Your 50 Week Old Baby – Development, Milestones & Care

Your baby’s first birthday is close. He is almost a toddler, and whether or not he has started walking, he will definitely reach the toddler status when he turns one-year-old. Your little one is now beginning to talk, wave, eat proper food during mealtimes, enjoy his favourite music and books, and he’s developing a shining personality! On average, a 12-month-old baby weighs 9 kilos and is almost 76 cm in length. Compare this to how much your baby weighed when he was born, that’s some growth right there! But, that’s not all. Read this article to know more on this topic.

A 50-Week-Old Baby’s Development

Few steps forward, one step back could be the description of your baby’s development at this stage. You may have seen him wave goodbye to you a few weeks ago, but since then, he never has stopped. However, there is no reason to worry; it just means that all his energy is being directed to an emotional adjustment, for example, when you go away for work, or his routine suddenly changes. The energy he used for simple skills like waving is now fully focused on developing a brand new skill. Such regression can happen when your baby is mastering a new skill to dazzle you with.

Your baby’s vocabulary will also grow at this point even if he is not saying a bunch of new words. His brain is constantly observing new things and absorbing new information, so keep talking to him using correct, full sentences, and keep encouraging. You can start using pronouns like “I am going to come out with you” instead of “Mama is going to come out with you”.

[Also Read: 12 Months Old Baby Development]

A 50-Week-Old Baby’s Developmental Milestones

You can expect to see the following growth milestones in your little child:

• Your baby will insist on feeding himself with a fork or spoon.
• Your baby will be able to handle and drink properly from a cup.
• Your baby will be increasingly curious and start investigating each object he sees.
• Your baby will start recognising your expressions; if you nod and smile, he will proceed with doing something, and if you look terrified, he will stop.
• Your baby will be more interested in toys that move or can be pulled and pushed, like rolling cars, balls, carts, etc.
• Your baby might start to learn how to kick and throw.
• Your baby will be able to take out objects from a container and return them back once shown.
• Your baby may be able to understand a few words like ‘drink’, ‘ball’, or ‘cup’.
• Your baby may be able to scribble with a crayon.

[Also Read: 12 Months Old Baby Milestones]

Feeding

Your breastfed baby may continue to breastfeed even after one year of age. If you are following a child-led approach to breastfeeding, you can continue letting him take the lead. Some days, maybe in response to a virus or cold, he may frequently breastfeed, while other days, he might be too distracted to breastfeed and may resort to feeding frequently at night. Your milk supply will adjust accordingly. You can continue breastfeeding as long as you wish. When your baby turns 50 weeks, it is your decision whether or not you want to pump milk, depending on how your breasts react and your baby’s need for breast milk. Some mothers shift to giving their babies cow milk, and some continue to give breast milk. If you have developed a routine of pumping and storing milk and your baby is more than happy to have it in a cup when you are away, then you can easily continue with it.

[Also Read: 12 Months Old Baby Food Ideas]

Sleeping

Once your baby turns one and sleeps next to you in bed, you may wonder if now is the time to shift him to a crib or a separate room. Some families set up a nursery with a cot or a crib, and you may envision your baby sleeping there, or you may find it easier to have him beside you in case he wakes up at night for a feed. You may continue doing what works for you and transition slowly by moving the cot gradually from the bedroom to the hall to the separate nursery. For some days after shifting your baby to a cot in a separate room, you can lay a mattress on the floor and sleep next to him till he gets used to the shift. Having the same light, sound, and atmosphere in the new room can make your baby feel more at ease.

[Also Read: 12 Months Old Baby Sleep]

Care Tips for a 50-Week-Old Baby

A few ways in which you can take care of your 50-week-old baby are:

• Encourage your child to walk by giving him lots of opportunities and not stopping to pick him up every once in a while.
• Give him your finger, in the beginning, when your child is trying to walk as it will make him feel at ease.
• You should give whole milk to your baby when you are weaning him, but if you have a family history of obesity, cardiovascular issues or high cholesterol, the doctor might recommend low-fat milk.
• Your baby will watch and mimic everything you do, so don’t show any negative behaviour in front of him.
• Keep away dangerous objects from your baby as this is the age he will put everything in his mouth.
• If your baby is clingy, don’t encourage it by stopping your task to cuddle him. Instead, include him in your task, for example, giving him a piece of cloth to hold if you are doing laundry.
• If your baby rejects some food, cook it in a different way next time and feed it to him.
• Let your baby play, observe, and eat his food. Playing with food is also a learning process, and if you rush him, he may get stressed.

Tests and Vaccinations

This is about the time to go for a doctor’s checkup as your baby is turning one-year-old.

1. Tests

Your doctor will take your baby’s measurements and do a physical check to know if he is meeting his milestones as per his age. He will also see if he is talking, pointing, walking and so on. The doctor might ask how many words your baby can speak, so count them and keep a rough number in mind.

2. Vaccinations

Most vaccinations to be taken at this stage are boosters for what your baby has previously received. These include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Polio, Hib, DTaP as well as the first doses for MMR and chickenpox.

Games and Activities

Below are a few games and activities you can play with your little one:

• Sit across your baby with your legs stretched on both sides. Playfully roll a ball to him and ask him to roll it back.
• If your baby is standing on his own, you can show him how to kick a ball. First, show him by doing it yourself. Next, place the ball in front of his legs and help him swing his leg to make contact with the ball.
• Place a few light items like an empty cereal box, a container or a soft drink can at a small distance away from your baby. Demonstrate rolling a ball to knock them down. Give the ball to your baby and ask him to roll it like you, to knock the items down. This will help develop his comprehension skills.
• Play tag with him while running around a room, asking him to catch you. Your baby will pick up the game and try to crawl or walk after you. This will help him develop his gross motor skills.

[Also Read: 12 Months Old Baby Activities]

When to Consult a Doctor

You should consult a doctor in the following cases:

• If your baby has difficulty seeing objects, squints often, tilts his head to see, or rubs his eyes often, take him to see a doctor as he may have vision problems.
• If your baby’s eyes are reddish, teary, sensitive to light, or has pus in them, he may have pinkeye, so consult a doctor soon.
• If your kid is vomiting frequently, take him to the doctor to check if he has lead poisoning.

If your baby’s weight suddenly drops at this stage, don’t stress, it is normal for toddlers to gain height more than weight close to one year of age.

These guidelines will help you know whether your 50-week-old baby is developing as expected or you need some medical help. Remember, that babies grow at their own pace; therefore, if you notice slight delays in your child’s growth, it is still alright. For serious developmental issues, you must seek immediate medical attention.

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