Separation anxiety usually starts right now, so don`t be surprised if your baby is extra clingy and cries when you break up. It`s all part of normal emotional development. Speaking of development, your baby may have sprouted a new tooth - it`s usually the bottom middle two teeth that pop first.

Baby Development

You may find that your baby has better cognitive abilities and memory. Now it can predict what will happen next. If you open the lid of a cookie jar, it knows it`s time to snack. It may even wait for its father to come home from work in the evening.

Your baby is a keen observer of what`s going on around it. Fine motor skills are also better, you`ll see it drop, shake, throw and hit its toys and other objects. It may have mastered the art of foraging using its fingers and may also feed itself. At this age, you still won`t know if it is left-handed or right-handed because most babies use both hands during the first year after birth.

Previously, when you left the room, your baby was not very impressed. Now it knows you`re gone - it can dream of you and miss you - and it may start crying as soon as you`re out of its sight. Separation anxiety is a normal stage of emotional development that reflects your baby`s growing understanding of the world around it rather than being a cause for worry.

As you move from one room in the house to another, make sure you comfort your baby with your voice. Talk out loud about what you did and what will happen next. If you`re going out for work and your baby is staying at home, give it a hug and kiss before walking out the door and tell it you`ll be back shortly. Never leave unannounced. It doesn`t realize that you will be back in an hour, but your love and compassion puts it at ease. Also, try to make a ritual that it can rely on every time you go out.

Caution: Even if your baby sleeps soundly through the night, it may wake up periodically if it is now experiencing separation anxiety - the two are linked.

Milestones

1. Your baby understands size at this age and so you may notice that it is stacking or placing its toys according to their size.

1. Your baby will have stronger muscles by this time. It can crawl and even turn its back while sitting.

1. Understands emotions better. It can imitate the emotions of the people around it.

1. Your baby can imitate various sounds it hears. It can even copy some of your actions! This is a good time to teach it little gestures like goodbyes and handshakes.

Nutrition

By this time, it may have started eating a wide variety of solid foods. You should introduce it to all the healthy and month-safe foods your family usually eats. Babies accustomed to less variety are more likely to choose food in the future.

The main nutritional element is still breast milk or formula. Supplementary food is only a supplement until the age of 1 year. Your baby`s immune system is developing, so offering it a wide range of foods will reduce the risk of food sensitivities while ensuring it gets all kinds of vitamins and not being a picky eater. If you notice any allergic reaction to any food item, avoid giving it to your baby and seek immediate medical attention. Some babies may also develop lactose intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance Tips

Lactose intolerance is the inability of the body to synthesize the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose sugar in milk, in sufficient quantities. You may suspect lactose intolerance if your baby has frothy green diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, and gas within 30 minutes to 2 hours after breastfeeding or consuming dairy products. To be sure, you should remove all milk and dairy products from its diet for at least 2 weeks and observe for symptoms. It can also lead to symptoms such as inability to gain weight in babies, rash and moodiness.

Although milk allergy and lactose intolerance show similar symptoms, they are completely different diseases. Symptoms such as gas, diarrhea and vomiting can be seen in both disorders. A milk allergy is a problem with the immune system, while lactose intolerance concerns digestion.

Unless there is a serious nutritional problem, lactose intolerance is considered a temporary condition in infants. This could be a 4-month process, or it could be 6 months. It totally depends on your baby`s body.

The best treatment is to keep your baby away from dairy products. You can also opt for lactose-free milk formulas. As your baby gets older, it may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk, but if it cannot, you may need to use lactase tablets. With the diet program prepared with the support of a dietitian, the little one can easily continue its daily life. There are 2 ways to treat lactose intolerance, these are: To eliminate lactose completely and to externally supplement the lactase enzyme that will break down lactose.

How should babies with lactose allergy be fed?:

1. If the baby is fed only with breast milk and does not take supplementary food yet, instead of cutting the milk, it should take the lactase enzyme, which breaks down lactose, as a supplement. Because it is very important that your baby is fed with breast milk for the first 6 months. Breastfeeding infants are preferred to supplement the lactase enzyme.

1. If your baby is formula-fed, you can choose lactose-free formulas or special foods called fermented.

1. If you have an older baby who has switched to supplementary foods, you should reduce the amount of consumption since lactose is mostly found in milk. You can give the milk little by little via dividing it into different time periods during the day. In addition to milk, you can choose yogurt as a savior food. Probiotic supplements can also be taken for lactose intolerance. However, if your baby is very sensitive to lactose, avoid all milk and dairy products.

Sleep

During these weeks, it may want to sleep with you as it may not like to sleep alone in its bed. This change in behavior may also be due to separation anxiety. Some doctors may recommend that you and your baby sleep in the same bed as it will help both mother and baby have a restful sleep.

It has also been noticed that some babies reduce their daytime feedings and increase their nighttime feedings during these weeks; this is their way of managing their nutritional needs without interrupting their daily activities. Since they do not get enough calories during the day, they want to wake up more often at night and eat during this period when they are already very active. For this reason, it is your duty to create a diet so that your baby will get enough calories during the day.

Care Tips

1. Sing rhymes and songs to your baby. This helps it develop better listening skills and sharpens its memory as well.

1. Your baby at this age is like a copycat! It loves to copy what it sees others doing.

1. Your baby may be experiencing separation anxiety during this time. You can play games like hide and seek to teach it that things lost will come back.

1. You can buy toys of various colors, patterns and shapes to help your baby`s motor and thinking skills.

1. You can help your baby master the newly developed muscle movements. But avoid helping too much as it has to learn something on its own. Help it stand, sit, or hold an object by directing its hands and legs.

1. If your baby is teething, give it something to chew on, such as a firm rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth. Eating cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt may also provide some relief, as the cold can temporarily numb the pain. Giving your baby a hard, sugar-free, unsalted homemade cracker to chew on can also be a good solution (make sure you have a cracker/crunch etc. that will melt in his mouth).

1. To prevent choking, feed your baby age-appropriate foods (crushed or strained foods and safe finger foods), supervise it while it`s breastfeeding (don`t rush or feed it in the car), and always make sure it sits upright while eating. Do not let it play with toys having small parts. Learn the necessary first aids for emergencies.

Tests and Vaccines

If you have had previous vaccinations and controls, there is no special routine for this week.

Plays and Activities

For a better cognitive development:

1. You can give your baby toys that make various sounds such as bells, xylophones, and rattles.

1. You can help your baby feel different textures.

1. You can make a toy box with objects of different sizes, shapes, colors and textures.

To develop better motor skills:

1. You can play catch with your baby.

1. Help it hold an object in both hands.

1. Let it throw, drop or crash various objects! Let it test gravity a thousand times in the highchair!

1. Let your baby make a mess and work its little fingers.

When to Apply to The Doctor?

All the milestones mentioned above usually reach a baby at 30 weeks. However, some babies may reach these before or after 30 weeks. This is very normal because every baby is different. With timely medical attention and care, most developmental problems can be resolved. If your baby is showing any of the following symptoms, it is recommended that you consult your doctor as soon as possible:

1. Your baby cannot sit even with support.

1. Cannot push or drag itself when it lies on its tummy.

1. Has difficulty in putting things close to its mouth.

1. Does not try to hold objects around it.

1. Cannot roll in any direction.

1. Does not show any emotion or expression towards familiar people.

1. Has extremely stiff and tight muscles and remains firm.

1. Does not produce normal vowels.

1. Is not crying or laughing.

1. Seems tired, apathetic, fussy or sluggish.