27 Weeks

Another week, another newsletter. Here's what it says:

Your baby boy, Matthew, is 27 weeks (Approximately 6.3 months) old now.

Your baby may start crawling any day, and those displays of frustration at not being able to move around should begin to disappear. Although most babies begin crawling around six months of age, it may still be weeks or even months before your baby is fully mobile. This is very normal and you should not worry if he or she is showing no signs of crawling - remember that some babies never crawl; they skip the step completely and just start walking!

Your baby is bursting with energy right now and may not want to be held as much as before. In fact, he or she may squirm and arch his or her back in an effort to get down on the floor and start exploring. If your baby is strong enough and sits well unsupported, try giving him or her a ride on your shoulders. He or she will love the new view and it will help strengthen his or her core muscles and develop balance. Just be sure to support him or her with both hands.

As your baby gets used to eating solid food, remember to introduce only one food at a time and wait several days before you give him or her a new food. If he or she has an allergic reaction, this will make it easy to pinpoint which food caused it. Signs of a food allergy may include wheezing, fever, mild rash, anaphylaxis (in rare cases), vomiting, and diarrhea. If you have concerns about certain symptoms and are unsure whether it is a food allergy, contact your pediatrician just to be sure.

Well, Matthew sure isn't crawling yet, but he can sit very well unsupported. I've actually been brave enough to step away for a few seconds to grab another toy, etc. while he's sitting playing. But only a few seconds! He still topples over once and a while without warning, so you have to watch him. Especially in the bathtub - he loves to sit and splash with his hands! It's so funny - he splashes and splashes and you think that he's having a good time, but there isn't normally a smile on his face. He doesn't make a sound, just very seriously goes about his business of splashing. Such a funny boy :o) He tried Stage 2 foods yesterday - just some carrots. He couldn't finish the whole jar, but he did a good job. His new food for the week is peaches, which his Daddy says he thinks are "OK," and we're going to try peas later this week! I don't anticipate him liking them, but he liked the green beans he got last week so who knows? He also got to do something exciting yesterday...he sat on Santa's lap! Plus we all went out shopping last weekend and bought him a stocking and "Baby's First Christmas" ornament. He may not realize that it is a very special time of year, but Mom and Dad are making a big deal out of it anyway. Of course :o)