The seventh month

What we will be looking at:

• What your baby can do
• Feeding from the seventh month
• Stranger anxiety
• Walking rings
• Safety in the home
• What you can do to help your baby

What your baby can do:

• Keeps head level with body when pulled to sitting position
• Says vowel-consonant combinations
• Braces shoulders when pulled to sit
• Extends arms when lying on tummy
• Rolls over

Feeding from the seventh month
You can now be a bit more adventurous. Many of the foods you cook for the rest of the family can now be served to your baby. Start introducing mince or pureed meat. Red meat and liver are good sources of iron. Well cooked eggs, fish or alternatives such as tofu and pulses can also be used.

If your baby has teeth, encourage chewing by offering finger foods such as rice cakes. Supervise your child to make sure that he doesn’t choke.

Foods to avoid during the first year

• Nuts and seeds
• Salt
• Sugar
• Citrus fruits
• Cow’s milk as a drink
• Honey

Foods that can be introduced from the seventh month:

• Egg yolk
• Fish and shellfish
• Wheat-based foods
• Plain Bulgarian yoghurt with AB cultures

Stranger anxiety
Your sociable baby may suddenly develop a fear of other people and become more clingy. She may cry when you leave the room or when you leave her with someone else.

Not only strangers are scary at this point – even her father or another familiar person may frighten her.

This is a normal reaction between six and eight months. She will become more confident with others at her own pace.

Should I use a walking ring?
Walking rings should never be used. It can cause “walking confusion” because different body movements are required for proper walking. A walking ring can also delay your baby’s ability to balance and to learn to fall – both are necessary for walking.

It can force your child to bear more weight on his legs than he should at this stage and it deprives him from exploring his environment with his hands.

Most importantly, walking rings are extremely dangerous. If you insist on using a walking ring, take the following safety measures into account:

• Choose a wide wheel base for stability
• The seat must be strong and non-detachable
• A walking ring that folds must have a locking system to prevent it from accidentally folding or collapsing
• The wheels should not lock sideways
• Child’s weight must not exceed the manufacturers’ recommended maximum
• Never carry the walking ring with your child in it
• A child who cannot sit up without assistance must not use a walking ring
• Use on a flat surface free from electrical cords, etc

Safety first
This is a good time to make sure that your home is a safe place for your baby, as your child is becoming more mobile and will soon love to experiment by putting objects into his/her mouth.

Go down on all fours to check for anything that might be hazardous. Pack away any precious objects. A baby cannot learn not to experiment and play with objects. Don’t worry, you’ll have your beautiful home back at a later stage!

Click here for tips on how to safeguard your home. What you can do to help your baby

• Repeat the sounds your baby makes.
• Show your baby his reflection in a mirror.
• Use her name often.
• Play peek-a-boo.
• Encourage standing games.
• Give him toys with moving parts and different textures.
• Roll a ball and encourage her to catch it.
• When your baby is in a prone position or lying on her back, hold up toys just out of her reach. This will encourage her to lift her head.
• Encourage her to feed herself. Finger foods such as rice cakes are most suited.
• Copy your baby’s babbling.