Your Baby Development: 40 Weeks Old

How big is your baby?
This week your baby will be weighing around 201/2 pounds and measuring 283/4 inches if he/she was of average size at birth.

At this stage your baby would have gained a much better control over his/her legs and feet now. He/She is probably cruising, (using the furniture or other objects for support and balance), around the furniture with confidence, and may even be able to stand for a brief period without support. He/She may even be confident enough to squat and pick up an object. It is easier at this stage for baby to go from a standing position to sitting.

As well as developing leg strength, hand skills will also be improving. He/She will have mastered the pincer grasp, and can pick up small object between the thumb and index finger.

Although releasing an object is still difficult for baby, and so he/she may simply drop or throw an object when he/she looses interest in it.

As his/her coordination improves he/she may be able to pound one object in one hand while he/she feels another object with the other

By this stage you may notice that babies grasp of language is improving, and he/she may do what you ask him/her to do, such as wave good bye. He/She may even respond to simple requests such as "bring me the dolly/car" or follow simple instructions such as "go to grandma".

Baby Development Milestones This Week

Feeding Baby

By this stage you may want to begin to feed your baby foods which are lumpier, as well as starting to introduce new table foods. You are probably already giving baby crackers and bits of cheese, but you can now add cooked rice and baked potato removed from skin. Be sure that the pieces you give him/her are no larger than a green pea.

Offer baby a spoon and let him/her feed him/herself. Don't give him/her the baby spoons which you have been using to feed him, rather choose a spoon fairly large handle, making it easier for him/her to grasp it more easily.

You can expect him.her to make a big mess, as he/she is going to need lots of practice before he/she can feed him/herself.

Baby Care

Stye
A stye is an inflammation, with swelling, of one of the eyelids sebaceous (oil) glands. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection and can occur at any age. A stye can be spread by contact with someone who has one, if that person touches the infected area, then touches someone else. Symptoms include:

• Swelling
• Redness in the edge of either the upper or lower eyelid
• Pain on the edge of either upper or lower eyelid
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Increase in tearing

If you suspect that your baby has a stye, apply warm water soaks for 10-20 minutes at a time. Decrease the light in baby's room, and everyone should wash their hands frequently. Don't share towels!

Call your pediatrician if you suspect that your baby has a stye for further advice.

Toys and Play

You can help your baby to learn the difference between full and empty. Simply use a couple if plastic see though containers, together fill one of the containers with objects or water, when it is fill say "All Filled Up!". Next, empty the objects from the container or empty the water out and say "All Gone!". You can get him/her to fill and empty the containers as well.