10-Month-Old Baby - What to Expect

These days your baby may seem to be a bundle of contradictions. Mobility comes with exciting adventures, but also with sometimes unsettling freedom.

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Transcript:

Welcome to the 10th month. These days your baby may seem to be a bundle of confusing, if adorable, contradictions. One moment she's an intrepid explorer, boldly trying to go where no baby has gone before, and where she's definitely not allowed to go. The next minute she's clamoring to be cuddled, content only in your arms.
One minute she's all giddy giggles when you push her on the swing. The next minute she's suddenly terrified and screaming for release. She's smiling up a storm at the store until a friendly fellow shopper stops to smile at her and stranger danger has her melting down in front of the freezer case.
A tale of two babies? In many ways it is, and that's not surprising. Mobility comes with exciting adventures, but also with sometimes unsettling freedom. It's exhilarating to leave your side, but it's also a big step away from your comforting arms. So many discoveries to be made, but so many frustrating obstacles in your little one's way.
Growing comprehension opens doors to learning, but also to fears. As you try to understand the many sides of your maturing baby, give him plenty of opportunity to find himself. Give your little one space as you offer security. Encourage him to flex those fledgling muscles of independence without pushing him. Let him reach for new heights or your lap. Take one step forward and two steps back, sometimes literally, as your baby tries out new challenges.
Baby's latest accomplishments? Your little one may be clapping her hands, now able to cheer herself on as she practices new skills. She's soaring ahead physically, making now a perfect time to pull out play things that spur her forward. Play tunnels to crawl through. You can improvise with cardboard cartons. Large balls to roll. Stacks of pillows to climb on. Push toys that help push her over the edge to independent mobility. Ride-on toys that baby can pony up to.
Blow bubbles she can track, chase, and pop with her finger. A finger that's getting used more and more to point to everything that catches her attention and to things she's starting to recognize: The dog in the park. The dog in the book. The dog in the living room.
Your baby is recognizing words, too, and even phrases, especially if you combine them with gestures. Pass Mommy the cup, please, with your hand out. Baby's babbling up a blue streak, but the sounds she says are probably not recognizable to you. Even when she says one you're sure about, Mama or Dada, it's harder to be sure that she means it. But, really, who cares? She's talking.
Does your little one seem to anticipate routines? Kind of like he knows what's coming next? That's another sign that baby's brain is bulking up fast, building new connections at an incredible pace. Daddy puts me in the highchair. It's mealtime. Mommy pulls out the stroller. We're going out. I just had a bath. It's time for books.
The more baby changes and grows, the more important those consistent routines will become, helping him make sense of what to expect and what's expected of him. The truth is, your little one depends on routines even more than you do.
Is your little one missing milestones you're sure she should be hitting or seeming to forget skills she already mastered? Of course every baby develops at her own pace, and babies often put some skills aside as they tackle new challenges. But as always, check your gut and then check with the doctor. Early intervention will make the world of difference for babies who need a little extra help. Here's to an exciting 10th month.