Baby development five months after birth

The initial months might have been all about sleepless nights, but this is when you move towards a more regulated schedule with your baby getting another month older and beginning to follow a routine that you are more accustomed to. The developments are more visible to the parents, but that also comes with the added responsibility of being more careful as the baby begins to move about more than earlier. Some of the key markers for your child’s development could be as follows:

Breastmilk remains the main source of nutrition for the baby at five months but soon you will be able to introduce some solid, mashed food. Even though the baby can sleep through the entire night, his or her increased rate of activity also means craving more food, which is expressed not only by crying anymore but through gestures and sounds. They also express more interest in wanting to eat what you are eating but refrain from giving them a taste yet.

Your baby has started appreciating one of the finer things in life by now which most adults only crave: sleep. A five-month-old can sleep through the night without the need to wake up to be fed. They will also be tired by the constant activity during the day and need more naps in the afternoon. They become more and more independent with respect to sleep, although they will notice your sleep patterns; it might be a good idea for the parents to develop a more consistent sleeping schedule themselves.

The baby at five months is quite a handful with constant movements, blabbering of undecipherable words and increased awareness of their surroundings. As there are no vaccinations required at the five-month interval, it is an important time to keep a watchful eye over your baby, without intruding into their space where they can flourish. Even though a doctor’s visit isn’t necessary, you should alert the doctor in the case of an infection or anything irregular you may notice. If you haven’t already, this is the right time to baby-proof your home along with the following precautions:

• Keep a watchful eye on the baby, especially during the day when he or she is active and playful. 
• Laptops, phones, cables, chargers and batteries should not be left lying around within reach of the baby.
• The baby is going to be wanting attention, increasing the need to keep away things you usually have with you; coffee mugs or plates and bowls must be kept aside before attending to them.
• If you have pets at home, it is a must to keep their bowls of water or food away from the reach of your baby. The baby is extremely inquisitive at this stage, and any item within its reach might be ‘inspected’.
• Your baby is playful around this time, and keeping their toys clean is a good practice. Do not leave smaller things like coins or rings within the baby’s reach around this time.
• Take extra care when putting your baby to sleep. At no stage should you lay the baby down to sleep on their stomach and only on the back.
• Keep the bathroom doors closed as soaps, detergents and other disinfectants should never be within reach. Toilet seats must be shut down as they can fall on a child’s hands.
• Delicate or breakable items must also be kept out of reach of babies, especially items made of glass.
• Any sign of a fever or a cold is an indicator of the baby’s immune system working. You must look out for physical symptoms of anything irregular and tell your doctor about them.

As your baby continues to grow, you begin to fall back into a more regular schedule and appreciate that you can sleep for longer hours as the baby begins to sleep through the night. The work, however, is far from over for parents. Raising a baby is a full-time job, and even with both parents contributing it can be difficult to find time to think about their own health.

• Working mothers may be looking to get back to their old schedule - or some may have already. Finding the right person to provide care while you’re away is a difficult task, especially with respect to building trust, and believing in their skills. Communicating clearly with external help is key to the development of the baby.
• The baby is still reliant on breastmilk for his or her nutrition. Hence, it is imperative for the mother to be consuming nutrient-rich foods throughout this period to ensure the baby is hitting all the developmental targets and building a strong immune system in the process.
• Consuming alcohol, smoking and even excessive caffeine is harmful to the baby, so stay away from such habits.
• Spouses, parents, other relatives and friends can be used as a support group for the raising of your baby, as well as splitting the workload so that you do not end up exhausting yourself.
• Ensure you spend enough time playing with the baby during the course of the day, as it is the most important stage of development. It is around this time that the baby begins to develop their emotions towards the parents and to recognize affection, which they return in abundance. Make sure to be there for it.