7 months old

Baby is on the move. Repeat, Baby is on the move. Well, if not now, then soon. They hasn’t quite reached toddler-levels of mobility and mayhem yet, but once crawling starts, many parents are surprised by how much their low-to-the-ground creepers can reach. Whether Baby is crawling, creeping, scooting, rolling, or even hopping, they are able to move further and faster every day.

They may find themself not wanting to go too far before too long, though. Baby is moving into the period of life when they might not want to leave your arms, even for a second. This is called separation anxiety, and tends to develop as they get a better sense of object permanence – the idea that objects continue to exist even when they can’t see and touch them. Around the time when babies start to make this realization, many little ones start to get a little clingy with the people they spend the most time with. Separation anxiety can be difficult to deal with, but it’s temporary, and there are ways to help manage it, like by avoiding drawn out goodbyes.

Even babies who don’t get anxious about being separated from their parents though often don’t wander too far away when they’re first starting to explore the world on their own. You may notice that while Baby explores new or familiar areas, they will still turn and “check back in” with you, or make sure you’re watching the amazing things they are seeing. This is a sign of Baby’s secure attachment to you, even as they start to stretch their wings – or legs – and explores the world.

Another of the big, exciting things 7-month-olds have to explore, besides the living room, the local park, and the abilities of their own body, is food. By now, Baby is probably eating some pureed solids, and even a little safe, easy-to-eat finger foods, though a significant amount of their nutrition probably still comes from breast milk or formula. Introducing your little one to solids can be a messy adventure, but it should be a fun one, as well, so try not to take it too personally if Baby isn’t always as enthusiastic about your cooking as you might hope.

Milestones

  • Drinks from a cup with help: It seems crazy that Baby would get their hydration the same way you do, but around the 7-month mark or a bit later, many babies are ready to start drinking out of a cup with some help. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching all babies from the bottle to the cup by the 1-year mark.
  • Plays peekaboo: Some do it later, some earlier, but about now is when many babies might start actively engaging in peekaboo. Peekaboo is an all-time top-3 game, so it’s only natural that Baby gets a real kick out of it…you did too when you were their age!
  • Can self-feed from finger foods: You might not know if this is possible if you’ve been sticking with the mushy stuff exclusively, but many babies at this time are curious and coordinated enough to be able to feed themselves finger foods. Try some noodles or Cheerios to get started.

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