If your baby has reached seven months of age, then you know that a lot is going to change. Your baby appears to be growing up so quickly, so you might have a difficult time keeping track of the weeks as they go by. At the same time, you also want to make sure that your baby is on track as he or she continues to develop. When your baby reaches 7 months of age, what should you expect? There are several important points to keep in mind.
Normal [Average] Weight and Size of 7-Month-Old Baby
By the time your baby reaches seven months of age, he or she should be steadily progressing on their growth curve. Therefore, you need to visit the doctor regularly for health checks so you can make sure your baby stays on track. In general, your baby should be gaining between 1 and 1.25 lb. per month. Even though babies grow at different rates, your baby should weigh approximately two to 2.5 times his or her birth weight. This means that if your baby was eight pounds at birth, your baby is probably going to weigh between 16 and 20 lb. now.
In addition, the doctor will continue to measure the length of your baby, as he or she cannot stand up yet. You should expect your baby’s length to continue to track his or her growth curve as well. The doctor will review this with you at the regular checkup dates so be sure to stay on track with scheduling appointments with your pediatrician.
Development of Motor Skills
A lot of your baby’s senses and motor skills will continue to develop at this age. For example, your baby should be rolling back and forth. Your child should start on his or her tummy, roll to his or her back, and will go back to his or her tummy. Your child may also be able to pull himself or herself from a standing position to a standing position as long as he or she is holding onto something.
Because of these changes, it is important for you to keep an eye on your child. Your baby is going to be much more active and will probably start to crawl. Therefore, you need to keep any unsafe objects out of reach. Remember that babies are particularly curious. You do not want your child interacting with anything that could pose a threat.
How Much Baby Food for 7-Month-Old?
At this stage, your baby should be eating regular food in addition to breast milk. You need to work with your pediatrician as you continue to introduce new foods to your baby’s diet. For example, your baby should be getting between 24 and 30 oz of formula or breast milk every day. In addition, your baby should also be consuming for to 9 tablespoons of vegetables, fruit, and cereal every day. Furthermore, your baby should also be getting a few tablespoons of foods that are high in protein.
Remember that you need to keep your eyes open for the possible development of any food allergies. This is why it is important for you to work with your pediatrician and only introduced food one at a time. That way, you can see if your baby has any bad reactions to them.
Finally, there are still a few examples of foods and drinks you should stay away from. You should not give your baby any honey at this age, as it could increase your child’s risk for botulism. In addition, your child should not be drinking any fruit juice or cow’s milk at this stage as well. This does not have the nutrients your child needs, and it could end up displacing other food that your child requires.
Bowel Movements at 7 Months
You should expect your child to have approximately one bowel movement every day. Your child is also going to have a lot of wet diapers. Even though your child does not have to have a bowel movement every day, you do need to keep an eye on the appearance of your child’s bowel movements. If you notice something change, you should reach out to your pediatrician for help.
7-Month-Old Baby Cough
From time to time, you may hear your baby cough. Baby’s cough, so this is normal; however, you do need to keep your eyes open for other symptoms. For example, if you noticed your baby is coughing a lot when he or she eats or drinks, there could be an acid reflux issue. You should also keep your eyes open for any signs of fevers. Coughing plus a fever could mean an infection. This is a reason to call the doctor.
7-Month-Old Baby Sleep Schedule
By seven months of age, your child should be sleeping through the night. Even though your child may wake up in the middle of the night occasionally, you should do everything you can to allow your child to soothe himself or herself and put himself or herself back to sleep. Your child should be sleeping approximately 11 hours straight in the evening.
During the day, your baby will still continue to nap. A lot of babies at this age take two naps during the day. These naps should total somewhere between three and four hours. Make sure you track the amount of time your baby is sleeping during the day. If your baby sleeps too much during the day, he or she may have a difficult time falling asleep at night.
Infant Emotions
Finally, your baby is also going to want to interact with you much more often. He or she is going to make eye contact with you, make noises that you, and even clap his or her hands. Even though you may not be able to understand exactly what your child is doing, make sure you respond to these interactions. This is important for bonding with your child.
If your baby has siblings at home, try to encourage the siblings to interact with the baby as well. Talking to the baby is important for teaching him or her to develop language skills. A bit of extra interaction at this age can go a long way.
Have Questions, or Need an Appointment for Your Baby? Contact North Texas Medical Center Today!
If you have questions or need an appointment for your baby, we are here to help you. We are North Texas Medical Center, and we provide you with access to the best pediatricians in the area. Count on us to help you make sure that your child is developing appropriately. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact us today! It would be our honor to take care of you and your baby.
