Being a parent can be challenging; however, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences of life. Until your baby grows up, he is going to need all the care he can get. Taking care of 20 weeks old baby might be comparatively easier than taking care of a newborn child. However, there might be certain times when things might seem formidable. With a few tips in mind, you can make sure these times can go smoothly, and you get a lot of enjoyable moments with your little one.
Your 5-month-old is reaching milestones and gaining weight, and taking care of him is critical to ensure he continues to develop in a healthy way. Your little one’s body will go through a lot of changes as he starts getting more mobile, so keeping his environment safe is also incredibly important. There are quite a few tips that will help you give the best care to your baby, so keep reading!
Taking care of your little one can be daunting. Here are a few steps to make it easier.
Around this age, your baby wants to emulate you in many ways. Watching you eat with a spoon would make him want to try that out too. You might be tempted to start solids, but this is not the right age to do so. Giving a little formula milk with a spoon might make him feel better. Your baby will usually be able to tell you when he’s hungry. So, if you have been enforcing a strict breastfeeding schedule, you can gradually start moving away from it and feed him when he asks for it. If your baby is on formula, make sure the quantity is of the right amount and increases and decreases based on recommendations for his age.
Most mothers are used to letting their babies sleep while they breastfeed. By this age, it is good to separate both the cycles, so he understands feeding times and sleeping times are different. Also, this is the age when your baby might learn to roll over. This poses another challenge since ensuring that he sleeps flat on his back is another obstacle to be overcome. You could either use pillows or just not use blankets at all and let him roll around.
Keeping your baby healthy is always necessary, and vaccination is the best way to ensure that. Immunisation schedule, when followed to the letter, takes care of a ton of things right away. In case you haven’t finished the vaccines for your baby’s prior month, talk to your doctor to schedule them as soon as possible. There are specific vaccines that a mother might need to take, as well.
It is good to keep the home clean and hygienic, but do not overdo it. The presence of a little dirt and dust can actually help build up the immunity in your baby.
Your baby’s curiosity should not get the better of him as he starts to explore the surroundings or crawl around the home. Baby-proofing should be done right when you know that your little one will not restrict himself to his crib. Child-protection on electrical sockets, placing hazardous chemicals on higher shelves, and other precautions should be taken care of. This should be an important one in your list of 5-month-old baby care tips.
Around this age, your baby will generally be able to hold his neck pretty well. This can then be a good time to teach him to start sitting up.
Give his back enough support as he sits straight and makes use of pillows to let him be in that position for a longer time. Do this on the bed or the floor with a soft mat, so that even if he does get excited and fall on his side, it won’t hurt him.
Just the way your baby will want to try out the spoon, another thing you can bring in his presence is a cup. This will allow him to start holding objects on his own, although he won’t be successful right away. Drinking a little water or milk from the cup will make him feel happy and give him a sense of achievement. If he’s not immediately ready for it, leave the cup around with him and let him play with it. Gradually, the comfort level will increase, and he will want to try again.
Your child is beginning to realise different aspects of you. Let him get to know you better as you play different games together. Keeping him entertained and making those funny faces that he loves the most is a great way to get him happy. Start introducing colours and animals even if they just might be interesting pictures for now. His brain is taking it all in and processing it on its own accord.
Taking care of a five months old baby is not an easy task, but it also isn’t as daunting as it seems. As your baby starts to get independent, you too can start building up a bond with him. Keep the communication going strong and talk to him every day. Before you know it, your little one will be sitting straight, walking around, and saying his first words. A lot of exciting moments are coming your way, so watch out for them and make sure to celebrate all of your baby’s victories!
Also Read: 15 Best Activities for 5 Month Old Baby
This post was last modified on March 25, 2022 11:50 am
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