them by warning people to approach slowly or let your baby make the first move.

Babies this age might soon be able to cruise along the edge of the couch or the coffee table to your surprise. They can also pull themselves to a standing position perfectly enough to amaze you.

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This is also a tough phase to travel with your fast-growing baby since travelling might disturb her routines and your child expects predictability. Do be prepared for a grumpy, clingy version of your little one during this time and be prepared with distractions to cope with it.

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Your baby might either reach milestones ahead of schedule or might even lag behind. What is important to remember here is that it’s pretty much normal and there shouldn’t be any reason to worry. However, consulting your baby’s doctor regarding this wouldn’t be a bad idea after all.

At the end of the day, every baby is different in their own way and develop at their own pace. Make sure you don’t miss out on these milestones and cherish each and every moment as they pass by.

 

 

Baby Milestones – 4th, 5th and 6th months

No syllable can be gathered up to express the feeling of new parenthood. The physical and emotional gut-wrenching journey, figuring out the reason behind the endless crying, the sudden feeling of alertness and protection when someone holds your munchkin and the sleepless nights. You have lived every moment mentioned here, right? Well, once you’ve survived the first three months with your tiny ball of joy, you know the next milestone awaits you!

The next few months are the time when you know your baby is stepping onto those tiny but crucial development stages, which you absolutely don’t want to miss. From almost growing teeth to looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa when trying to sit up, there are quite a few firsts you’ll witness during this period.

Time to be awestruck by your baby’s 4th, 5th and 6th month milestones!

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4th month:

Right when you think you know enough about your child, is when you’ll realize you were wrong. Your little one will keep surprising you at every step of your life, whether 4 months or 20 years old and that is when you know he or she is growing up.

The fourth month is when he or she starts teething. You’ll know their first tooth is on its way when they excitedly start rubbing their gum with their pocket-sized fists. Watch closely for this sign.

This is also the time when you’ll watch your tiny tot rolling over from one side to another in glory!

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One of the most incredible accomplishments at this phase is hearing your toddler babble some vowels and ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ when you’re least expecting him or her to. They finally become efficient communicators with their cute laughs and squeaks.

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5th month:

Your baby will double up in size as compared to the time of birth, when he or she is five months old looking cute as a button. However, you need to make sure that everything around you remain cleaner than ever since, as there’s a possibility of all of it ending up in the naughty one’s mouth every now and then.Five months is also the time when the apple of your eye begins to make real and long eye-contact with you and everyone around. Surreal, isn’t it? His ability to point out bright coloured objects is also considerably higher at this point. Do notice.

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The best feeling is to watch your baby taking a solid, undisturbed nap looking as peaceful as a dove, after months of his birth. Setting up a proper bed-time routine will further help ensure this.

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6th month:

6 months old and the junior is already halfway through his first year! Amazing, isn’t it? This is the ideal time for your baby to start weaning onto solids and indulge in foods apart from the mother’s milk since the ability to start chewing also begins at this stage. It indeed turns out to be one of the most memorable and unforgettable times in both your and your child’s life.

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This is also the quintessential time to play with your babies and make learning fun for them from the very beginning. They will be up and active throughout the day after the perfect night’s sleep and that is when playing and exploring should happen. It’ll strengthen their free, ingenious brains and keep them busy. Watching your tiny ones pick up things fast will brighten up your day!

Last but not the least, the stage after sitting and before walking marks the glory of your six-month old wonder! From initially watching him commando crawl all over the house to balancing on his or her knees and hands and eventually standing up, it’ll all happen now! They might even surprise you by entering your room in the middle of the night.

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Nonetheless, every child is different in their own way and hence develop at their own pace. However, if you’re worried about your child’s development do consult a health professional.

No matter how challenging and exhausting parenthood is, at the end of the day, you know it is way too beautiful and fascinating! Relish and capture every milestone of your munchkin, because these precious moments won’t come back!

 

 

 

Baby Milestones – first 3 months of the baby!

Parenting is an art and one can never stop learning. The days and nights are upside down. There will suddenly be a lot of changes in your life and above all the tiny one’s alien yelling language that you don’t understand. Yes, that’s when you know that your little one has arrived!

After 9 months being a roller-coaster ride for you emotional and physically, your baby finally comes home!

Are you ready for this rollercoaster ride? Maybe, maybe not.

Here’s what you can expect for the next 3 months –

Your baby’s first smile

The first three months of your little munchkin’s life is all about eating, sleeping, pooping and a lot of crying (which you will take time to adjust to). During this period of time, your baby will be trying to understand your actions and may respond by making silly sounds which is one of the many firsts you will experience! If you are one of the lucky mothers, the bonus reaction of your little one is a smile to you which surely will make your day!

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Your baby will be curled up in one position

After making your womb his/her home for 9 months, your newborn is going to be curled up in one position. It’s fine if your baby has a curved spine in the beginning, its bones are all soft for now. This is perfectly normal. In no time you will see your little one stretching his/her body.

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Your baby’s first blinks

Your baby’s vision is not completely developed when he/she is born. All new parents need to get ready during the 3rd week of parenthood, as your baby will be able to recognize your face. At this time your baby can see at a distance of 8-12 inches. Blinking is caused due to dry eyes, babies often do not blink much due to their eyes remains shut for a longer time as they sleep more during their initial days. Also, the baby’s vision takes time to develop. Their first view of the world is indistinct and only in shades of gray. By the 6th week, the baby might surprise you with an adorable smile!

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Your baby opens and shuts his/her hands

For an initial few weeks your baby has no idea about the existence of hands attached to its body. The sooner your little munchkin realizes it, he is going to be fascinated when they accidently come into view. It is a cute sight to see your little one getting excited while playing with his/her own hand. You can try to examine your baby by giving him/her a rattle and see if he/she grips it.

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Your baby gobbles its finger as a milk bottle

After a good 10 weeks, your baby starts to find a comfort from sucking on its thumb or fingers. There is no problem in that, but you should make sure not to make it a habit for your little sweetheart.

Your baby will be sleeping for a longer period

Over a period of time, your little one will gain several kilograms and will be sleeping for a good 3 to 5 hours in the day as well. Although, he/she may still wake you up at midnight when he/she is hungry. This will usually occur in the third month. Most of the babies seem to lose the ability to roll onto their sides independently within the first month. Usually, babies start turning after the 3rd month.

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All said and done, the first three months of parenthood are very challenging, no matter how much help you have or how prepared you think you are. But again, it is the most beautiful and special time in your life.

 

Tips of instating healthy habits in your child

Nutrition is important for your child. It depends on what your child eats and drinks.  It is important as parents to encourage children to eat a nourishing, balanced diet right from early years of their life. Your child needs to consume the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins. Educating them on healthy eating early in life will help maintaining good health and immunity for the long run.

The food Pyramid

They key to healthy eating is to enjoy all variety in the right numbers. Here is a display of food divided into 5 categories to help explain what should be eaten when.  The five food groups are:

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@more4momz.com

Here is a bifurcation of the pyramid:

The bottom of the pyramid is the biggest part of the pyramid. It contains the foods you should eat in bulk:

  • Grain foods: always choose wholegrain and/or high fiber varieties of bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles.
  • Fruits and vegetables: They should make up a large part of your daily food intake. Ensure to encourage their consumption during every meal.

The middle of the pyramid contains foods you should eat some, but not too much:

  • Dairy: the foods in this group are excellent sources of calcium, which is important for strong, healthy bones.

The top of the pyramid is the smallest part of the pyramid. It contains foods you can eat once in a while:

  • Pulses: Helps to build proteins, maintain, and repair the tissues in our body.
  • Sugar Contains: Should be taken the least as they contain a large amount of fats.

Now that we have bifurcated the food into different groups, to encourage your children to eat this you should always have incentives:

The food chart

All children love to be encouraged, so when they follow your diet chart you can always appreciate them with a star and grade them. This way they will want to be good kids and will want to follow eating healthy!

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@ww.printablee.com

 

Tips for healthy eating:

  1. Make school lunch interesting for the children:

Most of the time children spend is in school. Packing the perfect lunch box for your child could be a challenge. It is easy to run out of ideas and more importantly to give them something new which is tasty and healthy. Here are a few healthy Lunch Box Recipes:

  • Oats Idlis
  • Upma
  • Bread Poha
  • Paneer and Salsa Tortillas
  • Multigrain Pizza
  • Moong Dal Chila

Click on the link to get the recipes here – http://food.ndtv.com/lists/10-best-kids-lunch-box-recipes-1434784

  1. Breakfast is the most important meal:

Breakfast is the best way to refuel your body. It keeps your kids healthy and active during the day. Skipping breakfast makes your child tired and restless. Breakfast also can help keep kids’ weight in check. Breakfast kick-starts the body’s metabolism too.  Here is a video which will help you understand the importance of it. – https://vimeo.com/122534561

  1. Involve your kids while cooking food:

If you involve your children into cooking or even let them help in preparing the meal with you then it will make them happier and also they will love to eat to eat the food they prepare. They will land up eat vegetables they refused to taste in the first place – https://vimeo.com/122534563

 

Mommies, we hope this helps you maintain a balanced but yet healthy diet for your children. Eat healthy, stay healthy!

5 ways to deal with your child’s tantrums and how to ensure their safety

You’re standing in line at the store, almost about to pay the bill and ready to check out. For the fifth time in a row, your child asks for a piece of candy or a food pack. You’ve repeatedly said no, when suddenly, the tantrum starts! All parents have dealt with a similar situation.

For any parent, temper tantrums are one of the most stressful and frustrating things they will have to deal with, especially once your child hits the terrible twos. While every parent tries to avoid tantrums, there will be times when little ones simply cross all limits. Most of the times when this happens there isn’t much you can do as parents!

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Here are five ways of handling these outbursts:

  1. Hold your ground

Keep repeating the same words or the instruction you want him to follow. Keep calm and have a poker face! Don’t lose control even if you have to repeat the same thing a number of times. For example- If your child wants to eat ice-cream every day, you repeat the same thing. “You can’t eat ice-cream everyday”. This way the child will understand that you mean what you say. Also, your child may or may not calm down right away, but he or she will remember that throwing a tantrum doesn’t lead to satisfactory results.

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  1. Don’t lose your temper

As an adult, if you lose control over your child and start yelling, the child will see this type of behavior and start believing that something like this is acceptable at your house and follow the pattern. It is not always easy to stay calm and explain to your child, but that’s the best way a child will understand. Breathe, take some time off and cool yourself down before you go and talk to him. Raising your hand on your child is a big no as they may become more rebellious or might be scared of you.

  1. Try to understand his needs

This point focuses on toddlers who haven’t learned to speak or can’t express what they want. Your child’s tantrums aren’t always because he wants something; it could be for other reasons. He could be hurt or he might have some pain or digestion problem. Some kids are teething or need a diaper change, that’s when they yell and cry. It’s very common for children to be cranky when they are sleepy or hungry. Sometimes you need to fulfill their demands and their tantrums may subside.

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  1. Give them a distraction

When you are out for a social gathering or a dinner, this is the best way to stop your child’s tantrums and also save yourself from some embarrassment. Keep a bag with toys, munchies or something that your child is fond off so they get distracted. If you catch it in time, it can even prevent a major breakdown.  Since children aren’t very good multi-taskers they are bound to get distracted with something more amusing. To know more ways to distract your baby – http://13.126.47.98/blog_/?p=761

  1. Give an explanation, rather than just saying no!

Most parents just say “no” or “It’s not for you” or “because I said so” instead of giving a valid explanation for their comment. This lands up frustrating the child more than anything because he is confused and clueless. You don’t have to give an explanation, but just brief them why is it that they can’t get what they asked for. They will be able to make more sense in such times.

Ensure safety of your children is also an important point when he or she is busy throwing tantrums. Most of the children land up hurting themselves intentionally or unintentionally.

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Here are few ways to ensure the safety of your child.

  1. Wait for the anger to cool down

The worst thing a parent can do is to instigate the child more when he is angry. Instead, wait for the child’s anger to cool down and then go and talk to him/ her. Sometimes when you instigate the child, they end up hurting themselves more because you don’t give them what they want.

2.Make him sit in a safe spot

Let the child be alone for a while, till his anger cools down. Leave them for some time in his bedroom or another safe place in the house where you feel comfortable leaving him or her alone for a little while is best. The spot should be free of distractions such as a computer, TV or handheld video game.

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3.Avoid Triggers

Most of the reasons for a child’s tantrums are predictable and parents at a point are aware of it, such as homework or bedtime. They are usually things that parents make them do against their will. In such cases give them a hint beforehand or just find an alternative on how to get them to do it. This will avoid the tantrum and also keep your child safe before things get out of hand.

 

 

Baby Bathing Tutorial and Tips

We are certain that your new – born is the reason behind your smiley face and you are all readied to take day and night care of your baby. In this hustle don’t forget to miss out on your baby’s bathing essentials.

Baby Bath 1

Here’s a rundown of required items, products, and techniques.

  • Bathing Supplies: First step in bathing your baby is to gather all the essential baby bathing supplies. So before you begin, make a concise list, which includes soft towel and clothes, mild shampoo and soap, moisturiser, powder and a clean diaper.
  • Water: If the baby is not 4 weeks old then you don’t need to give bath in a tub. You can simply give a sponge bath. For babies more than 4 weeks: fill the water in small wide bucket with about 3inch of mild warm water.
  • Baby Grip: Hold your baby gently with a proper grip. Never leave your baby in the water alone, it can panic him and there are chances that water might enter into his ear and eyes. You can gradually place the baby in the tub, supporting her/his head, neck and back.
  • Use mild soap and shampoo: Too much use of soap and water can dry your babies’ skin. Focus while applying the soap and shampoo since it can easily contact with your baby’s eye. This can create burning and itching sensation of his eyes. Start washing her/her head/ face area and then move to other parts of the body. Routine wash is suggested to wash private parts of your baby.
  • Post bath: Wrap your baby in a soft towel to pat him/her dry. Later, you can apply baby lotion and powder. Your baby is now decked up for the day.

End the bathing process by giving a warm hug.

Things to remember while bathing your baby:

Caution! Caution! Caution!

  • Never attempt to leave your baby alone in the water or under running water. The water can really get deep and the baby might drown.
  • Before you put your baby in the water do check the temperature of the water. Too hot water can give burns to your baby, luke warm water is always preferable.
  • Never try giving your baby a really cold water bath. Because babies tend to get cold & hypothermia quickly.

 


 

How to engage your little one with in-house activities during the monsoons!

After the scorching summers, the rains are a much-needed relief. Monsoons are fun! The refreshing smell in the air with the cool breeze, frogs croaking in the garden and butterflies are dancing in the lawn. While this is certainly something to cheer about, there is one problem! Babies and toddlers have to stay indoors. They can’t step out to play their usual evening games with their friends as parents are scared that they will catch infection during this time.

But let’s admit it. This season brings out the child inside anyone! Making paper boats and having competitions, warm cups of a chocolate milkshake or buying new colorful raincoats.

So make this season fun for your child as well. Here are different ways you can make your child’s most boring season, into something more joyful!

21] Art and craft:

Unleash your child’s creativity this monsoon. Let them explore their creative side. Get them innovative stationery like textured paper, colour pencils, crayons, etc. Teach them how to make items out of waste and old papers. It is also fun to try your hands on something imaginative. They will feel happy and encouraged. http://13.126.47.98/blog_/?p=401

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2] Movie Time:

It’s also fun to watch some animated movies with some homemade popcorn and other snacks. Then why not enjoy the same with your child. Stack up few DVDs and snuggle up with your young one on the couch while watching fun baby movies like Baby’s Day Out or Heyy Baby. It will keep them occupied for a good amount of time and they will enjoy it too.

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3] Cook together:

Some of our little one’s always enjoy pretending like they are the world’s best chefs. So, make their role play a real thing for them! It could be a family activity which you plan to do together and also at the same time teaching the young one something new. Teach them easy recipes like sandwich, salad or biscuit snackers which do not involve cooking with fire!

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4] Card or Board Games:

Rains are the best time to get the cards and the board games outside. Instead of the child playing games alone on the tablets or the computer, the whole family can join in and play together! You can teach them games you played as a kid with your friends and family.

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5] Story Time:

One of the best feelings in this pleasant climate is to sip hot coffee and read a book. So why not let your kids enjoy the same feeling? Indulge in some storytelling for your young one. You can get them animated and pictorial books to make it more interesting and fun for the child.

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6]  Water play at home:
Most parents don’t want to risk taking their child outside during the rains, but you can create the same environment for them inside the house, in a safer way. Set up an alternate water play at home. Collect some water in a tub or a bucket. They can make small paper boats and play inside the tub. This will keep them away from infection and make it enjoyable too!

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Don’t let this season stop kids from having fun! Make it educational yet fun for them and something they will remember for a long time!

Nurture Your New Born

You’ve experienced 9 months of pregnancy, made it through the excitement of labour and delivery and now you’re ready to embark upon a new life with your little sweetheart. You bring your little bundle of joy home and finally get some peaceful time with your baby and only one thought crosses your mind – “You are my new world from now on, I will do anything and everything to take care of you!”.

Taking care of your newborn is one of the most special and rewarding experiences of your life. You may initially feel anxious about what to do in order to give your child constant attention and care.

There is so much information to take in when you become a parent. Sometimes when we look at the bigger picture of family planning, we miss out on small and simple things that a newborn would need from a parent.

Here are some tips that will help first-time parents feel confident about caring for a new-born in no time.

  • Feeding your baby

You will have to feed your baby at least 8 to 12 times per day during the initial weeks. You may want to wake your baby if he/she has not been fed for more than 4 hours. In the beginning, mothers may want to try feeding 10-15 minutes on each breast and then adjust the time as needed. Breastfeeding should be ‘on demand’ (when your baby is hungry), which is generally every 1-3 hours. The right time to feed your baby milk and solid foods is when he/she is sitting upright and can hold his/her head up straight

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  • Baby skin care

The skin of your newborn is very sensitive and is prone to rashes. Don’t panic if you see red rashes on your baby’s body in the first few months.  Keep your baby’s skin hydrated by bathing in warm water for only three to five minutes.

Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply baby lotion or moisturizer immediately after bath while the skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.

  • Picture4Baby’s Learning Process

Babies in this age spend more time awake and become more curious about their parents and about objects that they see. They have a special skill called imagination!

Design the nursery full of colours with lots of space to give them an outlet to express their creativity. Give them a room that has alphabets, games, toys and plain canvas space so that they can channelize their imagination and discover themselves. A child’s imagination runs wild, and parents must encourage them to express it!

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  • Getting Dads Involved

Dads, grab the chance to bond with your little bunny. A newborn gets used to being soothed by the mother when they are sulking. If Dads take the responsibility to rock their babies to sleep and soothe their tears, they will start bonding with their babies in no time!

Besides pacifying your baby, you can also be the fun parent. Get involved with the baby by playing games and teaching them how to walk. Let your baby come closer to you with these fond gestures.

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  •  Baby Sleep

It takes a few months for your little one to adjust to his/her sleeping cycles. Give them some time to understand the difference between dawn and sunset.

When the baby is awake during the day, interact and play with him/her as much as you can. Keep the house and his room light and bright. At night keep the lights and noise level low, and don’t spend too much time talking to him/her.  An infant’s sleep pattern settles down between the 3-6 months’ mark.

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