Home : Baby Development : Month 6 : Week 24

Your Baby Development: 24 Weeks Old

How big is your baby?
This week your baby will be weighing around 15 1/2 pounds and measuring 26 inches if he/she was of average size at birth.

Your baby's memory is continuing to grow, and by now he/she can recognize names, basic words and sounds with which he/she is familiar with. He/She will remember daily rituals, so establishing routines may boost baby's memory.

You may notice that your baby has abrupt mood swings. He/She may get mad when something doesn't suit him, but he/she may also forget his/her temper just as quickly when distracted by a toy. These mood swings should begin to taper off in the next few weeks as he/she begins to gain some sort of control over his/her feelings, but don't expect too much, as this process of learning to control feelings and emotions can take years.

Your baby's babbling may begin to take a different shape, as he/she may begin to combine certain consonants and vowel sounds.

If you repeat his/her sounds, he/she will listen intently. He/She is also beginning to learn different pitches and volumes to his/her "speech", and he/she may begin to use sounds more deliberately to get your attention.

Your baby's strength has increased in many ways.

He/She may be able to sit alone, his/her arms are stronger and he/she may be exercising his/her leg muscles. He/She may have even developed the urge to stand, although he/she cant do it without your help.

Baby Development Milestones This Week

Feeding Baby | Is Baby Getting Enough Nourishment?

Babies at this age need about 800 calories per day, from a combination of formula or breast milk and solid foods. As long as baby is taking formula or breast milk and is eating the various solid foods he/she can manage, then he/she is more than likely getting enough calories.

The best indication he/she is eating enough are his/her growth and well being. If baby is growing and putting on weight, and is energetic, then you can say that he/she is getting enough nourishment.

Your baby has hundreds of more taste buds for sweets than you, and this is the main reason he/she loves sweet foods, such as applesauce and mashed bananas. Don't, however, offer foods that are sweetened with sugar or any other sweetener. The fruits and vegetable he/she is eating are naturally sweetened, and this will satisfy him/her for a long time.

Baby Care

Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an upper respiratory tract infection that may occur at any age. If your baby has bronchitis, you may feel a "rumbling" in baby's chest with each breath he/she takes. Other symptoms include:

• Cough may produce phlegm
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Symptoms of a cold

Bronchitis is more complicated than a cold, and may require more antibiotics or other medications. Call your pediatrician in you suspect that baby has bronchitis.

Vomiting
Vomiting is usually a symptom, and not an illness. It is usually a sign that something is making baby feel ill. It could be a symptom of problems including appendicitis, pneumonia, strep throat or meningitis. If may often occur after ingestion of medication or chemical product. It may also be accompanied by fever, listlessness, poor feeding, coughing, constipation, diarrhea or dehydration.

When baby vomits, try to identify the cause. Is he/she getting a cold or the flu? Don't force him/her to eat, but offer liquids to avoid dehydration. If your baby vomits repeatedly or if vomiting lasts for more that a few hours, then you should contact your doctor or pediatrician.

Toys and Play

Start teaching your baby to search for things, but make a game out of it. Seat him/her on the floor, with the toys he/she like to play with. Hide them under a blanket that is close to him/her, but leave enough of the toy visible so he knows what it is. Ask him/her to find the toy, help him/her lift the blanket, if he/she needs the help. When he/she finds the toy, act surprised and happy. As he/she catches onto the game, hide the toy completely.