# COVER

**Healthy Start, Grow Smart**

**Your Seven-Month-Old**

[TITLE PAGE]{.underline}

**Healthy Start, Grow Smart**

## Your Seven-Month-Old

Prepared by:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

2002

## Acknowledgments

This publication was an initiative of Laura Bush as the First Lady of
Texas and sponsored by the Texas Department of Health. President Bush
and Mrs. Bush have asked that this series of booklets be revised and
distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of
Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We would like to thank the Texas Department of Health for their
cooperation and assistance in bringing this publication to families
across the United States. In addition, we recognize the contributions
that Susan H. Landry, Ph.D., Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D. and many other
individuals made in the development of this magazine.

**Here's What's Inside**

Your Seven-Month-Old 1

Your Baby's New Independence 2

Your Family's Future 3

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy 4

Breastfeeding Advice 4

Feeding Your Baby 5

Moving Bath Time to the "Big Tub" 6

Take Time for Yourself 7

What's It Like To Be Seven Months Old? 8

Talking Together Helps Spouses Handle Stress 10

Fathers and Babies Need Time Together 12

Take Time for Your Baby 14

Fun on the Floor 15

Early Intervention and Your Baby's Developing Skills 16

Baby Games 17

Safety Corner 18

Including Your Baby's Brothers and Sisters 20

Plenty of Love for All 21

Information Resources for Families 22

## Your Seven-Month-Old

At seven months, your baby is doing all kinds of things he could not do
even a few weeks ago. He may sit up straight for a moment without
falling over. Usually, he sits leaning forward on both hands. He can
support his weight on his feet when standing. If you hold him in a
standing position, he may bounce up and down. He may be moving around
the floor on his belly. He may try to feed himself. He likes to clap,
pull, bang, poke and grab with his hands. He makes sounds on purpose.

Being able to do these things makes him happy. When he can do something
he wants to do, he may smile, laugh, clap or look for your smile of
praise. Smile at him or give him extra hugs when he tries new things.

Trying things over and over can be fun for him. But it can also upset
him when he can't do something. He may cry when things don't work out
the way he wants. As he does things, he wants you to be there to help
him and hug him.

Your baby needs you to show him how to do things. But he may get upset
if you try to do things that he thinks he knows how to do.

He may be afraid of strangers. If you leave the room, he may cry because
he is afraid. Be sure to give him lots of hugs and smiles. Clap when he
does something he wants to do. Give him extra love and care as he goes
through this exciting time. He will love you back!

**Your Baby's New Independence**

Your baby is now playing more with his toys. At seven months, he may try
to move around more by crawling on his belly to get a toy. Be sure to
inspect your house for possible dangers. Babies find everything. They
can see tiny things on the floor and under furniture that you may not
see when you are standing. When checking to make sure the floor is a
safe place, be sure to get down on the floor yourself, and search
carefully with your eyes and hands for any dangers.

Your baby's memory and attention span are increasing. He may try to
imitate noises or simple actions, such as clapping. He likes to play
peek-a-boo. He may move his head or body around to look for toys that he
suddenly cannot see.

Your baby will begin to drop toys on the floor to see you pick them up.
He is learning that his rattle makes noise when he hits it or waves it
around. He is learning that he can make a noise by banging a toy on the
floor or a table. He can move a toy from one hand to the other. He may
hold two toys for a very short time.

Your baby knows you. He knows that you are the same person who greets
him every morning. He may be shy around people he has not seen before.
He may not like it if someone rushes up to him and picks him up. He may
need a little time to get used to someone new before he gets picked up
by that person.

## Your Family's Future

Are you thinking about having another baby?

Would you like your children to be born close together? Or would you
like them to be born further apart?

Everyone has a different answer. Some parents wait. They have a second
baby after their first child is five or six.

Some parents have their children closer together. Other parents decide
to have only one or two children.

Talk to your spouse. Do you both have time and energy for another baby?
How much can you give? How will you feed him? How will you give him
clothes and medical care? What kind of house or apartment will you need?
What do you want for your children?

It makes sense to plan your family. Planning ahead lets you give the
best care to your children. Talk to your doctor, or talk to a nurse at a
public health clinic. Ask how you can space your pregnancies.

There are many safe ways to delay getting pregnant until you are ready.
Most are simple and cost little. Some work better than others. You can
choose the one that is best for you.

## Breastfeeding and Pregnancy

Maybe you've heard that you can't get pregnant when you're
breastfeeding. That's not always true. It depends on how much you
breastfeed. And it depends on when your monthly period returns.
Breastfeeding should not be used as the only method of birth control.
There are various methods of birth control that work well with
breastfeeding. Your doctor can help you choose the one that would work
best for you.

## Breastfeeding Advice

At seven months, your baby may begin to eat mashed or pureed vegetables
and fruit in addition to infant cereal. These foods are not as important
as breast milk. Do not worry if he is more interested in playing with
his foods than eating them. Nursing him will meet most of his food
needs.

Sometimes, your baby may bite down on your breast with his new teeth
while he is breastfeeding. He doesn't know that it hurts you. Usually,
this happens late in the feeding. If it does, slip your finger in
between his gums and gently say, "No." If he does it again, slip your
finger in between his gums and gently say, "No" again.

To learn more about breastfeeding, you may want to contact your local
health department, WIC clinic, hospital, La Leche League or doctor. You
can call La Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at
www.lalecheleague.org/.

## Feeding Your Baby

At meal times, your baby may show you that he wants to do things
himself. He may want to hold his cup by himself.

You can avoid spills by putting just a little liquid into his plastic
cup for him. Or you can give him an empty cup to hold while you feed him
from another cup.

Your baby may not always be interested in eating at meal times. He may
be more interested in playing with his spoon or his food. This means
that meals may take longer than when he was younger. Let him explore.
Learning new skills is important.

Never add corn syrup or honey to your baby's food or drink. These foods
may contain germs that can make your baby sick.

## Moving Bath Time to the "Big Tub"

Your baby may be getting too big for his baby bathtub. You can start
bathing him in the family bathtub when he is able to sit up by himself.

Get everything ready before you put your baby in the tub. First, get the
soap, washcloth, towel, shampoo and toys together. Then run the water.
Test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure the water is warm but not
hot. If the water feels hot on your wrist, it is too hot for your baby.

When everything is ready, place your baby in the water. Be sure to stay
close to your baby while he is in the water. Never leave your baby alone
when he is in the tub. Do not turn away from your baby when he is in the
tub. A good rule is always to keep one hand on your baby the whole time
he is in the tub. He could slip under the water and drown, or he could
slip and hit his head.

Baths can be fun and messy, so enjoy this time with your baby. Play
games with him. Let him enjoy the water. Because playing in the tub can
be messy, put rugs or towels on the floor by the tub so the floor does
not get wet. You or your baby could slip on a wet floor.

Let your baby splash all he wants. As you wash him, talk and sing to
him. Give him a cup or toy that he can fill up with water and pour out.
Put floating toys in the water for him to reach for. Reaching for a toy
will help him learn to use his hand to find it.

Give your baby his own washcloth. Encourage him to wash himself as you
bathe him. You can make your baby's bath a fun time for both of you.

## Take Time for Yourself

It takes a lot of your time to care for a baby. Sometimes you may not
have time to do all the things you want to do. You may also forget to
take care of yourself. You need to take time for yourself.

Here are some things you can do to take care of yourself:

-   Exercise, or take a walk.

-   Eat healthy food.

-   Spend time resting in a quiet place, reading or listening to music.
    Do something creative that you enjoy.

-   Spend time talking with adults you enjoy. These may be your family,
    friends or a community group.

-   Get enough rest. Check with your doctor if you are always tired.

-   Share your thoughts, hopes and beliefs with your spouse, family or
    friends. Listen to their thoughts, too. Different points of view may
    help you solve problems.

Your baby will be happier if he has happy parents. Try to do healthy
things that make you feel good. This is important. It will help you deal
with stress and take better care of your baby.

## What's It Like To Be Seven Months Old?

How I grow:

-   I creep across the floor, and I may crawl.

-   I may help you pull me up to a standing position by keeping my legs
    straight.

-   When you hold me under my arms, I can stand and step in place. I
    like to look at my feet.

-   When I'm lying on my back, I like to bring my feet to my mouth.

-   I can hold an object in each hand. I like to bang things together.

-   I can sit with a little support.

-   I have very good eyesight.

-   I am starting to feed myself with my hands.

How I talk:

-   I like to imitate the sounds I hear.

-   I like to say short sounds, like "ba," "ma," "mu," or "di." I say
    several sounds in a row.

How I respond:

-   I listen to my own voice and the voices of other people.

-   I may cry when my mommy or daddy leaves.

-   I like to give hugs and kisses to people I know.

-   I only want my favorite people to pick me up.

How I understand:

-   I explore with my hands and feet.

-   I struggle to get objects that are out of my reach.

-   I can find objects that are partly hidden.

-   When you bounce a ball in front of me more than once, I expect the
    next bounce.

**Talking Together Helps Spouses** **Handle Stress**

Question

Ever since we had the baby, there's been a lot of stress between my
spouse and me. We never seem to have time just to sit and talk anymore.
I can't seem to say how I feel. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer

With all the extra work a baby brings into your life, it is hard for
parents to make time for each other.

You may have all kinds of feelings that you need to talk out. You may
feel resentment, or you may feel guilt or anger.

Not talking about your feelings can hurt your relationship. As hard as
it may seem, you must make time to be alone together. Your spouse
probably has things to talk about, too.

Here are some tips on how to talk to each other about what is troubling
you:

-   Don't blame each other. This will only make the tension between you
    worse. Avoid saying "you always" or "you never."

-   Take turns listening to each other. Listen, and then use your own
    words to repeat what your spouse says. "So you are saying that you
    feel left out when I spend so much time with the baby?" Don't
    interrupt. You will have your turn next.

-   When it is your turn to talk, use "I" messages, such as, "I feel
    like I have to do all of the work." Avoid using "you." Don't say
    "You never do anything around here."

-   Don't expect your spouse to read your mind or guess what you are
    feeling. Say how you feel.

-   Be specific about what is troubling you. You can say "I get upset
    when you say you'll clean the bathroom, but then you don't do it."

-   Be sure to say what you like about what your spouse does. You can
    say "I like how you're patient with the baby," or "It's good how you
    handle the shopping."

Having a new baby can make many things in your life more complicated. It
may create more work for you and your spouse. Talking through these
matters may help you work things out. Talking together often may keep
things from getting out of hand.

## Fathers and Babies Need Time Together

Being the father of a seven-month-old baby is great. The fun is just
starting. At this age, your baby is much more active. He enjoys playing.
He wants to move around on his own. He wants to explore everything.

Make sure your house is "baby-proof." Your baby will put anything into
his mouth. He will poke his fingers into everything. Be sure that unused
electrical outlets have covers. Put medicines and cleaning products out
of your baby's reach.

Crawl around the floor of your house. Look for dangerous things, such as
electrical cords and sharp objects. That way, you can see the room and
the objects in the room the same way your baby sees them.

After your house is safe, get down on the floor with your baby. Fathers
and babies need time together. Put a toy just out of his reach and coax
him to push himself toward it. Don't push too hard if he's not ready.

Here are some other games to play with him:

-   Roll a soft ball to him and let him pick it up.

-   Play peek-a-boo.

-   Play clapping games with him.

-   Smile and clap when he does what he is trying to do.

-   Hug and comfort him when he gets upset because he can't do things.

Plan a time to be with your baby. This can be during a feeding time,
when he gets a bath, at bedtime or any time that works for you. He will
love it.

You're his daddy. It's okay for you to do things differently from the
way your baby's mother does things.

Know your baby's caregiver

Take time to talk with your baby's caregiver. Be clear about the care
you want for your baby. Talk about what you want the caregiver to do.
Talk about your baby's habits. Talk about his likes and dislikes.

At this age, a baby starts to feel afraid of strangers. Be sure to let
your baby get used to his caregiver before you leave them alone
together.

## Take Time for Your Baby

By now, you may have returned to work or school. When you get home from
work or school, you have already put in a long day.

You may feel like getting your baby to bed as soon as possible so you
can relax. But quiet time with your baby can be a way to renew your
tired body and to have some fun.

Plan to spend time with your baby every night. Your baby is going
through a time that is exciting for him. He is learning new things every
day. He is learning to talk, creep and feed himself. He needs your
praise when he tries to do new things.

Hug him often. Play with him every day. Babies love games like
peek-a-boo.

At this age, he loves to imitate the sounds you make. Make a sound and
then let him try to make the same sound. He can say things like "ba,"
"ma," and "da."

He loves to look in the mirror at himself and at you. He will laugh and
make happy gurgling sounds when he sees himself. He is learning the
difference between your reflection in the mirror and the real you.

Rock him. Read to him. Sing songs with rhyming words. All of these
things will make your baby happy. He will reward you with smiles, laughs
and hugs.

You can learn more about how to teach your baby as he grows. Talk to
your doctor or clinic. They may have a list of helpful books, videos,
classes and Internet sites.

## Fun on the Floor

As your baby grows, so does his interest in the world. He wants to
explore his world. Here are some things he can do while playing on the
floor. These are things that will help him learn and grow.

-   Sit your baby on the floor and put a large empty plastic container
    in front of him. Hold a small ball over the container and drop it
    in. Do it a few times and then give him the ball.

-   Encourage him to drop it into the container.

-   Put your baby on the floor. Give him several soft balls to play
    with.

-   Put your baby on the floor. Place several toys around him. Pick each
    one up and name it. Hand it to your baby. You can use a cup, a toy
    telephone, a doll, a spoon, a ball, a block, a stuffed animal or
    other toys.

-   While playing games and having fun, talk to him about the things you
    are doing.

## Early Intervention and Your Baby's Developing Skills

Children learn skills as they grow. These skills happen by certain ages.
A child learns skills at his own pace. You can see how your baby is
doing. Watch when he starts to crawl, walk, talk and feed himself.

If you are concerned that your baby is learning skills too slowly, call
your doctor. You can also call 1-800-695-0285 to get information. The
call is free. When you call, you will be told how to contact the early
intervention program in your state. Staff of your state's early
intervention program can assist you in finding help in your state.

What is an early intervention program?

An early intervention program helps children from birth to age three.
Early intervention staff can help your baby learn to roll over, sit up,
crawl and grasp toys.

They also help children who are having problems with seeing, hearing and
talking.

How does an early intervention program help? It can help your child with
needed services and also help you join a support group.

Your family and early intervention staff can work together to plan
services. These services teach basic skills and can be done in your home
or during child care.

## Baby Games

Your seven-month-old loves to play. Here are some games you can play
with him:

-   Squeeze one of your baby's toys to make it squeak. Then hide it
    under a blanket while he is watching you. Let him try to find it.

-   Bang two toys or objects together in front of your baby. Then let
    him try it, too.

-   Give your baby one end of a towel or scarf and you take the other.
    Gently pull on your end.

-   Cut out large, colorful pictures of objects from magazines. Paste
    the pictures on paper to make a book for your baby. Sit your baby on
    your lap and talk to him about each picture.

-   Let your baby play with musical toys, such as bells. Make sure that
    none of the parts can come loose.

## Safety Corner

Here are some tips for keeping your baby safe and healthy:

Basic safety tips

-   Check the temperature of your baby's bath water before you put him
    into the tub.

-   If you can, set your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less. Hot
    water can burn your baby's skin.

-   Never leave your baby alone in the bath. Never leave him alone in
    water, even in a small amount of water. Never leave him alone near
    any water, not even a mop pail or a basin with water in it.

-   Never shake or hit your baby.

-   Never smoke around your baby.

-   Never sip from a hot drink while holding your baby.

-   Never cook at a hot stove while holding your baby.

Crib safety

-   Crib mattresses should fit snugly. There should be no gaps between
    the mattress and the sides of the crib.

-   The mattress should not be covered with plastic of any kind.

-   The slats on the sides of the crib should be 2 3/8 inches apart, or
    even closer. Here is a 2 3/8--inch line:
    \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

It can help you to measure the spaces between the crib slats.

To learn more about safety, you can call the Consumer Product Safety
Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or visit their Web site at www.cpsc.gov/.

Car safety

-   Make sure the car seat is used properly.

-   Buckle your baby in his car seat in the back seat of your car. The
    child seat should face the rear of the car.

-   Babies should never ride in the front seat of a car.

-   Never hold your baby in your lap while you are driving.

-   Never leaver your baby in a car alone.

Families who cannot afford a car safety seat can contact the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They can provide information on
resources that help low-income families purchase or borrow child car
seats. You can call them at 1-800-424-9393 or visit their Web site at
[www.nhtsa.dot.gov/](http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/).

Safety with pets

-   Never leave your baby alone with a pet, even if the pet is gentle.

## Including Your Baby's Brothers and Sisters

Your baby's brothers and sisters can help him grow and learn. Include
them in activities with your baby. This can help them get along better
together.

You and your older children can sing a song or read a story to your
baby. The baby will enjoy this.

Your older children can help you at the baby's bath time. They can help
when you are changing his diaper.

A brother or sister needs to be old enough, mature enough and aware of
how to take care of your baby before you can even consider leaving him
with an older brother or sister, even for a short period of time. Most
older brothers and sisters must be at least in their teens and have had
a lot of experience handling the baby under your direct supervision
before you can consider leaving them alone together.

Playing together

Playing with his brothers and sisters lets your baby learn new things.
He may learn how to touch, watch and listen in new ways. He may learn to
imitate in new ways.

Playing with his brothers and sisters helps teach your baby how to do
things with others.

## Plenty of Love for All

Here are some tips to help both your baby and your older children feel
secure and loved:

-   Set aside a time to be alone with your older children. Let them pick
    an activity they would like to do.

-   Tell them stories about what you did with them when they were
    babies.

-   When you are doing things with your baby, let your older children
    take part. For example, let them help pick out a book to read to
    their siblings and sit with you when you read to your baby.

-   Teach your older children how to play some of the games described in
    this magazine with the baby under your supervision.

-   After you put your baby to bed one night, have a pizza party or
    special meal with your older children.

## Information Resources for Families

Families who are enrolled in the WIC program (Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) can get information
on breastfeeding, formula feeding and nutrition at their local WIC
office. Families eligible for WIC receive nutrition counseling and
supplemental foods such as baby formula, milk and cereal. To find the
WIC office nearest you, call your state health department or visit the
WIC Web site at www.fns.usda.gov/wic/. Many public libraries offer free
access to the Internet and provide help for first-time users.

For information about early childhood education initiatives, you may
contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit the
Web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/teachingouryoungest/.

To learn about child care options, you may contact the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Child Care Aware by phone at
1-800-424-2246 or visit their Web site at www.childcareaware.org/.

For more information and resources on postpartum depression,
breastfeeding and many other women's health issues call The National
Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 1-800-994-9662
(1-800-994-WOMAN). You can visit their Web site at www.4woman.org/.

To learn more about breastfeeding, you may call La Leche League at

1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

To learn more about free or low-cost health insurance for children, you
can call the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Insure Kids
Now program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at
www.insurekidsnow.gov/.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers' (AAPCC) poison
control hotline, 1-800-222-1222, should be on your list of emergency
numbers. To learn more, you can visit the AAPCC Web site at
www.aapcc.org/.

Families who cannot afford a car safety seat can contact the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They can provide information on
resources that help low-income families purchase or borrow child car
seats. You may call them at 1-800-424-9393 or visit their Web site at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.

To learn more about safety, you can call the Consumer Product Safety
Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or visit their Web site at www.cpsc.gov/.

For information on disabilities and disability-related issues for
families, you can call the National Information Center for Children and
Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) at 1-800-695-0285 or visit their Web
site at www.nichcy.org/.

## Coming Next Month

Mealtime with Your Eight-Month-Old

Reading to Your Baby

Your Baby's Brain

Floor Time

...and much more!

This pamphlet is distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture,
Education and Health and Human Services, and is in the public domain.
Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While
permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation
should be: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education
and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy Start, Grow
Smart, Your-Seven-Month-Old, Washington, D.C., 2002.

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October 2002.

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