Your 47-week-old baby is getting to know more and more words and is asking `where`s your nose?` or `where are your eyes?` It loves being asked questions like: This is also a very accident-prone age as your baby will maximize its mobility. Mostly you will be busy collecting things and putting them out of reach of your excited toddler. It will still find a way to reach them by climbing and pulling, so keep your eyes peeled!
Baby Development
When it tries to walk independently, it will often stumble and fall. At week 47, your baby will also tend to go for `adult` gadgets rather than its own toys, such as your cell phone, remote or cutlery. This is because it sees you using these items and wants to impersonate you. Its weight may drop a little due to its inclination to play and increased activity at mealtimes. If it`s still making the transition to sleep with a pacifier, this is an ideal time to swap with a sleeping companion like a doll or teddy bear.
Now is the time to introduce the concept of helping your baby. Once it starts walking it will be excited to help lift toys and collect spilled snacks. Make any cleaning time fun by turning it into a game.
Milestones
- Your baby will be able to recognize its toys and prefer certain toys.
- Will be able to pick up all kinds of objects with its hands.
- Will be able to stand or walk independently.
- Will be able to say "mom" and "daddy".
- Will be able to say a few more words.
- Will be able to fill and empty boxes or containers.
- Will be able to cooperate when you raise its arms and dress it.
- Will have unique words for certain things.
Nutrition
Solid foods will become more important in your baby`s diet. If you plan to breastfeed in the second year, you do not have to change the way your baby is fed. Breastfeeding will continue to benefit your baby as a source of food, fluids, comfort and immune support. It is especially important for fighting infections. Breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, thanks to the nutrients in breast milk.
Sleep
At this stage, you can expect less sleep disturbances and a more predictable sleep pattern in your baby. Now the transition to sleep will also be faster. Once it starts walking, the body`s nutritional demands will increase and it may suffer from low hemoglobin levels, which can cause more muscle fatigue and soreness at night after an active day. This can negatively affect the transition to sleep and the duration of sleep. Make sure you have your baby`s hemoglobin and iron levels checked.
Care Tips
- Teach your baby to help. Start teaching it what “please” and “thank you” mean and when to use them.
- Establish a connection between objects and names by talking to your baby. This is the time to develop your baby`s vocabulary.
- When you go shopping, count the steps or show your baby fruits and vegetables.
- Ask for its opinion once in a while as “what dress would you like to wear?” or “Which toy would you like to play with?”. It will show its preference over time.
- Teach your baby wet, dry, hot, cold, soft, hard, big, small, long, short.
Tests and Vaccines
If you have had previous vaccinations and controls, there is no special routine for this week.
Plays and Activities
- You can give your baby unbreakable plates and utensils in different sizes.
- Fill old jars with pasta or dried beans, close them tightly and give them to your baby. It can shake them while playing and test the sound.
- Give it a small tray filled with sand and any small toys it can grab. This will help dexterity skills. Make sure it plays under your supervision.
- Dance with your baby and sing along to the music. Babies in this age love to shake and move their bodies.
When to Apply to The Doctor?
For the development of your 47-week-old baby, you can consult a doctor for the following reasons:
- Overweight babies have heavy heads and are therefore more prone to overturning and falling when they try to walk. This can cause mouth injuries. If your baby hits its mouth and it bleeds, calm it down and check its mouth. If the injury is minor and the bleeding stops quickly, nothing more than a cold compress is needed. See a doctor if the bleeding does not stop or if a tooth is broken.
- See a doctor immediately if it has swelling of the face, legs, or hands, fever, vomiting, or rash.
- If your baby falls and you notice a bruise on its head or another part of its body and is still in pain after a few days, consult your doctor.
- Your baby may experience constipation. In this case, add more fiber-rich foods such as apples, vegetables, oatmeal or dried apricots to your baby`s diet. You can also give prune juice in a drip-proof glass once a day.